The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (Cedenna) has reached a new milestone in its contribution to Chilean scientific research by achieving the NCh-ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation for its Nanobioassay Laboratory, granted by the Chilean National Institute for Standardization (INN). This recognition validates the quality and reliability of its tests and allows Cedenna to offer the only certified test in Chile to evaluate the toxicity of nanomaterials, complying with the international standards defined by the OECD, which consolidates its position as a leader in nanosafety at national and international level.
The director of Cedenna and dean of the Faculty of Science at Usach, Dr. Juan Escrig Murúa, said that “the accreditation of the Nanobioassay Laboratory under the NCh-ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standard is an important accomplishment for Cedenna. It represents recognition of our ability to guarantee reliable and accurate results in nanomaterial bioassays, backed by the highest international standards. This reinforces our mission to lead nanoscience and nanotechnology research in the country, while ensuring the quality of the services we offer to industry, academia and research centers.”
“This accreditation will increase industry confidence in our services, facilitating collaborative projects in sectors such as health, energy and environment. It also invites universities and research centers to explore the services we provide from our accredited laboratory, fostering an ecosystem of scientific and technological collaboration,” he added.
“The INN certification validates the technical competence and reliability of our Nanobioassay Laboratory, delivering full confidence to companies that require our services. In addition, it allows us to issue toxicity reports and certificates with international recognition,” said the director of the Cedenna Foundation and winner of the National Exact Sciences Award, Dr. Dora Altbir.
She added that the traceability of the measurements performed by Cedenna's researchers means that companies will not need to undergo multiple additional tests or certifications, which significantly improves their competitiveness in the most demanding markets.
A unique laboratory in Chile
Dr. Mauricio Escudey, director of the Center's Nanosafety Unit, highlighted the strategic value of this achievement: “ Visitors to our laboratory will obtain results backed not only by the quality of our work, but also by an external accrediting body that has reviewed and validated our processes. This accreditation allows Cedenna to offer a unique test in Chile at the level of quality demanded by the productive sector and academia."
Dr. Manuel Gacitúa, researcher at Universidad Diego Portales and Cedenna, emphasized that “accreditation validates that our measurements are reliable, repeatable and internationally comparable. It is a guarantee for anyone who needs to know the hazardous nature of nanomaterials in their applications”.
“The accreditation of the Nanobioassay Laboratory granted by the INN is the result of rigorous and committed work by the Nanosafety Unit team. This certification validates the quality and reliability of our nanomaterials bioassays, supporting the methodological and scientific soundness of the laboratory as a fundamental part of Cedenna,” said Dr. Juan Pablo García-Huidobro, Usach researcher and academic, also a member of the team.
The path to accreditation
Achieving certification was not without its challenges. The researchers emphasize that they had to adjust the academic mentality and implement a rigorous quality management system, which involved everything from the training of the human team to the validation of suppliers and procedures.
Dr. Escudey added that “this process not only allowed us to comply with the required standards, but also to prepare ourselves for future accreditations in other tests required by the country”.
A contribution to Chile and the world
Cedenna and its Nanosafety team represent Chile in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), actively participating in the Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (WPMN), a space where global standards for the regulation, analysis and characterization of manufactured nanomaterials are discussed and defined. At these meetings, member countries work on establishing recommended methods for the analysis of nanomaterials, defining occupational exposure limits, environmental quality standards and the labeling of products containing them.
What was decided in the framework of these instances is relevant for Chile, since, as an OECD member country, the agreed regulations are available to be adopted in the national legislation, strengthening the safety and sustainability in the use of nanomaterials.
The recent accreditation of the Nanobioassays Laboratory reinforces Cedenna's role in the international scenario, consolidating its technical capacity and facilitating technology transfer and the link with the productive sector.
“It is not uncommon for companies to be subjected to the requirement of technical test reports executed by accredited laboratories. Compliance with this condition places the nanomaterial toxicity test performed by our laboratory at the level required by the productive sector, valuing our work beyond the delivery of a result”, concluded Dr. Mauricio Escudey.
With this accreditation, Cedenna reaffirms its leadership in nanoscience and nanotechnology, positioning Chile at the forefront of nanosafety and contributing to a safer and more responsible global development of nanomaterials.
In addition to strengthening national capacities, this achievement has a direct impact on Chile's representation in key international forums.