Today, I would like to introduce our guest, Professor Jana Kukutschová from VSB – Technical University of Ostrava, where she works at the Department of Materials and Technology. Her research focuses on environmental chemistry, nanotechnology, and assessing the impact of nanomaterials on both human health and the environment.

In simple terms, nanotechnology is a multidisciplinary field that combines knowledge from several natural sciences, including physics, chemistry, and biology. At the same time, it has significant applications in medicine and biomedicine.

Nanotechnology covers a wide range of activities. It includes manipulating matter at the nanoscale, developing nanomaterials, characterising their properties, testing them for various applications, and studying different nanostructures.

The prefix nano comes from the Greek word meaning “dwarf.” In terms of measurement, one nanometre represents one billionth of a metre (10⁻⁹ m).

In nanotechnology, we most commonly work with structures ranging from approximately 1 to 100 nanometres.

However, it is important to remember that this boundary is not absolute. Even the official definition of a nanomaterial states that at least one of its dimensions should be smaller than 100 nanometres. In practice, though, particles measuring 110, 120, or even 200 nanometres may still exhibit nanoscale behaviour. What truly matters is not only their size but also the fact that their properties differ significantly from those of larger, micrometre-sized particles.

Yes, a fascinating example is gold nanoparticles.

Their behaviour is particularly interesting because the colour of a gold nanoparticle suspension changes depending on the size of the particles. When the particles measure only a few dozen nanometres, the suspension appears red. As the particles become larger, the colour gradually shifts through purple and blue into other shades. If the particles have a different shape, or morphology, they can even appear green or display other colours.

This phenomenon is caused by light diffraction. Certain wavelengths of visible light interact differently with nanoparticles than they do with larger particles, which is why we observe these remarkable colour changes.

The nanoparticles themselves cannot be seen with the naked eye. This is one of the challenges of working in nanotechnology. What we do observe are the unique properties they exhibit—such as these colour changes resulting from the interaction of light with nanoparticles.

One important example comes from environmental science.

Particles smaller than one micrometre are barely affected by gravity. Once released into the atmosphere, they do not settle quickly but can remain airborne and travel over very long distances.

This also means there is a much greater chance that people will inhale them.

That is why considerable research is currently focused on particles generated by road traffic and industrial metal 3D printing, which is one of the areas we study.

It is actually quite difficult to choose just a few examples because our research covers many different areas.

Since we have already mentioned titanium dioxide, one of our current priorities is finding safer alternatives to it. Today we know that exposure to titanium dioxide, particularly in its nanoform, may pose certain health risks.

One very promising candidate is graphitic carbon nitride, sometimes simply referred to as carbon nitride.

It exhibits photocatalytic properties similar to those of titanium dioxide but, unlike titanium dioxide, it does not require ultraviolet light. Ordinary visible light is sufficient, and according to current research, it does not show cytotoxic effects.

For this reason, researchers are actively investigating ways to replace titanium dioxide with safer materials in selected applications.

Another major area of our research focuses on nanomaterials generated as unintended by-products of human activities.

For example, we study particles released through traffic, particularly those produced by brake wear. Our goal is to investigate whether potentially hazardous brake materials can be replaced with safer alternatives.

In recent years, we have also devoted considerable attention to emissions generated during 3D printing.

Yes. Research shows that emissions of fine particulate matter produced even during standard polymer filament 3D printing should not be overlooked.

It is increasingly common for families to have a 3D printer at home, with children spending many hours in the same room while it is operating. If they are exposed to the particles released during printing, this may present a potential health risk.

That is why we also work closely with 3D printer manufacturers to explore ways of reducing these emissions or capturing the particles inside the printer before they are released into the surrounding environment.

In addition to desktop printers, we study industrial 3D printing systems that use metal powders, such as stainless steel and titanium or aluminium alloys. These technologies are widely used in the automotive industry, engineering, and healthcare.

Our research also involves monitoring the presence of solid particles in various human tissues and body fluids in relation to occupational and environmental exposure.

In particular, we focus on idiopathic diseases—conditions whose causes remain unknown. It is clear that the human body responds to environmental conditions in various ways, and we are trying to determine whether solid particles play a role in these responses.

That is not an easy question to answer.

In healthcare, safety and ethical considerations must always come first. If we are not certain about the potential risks, new technologies cannot simply be introduced into clinical practice.

