Nanotechnologies - Vocabulary - Part 5: Nano/bio interface

ISO/TS 80004-5:2011 lists terms and definitions related to the interface between nanomaterials and biology. It is intended to facilitate communications between scientists, engineers, technologists, designers, manufacturers, regulators, NGOs, consumer organizations, members of the public and others with an interest in: the application or use of nanotechnologies in biology or biotechnology; the use of biological matter or principles in nanotechnology.

Nanotechnologies — Vocabulaire — Partie 5: Interface nano/bio

L'ISO/TS 80004-5:2011 fournit une liste de termes et définitions associés à l'interface entre les nanomatériaux et la biologie. Elle est destinée à faciliter la communication entre les scientifiques, ingénieurs, technologues, concepteurs, fabricants, autorités réglementaires, ONG, organisations de consommateurs, membres du public et autres personnes intéressées par l'application ou l'utilisation des nanotechnologies en biologie ou en biotechnologie, ou l'utilisation de la matière biologique ou des principes biologiques en nanotechnologies.

General Information

Status
Published
Publication Date
20-Nov-2011
Technical Committee
ISO/TC 229 - Nanotechnologies
Current Stage
9093 - International Standard confirmed
Start Date
08-Sep-2025
Completion Date
30-Oct-2025

Overview

ISO/TS 80004-5:2011 is an international technical specification developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) focused on the nano/bio interface-the critical area between nanomaterials and biological systems. This vocabulary standard provides clear terms and definitions to facilitate effective communication across diverse stakeholders such as scientists, engineers, manufacturers, regulators, NGOs, consumer organizations, and the wider public involved with nanotechnology applications in biology and biotechnology.

This specification establishes foundational concepts related to the interaction zone between nanomaterials and biological matter, covering scenarios where nanomaterials influence biological systems (nanobio interface) and where biological elements affect nanomaterials (bionano interface). By doing so, it supports consistency and clarity in research, development, manufacturing, and regulatory activities involving nanotechnology in biological contexts.

Key Topics

  • Nano/Bio Interface Definitions
    ISO/TS 80004-5:2011 provides a minimal but essential set of terms that describe the interface phenomena between nanoscale materials (approximately 1 nm to 100 nm) and biological entities.

  • Directional Interpretations

    • Nanobio: Influence from nanomaterials to biological systems.
    • Bionano: Influence from biological systems to nanomaterials.
    • Nano/bio: General term covering both directions of interaction.
  • Scope of Terminology
    The vocabulary includes terms uniquely relevant to the nano/bio interface, excluding terms already well-defined in molecular biology or physical chemistry unless their significance changes specifically in the nano/bio context.

  • Foundational Focus
    Emphasis is placed on basic concepts rather than specialized applications like drug delivery or diagnostics, making it useful for cross-disciplinary adoption.

  • Collaboration and Standardization
    Developed jointly by ISO Technical Committee ISO/TC 229 and IEC Technical Committee IEC/TC 113, reflecting a harmonized approach between nanotechnology and electrotechnical standardization.

Applications

  • Biotechnology and Biomedical Research
    Assists scientists and engineers in understanding and accurately describing nanoscale interactions relevant for drug delivery systems, biosensors, and tissue engineering.

  • Regulatory and Compliance Frameworks
    Supports regulators and manufacturers in creating clear guidelines and controls for nanomaterials used in biological and medical products.

  • Environmental and Health Safety
    Provides terminology to study and mitigate effects of nanomaterial interactions with organisms and ecosystems, enhancing environmental remediation efforts.

  • Consumer and Public Communication
    Enables NGOs, consumer organizations, and the public to access standardized language that describes nanotechnology’s biological implications, improving transparency and informed decision-making.

  • Nanotechnology Innovation
    Facilitates interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation where biology principles inspire nanomaterial design and vice versa, ensuring consistent terminology across emerging fields.

