Graphene is regarded as the miracle material of the future. Because of its properties, graphene is used in solar cells and, for example, in micro- and nanoelectronics. So far, however, there are not enough risk analyses and assessments on the environment available.

The basis for the calculations are physico-chemical properties of the nanoparticles such as shape, size or transport speed, and their biological effects on the investigated cells. By means of a mathematical model, the results are transferred to the human in vivo situation. Depending on the route by which humans would be exposed to the nanoparticles, the researchers, led by Dr. Peter Wick, head of the laboratory for "Particles-Biology Interactions", uses cell cultures of skin, lung, intestine, etc. Together with complex algorithms and the collected data, the effects on the organism are estimated.

Empa researchers have recently been able to demonstrate initial safety analyses of graphene and graphene-related materials in fundamental in vitro studies.

As a next step, the Empa researchers want to investigate the interactions between different nanoparticles in the human body, as well as its properties in specific population groups, such as elderly people or patients with several diseases.

Publication:
W Netkueakul, D Korejwo, T Hammer, S Chortarea, P Rupper, O Braun, M Calame, B Rothen-Rutishauser, T Buerki-Thurnherr, P Wick and J Wang; "Release of graphene-related materials from epoxy-based composites: characterization, quantification and hazard assessment in vitro"; Nanoscale; 2020.

Further information:
https://www.empa.ch/de/web/s604/nanoforschung

Information about graphs:
https://www.nanopartikel.info/nanoinfo/materialien/graphen/materialinfo-graphen