particular aspect — say surface chemistry, shape or size — we can then evaluate each iteration’s relative toxic potential within a week or so,” Harper said. This proactive approach helps companies avoid releasing potentially hazardous products into the market. One key insight has been the importance of surface chemistry. “There are certain chemistries that if you add them, you can make even cellulose toxic,” Harper said. That early finding from her lab reveals that even seemingly benign materials can become harmful with the wrong chemical modifications underscores the need to evaluate not just what a material is made of, but how it’s engineered. NANOPARTICLES MEET THE ENVIRONMENT Nanotechnology has become ubiquitous in consumer products, agriculture, and medicine, yet its environmental footprint remains poorly understood. Harper’s At Oregon State University, Stacey Harper has built a career at the intersection of cutting-edge nanotechnology and environmental health. Her research focuses on a deceptively simple question: When engineered materials shrink to the nanoscale, what happens when they encounter living systems? “There are now all of these cool new, precisely engineered nanomaterials used in everything from energy storage to medical equipment,” said Harper, a professor of environmental engineering. “But we have no idea if they are safe for humans.” Harper’s lab uses embryonic zebrafish as a window into human health. These tiny, transparent, fast-developing organisms allow her team to observe developmental disruptions in real time, enabling her team to rapidly screen new nanomaterials for risks. “If manufacturers can send us a series of nanomaterials that are tweaked in one THE HIDDEN HAZARDS TOP Left to right: Miranda Jackson, Ph.D. student in toxicology, Megan Dodge, Ph.D. student in chemical engineering, Stacey Harper. OPPOSITE Harper’s lab uses nanoparticle tracking analysis software to measure the size and concentration of nanoparticles in environmental samples. OF THE NANO WORLD WINTER 2026 OREGON STATE ENGINEERING 12
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