In June 2026, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published standard ISO/TS 4966:2026, “Nanotechnologies -- Silica nanomaterials -- Specification of characteristics and measurement methods for nanoporous silica microparticles applied in liquid chromatography.” ISO notes that in common with other nanostructured materials, the manufacturing and material specification of nanoporous silica microparticles are complex. According to ISO, small variations in the synthesis...
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September 8, 2025
ISO Publishes Standards for Graphene-Related 2D Materials
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) recently published two standards for graphene-related two-dimensional (2D) materials: ISO/TS 9651:2025, Nanotechnologies -- Classification framework for graphene‐related 2D materials: The document specifies the characteristics and their respective measurement methods of graphene-related 2D materials in sheet and particle forms for commercial applications with the aim of classification of the materials. The classification framework...
May 26, 2022
ISO Publishes Standard on Characterization of CNT and CNF Aerosols for Inhalation Toxicity Tests
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) recently published ISO/TR 23463:2022, “Nanotechnologies — Characterization of carbon nanotube and carbon nanofibre aerosols to be used in inhalation toxicity tests.” The standard reviews characterization of carbon nanotube (CNT) and carbon nanofiber (CNF) aerosols for inhalation exposure studies. According to the standard, the framework for material characterization for inhalation studies consists of: Characterization of as-produced...
January 18, 2022
ISO Publishes Standard for Determining the Mean Size of Nano-Objects in Liquid Dispersions by SMLS
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) recently published ISO/TS 21357:2022, “Nanotechnologies — Evaluation of the mean size of nano-objects in liquid dispersions by static multiple light scattering (SMLS).” ISO states that the standard provides guidance and requirements for the determination of the mean (spherical) equivalent diameter of nano-objects (i.e., particles, droplets, or bubbles) dispersed in liquids using the SMLS technique. According to ISO, the technique is...
December 6, 2021
ISO TC 229 Begins Survey on Advanced and Emergent Materials
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI), which administers the U.S. Technical Advisory Group for the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Technical Committee (TC) 229 on Nanotechnologies, announced a survey seeking feedback on the use of terms related to advanced materials as part of its newly launched study group, Advanced and Emerging Materials. According to ANSI, the study group is charged with identifying and clarifying differences between the use of terms...
November 17, 2021
ISO Publishes Standard on Evaluating the Antimicrobial Performance of Textiles Containing Manufactured Nanomaterials
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) recently published ISO/TS 23650:2021, “Nanotechnologies — Evaluation of the antimicrobial performance of textiles containing manufactured nanomaterials.” ISO states that the standard specifies the antimicrobial performance assessment method for textiles containing manufactured (metals/metal oxides) nanomaterials. The textiles in the standard include fabric, yarn, and fiber in which manufactured nanomaterials are used during the...
August 11, 2021
ISO Publishes Two New Standards for Nanomaterials
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) recently published two standards for nanomaterials. ISO/TS 21633:2021, “Label-free impedance technology to assess the toxicity of nanomaterials in vitro,” describes a methodology of a label-free and real-time detection for non-invasive monitoring of cell-based assays to assess toxicity of nanomaterials to eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. ISO/TS 23034:2021, “Nanotechnologies — Method to estimate cellular uptake of carbon...
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published ISO/TR 22293:2021, “Evaluation of methods for assessing the release of nanomaterials from commercial, nanomaterial-containing polymer composites.” ISO states that an understanding of what is released from products containing manufactured nanomaterials “is critical to planning and managing safe development and use of those products.” The document aims to provide a guide to the information to be taken into account in...
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published standard ISO/TS 22292:2021, “Nanotechnologies — 3D image reconstruction of rod-supported nano-objects using transmission electron microscopy.” ISO states that the standard provides guidance for sample preparation, data acquisition by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), data processing, and three-dimensional (3D) image reconstruction to measure size and shape parameters of nano-objects on rod-shaped supports....
June 6, 2021
ISO Guidance Specifies Characteristics and Measurement Methods for Antibacterial Silver Nanoparticles
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published standard ISO/TS 20660:2019, “Nanotechnologies — Antibacterial silver nanoparticles — Specification of characteristics and measurement methods.” The standard provides guidance for the specification of characteristics and relevant measurement methods for silver nanoparticles in powder or colloidal forms that are intended for antibacterial applications in nanotechnology. ISO states that the standard is...
