11.3.14

  • 0
    • 0D**Retiring Term Replaced with 3D ( descriptor): A nanomaterial with three dimensions on the nanoscale. This includes nanospheres, nanocubes, quantum dots, etc.
  • 1
    • 1D ( descriptor):
    • 1D**Retiring Term Replaced with 2D ( descriptor) A nanomaterial with two dimensions on the nanoscale. This includes nanotubes, nanowires, etc. (1)
  • 2
    • 2D ( descriptor):
    • 2D* *Retiring Term Replaced with 1D ( descriptor): A nanomaterial with one dimension on the nanoscale. This includes nanofilms, nanoplates, etc.
  • 3
    • 3D (descriptor): A material which has three dimensions in the nanoscale (between 1 nm and 100 nm). This includes nanospheres, nanocubes, quantum dots, etc.
  • A
    • AFM: Short for atomic force microscopy. The AFM tip scans the sample line for line. Due to repulsion between needle and sample, a movement of the tip is detected. A three dimensional image can be simulated. (3)
    • AGGLOMERATE: Collection of weakly or loosely bound particles or aggregates or mixtures of the two in which the resulting external specific surface area is similar to the sum of the specific surface areas of the individual components. (1)
    • AGGREGATE: Strongly bonded or fused particles where the resulting external specific surface area might be significantly smaller than the sum of calculated specific surface areas of individual components. (1)
    • AGGREGATION/AGGLOMERATION STATE: The extent to which a group of particles, affected by attractive forces, forms groups or clusters (A physico-chemical characteristic in the Registry minimal information about nanomaterials). (1)
    • AS PROCESSED: The instance of characterization that describes when a characterization has been performed on a nanomaterial after changing its physical state in some way (e.g., dispersion in a media or sonication). (1)
    • AS RECEIVED: The instance of characterization that describes when a characterization has been performed on the nanomaterial in its native state after the scientist receives it from another lab or a manufacturer. (1)
    • AS SYNTHESIZED: The instance of characterization that describes when a characterization has been performed on the nanomaterial in its native state after synthesizing it. (1)
    • ASPECT RATIO: Ratio of longest to shortest external particle dimension. (1)
    • Acute: Denotes a sudden, rapid, short-term effect (e.g. a fast occurring toxic effect). (3)
    • Aerosols: General term for mixtures of gases (e.g. air) that contain suspended solid or liquid particles (so-called particulate matter), which are approximately 1 nm to 10 μm in diameter. Sea salt aerosols, for example, are formed as sea water droplets that are dispersed into the atmosphere by wind evaporate to leave sea salt particles. (3)
    • Agglomerates: Accumulations of weakly bound particles or aggregates or of compounds of these, whose resulting surfaces are similar to the sum of surfaces of the individual components. Agglomerates are held together by weak forces, for example Van der Waals forces or simple physical hooks. Agglomerates are referred to as secondary particles, while the unbound particles are known as primary particles. (3)
    • Aggregates: Solidly bound or molten particles, whose resulting surface may be much smaller than the sum of the calculated surfaces of the individual components. Aggregates are held together by strong forces such as covalent bonds or forces caused by sintering or complex physical hooking. Aggregates, just as agglomerates, are referred to as secondary particles. (3)
    • Alveoli: From Latin alveolus, "little cavity". Thin-walled, tiny air sacs, located at the ends of the smallest airways in the lungs (the bronchioles) where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place. (3)
    • Antigene: Describes a foreign substance that when introduced into the body stimulates the production of an antibody. Antigens include toxins, bacteria, foreign blood cells, and the cells of transplanted organs. (3)
    • Antioxidant: Any substance that prevents or reduces free-oxygen-radicals, which attack other molecules and modify their chemical structure. Antioxidants are commonly used as preservatives in food or cosmetics. Well-known antioxidants include vitamins A, C, and E. (3)
    • Apoptosis: Physiological or programmed cell death. In apoptosis only individual cells are affected generally and these react to internal signals (e.g. adjacent cells) or external stress situations. At the beginning of this process the cell nucleus, cytoplasm and mitochondria are shrinking; the cell membrane remains undamaged, so that no inflammatory reaction occurs. The biochemical indicator of apoptosis is the fragmentation of DNA. Along with proliferation the apoptosis is the common instrument to stabilize the cell count. (3)
  • B
    • BET: Description of a method (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) for the analysis technique of sizing surfaces by means of gas adsorption. (3)
    • BUCKYBALL: A nanoparticle characterized by a spherical geometry and hollow interior that is comprised of 60 carbon atoms. (1)
    • Bioaccumulation: Greek for bios - life and Latin for accumulare - pile up, accumulate; is the accumulation of a substance in an organism by absorption from the surrounding medium (e.g. water in fish) and through food. (3)
    • Bioavailability: Refers to the rate and extent to which a substance is absorbed unchanged from the environment or the gastrointestinal tract into the body. The amount taken up does not necessarily correspond to the amount present in food or in the environment of a living organism. (3)
