CheMatSustain Project
We recognize the transformative potential of nanotechnology and the importance of the Safe and Sustainable Design (SSbD) strategy in ensuring the safety and sustainability of nanomaterials and nanotechnologies. The project envisions a future in which innovative methods for assessing the safety and sustainability of chemicals and materials, especially nanomaterials, play a key role in achieving a climate-neutral, circular economy across Europe. Through collaboration, research, and innovation, we aim to pave the way for a greener future for future generations.
The project's main goal is to improve and standardize existing testing methods, protocols, and screening tests for chemicals and (nano)materials in the European Union. Our goal is to create a set of robust, reliable, and efficient tools, including high-throughput and in-silico models. These tools are based on innovative analysis of standardized test results using artificial intelligence. In this way, we aim to improve the safety and sustainability of these substances, providing a more efficient and effective approach to hazard, risk, and sustainability assessment.
The project is entitled: "Implementation of innovative methods for assessing the safety and sustainability of chemicals and materials, especially at the nanolevel, in the European Union," with acronym: CheMatSustain, and was initiated by Lodz University of Technology (Prof. Bogdan Walkowiak), which also serves as the project's scientific coordinator. The project leader is the University of Applied Sciences in Hamburg, Germany. Other project partners include: University of Lodz, Poland; EURSKEM B.V., the Netherlands; Technical University of Denmark, Denmark; Alma Mater Studiorum-Universität di Bologna, Italy; ProtoQSAR, Spain; Universität degli studi di Urbino Carlo Bo, Italy; Swedish Institute for Environmental Research, Sweden; Alfred Wegener Institute, Germany; and Manchester Metropolitan University, United Kingdom.
The project consists of eight work packages:
WP1 Project coordination, management, administration
WP2 Chemical and (nano)Materials selection, preparation and physicochemical characterisation
WP3 Pilot tests for metabolic response following exposure to selected CNMs
WP4 Pilot Tests of CNMs identification with photoelectron spectroscopy
WP5 Chemoinformatic prediction models
WP6 Safety and Sustainability assessment
WP7 Validation of approaches in light of EU strategy and policy
WP8 Upscaling, replication, communication and dissemination
The Lodz University of Technology is responsible for the implementation of WP3 and is also actively participating in the implementation of WP2, WP4, WP5, and other work packages.
We expect that the project will contribute to safer production, use, processing, and disposal of chemical and nanotechnology products, in particular by enabling the rapid and unambiguous identification of nanomaterials and chemicals using artificial intelligence methods to analyse similarities and differences between XPS and UPS spectra and transcriptome and proteome profiles of EAhy926 cells, which serve as a highly specific stress factor sensor.
The project is funded by the European Commission under the HORIZON-CL4-2023-RESILIENCE-01-21 call. Project duration: January 2024 – December 2027. Total budget: €4,924,128, including a budget of Lodz University of Technology: €698,060.00.