The Namur Nanosafety Centre at the University of Namur provides physicochemical characterization, toxicity assessment, and training services for nanomaterials. Their areas of expertise include nanomaterial characterization, studies of nanomaterial fate and biodistribution, in vitro and in vivo toxicity testing following OECD guidelines, and regulation. They have equipment for characterization, toxicity assessment, and have conducted projects in quality control of nanomaterials, hazard identification, and regulatory testing. They offer customized services and training to companies to support safe development and use of nanomaterials.

1. Toxicological Risk Assessment
An initiative of
24 October 2013 - UCL - Brussels (Woluwe)
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2. Namur Nanosafety Centre
University of Namur
Dr Christelle Saout
Senior scientist
Pr Stéphane Lucas
Director of NARILIS

3. Fields of expertise
Fields of expertise
• Nanomaterial (NM) physicochemical characterisation:
pristine forms, dispersions, complex matrices
• NM fate and biodistribution studies at cellular and organ levels
• Assessment of NM potential toxicity: in vitro & in vivo testing
following OECD guidelines
• Metrology, cross validation studies for regulatory purposes:
validated supplier of EC-JRC IRMM
• Animal whole-body exposure to standardized airborne
aerosols: local and systemic impacts, biopersistence
• Heamocompatibility of NMs
• Toxicity mechanistic studies
• Nanomaterial regulation: OECD WPMN, EC DG Consumers &
Health, GAARN- European Chemical Agency, BE Superior Health
council
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4. Industrial targets
Industrial applications fields
Potentially, all industrial sectors involved nanotechnologies
• NM manufacturers
• Paint & coating
• Construction
• Transport
• Cosmetic
• Food
• Biomedical and health
• Electronics
• Aerospace
•…
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5. Applied research projects in Nanotoxicology
Ongoing projects
QualityNano : A pan-European Infrastructure Project for quality in
nanomaterials safety testing.
Joint Research and Networking Activities and provision of Transnational Access.
(7 M€, 2011-14, INFRASTRUCTURE-2010-1-262163). http://www.qualitynano.eu
NANOVALID: Large scale integrated project: Development of reference methods
for hazard identification, risk assessment and LCA of engineered nanomaterials
(7 M€, 2011-14, NMP4-LA-2011-263147). http://www.nanovalid.eu
NANoREG: Large scale integrated project: Regulory testing of Nanotechnology
The approach of NANoREG will provide answers to Society, Industry and the
National Regulation and Legislation Authorities (48 M€, 2013-16, NMP4-LA2013, 310584). http://www.nanoreg.eu
Closed projects
Program of Excellence NANOTOXICO n°516252: Coordinator : Unamur–(Jan 2006
to Dec 2012) – Total Budget 10 M€ co-sponsored by DGO6-SPW & Unamur.
NANOPOLYMERES project: n°DG5/MR-RB/2007/nano1. Coordinator: ISP- Nov.
2007 to June 2008) – Total Budget : 32.000,00 €.
Silicalloy project: Convention n°6144 MECATECH Pole. Coordinator : De LEUZE
Brussels –
s.a. –Jan. 2009 to June 2013)–Total Budget 1.2 M€
Oct 24, 2013
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6. Special equipments
NM physicochemical characterisation
• 2 MeV Tandetron linear accelerator (Altaïs) for NM-core
chemical characterisation
• Field Emission Gun - Scanning Electron Microscope JSM7500F /Jeol (resolution 0.6 nm) with EDX detector for
morphology and global chemical composition
• CPS 24000 Disc Centrifuge for nanoparticle size analysis
• BET for porosity evaluation
• XRD for phase and crystallinity evaluation
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7. Special equipements
NM toxicity assessment
In vivo/ ex vivo testing
• Impact-R®, PFA-100®, light transmission aggregometry,
electron microscopy, KC-10®, cTGT for NM impact on blood
• Whole body inhalation exposure models for biodistribution
and biopersistence studies
In vitro testing
• Cell culture platforms – Tissue engineering - Young vs Elderly
• Confocal microscopy (Leica TCS SP5) for cellular uptake and
DNA damage studies
• Gene expression profiling and proteomic platforms for
toxicity screening
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8. Services provided to companies
Adapted to the demand
• Physicochemical characterisation: size distribution, shape,
surface properties (pristine form, complex matrices)
• NM release studies – Identification of potential exposure
• NM solubility
• NM transport /crossing through biological barriers
• Toxicity screening testings – safe by design strategy
• …
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9. Training proposals to companies
ITEMS
• Selection of best and most appropriate analytical technique for
NM investigation
• Training about in vivo and in vitro toxicity assessment
• On site NM worker exposure measurements
• Best NM manipulation practice
• Origin of NM generation as byproduct for vacuum based
technologies
• …
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10. Contacts
University of Namur
Namur Nanosafety Centre
Rue de Bruxelles, 61
5000 Namur
http://www.narilis.be/technological-facilities/namur-nanosafety-center
Pr Stéphane Lucas
Director of Narilis– Characterisation studies
stephane.lucas@unamur.be
 +32 81 72 55 28 or (54 81)
Dr Christelle Saout
Senior scientist– in vitro studies
christelle.saout@unamur.be
 32 81 72 57 13
Dr Olivier Toussaint
Senior FNRS research associate – In vitro studies
olivier.toussaint@unamur.be
 +32 81 21 54 87
Pr Jean-Michel Dogné
Director of the Pharmacy Dpt.– In vivo and hemocompatibility studies
jean-michel.dogne@unamur.be
 +32 81 72 57 13
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