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NSI: Nanotechnology for Sensors and

Sensors for Nanotechnology: Improving and

Protecting Health, Safety, and the

Environment

Related Resources

See the Nanosensors White Paper.

Overview of Resources and Support for Nanotechnology for Sensors and Sensors

for Nanotechnology: Improving and Protecting Health, Safety, and the Environment

Request for Information: NNI Nanotechnology for Sensors and Sensors for

Nanotechnology Signature Initiative

The Nanotechnology Signature Initiative (NSI) Nanotechnology for Sensors and Sensors for

Nanotechnology: Improving and Protecting Health, Safety, and the Environment is the fifth NSI to

be launched by agencies of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI). The NNI agencies

recognize the considerable potential for nanotechnology to open the door to the development of

inexpensive, portable devices that can rapidly detect, identify, and quantify biological and

chemical substances. As such, nanosensors are expected to lead to revolutionary applications,

including early disease detection that can result in faster treatments and better outcomes, as well

as the early and accurate detection of environmental pollutants, contaminants, and even

biological or chemical weapons. Due to the diverse nature of these potential applications,

nanosensors are expected to impact multiple sectors of the economy, including the healthcare,

pharmaceutical, agricultural, food, environmental, consumer products, and defense sectors.

The NSI coordinates existing and emerging efforts to explore the use of nanotechnology in two

thrust areas:

1. Using nanotechnology and nanoscale materials to build more sensitive, specific, and

adaptable sensors in order to overcome the technical barriers associated with conventional

sensors
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2. Developing new sensors to detect engineered nanomaterials across their life cycles, in order

to assess the potential impact on health, safety, and the environment

Participating agencies

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

CPSC staff support the responsible research and development of

nanotechnology for implementation in innovative rapid sensing and monitoring

devices to improve safety for consumers. The development of novel sensitive,

discriminative, and low-cost nanosensors for use in consumer products to

detect prehazardous conditions and to provide warning or enable preventive

action can reduce likelihood of deaths and injuries. CPSC staff will provide support to the NSET

Subcommittee on currently available tools, standards, and approaches to assess the safety,
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efficacy, quality, and performance of products under CPSC’s jurisdiction.

Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA, part of DOD)

DTRA supports the discovery and development of analytical methods and

enabling nanomaterials for rapid and sensitive detection and identification of

chemical and biological threats and of new materials to enhance protection

against such threats. DTRA also supports the discovery of diagnostic methods

for identifying biomarkers indicative of exposure or infection by biological

agents, and new approaches in sensor data analysis and algorithms for threat detection.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The National Center for Environmental Research (NCER) at the EPA has

supported research in the development of innovative and rapid sensing and

monitoring devices. These devices enable accurate assessment of the

environment as well as identification and quantification of environmental

contaminants. The research was accomplished through the Science to

Achieve Results (STAR) grants program. Additionally, the EPA used the Small Business

Innovation Research program as the means by which promising technologies, such as sensors,

were solicited and funded.

Food and Drug Administration

FDA supports the responsible development of nanotechnology,

including products relevant to nanosensors. FDA will provide guidance

on currently available tools, standards, and approaches, as

appropriate, to assess the safety, efficacy, quality, and performance of

FDA-regulated products that may incorporate nanomaterials or

otherwise involve the application of nanotechnology.

NASA

NASA currently develops nanosensors that are highly sensitive and

miniaturized, and that have low power consumption, for detection of

chemical and biological species. Applications for these sensors include

incorporation into lab-on-a-chip technologies for crew health monitoring,

water quality monitoring in the International Space Station, and detection of

biomarkers in planetary exploration. NASA also develops nanotechnology-based chemical

sensors for a variety of gases and vapors encountered in planetary exploration, Earth monitoring,

and aircraft and spacecraft vehicle safety. NASA is also working on the development of

nanosensors to measure mechanical strain and detect the early onset of damage in structural

materials for use in structural health monitoring for aircraft and spacecraft. The technology and

test bed platforms are generic to leverage for biomedical and security applications.
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National Institutes of Health (NIH)

NIH supports nanosensor R&D programs in biomarker discovery and

validation, platform development for multiplexed biomarker detection

(including microfluidics platforms, proteomic devices, and SERS

instrumentation), multi-analyte arrays for exposure monitoring (both point-ofcontact and biomonitoring), molecular probes, DNA sequencing and

bioinformatics, and characterization of nanoparticles in vivo.

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

(NIOSH)

The NIOSH Nanotechnology Research Center (NTRC) has

designated applications of nanotechnology for occupational

safety and health as one of the 10 critical areas in its organized program of research to identify,

investigate, and develop science-based solutions to workplace health and safety knowledge

gaps in the area of nanotechnology. Through activities such as its Manual of Analytical Methods,

NIOSH supports development of guidelines and voluntary consensus standards for identification

of sensor needs and objectives; methods development, testing, and certification; user training,

documentation, and improvement; sensor acceptance, calibration, and reliability checks;

evaluation of operational experience; and periodic performance testing, including realistic

applications in complex workplace situations.

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

NIST is developing a variety of measurement methods to

characterize nanosensors and nanomaterials, and it is creating

nanosensors and nanomaterials for measurement applications and

standards. Reference materials developed at NIST support the validation of new sensing

platforms. The NIST Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology user facility provides access

to the tools and processes needed to accelerate the commercialization of nanosensor systems.

Research addressing information quality, integrity, and usability will contribute to the reliability

and security of sensor networks and data analysis. NIST’s complementary nano-EHS programs

support the safe manufacture, use, and disposal of engineered nanomaterials and

nanotechnology-enabled products.

National Science Foundation (NSF)

Through its Biosensing, Biophotonics, and other programs, NSF supports

development of novel sensitive, discriminative, low-cost, and easy-to-operate

biosensing systems; innovative ideas in the development of novel

biorecognition strategies; multifunctional nanomaterials and interfaces with

predefined physical, chemical, or biological characteristics for biosensing

applications; and fundamental study of biomacromolecules confinement and orientation at the
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micro- and nanoscale interfaces for biosensing applications. NSF also supports the development

of sensors to detect engineered nanoparticles in a variety of environmental matrices.

National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA-- part of USDA)

NIFA’s activities in nanotechnology for biosensors support its mission,

strategic goals, and high priorities and apply broadly to plant and animal

production systems, food quality and safety, nutrition and health, the

environment, and nano-biomaterials. The primary thrusts are in the

following areas: (1) Develop novel technologies for characterizing fundamental nanoscale

bioprocesses; (2) Construct and characterize self-assembled nanostructures; (3) Develop

nanoscale devices and systems incorporating micro-fabrication and nanotechnology; (4) Develop

a framework for economic, environmental, and health risk assessment for nanotechnologies

applied to food, agriculture, and biological systems; and (5) Produce education and outreach

materials on nanofabrication, sensing, systems integration, and application risk assessment.