The SMART-NANO project has enabled the development of an innovative and cost-effective technology platform that provides a complete "sample-to-result" solution for the detection, identification and measurement of nanoparticles designed in a wide range of matrices.

1. N E W S L E T T E R Programme: FP7 NMP 2011.1.3-1
Contact n° 280779
Could you give us a
brief overview of your
scientific services and their
applications?
CSEM is a private Swiss Research and
Technology Organization (RTO), with
the mission to develop microtechnologies
and transfer them to the industrial sector
(in Switzerland, as a priority, but not
only) in order to reinforce its competitive
advantage. This transfer takes place via
of cooperation agreements with existing
companies or, in some cases, via the
creation of start-ups: More than 40
startups were created at CSEM since its
founding, some of which are now global
leaders in there sectors (e.g. Heptagon).
In what particularly do you
feel innovative?
CSEM offers the whole chain from
technology scouting, feasibility studies,
simulations, prototyping, testing, up
to small series production in special
cases. CSEM can count on more than
400 highly qualified people with very
different technology background, from
physics, to engineering and biology.
This multidisciplinarity, and the
amount of know-how available in
house, are quite unique, and allow us
to accelerate the development times by
offering ‘one-stop-shop’ solutions to our
customers.
What kind of R&D
technology programs are
you developing?
CSEM own R&D programs are
divided in the following areas: MEMS,
Surface Engineering, Systems,
Ultra-low-power integrated systems,
photovoltaic and energy management.
Our collaborations with industrial
customers and other academic partners,
allows us to explore other application
area, for example through EU-funded
projects.
S m a r t N a n o 1
SmartNano project -newsletter n° 8
only for project dissemination activities
Dr. Stefano
Cattaneo
Project Manager,
CSEM and Project
Coordinator,
SMARTNANO
Nanoparticles in cosmetics:
latest news about regulations
The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) recently discussed and approved new as-
sessments about some ingredients used in their nano form in cosmetic products.
In particular, new rules were established on the use of insoluble nanoparticles as UV-
filters in sunscreens, such as zinc oxide and Tinosorb M, in order to make products safer
for the consumer and cleaner for the environment.
Here the latest news about regulations are reported.
Zinc oxide
The use of zinc oxide (ZnO) in the form of nano-sized pigment has been debated much
in these last years. In particular, there has been concern that ZnO nanoparticles might
be absorbed into the skin and have toxic consequences in humans, especially with a
long-term use.
About CSEM -
Micro-and
nanotechnology at
CSEM
CSEM, The Swiss Center for Elec-
tronics and Microtechnology, is a
private, non-profit Swiss research
and technology organization focused
on generating value for a sustainable
world.
Since its creation in 1984, CSEM
has focused on bringing innovation
to industry in the field of micro- and
nanotechnologies by developing inno-
vative technologies, integrating them
into working solutions and converting
them into commercial success stories.
The potential of such innovations
can only be realized if the design is
optimized at the product level rather
than at the component level, and
if technologies are compatible with
Follows at pag. 2 >
large-scale manufacturing processes.
CSEM’s core competencies in micro-
technology and electronics as well as
mass-manufacturing methods place
the center in a unique position to pro-
vide integrated solutions addressing
the markets of life sciences, clinical di-
agnostics, and tox/pharma as well as
food and environmental monitoring.
Modern applications require com-
ponents with optimized surfaces.
The optical, chemical, and biological
properties of a surface are to a large
extent determined by its nanometer-
scale characteristics. CSEM develops
techniques to generate micro- and
nanoscale structures with a high level
of precision and reliability, and with a
chemical composition of choice.
In addition to the many technologies
available in house, CSEM is proud
to be able to count on collaborations
with leading research institutes and
companies in Switzerland and abroad.
Thanks to this network, and to ex-
citing collaborative project such as
SMART-NANO, CSEM is confident
that its micro- and nanotechnologies
will continue to lead to solutions with
increased functionality at lower cost.

2. S m a r t N a n o 2
N E W S L E T T E R
What was the driving force
that brought CSEM into
SMARTNANO?
Over the past years, CSEM developed
a range of technologies with potential
applications in nanoparticle analysis.
This was however not a current
application at CSEM. Through
a previous project in water quality
analysis, we were introduced to the
Joint Research Institute in Ispra
and other companies and institutes
working in nanoparticle detection. Very
quickly we realized the potential for a
collaboration and decided to submit a
joint proposal. The collaboration has
been extremely fruitful and enriching
and we are hoping that this will
continue in future H2020 projects.
Benchmarking the SMARTNANO platform
The Smartnano platform was bench-
marked on four models for possible ap-
plications: cosmetics, food, environmen-
tal samples and in biota samples.
The cosmetic sample, TiO2
nanoparti-
cles in a sunscreen matrix, showed clear
results, comparable to the ones achiev-
able with high-end commercial devices.
The food sample, SiO2
nanoparticles in
low fat milk, also confirmed the validity
of the platform and its accuracy.
The environmental sample (silver nano-
particles in seawater samples) confirmed
that the performance of the upgraded
flow field-flow fractionation core and de-
tectors is excellent for the size separation
and characterization of nanoparticles at
sub-μg ml-1 concentrations over a wide
range of nanoparticles sizes. Nanoparti-
cles in biota (silver nanoparticles inside
bacteria and protozoa) provided further
confirmations.
Overall, the Smartnano platform
proved to be able to separate and char-
acterize ENPs in a wide range of com-
plex matrices with the same accuracy
and sensitivity of currently available
commercial devices, despite using much
Continues from pag. 2 Several in vitro and in vivo studies using both animal and human skin have shown that
these NPs do not penetrate the underlying layers of skin, suggesting that systemic ab-
sorption of zinc oxide in this form is unlikely, as confirmed by the last opinion of SCCS
in its comprehensive review of ZnO NPs toxicological profile.
The Committee concluded that the use of these nanoparticles “can be considered not to pose
a risk of adverse effects in humans after dermal application” if used as a UV filter in sunscreens
at a concentration of up to 25%, with the exception of applications that might lead to
inhalation exposure, such as sprayable products.
Tinosorb M
In this case the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety declared it cannot assess the safety of
this chemical in its nano form yet, as no genotoxicity data are available. And no more
animal testing for these kind of products is allowed since 2013.
Furthermore, in its last opinion SCCS also highlighted the potential risk of accumula-
tion of these nanoparticles in the environment due to its poor biodegradability.
For all these reasons, the use of Tinosorb M as UV-filter in its nano form has been cur-
rently banned in Europe.
smaller volumes of solvents and eluents,
and with shorter run times and easier
maintenance. With all the four models,
the platform achieved good results in
terms of accuracy, sensitivity, selectivity,
recovery limit of detection and limit of
quantification. Ultimately, this platform
validation work represents a stepping
stone on the development path towards
increased instrumental sensitivity for the
physical characterization of nanoparti-
cles in complex matrices.