    • Biocompatibility: Greek for bios - life and compatible; substances having no negative impact on living organisms or tissues, behave neutrally in the body and do not cause allergic or toxic (po nous) reactions. Particularly relevant for implants (e.g. made of diamond, zirconium dioxide, titanium), that are located over a long period in direct contact with an organism. (3)
    • Biomagnification: Greek for bios - life and Latin magnificare - increase; is the accumulation of a substance in an organism, only taking the dietary intake into account. (3)
    • Biomarker: Molecules or structures acting as indicators for environmental stress or disease, for example in medicine or biology. Characteristic biological features that can be objectively measured and indicate a normal biological or pathological process in the body. (3)
    • Bottom up: Indicates a particular approach that, starting from small components, usually molecules or clusters of molecules, allows to control and modify their aggregation, using them as real building blocks for nanostructures, (both inorganic and organic nanostructures). (2)
    • Bottom-up method: Literal meaning â��from bottom to topâ��. Production process starting from small units (from atoms, for example, in nanotechology). (3)
    • Brownian motion: Seemingly random, irregular, chaotic and incessant movement of particles suspended in a fluid. (2)
    • Buckminsterfullerene Or Buckyball: these are other terms for the carbon compounds described under fullerenes. They are derived from the name of Buckminster Fuller, the â��inventorâ�� of the fullerene structures. (3)
  • C
    • CARBON NANOTUBE: Nanotube formed of carbon. (1)
    • COATING* *Retiring Term Replaced with outermost shell: The outermost shell of a material. (1)
    • COMPOSITION: Chemical information and crystal structure of the nanomaterial (A physico-chemical characteristic in the Registry minimal information about nanomaterials). (1)
    • CORE: The innermost element(s) or compound(s) in a nanomaterial. (1)
    • Carcinogen: A substance, an organism or a radiation that causes or promotes cancer. (3)
    • Cell Penetration Capacity: The property of nanomaterials to penetrate cell walls or membranes due to their small size is referred to as cell penetration capacity. (3)
    • Chronic: Denotes a slowly occurring or long-lasting effect (e.g. toxic effects occurring only after long exposure time or a protracted inflammation). (3)
    • Clearance: In medicine, the clearance is a measurement of the excretion ability of certain organs like the kidneys or the liver. It corresponds to the calculated plasma volume per unit of time [ml/min], which was cleared of a particular substance. (3)
    • Coating: Is a covering that is applied as a thin film to the surface of an object, e.g. nanoparticles. Coatings are applied to improve surface properties of the nanoparticles, such as solubility, adhesion, wetability, and corrosion resistance, and to reduce dissolution of ions. Frequently used coatings in nanotechnology include polymers, lipids (medical applications) or metals (catalysts). (3)
    • Colloids: Very small solid particles (typically smaller than 10 µm), suspended in a solvent. Compared with solids in suspensions, solids in a colloid do not precipitate, i.e. do not sink to the bottom of a vessel. In liquids, colloids are recognized by clouding and/or the so-called Tyndall effect. (3)
    • Concentration: Collective term for measures related to volume, e.g. g/ml, kg/l, g/cm3. Due to their high surface/volume ratio, for nanoparticles instead of mass-related, surface-related concentration ranges, e.g. cm2/ml is frequently used. (3)
    • Crystal structure: Describes the regular arrangement of atoms or molecules in a crystal lattice. Different lattice structures of the same material (e.g. titanium dioxide) give nanoparticles different chemical and physical properties (e.g. photocatalytic activity). (3)
    • Cytoplasm: Is referred to as the entire living content of a cell, which is enclosed to the outside by the cell membrane. (3)
    • Cytosol: Also intracellular fluid or cytoplasmic matrix; cytosol is referred to as the liquid components of the cytoplasm of cells. The cytosol consists of water and therein dissolved ions, small molecules and larger water-soluble molecules, such as proteins. (3)
  • D
    • DWCNT: [double-walled carbon nanotube] A multi-walled carbon nanotube composed of only two nested, concentric single-wall carbon nanotubes. (1)
    • Deposition: To deposit, marks the deposit of solid, liquid and gaseous particles in the organism. (3)
    • Diffusion: Physical process leading to the mixing of different gaseous, liquid or solid substances theat are in contact with each other. (3)
    • Dispersion: From Latin dispersus - dispersal. In chemistry: mixing of two substances that cannot dissolve each other completely or react with each other completely. (1)
    • Doping: Materials that are impurified during production with small parts of another material (intentional impurification) are referred to as doped materials. Such traces of other elements can decisively affect the properties of a material, as, for example, is the case with different types of steel. In nanoparticles, individual atoms can be replaced by other atoms. (3)
    • Dose: Term for the amount of a substance, which acts within a specific time or to a specific organism (see also LD50). In toxicity testing ofnanoparticles, dose information, such as number of particles/cell or µg particles/cm2 surface area are used. (3)
  • E
    • EC50: Short for effective concentration, concentration of a substance that causes the half maximal effect of an observed effect. (3)
