nanotechnology

Nanoscale materials often have chemical, physical, or biological properties that are different from those of their larger counterparts. Such differences may include altered magnetic properties, altered electrical or optical activity, increased structural integrity, or altered chemical or biological activity. Because of these properties, nanoscale materials have great potential for use in a vast array of products. Of particular interest to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA, the agency), nanoscale materials may enable new developments in products to advance public health. Also because of some of their special properties, nanoscale materials may pose different safety issues than their larger or smaller (i.e., molecular) counterparts.

The US Food and Drug Administration regulates a wide range of products, including foods, cosmetics, drugs, devices, and veterinary products, some of which may utilize nanotechnology or contain nanomaterials. The FDA has not established its own formal definition, though the agency participated in the development of the NNI definition of "nanotechnology." Using that definition, nanotechnology relevant to the FDA might include research and technology development that both satisfies the NNI definition and relates to a product regulated by FDA.

With the advent of nanotechnology, the regulation of many products will involve more than one Center, for example a "drug" delivery "device". In these cases the assignment of regulatory lead is the responsibility of the Office of Combination Products. To facilitate the regulation of nanotechnology products, the Agency has formed a NanoTechnology Interest Group (NTIG), which is made up of representatives from all the Centers. The NTIG meets quarterly to ensure there is effective communication between the Centers. Most of the Centers also have working groups that establish the network between their different components. There are also a wide range of products involving nanotechnologies, which are regulated by other federal agencies. The breadth of products regulated by FDA and the other agencies is shown in below. For insight on how nanotechnology products are regulated by FDA, please use the For more information about nanotechnology, please use the link to the National Nanotechnology Initiative web site. This site also contains links to other federal agencies involved in nanotechnology This website will direct you to documents in the respective Centers that will help you develop an understanding of how different products are regulated, and how you should proceed to get your product approved for marketing. Please note: While there are no nanotech-specific guidance documents at this time, all existing guidance documents would apply to nanotech products. Some resources on this site require you to have Microsoft Word to view them.