One of the earliest practical applications of nanotechnology was converting conventional medicines into nanoformulations.

The medicine retains the same therapeutic effect, but thanks to its nanoform, a significantly smaller amount of the active substance is required.

This benefits not only the patient but also the environment. After all, the human body does not metabolise all of a medicine, and the remaining residues eventually enter wastewater, where they can become an environmental burden.

The main concern relates to solid particles that do not dissolve inside the body.

If they remain in the body and simply move between different organs or tissues, they may pose a health risk.

The situation is different for soluble materials. These eventually dissolve anyway; only the rate at which they dissolve changes.

Yes, and I must say I am genuinely pleased about the progress.

It seems that awareness has gradually increased that if we are not certain about the safety of a particular technology, it should not be used in places where the most vulnerable groups—especially children—spend their time.

Today, these types of applications have largely disappeared from kindergartens and other preschool facilities.

Instead, nanosprays are now used mainly in environments where they can provide greater benefits while posing considerably lower risks—for example, in certain industrial facilities or waste-sorting plants.

In my opinion, that is a completely different situation from applying them in schools or childcare settings.

It depends very much on the country.

In some Asian countries, these applications were introduced with relatively little regulation.

On the other hand, I once spoke with a representative of a Canadian company who told me quite directly that they would never be allowed to offer such technology for use in schools.

Overall, these types of applications are not particularly widespread across Europe.

I am very glad you raised this question because it is something I care deeply about.

As the academic guarantor of the Nanotechnology study programme, I have long been aware that nanotechnology and nanomaterials receive almost no attention in primary or secondary education.

Yet this is an exceptionally fast-growing field that can truly be described as a game changer.

Just think about the major events of recent years. Whether it was the COVID-19 pandemic or the energy crisis, nanotechnology provided solutions in many different areas.

During the pandemic, nanotechnology played an important role in some of the components used in vaccines. In the energy sector, it contributes to the development of new materials for energy storage and hydrogen production. It is equally important in modern electronics, medicine, and the development of more powerful computer processors.

Today, nanotechnology influences almost every area of science and engineering.

Another important aspect is the labour market. The number of companies working with nanomaterials continues to grow, and so does the demand for professionals with expertise in this field.

Exactly.

The earlier students become familiar with nanotechnology, the better they will understand the technologies that are already shaping their everyday lives today.

That is quite a challenging question.

If the solution were that simple, we would already have found it.

Titanium dioxide is an inexpensive material that was long considered inert. That is generally true for larger particles. However, once we move into the nanoscale, different properties begin to emerge, along with potential adverse effects.

For example, our research has identified titanium dioxide particles in various human tissues associated with certain diseases. We are currently investigating whether there may be a link between long-term exposure to titanium dioxide and particular health conditions, including diseases affecting the digestive system.

At this stage, we still do not have a definitive answer. However, I am very pleased that this issue is now receiving increasing attention from both researchers and regulatory authorities.

When we first started investigating nanosprays containing titanium dioxide several years ago, it was not even clear which authority was responsible for this issue. It was uncertain whether it fell under the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of the Environment, or the Ministry of Education.

At that time, the legislation also provided very little guidance for public health authorities. This illustrates how rapidly the field is evolving and how regulatory frameworks are still catching up.

Based on current scientific evidence, it has not yet been conclusively proven whether nanoparticles of these substances can penetrate intact human skin.

The available studies do not always reach the same conclusions, as many different factors influence the results. These include the person’s age, the area of application, and the condition of the skin.

For example, there is a significant difference between applying sunscreen to a young child’s face, where the skin is thinner, and applying it to an adult’s back. These are two very different exposure scenarios.

What I consider particularly important is that consumers are now informed when nanomaterials are present. That was not the case just a few years ago.

I would like to see people take a more active interest in this information. It is not enough for manufacturers simply to fulfil their legal obligation by indicating the presence of nano-objects in the ingredient list. Consumers also need to understand what this information means and take it into account when choosing products.

I very much welcome this development.

When I first began working in the field of nanosafety around fifteen years ago, I was often told that I was slowing down the progress of nanotechnology.

Today, however, we are increasingly recognising that alongside their remarkable properties, some nanomaterials may also have undesirable effects.

You mentioned genotoxicity and mutagenicity. For some substances, researchers believe these effects may have no safe threshold. In other words, there may not be any exposure level that can confidently be considered completely safe.

That is precisely why I support restricting the use of these nanomaterials in certain products.

