Objective The prediction of biological (and in particular toxicological) impacts has, as its basic pre-requisite, the correct prediction of the sites of action and localization of the nanoparticle in living organisms. We have identified the need for a paradigm shift in modelling these properties for nanoscale objects. The interactions between bare particles and organisms (cells, biological barriers) is radically different in the presence of proteins and lipids derived from the biological environment (the ‘protein corona’). The bare particle characteristic is therefore insufficient to describe the system. Similarly, nanoparticles are trafficked and translocated between sites by active biological processes where traditional ‘equilibrium’ principles for small molecules no longer apply. NanoTransKinetics is firmly based on advanced high quality experimental data on the distribution of nanoparticles in cells, across barriers, and (more limited) in vivo. We frame phenomenological models in a modular manner by abstracting the essential relevant principles of particle-protein (and matrix) interactions, cellular and barrier transport mechanisms of nanoparticles, fitting them to experimental data. More detailed models allow for explicit checking of mechanisms and movements of individual particles into cells and across barriers. Enormous amounts of experimental data are now available to validate the models. A predictive capacity requires only simple input data on particle, corona and similar characteristics. The basis of these claims has been checked in preliminary studies, and a limited number of interactions, particles fluxes (and control parameters) between prescribed sites are sufficient to specify the system at each level of description. Resources (reaching far beyond the program itself) have been mobilised in experimental work in the Partners laboratories, and EU and US collaborations. The output will be predictive tools for use in nanosafety research and regulation and beyond. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculeslipidsengineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materials Programme(s) FP7-NMP - Specific Programme "Cooperation": Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies Topic(s) NMP.2010.1.3-2 - Modelling toxicity behaviour of engineered nanoparticles Call for proposal FP7-NMP-2010-EU-USA See other projects for this call Funding Scheme CP-FP - Small or medium-scale focused research project Coordinator UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, DUBLIN EU contribution € 392 856,00 Address BELFIELD 4 Dublin Ireland See on map Region Ireland Eastern and Midland Dublin Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (2) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all LUDWIG-MAXIMILIANS-UNIVERSITAET MUENCHEN Germany EU contribution € 314 400,00 Address GESCHWISTER SCHOLL PLATZ 1 80539 Muenchen See on map Region Bayern Oberbayern München, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data UNIVERSITAT DE BARCELONA Spain EU contribution € 285 757,00 Address GRAN VIA DE LES CORTS CATALANES 585 08007 Barcelona See on map Region Este Cataluña Barcelona Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