    • ENGINEERED NANOMATERIAL: Nanomaterial designed for a specific purpose or function. (1)
    • Electric point: Also IEP, pI or point of zero charge, is an important parameter for assessing the behavior of nanoparticles in aqueous surroundings. The IEP is the pH of an aqueous suspension, where the positive and negative charges on the particle surfaces are balanced. The IEP for each particle type is individually different and an important material parameter to assess the stability of particles in suspension. (3)
    • Electrolyte: Greek for electron - amber and lytikós - soluble, a chemical compound that contains mobile ions, which move under the influence of a directional electric field thus generating electrical conductivity of the solution. (3)
    • Electron microscopy: Is a method for representing very small structures. By using an electron beam instead of light significantly better resolution of about 0.1 nm is achieved, so this type of microscopy often used to detect nanoparticles in cells. The two distinctions are TEM and SEM. (3)
    • Electroplating: Electroplating is an electrochemical process that allows to grow a thin layer of metal on a surface, usually metallic, in order to prevent the natural corrosive process, increase the tensile strength, and increase the aesthetic quality. (2)
    • Endocytosis: Greek for éndon - inside and kytos - a cell, denotes the inclusion of foreign material (microorganisms, particles or solutes) into the cell through invagination and pinching off of portions of the cell membrane with the formation of a vesicle. (3)
    • Endogenous: Describes processes originating or being produced within an organism, tissue, or cell. (3)
    • Endothelial cells: The tissue which forms a single layer of cells lining various organs and cavities of the body, especially the blood vessels, heart, and lymphatic vessels. (3)
    • Epidemiology: Derived from the Greek terms epi - upon, among; demos - people, district; logos - study. "The study of what is upon the people". Scientific studies are dealing with the reasons, impacts and extension of health related substances in populations. Epidemiological studies show impacts of toxic substances on the human population, often unintended by incident. (3)
    • Epithelial cells: The thin tissue forming the outer layer of a body's surface and lining the alimentary canal and other hollow structures. (3)
    • Ex vivo: Latin: "out of the living", procedures or processes, in which living biological material, in particular cells, tissues or organs taken from a living organism and cultured outside of that. This will allow treatment and analysis of the material under controlled conditions. (3)
    • Exogenous: Describes processes having an external cause or origin. (3)
    • Exposure: Means to expose an object to a particular influence: In the case of nanomaterials, in particular, the contact of humans, animals or the environment with the possibility of incorporating nanomaterials. Both the quantity and the period of ingestion are of concern. (3)
  • F
    • FATE & TRANSPORT: Chemical change (fate) and physical location change (transport) of a material after insertion into an environment. (1)
    • FULLERENE: Molecule composed solely of an even number of carbon atoms, which form a closed cage-like fused-ring polycyclic system with 12 five-membered rings and the rest six-membered rings. (1)
    • Fluorescent nanocrystal: Nano-sized crystal, composed of several semiconductor materials, that emits light waves, when excited by ultraviolet light, whose wavelength depends on the characteristic size of the crystal itself. (2)
    • Free Radicals: Atoms or molecules that contain one or several unpaired electrons and, in that sense, are â��freeâ��. Correspondingly, any free radical has an electron that stands alone. Many free radicals are highly reactive, meaning that they have a strong tendency to arrange in pairs and, thus, escape the instable unpaired condition. For pairing, free radicals randomly receive electrons from a suitable donor or donate electrons to an appropriate acceptor, which converts into secondary free radicals. Such chain reactions may cause biological damage. (3)
  • G
    • GRAPHENE: single layer of carbon atoms with each atom bound to three neighbors in a honeycomb structure. (1)
    • GRAPHICALLY REPRESENTED: The term used to describe when information is presented in an image from which numerical values are not readily extractable. (1)
    • GRAPHITE: allotropic form of the element carbon, consisting of graphene layers stacked parallel to each other in a three dimensional, crystalline, long-range order. (1)
    • Genotoxicity: Genotoxic effects are damages to the genetic material of organisms (DNA). They can lead to mutations or increase the error rate in the doubling of DNA at each cell division. Genotoxicity is therefore not necessarily associated with mutagenicity. (3)
  • H
    • Hardness: Describes the resistance of a solid material against penetration of another solid body. It is determined by means of scratching (Mohshardness number in geology) or by indentation methods (materials science) which differ with respect to the indenter and the load regime (Vickers, Rockwell, Knoop, Berkovich). They deliver different hardness figures. (3)
    • Hemolysis: is the rupture or destruction of red blood cells and release of cellular contents (e.g. hemoglobin) into the plasma. (3)
    • Histopathology: Science concerned with the study of microscopic changes in diseased tissues. (3)
    • Hydrophilic: Greek hydor - water and philia - love: water-loving. Describing the character of a molecule, a substance or a surface, which has an affinity to water.
