Nanomaterial-Biological Interactions Knowledgebase

ONAMI, the Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute, is the first Oregon Signature Research Center. A cooperative venture among government and world-class nanoscience and microtechnology RD thus providing the framework to conduct species, route, dose and scenario extrapolations and identify key data required to predict the biological interactions of nanomaterials. We are currently cataloging nanomaterials with as much detail (characterization and synthesis methods) as possible in order to establish useful metrics and mathematically define the relationships between physicochemical properties/synthesis methods of diverse nanomaterials and their biological interactions. NBI was designed to enhance dissemination of critical data and information on nanomaterial hazards to industry, academia, regulatory agencies, and the general public. This expert system is being further developed to predict the toxic potential of unsynthesized nanomaterials, provide the computational and analytic tools to suggest material design or redesign that may minimize hazard, and propose experimental platforms/methods most predictive of nanomaterial-biological interactions. Features of the NBI knowledgebase will allow for unbiased interpretations of nanoparticle-biological interactions, discovery of unique structural characteristics that govern nanomaterial-biology interactions, and determination of critical data required to predict effects from nanomaterial exposure.