Efficiency and Safety Testing for nanomaterials and products

  1. Tests for performance and safety: In these tests, the three-dimensional (3D) model of cells and tissues and zebra fish embryo models will be used to substitute the conventional test using large animal models. These tests can be applied for various types of products, such as, cosmetics, health products, pharmaceuticals, food, downstream petrochemical products, nanomaterials, etc.
  2. Tests for safety and biological activity on the digestive system: These tests include acute toxicity of the products and products assimilation using three-dimensional intestinal tissue models (3D-intestinal models) which are suitable for the tests for the safety of raw materials, herbal extracts, drugs, food, dietary supplements, etc.
Image of intestinal organoid samples cultured within the National Nanotechnology Center.

 

Example of a 3D human intestinal tissue model developed by the National Center for Nanotechnology

 

   3. Safety and biological activity test in zebra fish embryos

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) have been demonstrated as an established vertebrate model and are widely used in toxicological and pharmaceutical research. The advantages of zebrafish over classical vertebrate models include high fecundity, external fertilization, ease of genetic manipulation, and transparency through early adulthood, enabling powerful imaging modalities. In addition, the model also has high genetic and organ system homology to humans.

At NANOTEC, zebrafish have been used as an alternative model to study toxicity and efficacy of chemicals, natural products, bioactive compounds and nanomaterials. Our research focus on

1) evaluation of environmental and preclinical toxicity.

2) identification of pharmaceutical efficacy in zebrafish embryos.

3) tracking of fluorescent nanoparticles into the fish circulation.

4) investigation of biological processes at the molecular level.

The zebrafish facility at NANOTEC aims to accelerate R&D process for Chemical, Pharmaceutical, Cosmetic and Nutraceutical companies reducing risks with our zebrafish services. There are two assays as following:

  1. Zebrafish Embryo Acute Toxicity Test

Acute toxicity tests of samples are important tests that can assess the safety of the samples. The test will be done using zebrafish embryos that are based on the OECD TG 236 (Fish Embryo Toxicity Test), which is more convenient, faster and cheaper than the test using rodent models.

  1. Inhibition of melanin synthesis test in zebrafish embryos

Melanin pigments are visible in the zebrafish embryos allowing simple observation of the pigmentation process without any complicated experimental procedures. Therefore, zebrafish is already established as an in vivo model for evaluating the depigmenting activity of melanogenic regulatory compounds and screening small molecules that control pigment cell development.

Contact :
Industrial Networking Development Section
National Nanotechnology Center
143 Thailand Science Park, INC 2 (B) Tower
Phahonyothin Road, Khlong Nueng, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120 Thailand
Tel. 0 2564 7100 ต่อ 6567, 6625  Email: bitt-ind@nanotec.or.th