    • Hydrophobic: Greek hydros - water and phobos - fear: water repelling. Describing the character of a molecule, a substance or a surface, which has a low affinity to water. (3)
    • hydrophobic. (3)
  • I
    • IMPURITY: Unintended constituent present in a manufactured nano-object. It could originate from the starting materials or be the result of secondary or incomplete reactions during the production process. While the impurity is present in the final material, it is generally not considered to be intentionally added. (1)
    • INCIDENTAL NANOMATERIAL: Nanomaterial generated as an unintentional by-product of a process. (1)
    • INSTANCE OF CHARACTERIZATION: General term describing the designations of "as received", "as synthesized", and "as processed" used to capture the conditions under which a nanomaterial exists when it undergoes physico-chemical characterization or is used in a study. (1)
    • In physics: dependence of the propagation of waves on wavelength. Example: Decomposition of white light into light of different colours by a prism. (3)
    • In silico: Latin in silicio - in Silicium. Means the simulation of biological and biochemical processes using computer programs. (3)
    • In vitro: â��In the test tubeâ��, from the Latin vitrum â�� glass, referring to reactions outside the organism, sometimes under participation of autologous physiological conditions. (3)
    • In vivo: From the Latin vivus â�� alive, characterizing reactions or processes that take place in the living organism under physiological conditions. (3)
    • Inflammation: Typical response of animal tissues to potentially damaging stimuli e.g. by physical stimuli (pressure), chemical stimuli (heat or cold), or by micro-organisms (viruses, bacteria), with the function to remove this stimulus and to prevent its spread. Some technical nanoparticles are suspected to cause inflammations because of their bacteria- and virus-like particle shape, e.g. by inhalation of very high Titaniumdioxidconcentrations in the lung. (3)
    • Instillation: Administration of (particle-) suspensions into visceral cavities or hollow organs (e.g. nose, throat) of an organism. (3)
  • L
    • LC50: Short for lethal concentration, concentration of a substance leading to the death of 50% of the exposed organisms. (3)
    • LD50: Short for lethal dose. Concentration of a substance that leads to death of 50% of the organisms exposed to it. (3)
    • LOEL: Short for Lowest observed effect level. (3)
    • Lavage: French, from latin lavare - to wash. Medical procedure. Irrigation or washing out of a hollow organ or cavity such as the stomach, intestine or the lung. (3)
    • Lipophilic: Greek lipos - fat and philia - love: fat-loving, having an affinity to fat and high lipid solubility. (3)
    • Lipophobic: Greek lipos - fat and phobos - fear: avoiding fat, having a low affinity to fat and a high affinity to water. (3)
    • Live Cycle Assessment: Short LCA. Systematic analysis of the environmental impacts of products throughout the life cycle ("cradle-to-grave"). (3)
    • Lysosome: Small organells sorrounded by a membrane. The main function is to digest and to disrupt foreign material or body's own substances by the enzymes contained in them. (3)
  • M
    • MANUFACTURED NANOMATERIAL: Nanomaterial intentionally produced for commercial purposes to have specific properties or specific composition. (1)
    • MATRIX: The components of the sample other than the analyte (e.g. nanomaterial) IUPAC. (1)
    • MEAN AERODYNAMIC DIAMETER: The average particle diameter as calculated by particle behavior in air or viscous fluid. (1)
    • MEAN CRYSTALLITE SIZE: The average physical magnitude of an individual perfect crystal or region of regular crystalline structure in the substance of a material. (1)
    • MEAN DIAMETER: The term used for an average particle diameter when the measurement method is unspecified. (1)
    • MEAN HYDRODYNAMIC DIAMETER: The average particle diameter calculated by particle diffusion within a fluid. (1)
    • MEAN PRIMARY PARTICLE SIZE: The average particle diameter of the primary particle, when the measurement method is unspecified. (1)
    • MEDIUM: A chemical or solution that enables the analysis of a nanomaterial of interest. (1)
    • MIAN: [minimal information about nanomaterials] A list of the specific data and metadata fields which are either known or highly suspected as impacting critically the interactions of nanomaterials with biological or environmental systems. (1)
    • MOLECULAR IDENTITY: A description of a material's chemical makeup using a unique identifier such as chemical name, SMILES formula, CAS #, or PubChem CID. (1)
    • MTT assay: Abbreviation for the dye compound 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromidefor. Measuring the functionality of animal and human cells. Colorimetric assay for measuring the activity of enzymes that reduce MTT or close dyes. (3)
    • MWCNT: [multi-walled carbon nanotubes] Carbon nanotube composed of nested, concentric or near-concentric graphene sheets with interlayer distances similar to those of graphite. (1)
    • Macrophage: Greek makros - large and phagein - eat. Big eaters, cells of the immune system, serve to eliminate microorganisms or particles byphagocytosis; especially in areas of inflammation. (3)
    • Microinjection: Describes a transfection method where microscopically small substances such as antibodies, organelles or DNA are injected in very small amounts in a single cell using a very fine glass micropipette. This procedure is normally performed using a specialized microscope setup, a so-called "micro-manipulator". (3)
    • Micrometer: A micrometer is equivalent to one-millionth of a meter and is denoted µm. It is also called micron. To get an idea of the scale of this physical quantity, consider that the diameter of a red blood cell is 8 µm, while the diameter of a human hair varies between 65 and 78 µm.