Related Standards

ISO/TS 80004-5:2011 is part of a larger ISO/TS 80004 vocabulary series on nanotechnologies, which includes:

  • Part 1: Core Terms
    Fundamental nanotechnology terminology.

  • Part 3: Carbon Nano-Objects
    Definitions related to carbon-based nanostructures.

  • Part 4: Nanostructured Materials
    Terms describing materials structured at the nanoscale.

  • Part 7: Diagnostics and Therapeutics for Healthcare
    Vocabulary related to medical uses of nanotechnology.

Additional parts under development include nanoparticle nomenclature, nanoscale measurement techniques, and nanomanufacturing processes. These standards collectively ensure cohesive and comprehensive communication within the evolving field of nanotechnologies.


Keywords: ISO/TS 80004-5, nano/bio interface, nanotechnology vocabulary, nanoscale, biological nanomaterials, nanobiotechnology, nanobio interface, bionano interface, nanomaterials in biology, nanotechnology standards, ISO nanotechnology standards, biotechnology nanotechnology, nanotechnology communication

Frequently Asked Questions

ISO/TS 80004-5:2011 is a technical specification published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Its full title is "Nanotechnologies - Vocabulary - Part 5: Nano/bio interface". This standard covers: ISO/TS 80004-5:2011 lists terms and definitions related to the interface between nanomaterials and biology. It is intended to facilitate communications between scientists, engineers, technologists, designers, manufacturers, regulators, NGOs, consumer organizations, members of the public and others with an interest in: the application or use of nanotechnologies in biology or biotechnology; the use of biological matter or principles in nanotechnology.

ISO/TS 80004-5:2011 lists terms and definitions related to the interface between nanomaterials and biology. It is intended to facilitate communications between scientists, engineers, technologists, designers, manufacturers, regulators, NGOs, consumer organizations, members of the public and others with an interest in: the application or use of nanotechnologies in biology or biotechnology; the use of biological matter or principles in nanotechnology.

ISO/TS 80004-5:2011 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 01.040.07 - Natural and applied sciences (Vocabularies); 07.030 - Physics. Chemistry; 07.120 - Nanotechnologies. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.

ISO/TS 80004-5:2011 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.

Standards Content (Sample)


TECHNICAL ISO/TS
SPECIFICATION 80004-5
SPÉCIFICATION
First edition
Première édition
TECHNIQUE
2011-12-01
Nanotechnologies — Vocabulary —
Part 5:
Nano/bio interface
Nanotechnologies — Vocabulaire —
Partie 5:
Interface nano/bio
Reference number
Numéro de référence
©
ISO 2011
DOCUMENT PROTÉGÉ PAR COPYRIGHT

©  ISO 2011
The reproduction of the terms and definitions contained in this International Standard is permitted in teaching manuals, instruction
booklets, technical publications and journals for strictly educational or implementation purposes. The conditions for such reproduction are:
that no modifications are made to the terms and definitions; that such reproduction is not permitted for dictionaries or similar publications
offered for sale; and that this International Standard is referenced as the source document.
With the sole exceptions noted above, no other part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from either ISO at the address below or
ISO's member body in the country of the requester.
La reproduction des termes et des définitions contenus dans la présente Norme internationale est autorisée dans les manuels
d'enseignement, les modes d'emploi, les publications et revues techniques destinés exclusivement à l'enseignement ou à la mise en
application. Les conditions d'une telle reproduction sont les suivantes: aucune modification n'est apportée aux termes et définitions; la
reproduction n'est pas autorisée dans des dictionnaires ou publications similaires destinés à la vente; la présente Norme internationale
est citée comme document source.
À la seule exception mentionnée ci-dessus, aucune partie de cette publication ne peut être reproduite ni utilisée sous quelque forme que
ce soit et par aucun procédé, électronique ou mécanique, y compris la photocopie et les microfilms, sans l'accord écrit de l'ISO à
l'adresse ci-après ou du comité membre de l'ISO dans le pays du demandeur.
ISO copyright office
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Published in Switzerland/Publié en Suisse

