What methods and approaches are used to characterize nanomaterials.

What is it about?

This technical report starts with an overview of ENMs definitions and classification, their properties, and analytical scenarios encountered with the analysis of both pristine nanomaterials and complex matrices containing different nanomaterials. An evaluation of the current status regarding nanomaterial identification and characterization for regulatory purposes and legislation, including emerging regulations and related scientific opinions, is provided. The technical report also presents a large and critical overview of the metrology of nanomaterials, including available reference materials and the development and validation of standardized methods that are currently available to address characterization and analysis challenges. The report focuses mainly on chemical analysis techniques and thus it is complementary to previous IUPAC technical reports focused on characterizing the physical parameters of ENMs and on nanotoxicology.

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Why is it important?

Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) with a wide range of chemical compositions and physical behavior are routinely fabricated and their unique and advantageous properties are frequently utilized in industrial, agricultural, commercial, and medical sectors. Nanomaterials have at least one dimension in the range of approximately 1 to 100 nm and have properties that often differ from larger particles of the same composition. ENMs are designed for a specific purpose or function and are used for a wide variety of applications. These include construction (surface coatings, reinforcing agents for concrete and alloys), energy (fuel or solar cells), information and communication (data storage, displays, sensors), food production (additives, packaging), consumer products (textiles, cosmetics), environment (remediation, water treatment), medicine (medical devices, diagnostics, drug delivery, tissue engineering), and others. At the same time, nanoscience and nanotechnology have already impacted the field of analytical chemistry especially bioanalytical assays, immunochemical methods, and construction of biosensors and other devices. To compare the properties of nanomaterials produced by different companies and researchers, the development of methods for their characterization and standardization is required.

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