Nanotechnology has been touted as ‘the next technological revolution'; a revolution, however that is already here. Nanoscale materials currently exist in over 500 manufacturer-identified nanotechnology-based consumer products currently on the market as reported by the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies (PEN). The environmental and biological fate of these nanomaterials and their by-products is uncertain. As a result, environmental, consumer, other advocacy groups are calling for regulation and disclosure, or in some cases a moratorium of products containing nanomaterials.

In order to gain acceptance and benefit society, environmental and health considerations need to be investigated in tandem with nanomaterial synthesis. In our iterative approach, nanomaterials are designed using the principles of green chemistry, tested in biological and environmental systems and redesigned as necessary to produce nanomaterials with enhanced performance yet minimal hazard. This strategy will provide much needed data on biological impacts, improve public trust of the nanotechnology industry, and provide researchers with the information to develop safer nanomaterials.

In this presentation, we will highlight our design strategies for development of greener nanomaterials and nanomanufacturing processes and we will share proposed guidelines for implementing these strategies at the discovery and development stages, through scale up for production.