ii © ISO 2011 – All rights reserved/Tous droits réservés

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
In other circumstances, particularly when there is an urgent market requirement for such documents, a
technical committee may decide to publish other types of document:
— an ISO Publicly Available Specification (ISO/PAS) represents an agreement between technical experts in
an ISO working group and is accepted for publication if it is approved by more than 50 % of the members
of the parent committee casting a vote;
— an ISO Technical Specification (ISO/TS) represents an agreement between the members of a technical
committee and is accepted for publication if it is approved by 2/3 of the members of the committee casting
a vote.
An ISO/PAS or ISO/TS is reviewed after three years in order to decide whether it will be confirmed for a
further three years, revised to become an International Standard, or withdrawn. If the ISO/PAS or ISO/TS is
confirmed, it is reviewed again after a further three years, at which time it must either be transformed into an
International Standard or be withdrawn.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO/TS 80004-5 was prepared jointly by Technical Committee ISO/TC 229, Nanotechnologies, and Technical
Committee IEC/TC 113, Nanotechnology standardization for electrical and electronic products and systems.
Documents in the 80000 to 89999 range of reference numbers are developed by collaboration between ISO
and IEC.
ISO/TS 80004 consists of the following parts, under the general title Nanotechnologies — Vocabulary:
 Part 1: Core terms
 Part 3: Carbon nano-objects
 Part 4: Nanostructured materials
 Part 5: Nano/bio interface
 Part 7: Diagnostics and therapeutics for healthcare
The following parts are under preparation:
1)
 Part 2: Nano-objects: Nanoparticle, nanofibre and nanoplate
 Part 6: Nanoscale measurement and instrumentation
 Part 8: Nanomanufacturing processes

1)
ISO/TS 27687:2008 will be revised as ISO/TS 80004-2.
iv © ISO 2011 – All rights reserved/Tous droits réservés

Avant-propos
L'ISO (Organisation internationale de normalisation) est une fédération mondiale d'organismes nationaux de
normalisation (comités membres de l'ISO). L'élaboration des Normes internationales est en général confiée
aux comités techniques de l'ISO. Chaque comité membre intéressé par une étude a le droit de faire partie du
comité technique créé à cet effet. Les organisations internationales, gouvernementales et non
gouvernementales, en liaison avec l'ISO participent également aux travaux. L'ISO collabore étroitement avec
la Commission électrotechnique internationale (CEI) en ce qui concerne la normalisation électrotechnique.
Les Normes internationales sont rédigées conformément aux règles données dans les Directives ISO/CEI,
Partie 2.
La tâche principale des comités techniques est d'élaborer les Normes internationales. Les projets de Normes
internationales adoptés par les comités techniques sont soumis aux comités membres pour vote. Leur
publication comme Normes internationales requiert l'approbation de 75 % au moins des comités membres
votants.
Dans d'autres circonstances, en particulier lorsqu'il existe une demande urgente du marché, un comité
technique peut décider de publier d'autres types de documents:
— une Spécification publiquement disponible ISO (ISO/PAS) représente un accord entre les experts dans
un groupe de travail ISO et est acceptée pour publication si elle est approuvée par plus de 50 % des
membres votants du comité dont relève le groupe de travail;
— une Spécification technique ISO (ISO/TS) représente un accord entre les membres d'un comité technique
et est acceptée pour publication si elle est approuvée par 2/3 des membres votants du comité.
Une ISO/PAS ou ISO/TS fait l'objet d'un examen après trois ans afin de décider si elle est confirmée pour trois
nouvelles années, révisée pour devenir une Norme internationale, ou annulée. Lorsqu'une ISO/PAS ou
ISO/TS a été confirmée, elle fait l'objet d'un nouvel examen après trois ans qui décidera soit de sa
transformation en Norme internationale soit de son annulation.
L'attention est appelée sur le fait que certains des éléments du présent document peuvent faire l'objet de
droits de propriété intellectuelle ou de droits analogues. L'ISO ne saurait être tenue pour responsable de ne
pas avoir identifié de tels droits de propriété et averti de leur existence.
L'ISO/TS 80004-5 a été élaborée conjointement par le comité technique ISO/TC 229, Nanotechnologies, et le
comité technique CEI/TC 113, Normalisation dans le domaine des nanotechnologies relatives aux appareils et
systèmes électriques et électroniques.
Les documents dont les numéros de référence sont compris entre 80000 et 89999 sont développés en
collaboration par l’ISO et la CEI.
L'ISO/TS 80004 comprend les parties suivantes, présentées sous le titre général Nanotechnologies —
Vocabulaire:
 Partie 1: Termes «coeur»
 Partie 3: Nano-objets en carbone
 Partie 4: Matériaux nanostructurés
 Partie 5: Interface nano/bio
 Partie 7: Diagnostics et thérapies pour les soins de santé
Les parties suivantes sont en cours d’élaboration:
1)
 Partie 2: Nano-objets: Nanoparticule, nanofibre et nanofeuillet
 Partie 6: Instrumentation et mesurage à l'échelle nanométrique
 Partie 8: Processus de nanofabrication

