Henry L. Pierce Seminar Series with Prof. Philip Demokritou
Wednesday, December 04, 2019 at 4:00pm to 5:00pm
Sustainable Nanotechnology: Bio-inspired, nature derived and non toxic nanomaterials for agri-food applications
Abstract:
The rapid expansion of nanotechnology is a powerful scientific and economic force. However, how balance the potential benefits of advanced nanomaterials with the potential environmental health and safety (EHS) hazards from such emerging and often inadequately characterized materials and products remains a challenge. Sustainable nanotechnology is an emerging field of interdisciplinary research that focuses on the development of “green” and non toxic nanomaterials and technologies that can be used to tackle major societal challenges in various fields and applications. This seminar will present highlights from current sustainable nanotechnology research projects at the Harvard Center for Nanotechnology and Nanotoxicology (www.hsph.harvard.edu/nano) in the agriculture and food domain. Projects include among other the development of green, nano-carrier platforms for targeted precision delivery of nature-derived antimicrobials for food safety applications using engineered water nanostructures (EWNS) and development of non toxic, nano-modulating platforms to engineer interfacial processes in the gut to reduce absorption of unwanted substances using natured-derived biopolymers. (Note: The research was funded by the US National Institutes of Health [NIH] and United States Department of Agriculture [USDA]) and the NTU/Singapore-Harvard SusNano Initiative.)
Dr. Demokritou’s research interests are primarily in the areas of nano-aerosol science and technology with an emphasis on the elucidation of particle-bio interactions and health effects. His particle research spans across the exposure-disease continuum and includes the development of personal monitoring (PM) systems for use in exposure assessment and epidemiologic
Bio:
His current research focuses on interactions of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) with biological systems, assessing the nano-bio interface and the role of ENM structure on bioactivity both in terms of nanosafety research and biomedical applications. His nanosafety research has involved development of in-vitro screening approaches for nano-specific effects (DNA damage, epigenetics, translocation of ENMs across biological barriers, etc), “safer-by-design” approaches for families of ENMs, development of advanced tools and framework approaches for in-vitro/in-vivo dosimetry, life cycle specific risk assessment studies for nano-enabled products (NEPs). and fate of ENMs in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT).
His current nanoscience research also includes synthesis of nanomaterials using flame spray pyrolysis, nature derived biopolymers for agri-food applications and environmental nanotechnology applications for pathogen inactivation, sustainable food package materials and agri-chemical delivery using nature derived biopolymers. Dr. Demokritou is currently the Director of two interdisciplinary research Centers at Harvard University: Harvard-NIEHS Nanosafety Research Center (www.hsph.harvard.edu/nanosafety) and the Center for Nanotechnology and Nanotoxicology at (www.hsph.harvard.edu/nano). He is also currently the Program Director for the Harvard-Nanyang Technological University/Singapore Sustainable Nanotechnology Initiative. In the past, he served as a co-PI of the Harvard-EPA PM Health Effect Center (1999-2010, US EPA star grant) and the Director of the Harvard-Cyprus International Institute for the Environment and Public Health from 2005-2008. He served as PI, co-PI, or co-investigator on several grants funded by NIH, EPA, NIOSH, NSF, USDA/NIFA, CPSC, and EU research framework (FP7). He holds eight international/US patents and inventions. He is a co-author of two books, numerous kookok chapters and more than 150 articles in lead ing journals in nanoscience, particle health effect, and aerosil engineering fields. Dr. Demokritou’s innovative research was highlighted in major mainstream media and online magazines, including articles published in the Economist, NanoWerk, Chemistry world, The Scientist, ACS C&EN News, MIT News, Harvard Gazette, and NPR news. Dr. Demokritou is currently an associate Professor at the Harvard School of Public Health and a founding co-editor in chief of NanoImpact (Elsevier), a journal that focuses on all aspects of nanosafety research.
- Department
- Civil and Environmental Engineering
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