The First Secure Protective Equipment for Nanoparticles

Telstar has developed the first biosafety cabinets for the handling and processing of NaCl nanoparticles. The 100% effectiveness of the cabinets has been verified through experiments performed as part of the NanoSost project.

Telstar’s research and innovation department for life sciences, specialised in the development of biological systems protection and air flow control technologies, has demonstrated that its containment technology applied to biosafety cabinets gives total protection to the operator when handling NaCl (sodium chloride) nanoparticles for biomedical and technological applications.

The experiments with nanoparticles under the NanoSost project took place in May 2010 and were performed in a clean room with CytoUltra equipment (Cytostatic type biosafety cabinet) at facilities equipped for experimentation for research centres and laboratories. The first published results of the NanoSost project show that the equipment developed by Telstar enables these types of nanomaterials to be worked with in total safety. Telstar’s innovation team continues its research into the development of new technologies to protect against other types of nanoparticles.

Telstar took part in subproject 5 of the NanoSost project for nanotechnology research, the aim of which is to establish scientific bases in risk control and create knowledge to improve protection to
and control of risks derived from exposure to nanoparticles. NanoSost is a singular, strategic project funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and headed by IQS.

Businesses, universities and research centres have collaborated for a year-and-a-half on this project to establish the bases for sustainable, responsible and safe nanotechnology. This project relies on
the active involvement of Spain’s main technology and research centres.