1)
L'ISO/TS 27687:2008 sera révisée en tant que ISO/TS 80004-2.
vi © ISO 2011 – All rights reserved/Tous droits réservés

Introduction
The interface between nanotechnology and biology constitutes one of the most interesting and technologically
promising frontiers of modern science. Research is yielding new ways to carry out biomedical and
pharmaceutical separations, as well as improved understanding of the uptake and distribution of nano-objects
in an organism, including high-technology approaches for drug delivery to specific targets within the human
body, highly sensitive and selective (bio)chemical sensors, and advanced ways to remediate environmental
pollution. Moreover, biology demonstrates the feasibility of nanotechnology, since many biomaterials, e.g.
bone, have been found to be structured at the nanoscale, and there are many nanometre-sized entities in
biology.
Regarding the scope of any terminology encompassing the nano/bio interface, this poses the fundamental
question of whether it is necessary to include terms with well established definitions in molecular biology or
terms dealing with biomolecular motions and binding.
Terms relating to the nonbiological (nano) side of the nano/bio interface are only included if they are not
already adequately defined, typically in physical chemistry. Similarly, regarding the biological side of the
interface, terms are only included when specifically applied to the nano/bio interface. Thus, although the
scope of this vocabulary could include quantum dots used for the tracing of biological entities, the existing
terminologies of physical chemistry and molecular biology suffice to describe such objects without ambiguity.
Nano/bio has two “directional” interpretations. The prefix nanobio means that the nano domain influences the
bio domain; the prefix bionano means that the bio domain influences the nano domain. The following
vocabulary focuses on the zone between a nanomaterial and a biological material, as exemplified by a
nanoparticle residing on the surface of a living cell, or a living cell residing on a nanostructured substratum. If
one is concerned with the biological response, it would be appropriate to refer to the nanobio interface. If, on
the other hand, one is concerned with how the nanomaterial is modified by the biological matter, it would be
appropriate to refer to the bionano interface. If both aspects are being referred to simultaneously or
indifferently, one may refer to the nano/bio interface.
This vocabulary is above all concerned with foundational concepts, rather than specific applications (such as
drug delivery, dentistry or plastic surgery). The terms included in the present vocabulary are considered to
comprise a minimal set. Considering the rapid development of the field, it is expected that more terms will be
added in the next edition.
Introduction
L’interface entre les nanotechnologies et la biologie constitue l’une des frontières de la science moderne les
plus intéressantes et les plus technologiquement prometteuses. La recherche offre de nouveaux moyens de
réaliser des séparations biomédicales et pharmaceutiques. Elle propose également une meilleure
compréhension de l’assimilation et de la distribution des nano-objets dans un organisme, notamment avec
des approches de haut
...

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