3. S m a r t N a n o 3
N E W S L E T T E R
“Closer to the Market”
Roadmap (CTTM) now finalised
The NanoSafety Cluster’s “Closer to the Market” Roadmap (CTTM) is a multi-dimen-
sional, stepwise plan targeting a framework to deliver safe nano-enabled products to the
market.
After some years of discussions and consultations with a huge number of experts in the
nanosafety-field, conferences at which the issue of market implementation of nanotech-
nologies was talked about, writing hours/days, and finally two public consultation rounds,
the CTTM is now finalized.
As stated in the Executive Summary: “Nano-products and nano-enabled applications
need a clear and easy-to-follow human and environmental safety framework for the devel-
opment along the innovation chain from initial idea to market and beyond that facilitates
navigation through the complex regulatory and approval processes under which different
product categories fall.
The missing framework results in a lack of:
(i) solid data regarding roadblocks to market penetration of nano-enabled products as
well as the absence of
(ii) transparency in terms of which products (e.g. containing nanomaterials (NMs); nano-
enabled products) are on the market (e.g. registries) and voluntary schemes and label-
ling requirements for cosmetics and food, which processes are used for manufacturing
nano-enabled products, and
(iii) meager inclusiveness in the dialogue (between all stakeholders) most likely exist as a
result of the missing framework.
The Closer-to-the-Market-Roadmap (CTTM) aims at speeding up the progress towards
market implementation of nanotechnologies by outlining the steps needed to develop
such a framework. In its current form it is addressed towards policy makers, but the ulti-
mate framework will be designed for use by SME and enterprise organisations”.
Download it at http://www.nanosafetycluster.eu, and get involved in its implementation
through the Cluster!
(from: Nanosafety Cluster Newsletter N° 7 - Lesley Tobin)
SMARTNANO
project exploitation:
what now?
The Smartnano Platform is complete.
The prototype device was extensively
tested, and provides a completely new
approach to nano-measurements in
complex matrix: for the first time, sever-
al detection and measurement methods
are combined and integrated in a unique
testing platform.
Now that the project is complete, the
Smartnano consortium is moving to
exploit its results in several ways. The
research performed on the platform will
be the basis of new AF4 systems designed
to be both economical and more ecologi-
cally compatible.
The experience achieved in measuring,
identifying and characterizing the size
distribution of engineered nanoparticles
in complex matrices will be the starting
point for new testing services.
The availability of a cheaper, easier sys-
tem to characterize nanoparticles direct-
ly in complex matrices will likely impact
the manufacturing of nano-sized prod-
ucts as well.
The Smartnano consortium will moni-
tor the development of these aspects over
the next years. New devices and services
will be announced on the websites of in-
volved partners as well.

4. S m a r t N a n o 4
N E W S L E T T E R
NanoSafety Cluster Meeting
14 September 2016
Stockholm, Sweden
2nd
NanoSafety Forum for Young
Scientist
15-16th
September 2016
Visby, Gotland, Sweden
Agenda ClosureNext events
Special thanks:
The Smartnano team would like to thank all partners involved in the four years
of the project.
Our special thanks to:
Dr. Stephanne Follonier
former coordinator of the SMARTNANO project.
Dr. Nicolas Segebarth
Project Officer
Dr. Daniel Breitenstein
Project Technical Advisor of the European Commission - FP7.
The International Advisory Board:
Dr. Thomas Koch
Head of Division, Analytical Intelligence, Kronos International, Inc.
Dr. Paul Reip,
Director, Government and Strategic Programmes, Intrinsiq Materials Ltd
Our sincere thanks to all the people that followed us over the past four years,
by connecting with our social networks, registering to the newsletter, attending
conferences or joining us during the Paris 2016 InCosmetics event in April.
We are grateful for your interest.
For any inquiries, please feel free to contact us at info@smartnano.org
or visit our official website: www.smartnano.org.
Follow us on linkedin
To receive the next number of this
newsletter register you profile on http://www.smartnano.org/signin-newsletter.aspx
SMARTNANO Project