Discipline: Chemistry & Chemical Sciences
Subcategory: STEM Research
Jerzy Leszczynski - Jackson State University
While nanomaterials are naturally occurring, the intentional and unintentional production of nano-scale materials has exploded in the past 50 years. Understanding of structures, characteristics and biological activities of man-made nanomaterials is critical to prediction of their impacts on the environment and human health. Nanoparticle exposure is common, but short- and long-term exposure effects are currently not fully understood, especially since the primary and agglomerate sizes, surface area, and the characteristics of the surface play such important roles. There is a compelling need of studying potential toxicity of nanomaterials and advancing of efficient, fast and inexpensive computational approaches able to predict toxicity of new species before their industrial applications. Due to NSF investment and support of the Center we have pioneered development and applications of efficient methods to elucidate and predict toxicity of nanomaterials. To the right, are examples of recent vital Center’s contributions:
Funder Acknowledgement(s): NSF CREST
Faculty Advisor: None Listed,
NSF Affiliation: CREST