In many cases, they do not provide any essential functional benefit. If they are included merely to achieve a particular visual effect—for example, in decorative cosmetics—I believe we are exposing ourselves to unnecessary risks without receiving any meaningful benefit in return.

Yes, one discovery really impressed me.

Recently, I read a paper related to research on nanoplastics. Colleagues working on microrobotics presented a fascinating concept based on magnetotactic bacteria.

These bacteria naturally contain magnetic particles inside their cells, allowing researchers to control them using magnetic fields. The idea is to use them to capture microplastics and nanoplastics from aquatic environments.

That was a genuine “wow moment” for me. I find it fascinating that biology, nanotechnology, and environmental protection can be combined into a single innovative solution.

That is not an easy question to answer.

Only recently have we begun to understand just how widespread the problem of microplastics and nanoplastics may be.

We used to associate them mainly with oceans and freshwater ecosystems. Today, however, we know they are also present in the atmosphere—even several kilometres above the Earth’s surface.

This means they can travel enormous distances and reach environments where, only a few years ago, we would never have expected to find them.

Our primary goal at the moment is to identify the most suitable combination of analytical methods for detecting and characterising nanoplastics.

Nanoplastics present a unique challenge. They are organic in origin and extremely small, which means they cannot be analysed using the same techniques that are commonly applied to larger or inorganic particles.

We also assume that long-term exposure may lead to their accumulation in the human body.

Previously, we investigated the presence of microplastics in various human tissues and body fluids. We are now extending this research to even smaller particles—those in the nanometre range.

These nanoparticles are particularly important because they are capable of crossing biological barriers.

Once inhaled, they may pass through lung tissue into the bloodstream and potentially reach almost any organ or tissue in the body. Our aim is therefore to determine where they accumulate, how they behave within the body, and what long-term effects they may have.

The first step is to develop reliable analytical methods, which can then be applied in research involving selected tissues and body fluids.

I must admit that waste management is not my primary research area, but there are two ways of looking at this issue.

The first concerns nanomaterials contained in products that eventually become waste at the end of their life cycle.

In such cases, it is important to understand how these materials behave during incineration or other waste-treatment processes, and whether existing technologies are capable of capturing inorganic nanoparticles before they are released back into the atmosphere.

The second perspective is much more encouraging.

Certain waste materials can actually serve as valuable raw materials for producing new nanomaterials. For example, they can be used to manufacture carbon nanoparticles, graphene, or carbon nanotubes.

In other words, waste itself can become an important resource for creating advanced materials.

There is one important message I would like to leave with them.

Throughout our conversation, we have spoken about both the benefits and the potential risks of nanotechnology. However, I would like to emphasise that nanotechnology itself is neither inherently good nor bad.

When it is properly designed and used with sufficient knowledge and understanding, it can be an incredibly valuable tool.

On the other hand, when it is applied without adequate expertise or without understanding its properties, it can become harmful.

I often explain this to my students by comparing nanotechnology to a car.

A car can be an excellent servant, but it can also become a dangerous weapon. Everything depends on how it is used. That is why we have driving schools, traffic regulations, seat belts, and safety rules. We know we should never drive under the influence of alcohol, and we understand the importance of using winter tyres when conditions require them. All these measures exist to minimise risk.

The same principle applies to nanotechnology.

Our goal is not to slow down scientific progress. Quite the opposite. We want to understand these materials as thoroughly as possible, identify potential risks, and find ways to minimise them.

I am particularly pleased that the field is increasingly moving towards sustainable nanotechnology, often referred to as green nanotechnology.

Researchers are making growing use of biologically derived and naturally occurring materials.

Examples include nanocellulose, nanochitin—naturally found in mollusc shells and crustacean exoskeletons—and nanohydroxyapatite, a material that is naturally present in our bones and teeth. Nanohydroxyapatite has considerable potential in applications such as bone regeneration and the treatment of dental caries.

Today’s nanotechnology is no longer focused solely on titanium dioxide or nanosilver. Increasing emphasis is being placed on materials that are biologically compatible and more environmentally friendly.

Exactly. If they enter the environment, they generally represent a much lower burden than certain inorganic nanomaterials that do not naturally occur in nature.

Thank you for the invitation and for giving me the opportunity to introduce this field to a wider audience. I believe that science communication is extremely important, and I am delighted that we had the chance to discuss nanotechnology in this way.