    • Microstructure: Set of geometrical characteristics of the elements that compose the structure of a material, considered at a scale where they are observable only using microscopes and related techniques. (2)
    • Modelling: Is the simulation of different processes (biochemical processes in cells, material flows of nanoparticles in ecosystems) using especially developed computer programs. By changing relevant parameters of a process, modelling allows predictions and saves laborious experiments. (3)
    • Mucociliary: Describes the self-cleaning mechanism of the bronchi during which mucus and other materials are removed from the airways by the cilia of the epithelial cells. (3)
    • Mutagenicity: Describes the capacity of certain chemicals or high energy radiation to cause changes in the genetic material (DNA), known as mutations. (3)
  • N
    • NANO-OBJECT: Material with one, two or three external dimensions in the nanoscale. (1)
    • NANOFIBER: Nano-object with two similar external dimensions in the nanoscale and the third dimension significantly larger. (1)
    • NANOMATERIAL STATE: The physical state of material at its time of measurement. (1)
    • NANOMATERIAL: Material with any external dimension in the nanoscale or having internal structure or surface structure in the nanoscale. (1)
    • NANOPARTICLE: Nano-object with all three external dimensions at the nanoscale. (1)
    • NANOPLATE: Nano-object with one external dimension in the nanoscale and the two other external dimensions significantly larger. (1)
    • NANOROD: A solid nanofiber. (1)
    • NANOSCALE: Size range from approximately 1 nm to 100 nm. (1)
    • NANOSTRUCTURED MATERIAL: Material having internal nanostructure or surface nanostructure. (1)
    • NANOTECHNOLOGY: Application of scientific knowledge to manipulate and control matter in the nanoscale to make use of size- and structure-dependent properties and phenomena distinct from those associated with individual atoms or molecules or with bulk materials. (1). Multidisciplinary science that concerns the design and manufacture at the atomic and molecular scale, of structures that have at least one dimension between 1 and 100 nanometers and possess physical and chemical properties uncommon and extremely useful, that can be manipulated and modified in a controlled way. (2)
    • NF: Nanofiber
    • NO(A)EL: Short for no observed (adverse) effect level. (3)
    • NOEC: Short for no observed effect concentration. (3)
    • NP: Nanoparticle. (1)
    • NPL: Nanoplate. (1)
    • Nanocolloid: Set of particles with diameter less than 100 nanometers, which are uniformly dispersed in a solution, in general water-based. (2)
    • Nanocomposite material: Nanotechnology is a branch of applied science and technology, that observes, measures and fabricates the matter on a micrometric scale. Nanotechnology uses technologies and processes, which allow to exploit nanostructured materials. (2)
    • Nanofibre: Nano-object with two similar external dimensions in the nanoscale and a third significantly larger. (3)
    • Nanofiller: Materials in the form of ultrafine powders or nanoparticles, used as additives in common objects (at the production stage) in order to produce nanocomposites with physical and chemical properties different from the starting bulk material. They can be applied within organic matrixes (polymers, paints, etc.) or inorganic matrixes (metals, ceramics, etc..) both in the form of coatings or massive objects. (2)
    • Nanofluids: Fluids engineered by suspending nanoparticles with average size below 100 nm in traditional cooling fluids such as water, oil, and ethylene glycol. A very small amount of nanoparticles, if uniformly dispersed and in stable suspension, can provide dramatic improvements in the thermal properties of the cooling fluids. (2)
    • Nanomaterials: Area of nanotechnology that deals with the study and production of materials, eventually composed of particles with at least one dimension in the range of 1-100 nanometers. This allows these materials to gain unique properties. (2)
    • Nanomedicine: Application of nanotechnology techniques in medicine. Areas such as clinical diagnostics, drugs delivery and release are examples of nanomedicine applications. (2)
    • Nanometer: A nanometer (the short form is nm) is one-thousandth of a micrometer. A nanometer is used to measure distances at atomic and molecular scale: the unit cells of crystals are in the order of a nanometer, while the DNA double helix has a diameter of about 2 nm. (2)
    • Nanoobject: Material with one, two or three external dimensions in the nanoscale. This is a generic term for all nanoscale objects. (3)
    • Nanoparticle: Nano-object with all three external dimensions in the nanoscale. (3)
    • Nanoparticles: Nanoparticles are ultrafine particles sized between few nanometers to hundredth of millimeter. These are particles composed of molecular or atomic aggregates, with a size in the range of 2-200 nm. The use of nanoparticles forms the basis of nanotechnology. (2)
    • Nanophase material: Material with one or more phases with at least one dimension in the nanometer scale (1-100 nanometers). (2)
    • Nanoplate: Nano-object with one external dimension in the nanoscale and two other external dimensions significantly larger. (3)
    • Nanoporous material: Organic or inorganic material with structural cavities that not exceed 100 nanometers diameter. These materials can be filled with liquid or gaseous materials. (2)
    • Nanopowder: Powder composed of nanoparticles with diameters in the range of 1-100 nanometers. These powders are generally metals, alloys, ceramics or composites. (2)
    • Nanoscale: Or nano-scale, size range from approximately 1 nm to 100 nm. (3)
    • Nanoscience: Science concerning processes taking place in materials at the atomic and molecular scale. When at least one dimension is of the order of 100 nanometers or less. The purpose of this science is to understand the special physics-chemical properties of these materials and to define the methodologies to manufacture, handle and control them. (2)
    • Nanostructured material: Material whose structure is characterized by at least one dimension in the nanometer scale (1-100 nanometers). (2)
    • Nanotube: Nano-sized tubular structure with a typical diameter around 20-200 nm and a length of few micrometers. They can be classified on the basis of the number of nested tubes: single-walled nanotubes or SWNT (their cylinder walls consist of a single atomic layer) and multi-walled nanotubes and MWNT (their cylinder walls consist of multiple atomic layers). (2)
