NCI established the Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL) to support the extramural research community to accelerate the progress of nanomedicine by providing preclinical characterization and safety testing of nanoparticles. It is a collaborative effort between NCI, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). NCL performs:
Please visit the lab website at https://dctd.cancer.gov/drug-discovery-development/assays/nano/protocols-and-capabilities to view details about instrumentation, capabilities, protocols, and characterization guides.
As part of its Assay Cascade, the NCL characterizes nanoparticles’ physical attributes, their in vitro biological properties, and their in vivo compatibility using animal models. This service is available by application, and characterization is provided at no cost for accepted applications. The NCL accepts proposals for the characterization of nanomaterials from academia, industry, and government. Proposals generally represent strategies that incorporate image contrast agents, cancer therapeutics, and cancer vaccines. A set of entrance criteria is applied to candidate nanotechnology strategies to aid in their selection and prioritization. Nanostrategies proposed to the NCL for characterization are ranked according to the measure of their projected impact on clinical cancer applications. The application process for NCL's Assay Cascade program can be found here.
The NCL also offers support via cCRADA and Technical Service mechanisms. These are fee-based services. For more information, please visit our website or contact us via email at ncl@mail.nih.gov.