April 5, 2021
ISO Updates Series of Standards for Nanotechnology
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published a news item on April 1, 2021, entitled “The Science of Tiny Little Things.” According to the item, ISO has recently made some revisions and updates to its comprehensive 13-part series of International Standards for nanotechnology. Updated standards include ISO/TS 80004-3, Nanotechnologies – Vocabulary – Part 3: Carbon nano-objects, which defines terms and concepts for carbon...
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published two nanotechnology standards: ISO 21363:2020, “Nanotechnologies — Measurements of particle size and shape distributions by transmission electron microscopy”: The standard specifies how to capture, measure, and analyze transmission electron microscopy images to obtain particle size and shape distributions in the nanoscale. According to ISO, the standard is broadly applicable to nano-objects, as well as to particles...
On June 25, 2020, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) published a Nanotechnology Research Center (NTRC) Program Performance One-Pager (PPOP). NTRC conducts research to understand the potential effects on human health of exposure to engineered nanomaterials (ENM) and develops methods to control or eliminate exposures. According to the PPOP, NTRC’s accomplishments include conducting a survey to gather information about companies’ safety and...
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published standard ISO/TS 21412:2020, “Nanotechnologies — Nano-object-assembled layers for electrochemical bio-sensing applications — Specification of characteristics and measurement methods.” The standard specifies the characteristics to be measured of nano-object-assembled layers on electrodes by means of a solution process and of nano-objects constituting the layers for electrochemical applications such as...
April 16, 2020
ISO Publishes Standard on Characterization of CNT Samples Using Thermogravimetric Analysis
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published standard ISO/TS 11308:2020, “Nanotechnologies — Characterization of carbon nanotube samples using thermogravimetric analysis.” The standard provides guidelines for the characterization of carbon nanotube (CNT)-containing samples by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), performed in either an inert or oxidizing environment. The standard offers guidance on the purity assessment of the CNT samples through a quantitative...
April 14, 2020
ISO Publishes Standard Specifying Characteristics and Measurement Methods for Air Filter Media Containing Polymeric Nanofibers
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published standard ISO/TS 21237:2020, “Nanotechnologies — Air filter media containing polymeric nanofibres — Specification of characteristics and measurement methods.” According to ISO, in recent years, air filter media containing nanofibers have been commercialized and widely used by different industries due to their high filtration efficiency, along with a low pressure drop created by the slip flow effect. ISO...
March 11, 2020
ISO Standard Specifies Characteristics and Measurement Methods for Carbon Nanotube Suspensions
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published standard ISO/TS 19808:2020, “Nanotechnologies — Carbon nanotube suspensions — Specification of characteristics and measurement methods.” The standard specifies the characteristics to be measured of suspensions containing multi-walled carbon nanotubes (carbon nanotube suspensions). The standard includes the essential and additional characteristics of the carbon nanotube suspension, and the corresponding...
December 11, 2019
ISO Standard Specifies Method for Testing Photocatalytic Activity of Nanoparticles for NADH Oxidation
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published standard ISO 20814:2019, “Nanotechnologies — Testing the photocatalytic activity of nanoparticles for NADH oxidation.” The standard specifies a method for the measurement of the photocatalytic activity (PCA) of nanoparticles (NP), suspended in an aqueous environment in physiologically relevant conditions, by measuring the ultraviolet (UV)-induced nicotine adenine dinucleotide hydrate (NADH) oxidation. ...
October 25, 2019
ISO Standard Specifies Characteristics and Measurement Methods for Layered Clay Nanomaterials
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published standard ISO/TS 21236-1:2019, “Nanotechnologies — Clay nanomaterials — Part 1: Specification of characteristics and measurement methods for layered clay nanomaterials.” The standard specifies characteristics to be measured of layered clay nanomaterials in powder form and chemically modified ones and describes their relevant measurement methods. According to the standard abstract, there are...
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published standard ISO/TS 21361:2019, “Nanotechnologies — Method to quantify air concentrations of carbon black and amorphous silica in the nanoparticle size range in a mixed dust manufacturing environment.” The standard provides guidelines to quantify and identify particles of carbon black and/or amorphous silica in air samples collected in a mixed dust industrial manufacturing environment. The guidelines describe air sample...