    • Natural organic matter: Is a group of compounds derived from the decay of dead plants and animals. Natural organic matter is present throughout the ecosystem. (3)
    • Necrosis: Greek nékrosis - dead. Mass death of areas of tissue or organs, surrounded by otherwise healthy tissue. (3)
    • Noxa: Latin noxa â�� damage, every harmful effect on man and/or environment. (3)
  • O
    • OUTERMOST SHELL: In a nanomaterial's composition, the constituents making up its surface layer. (1)
    • Organelle: Refers to functional systems within a (eukaryotic) cell, which are enclosed by a lipid membrane, e.g. Mitochondria, chloroplasts, the nucleus, the Golgi apparatus, lysosomes or the endoplasmic reticulum. (3)
    • Oxidative Stress: Results from an imbalance between the intracellular production of free radicals and the cellular defense mechanisms. The balance between oxidants and antioxidants may be disturbed by the increase in free radicals or the reduction of antioxidant substances. Oxidative stress may cause destructive biochemical reactions. (3)
  • P
    • PCC: Physico-chemical characteristic(s). (1)
    • PDI (Size): A parameter calculated from a Cumulants analysis of the DLS-measured intensity autocorrelation function. (1)
    • PDI(MW): The distribution of molecular mass in a given polymer sample - the weight average molecular weight divided by the number average molecular weight. (1)
    • PEC: Short for predicted environmental concentration. It is a theoretical value giving an indication of the expected concentration of a material (e.g. nanoparticles) in the environment (exposure assessment). The calculation takes into account the amount initially present (or added to) the environment, its distribution in the different environmental compartments, and the probable rates of environmental degradation and removal, either forced or natural. (3)
    • PHARMACODYNAMICS (Merck descriptor): The study of the biochemical and physiological effects of drugs and their mechanisms of action. (1)
    • PHARMACODYNAMICS (Registry descriptor): The relationship between drug/particle concentration at the site of action and the resulting effect, including the time course and intensity of therapeutic and adverse effects. (1)
    • PHYSICO-CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Physical and chemical characteristics reported in the MIAN. (1)
    • PNEC: Short for predicted no effect concentration, predicted concentration of a hazardous substance in the environment which shows no impact on the environment (effect assessment). If this concentration is thus below the PNEC, it should not have any negative effects. PNECs find application especially with PECs in the risk quotient in environmental risk assessment. (3)
    • POROSITY: A measure of void spaces in a material. (1)
    • PRIMARY PARTICLE: The non-aggregated , source particle of a sample. (1)
    • PROPORTION OF COATING: The relative amount of a particular substance that composes the coating of a nanomaterial. (1)
    • PROPORTION OF CORE: The relative amount of a particular substance that composes the core of a nanomaterial. (1)
    • PROPORTION OF NANOMATERIAL: The relative amount of a particular substance that composes the overall nanomaterial sample, not including its matrix. (1)
    • PROPORTION OF SHELL: The relative amount of a particular substance that composes a shell of a nanomaterial. (1)
    • PROTOCOLS AND PARAMETERS: The procedural methods and settings used in an experiment. (1)
    • PURITY (Registry descriptor): Amount of the intended substance within a manufactured material - Also includes identity and amount of any contaminants (A physico-chemical characteristic in the Registry minimal information about nanomaterials). (1)
    • PURITY (descriptor): Amount of the intended substance within a manufactured material. (1)
    • Pathogen: Greek pathos - suffering and genesis - origin, a disease causing. All substances or organisms that can cause a disease are summarized aspathogens. (3)
    • Peptide: Refers to a molecule that is composed of 2 or more amino acids linked by peptide bonds (chemical bond between carboxyl and amino group of two adjacent amino acids). (3)
    • Persistence: In biology and environmental chemistry, the term â��persistenceâ�� denotes the property of substances to persist in the environment over long periods of time while remaining unchanged by physical, chemical or biological processes. (3)
    • Phagocytosis: Greek phagein - to eat. Mechanism of uptake from particles to small cells in a single eukaryotic cell. Usually, particles are taken up by the cells as membrane-bound aggregates, i.e. large aggregates in vesicles, vacuoles or lamellar bodies (cell compartments surrounded by membranes) through phagocytosis. In mammals, phagocytosis is performed mainly by special cells of the immune system, including themacrophages, monocytes (precursor cells of macrophages), and neutrophils (or neutrophilic granulocytes, belonging to the white blood cells). This uptake is an active, regulated process. (3)
    • Photocatalytic activity: Ability of some nano materials (e.g. TiO2) to speed up a certain reaction ("photoreaction") as a catalyst in combination with light (sunlight, ultraviolet light). In the case of TiO2, for example, influenced by sunlight radicals (see also ROS) are formed, which decompose organic materials. This effect is used for self-cleaning surfaces. (3)
    • Pinocytosis: is the ingestion of liquid into a cell by the budding of small vesicles from the cell membrane. (3)
    • Polymer: Greek poly - more and méros - part, meaning "build from many parts", describes chemical compounds that are composed from identical or similar units (so-called monomers). These units can be linked to either chains or branched molecules. (3)
    • Primary particles: Nanoparticles, which can affiliate to a bigger linked system (agglomerate, aggregate). (3)
    • pH: Latin, short for pondus/potentia hydrogenii - weight/power of hydrogen. Dimensionless measure of the acidic or alkaline (basic) reaction of an aqueous solution. The pH of a nanoparticle suspension affects the behaviour of particles in the solution (agglomeration, solubility, suspensibility). (3)
  • Q
    • QD: Quantum dot. (1)
    • Quantum dot: Crystalline nanoparticle that exhibits size-dependent properties due to quantum confinement effects on the electronic states. (1) Semiconductor nano-structure, whose properties derive from the confinement of the electrons in a limited three dimensional space. Its physical properties, especially optical, are extremely interesting.
