HMC in ARD News "Tagesschau"

Nanoparticles offer an astonishing potiential for environment, men and  economy. They can be prepared from different organic or inorganic substances. But nano particles are so tiny, that they easily penetrate the body, which might lead to accumulations inside the body, if they are not biodegradable. These assemblages might have negative impacts. The nature of these impacts is not studied yet. Therefore the UBA recommends to mark the application of nano particles in daily use products.

Katja Richter comments the question of risks of nano particles: "It always depends on what nano particle is used. ... If it is for example made of inorganic materials like silver or similar substances,..., then it might accumulate in the body. Is the nanoparticle made of a biopolymer, like for example chitosan, it does not imply a danger."

Nano particles can also be produced out of chitosan. Chitosan is easily degraded by the human body, that is why this substance is of major interest of pharmaceutical industries. Chitosan nanoparticles allow e.g. the targeted transportation of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). In this way chitosan nanoparticle redound to a reduction of risks and side effects of  anti tumor agents and simultaniously excellerate the efficiency of the API.
You can watch the video at the archiv of Tagesschau. You can find the report about nano particles this way: Let you show all shows on october 21 2009, the 17:00 o'clock news broadcasted the video.Click on "Risiken der Nanotechnologie" and the article will start automatically. You can see Katja Richter in the interview and Maika Gulich working in the laboratory.

Further information on chitosan you can find here.