Ada Genavia
Apr 18, 2012

Study finds evidence that nanoparticles may increase plant DNA damage

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass) have provided the first evidence that engineered nanoparticles are able to accumulate within plants and damage their DNA. In a recent paper, the team led by NIST chemist Bryant C. Nelson, showed that under laboratory conditions, cupric oxide nanoparticles have the capacity to enter plant root cells and generate many mutagenic DNA base lesions. This research is part of NIST's work to help characterize the potential environmental, health and safety (EHS) risks of nanomaterials, and develop methods for identifying and measuring them. Cupric oxide is a strong conductor of electric current, a property enhanced at the nanoscale level, which makes the nanoparticle form useful to semiconductor manufacturers.

Companies
1
Patents
1
0 Comments
Related Articles
Ada Genavia
Apr 11, 2012
Japan gets ready for its largest solar power plant
Japan is looking for cleaner and greener ways to produce electricity that won’t explode in the case of a natural... Read More
Elisabeth Manville
Apr 16, 2012
Scientists develop nanoparticles that highlight brain tumors, increase accuracy of removal
Scientists from Stanford University School of Medicine have successfully removed brain tumors in mice aided by nanoparticles. These nanoparticles home... Read More
Jeff Herman
Apr 17, 2012
Nanobubbles and nanoparticles improve chemotherapy
Recently, in several articles here on Patexia, we have commented on the importance of nanotechnology in medicine, including everything from... Read More