Research Strategies for Safety Evaluation of Nanomaterials, Part VI: Characterization of Nanoscale Particles for Toxicological Evaluation

This article discusses the need for developing a series of guidelines or recommended practices for the basic characterization of nanomaterials. These recommended practices should be developed jointly by physical scientists skilled in nano characterization and biological scientists experienced with toxicological research. The article first looks at some of the basic nanoparticle characterization techniques and some of the issues and implications associated with measuring nanoparticle properties and their interactions with biological systems. Then, the article gives recommendations on how to best approach nanomaterial characterization, including using proper sampling and measurement techniques, forming multidisciplinary teams, and making measurements as close to the biological action as possible.