    • Quantum effect: Particular phenomenon and characteristic properties of a material that passes gradually from the macroscopic to the molecular or atomic scale. At this size, a material behavior is dominated by the laws of quantum physics. (2)
  • R
    • RAW DATA: The data collected from an instrument which have not been subjected to processing or any other manipulation. (1)
    • REACH: Short for Registration, Evaluation, and Authorization of Chemicals. REACH is the novel EC regulation no. 1907/2006 that has been in force since June 1, 2007. (3)
    • ROS: Short for reactive oxygen species, the organism considering harmful forms of oxygen, which result from oxidative stress. (3)
    • Risk quotient: Is calculated from an estimated exposure (PEC), divided by an estimated effect (PNEC). If a value less than 1, then there is an acceptable risk. In contrast, if the RQ greater than 1, there is an unacceptable level of risk and measures to reduce exposure should be taken. (3)
  • S
    • SEM: Abbreviation for Scanning Electron Microscope. A device to study smallest samples by scanning the object using electron beams. The resulting images are detailed illustrations of the object surfaces and have a great depth of field. (3)
    • SHAPE A:
    • SHELL CONTINUITY: The degree of holes or defects in a shell. (1)
    • SIZE (Registry descriptor): The physical dimensions of a particle. For spherical particles, it is their diameter. For irregularly shaped particles it is the diameter of the equivalent sphere, which has the same volume as a particle. Also includes physical state of the sample. (A physico-chemical characteristic in the Registry minimal information about nanomaterials). The Nanomaterial Registry's scope for the size PCC is broader than the description. (1)
    • SIZE (descriptor): The physical dimensions of a particle determined by specified measurement conditions. (1)
    • SIZE DISTRIBUTION (Registry descriptor):
    • SMILES [simplified molecular input line entry specification]: A line notation for describing the structure of chemical molecules using short ASCII strings. (1)
    • SOLUBILITY (descriptor): The degree to which a material (the solute) can be dissolved in another material (the solvent) so that a single, homogeneous, temporally stable phase (a suspension down to the molecular level) results. (1)
    • SOLUBILITY: (Registry descriptor) The degree to which a material can be dissolved in another material so that a single, homogeneous, temporally stable phase results. Expressed as the categorization of a material as hydrophilic or lipophilic as well as P value and D value (A physico-chemical characteristic in the Registry minimal information about nanomaterials). The Nanomaterial Registry's scope for information is necessarily more specific that the description. (1)
    • SPION: Short for superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. (3)
    • STABILITY: The measure of a system is in its lowest energy state or chemical equilibrium with its environment (A physico-chemical characteristic in the Registry minimal information about nanomaterials). (1)
    • SURFACE AREA (Registry descriptor): The quantity of accessible surface of a nanomaterial. Surface area is conventionally expressed as a mass specific surface area or as volume specific surface area where the total areal quantity has been normalized either to the sample's mass or to a volume. (A physico-chemical characteristic in the Registry minimal information about nanomaterials). The Nanomaterial Registry's scope includes nanostructured materials as well as nano-objects. (1)
    • SURFACE AREA (descriptor): The quantity of accessible surface of a powdered sample when exposed to either gaseous or liquid adsorbate phase. Surface area is conventionally expressed as a mass specific surface area or as volume specific surface area where the total areal quantity has been normalized either to the sample's mass or to a volume. (1)
    • SURFACE CHARGE: Electric charge on a surface in contact with a continuous phase (A physico-chemical characteristic in the Registry minimal information about nanomaterials). (1)
    • SURFACE CHEMISTRY (Registry descriptor): Chemical nature, including composition, of the outermost layer of a nanomaterial (A physico-chemical characteristic in the Registry minimal information about nanomaterials). The Nanomaterial Registry's scope includes nanostructured materials as well as nano-objects. (1)
    • SURFACE CHEMISTRY: (descriptor) Chemical nature, including composition, of the outermost layers of the nano-object. (1)
    • SURFACE COVERAGE LEVEL: The amount of a material's surface occupied by a particular substance. (1)
    • SURFACE REACTIVITY (Registry descriptor): Includes chemical affinities and speeds of reaction (A physico-chemical characteristic in the Registry minimal information about nanomaterials). The Nanomaterial Registry recognizes that there are no standard methods for analyzing surface reactivity and therefore allows the reporting of surface reactivity in many ways at this time. (1)
    • SURFACE REACTIVITY (descriptor): Measurement of reactivity of a material to the species to which it is reactive (such as reactive to water) and typically involves measuring products or by-products of that reaction. (1)
    • SWCNT [single-walled carbon nanotube]: Carbon nanotube consisting of a single cylindrical graphene layer. (1)
    • Secregation: Latin secernere - segregate. Release of important substances for the organism (for example hormones, digestive enzymes) by specialized cells, especially glandular cells. The substances themselves are called secretions. (3)
    • Sedimentation: Settling of particles from liquids influenced by gravity and other forces, e.g. the centrifugal forces generated in a centrifuge. The sedimentation rate is determined by the particle size and density of the material. (3)
    • Sediments (natural): Caused by deposition or settling of particles (e.g. sand, suspended solids or organic remains) on land or in waters under the influence of cold, wind and water. (3)
