Alan obtained a BSc in Physics from the Dublin Institute of Technology and began working on his PhD in the physics department there after. His PhD was successfully awarded by the Dublin Institute of Technology for a study entitled “Physiochemical Indicators of Single Walled Carbon Nanotube Toxicity”. Briefly the study addressed some of the conflicting reports which existed in literature at the time regarding the toxicity profile of single walled carbon nanotubes in vitro. By employing parallel in vitro cytotoxicity and materials analysis techniques it was shown that the various interactions of SWCNT with cell culture medium, proteins, vitamins and cytotoxic indicator dyes all resulted in a false positive cytotoxic effect being evaluated. The study highlight the pressing need to address all possible contributions to nanoparticle toxicity and the need for awareness of these type of interactions in the development and validation of nanoparticle toxicity testing protocols. Alan is currently employed in the Focas institute as a postdoctoral researcher in the Nanolab research group.

SWCNT toxicity testing protocols