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Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - NANOWATCHER (PORTABLE MONITORING SOLUTION TO SUPPORT CONTINUOUS, ACCURATE AND RELIABLE EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT OF NANOMATERIALS (NMs) FOR HUMAN HEALTH RISK ANALYSIS)

Teaser

Summary

There is an undeniable boost in the commercial use of nanomaterials (NMs), with up to 8,241 nanotechnology-based products today and a market growing at CAGR 16% up to 2022. However, there is a downside due to the potential to cause adverse effects of particles below 100 nm on the environment and human health. Because of their size and surface-to-volume ratio, NMs are more toxic than the same material conventionally sized, they increase the risk of explosion in industrial settings, pass easily through biological membranes, can be inhaled more deeply in the lungs, and have a higher potential for translocation from the lung to other tissues, causing hepatotoxicity, cardiotoxicity or genotoxicity.

It should be noted that studies conducted over the last decade reported direct correlation with adverse effects, especially cardiopulmonary diseases (e.g., asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, arrhythmia, heart attack). In view of the effects of particles in the nanometer range on human health, and considering that risk is a function of the level of exposure to a substance and how hazardous it is, the assessment of exposure to airborne nanomaterials in both indoor and outdoor environments has therefore raised increased attention. Moreover, as a result of increasing production and use of NMs, there is the chance of exposure for workers, consumers and the environment . Furthermore, according to a recent projection, 6 million workers will be potentially exposed to nanoscale particles in 2020 .

The NanoWatcher monitoring unit is patent pending particle counter specifically designed to measure nanoparticles for human health exposure risk assessment. It comprises a hardware and a software part. The hardware include a condensational growth system to enlarge particles that are too small to scatter enough light to be detected by conventional optics. It can detect and count particles from 5 to 2,500 nm at 1 second resolution in the concentration range from 0.01 to 106 particles/cm3. And the software counts with a web based platform or the NanoWatcher APP developed in an Android APP, both designed for the configuration and remote management of the devices and the detailed analysis of their dataset.

Work performed

During the project several tasks have been carried out in order to ensure the technical and commercial viability of NanoWatcher technology. The first task has been a product feasibility study, that has allowed us to ensure the reliability of the product, achieving meetings with our potential customers and pilot tests to improve and correct errors that have appeared in the implementation of the product. The second task was a market analysis, by conducting interviews with relevant market players present throughout the value chain of both target markets. The aim was to find out the needs of these players, as well as their impressions of the sector, so we can adjust the product to the needs of the market. Finally, an IPR and Legal Framework analysis has been made with the objective of meet the requirements and protect the intellectual property generated by the project. All these analyses have been condensed into a business plan that contains all the necessary steps to bring the business to a successful conclusion.

Also, it is foreseen during Phase 2 to carry out a product optimisation in order to improve the current control and measurement conditions offered by NanoWatcher. To this end we will strive for an optimization of the condensation particle counting unit and the aerosol cut-off system, also implementing a sampling unit. We will end this process with a product performance analysis with market players. Within this process a more specific IRP & Regulations analysis will be carried out, adapting the conclusions to the product. The final objective of this is to exploit the developed product developing and scalable and repeatable sales model and revenue plan and disseminate it promoting the project and its findings during the period of the grant, engaging potential buyers and stakeholders.

Final results

Over the years, the use of Nano Particules has not stopped increasing due to the benefits that this type of particle offers in different markets.This increase in their use has led to an increase in their knowledge, and also in the risks that these particles have for the health of those who are exposed to them. This is why the need to measure and control these particles has increased over the years with the aim of protecting the health of both workers and other persons exposed to them.The solutions developed for this during the last years have not managed to make these solutions a reality in the market, due to the difficulties they have in measuring in industrial areas, their high cost, their little autonomy and lack of ease of use.

On the other hand, NanoWatcher is a solution that combines low cost and high autonomy with ease of use and trouble-free measurement in industrial areas, with this we get a device that improves what is present in the market, avoiding the problems that have the current devices at a lower price than them.That is why we hope that this will live a boom in the sector of measurement and control of nanoparticles thanks to a substantial improvement of the devices on the market.

This is why, this project is a breakthrough since it allows to enjoy the advantages of a scientific measurement device easily, since it is a product simple to apply and manipulate and that also has better characteristics than those currently on the market.