    • Sintering: Technical process, in which granular or powdery materials are mixed and then connected to each other by heating. They are baked together (similar to the burning clay or porcelain). The substances are heated to temperatures which are below the melting temperatures of the substance or at least one component of a mixture of substances. This method is used in many nanotechnology application processes. (3)
    • Solubility: The solubility of a substance indicates whether and to what extent a substance in a solvent (usually a liquid) can be solved. It describes the property of a substance to be evenly mixed with the solvent. Inorganic nanoparticles (mostly metals and metal oxides) decompose into ions. The solubility depends i.a. of temperature and pH of the solution. (3)
    • Specific surface area: Specific surface area is a material property of solids which measures the total surface area of a body per unit of mass (weight) or volume. Usually it is measured in square meters per gram (m2/gr). (2)
    • Stabilization: Auxiliary substances that contribute significantly to obtaining or maintaining a stable condition. This can for example be a certain particle size (preventing the agglomeration), or composition. Commonly used stabilizing agents for nano-materials include citrate, phosphates, orpolymers such as polyethylene glycol (PEG). (3)
    • Stribeck curve: The Stribeck Curve is a plot (in log-log format) of the friction coefficient of sliding lubricated surfaces as a function of viscosity, sliding speed and load. On the Y axis the friction coefficient is reported, while the X axis shows the parameter mN/P (where: m is the lubricant viscosity, N is the sliding speed, and P is the contact pressure). The combination of low speed, low viscosity and high pressure produces a poor lubrication regime (boundary lubrication); increasing the sliding speed, the friction coefficient will reach a minimum with a transition to the hydrodynamic lubrication regime. (2)
    • Subacute: Refers to a course or effect, which is located between acute and chronic, e.g. a less intense course, in time neither fast nor slow running. (3)
    • Surface charge: Is the electric charge present at the interface of the nanoparticle surface with a polar fluid such as water. The water contains positive and negative ions, which interact with the particle surface. If the number of adsorbed e.g. positive ions exceeds the number of negative ions, surface charge would be positive. Since direct measurement of the surface charge of particles measured is difficult, the zeta potential is calculated as a proxy for the surface charge. (3)
    • Surface modification: Are chemical changes on the surfaces of nanomaterials, which are commonly employed to impart certain improved properties to the surface of nanomaterials, e.g. improved solubility, resistance to UV light or scratch resistance. (3)
    • Surfactant: Short for surface active agent. Its function is to lower the surface tension and to improve the solubility in aqueous solutions. As medical term it describes the thin liquid film lining the lung for stability reasons. (3)
    • Suspension: Solid particles suspended in a liquid, i.e. a more or less thick sludge or slurry. Normally, the solid particles deposit on the bottom if one allows the suspension to rest for a while in the vessel. (3)
    • Systemic: "Concerning a system of organs" or "concerning the whole organism". (3)
  • T
    • TEM: Abbreviation for Transmission electron microscopy. A device to study smallest samples by shining electron beams through the object. To allow the electron beam to pass through the object, it has to be very thin. (3)
    • TOXICITY: Deleterious or adverse biological effects elicited by a chemical, physical, or biological agent. (1)
    • TRANSFORMATION: The processes or mechanisms which contribute to the degradation (chemical and biological) of a nanomaterial in an environment. (1)
    • Top down: It means reducing the dimensions of materials and structures, using physical approaches, up to levels close to 100 nm. (2)
    • Top-down-method: Literal meaning â��from top to bottomâ��. Production process starting from large units and proceeding with comminution (for example, cutting or grinding). (3)
    • Toxicity: Refers to the hazardous potential of a substance. Hence, to develop adverse reactions in cells and living organisms, and to compromise functionality, which can lead to the death of an organism. It can be distinguished as direct and indirect toxicity. In the first case the toxicity of the substance is based on an interaction with the organism by directly intervening in metabolic processes or molecular structures. In contrast, a substance may also cause a change of physical factors in the environment (e.g. reduction of incidence of light on plants, blockage of molting in crustaceans). Often, indirect toxicity is also understood as an effect of substances emerging from a non-toxic substance, e.g. by degradation or alteration in the body. (3)
    • Toxicology: Greek words Ï�οξικÏ�Ï� - toxicos - po nous and logos - study of the adverse effects of po n. (3)
    • Tunnel effect: Is a quantum phenomenon that occurs when a particle, such as an electron, crosses an opposite energy barrier, although it does not have enough energy to do that, according to classical physics. (2)
  • U
    • Ultrafine particle: Particles of variable chemical nature, whose equivalent diameter is less than 100 nanometers. (2)
  • V
    • Vesicle: Latin vesicula â�� small bubble. Round or oval compartments that are approximately 100 nm in diameter. Vesicles are located in the cells and are surrounded by separating layers (membranes). (3)
  • Z
    • Zeta potential: Also ζ-potential, is the electrical potential at the contact layer of a moving particle with an aqueous solution (suspension). Thus, within the same suspensions, it is a relative measure of the surface potential and thus the charge of the particle. For the measurement of the zeta potential, charged particles are moved through an applied electric field. The resulting speed is then a measure of the zeta potential. (3)
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