About FDA

Description: Nanotechnology is a rapidly expanding manufacturing method that is being used to develop a wide range of products that are, or will, be evaluated for efficacy and toxicity by the FDA. The FDA has created a core facility on the NCTR and Office of Regulatory Affairs/Arkansas Regional Laboratory (ORA/ARL) campus that provides NCTR and ORA scientists with the tools and expertise to characterize and determine the toxicity of nanotechnology-based, potentially FDA-regulated nanomaterials. This Core Facility is jointly funded by the FDA and NIEHS/NTP.

Public Health Outcome: Providing FDA regulatory scientists and study scientists with the tools to properly conduct toxicity studies on nanotechnology-based materials and products.

Accomplishment: The NCTR/ORA Nanotechnology Core Facility is providing support to FDA by providing materials characterization, the use of external techniques to probe into the internal structure and properties of a material, analytical support and electron microscopy support for a broad range of nanomaterial studies. Nanotechnology research will aid in the development of guidelines for the safe and effective use of these materials in drug products, devices, foods, cosmetics, and dietary components. By continuing nanomaterials research, FDA will have a better understanding of the consequences of human exposure to nanoscale materials. The Nanotechnology Core Facility was able to hire key scientific personnel and purchase and install equipment during the 2011 fiscal year. These new additions will ensure a strong scientific core for nanotechnology research in FDA.