2012 IEEE International Conference on Bioinformatics and Biomedicine Workshops (BIBMW)

Nanomaterial Registry
A resource for biological and environmental interactions of nanomaterials

Xiao-zhong James Luo, Ph.D.

Program Director, Biomedical Informatics Programs
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, NIH
Email: luoja@mai1.nih.gov

Abstract-This paper introduces the Nanomaterial Registry, a
resource for biological and environmental interactions of well-
characterized nanomaterials. The registry also provides links
to associated publications, modeling tools, computational
results, and relevant manufacturing guidance.
Keywords-Nanomaterial registry; effects of nanomaterials;
human health; environment
I. INTRODUCTION
Materials engineered at the nano-scale represent an
exciting new frontier that holds enormous promise in
medicine, electronics and material sciences. Nano-science
and nano-technology are promising avenues for addressing a
number of unmet health care needs, e.g. devices for use at
the point of care, drug delivery, imaging probes, biochips,
and biosensors. However, there are critical challenges to be
resolved before the promises are realized.
There is a need for more accurate and comprehensive
information on the effects of nanomaterials on the
environment and human health. Appropriate and accurate
characterization of the physical and chemical properties of
engineered nanomaterials and their interactions with
biological systems are fundamental requirements for
successful material or device designs, as well as for
understanding and managing the lifecycle risks posed by
nanomaterials to the environment, health and safety. Data
management strategies, including data integration, data
modeling and smart data retrieval (search engines), validated
information for predictive modeling and simulation of
nanomaterials in realistic biological environments are still
limiting factors in the rational design of nanomaterials.
There has been limited effort to curate, organize and
disseminate data on nanomaterials and their interactions
within biological matrices. To address this need, the National
Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
(NIBIB), the National Institute of Environment Health
Sciences (NIEHS) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI)
are supporting a project at RTI International to develop,
maintain, and operate a web-based nanomaterial registry.
The goal of this project is to establish a curated nanomaterial
registry, that will provide consistent and curated information
on the biological and environmental interactions of well-
characterized nanomaterials. The registry will also provide
links to associated publications, modeling tools,
computational results, and relevant manufacturing guidance.
A set of minimal information about nanomaterials will be
developed through a community effort with broad
representation from academia and industry. It will provide an
avenue for researchers to navigate and compare available
information and to identify closely related nanomaterials. It
provides a way to tie together different sources of
information for a specific nanomaterial. It also helps to
identify information gaps when data are sparse. It facilitates
building standards and consistent information on
manufacturing and characterizing nanomaterials, and their
biological interactions.
II. NANOMATERIAL REGISTRY FUNCTIONS
In summary, the Nanomaterial Registry provides the
following functions for the research community:
• Basic and advance search through key words or physical
and chemical characteristics (PCC)
• Browse nanomaterials based on categories
• Display detailed information about PCC and the
biological, and environmental interactions of
nanomaterials
• Display the quality of the characterization of each
nanomaterial entry in the form of a compliance level
that is algorithm based
• Compare PCC and the biological and environmental
interactions of nanomaterials
• Find similar nanomaterials based on PCC and the
biological and environmental interactions of
nanomaterials
• Curation tool
• Provide a forum for public feedback about curated
nanomaterials
The curated data and reference information in
nanomaterial registry include:
• PCC
• Environmental interactions
• Biological interactions
• The minimal information about nanomaterials (MIAN)
for PCC (including details on instrumentation, protocols
and parameters of experimentation, and best practice
questions)
• Evaluation criteria in the MIAN for PCC
• Evaluation criteria for biological and environmental
interactions

978-1-4673-2747-3/12/$31.00 ©2012 IEEE 910

 III. SUMMARY REFERENCES
Available at www.nanomaterialregistry.org, the [1] National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) News Release, May 14,
Nanomaterial Registry allows users to search and compare 2012. Available at: http://www.nano.gov/node/819
characteristics of different nanomaterials. This resource is [2] Nanotechnology Knowledge Infrastructure: Enabling National
Leadership in Sustainable Design. White paper. Available at:
part of the newly announced NNI Signature Initiative: http://www.nano.gov/sites/default/files/nki_nsi_white~aper_-
Nanotechnology Knowledge Infrastructure: Enabling _may_14_2012_secured. pdf
National Leadership in Sustainable Design [1],[2].

IV. ApPENDIX: USER INTERFACES FOR NANOMATERIAL REGISTRY

Figure 1: Home Page

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Figure 2: Search for nanomaterials

Figure 3: Browse nanomaterials

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Figure4: Comparenanomaterials

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