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Transformation science
We follow advanced materials through air, water, soil and biota to reveal when their identity, reactivity and biological behaviour change.
Environmental hierarchyLabJoin the group ↗
Transformation, Reactivity & Advanced-materials in Complex Environments (TRACE Lab)
Understanding how advanced materials transform.
We uncover how emerging materials change across environmental and biological systems—and turn that knowledge into safer, more sustainable technologies.
Particle TransformationNanotoxicologyMetal-Organic FrameworksNanomaterialsEnvironmental RemediationMicroplasticsSafe and Sustainable by Design
Our perspective
Materials are not static.
Neither is their fate and functionality.
Performance and safety are often assessed using pristine materials. But the moment a material enters a real environment, its chemistry begins to evolve.
Based in the Molecular Sciences Building at the University of Birmingham, TRACE Lab maps these transformations across realistic exposure sequences, identifies the moments that commit a material to a biological outcome, and uses that evidence to guide safer design.
Research themes
From material identity
to their functions and biological outcome.
One connected programme spanning fundamental mechanisms, advanced measurement and responsible translation.
Transformation in action
- 01Material
identity - 02Environmental
interface - 03Biological
outcome - 04Evidence-led
design
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Mechanistic toxicology
Using Daphnia magna, C. elegans and cellular systems, we connect material speciation with uptake, localisation and biological response.
Model organisms03
Safe & sustainable design
Mechanistic evidence becomes practical design rules for safer materials, resilient interfaces, environmental remediation and resource recovery.
Translation04
Environmental remediation
We design and evaluate reactive materials that capture pollutants, with transformation behaviour considered from the outset of remediation design.
Cleaner environments05
Critical mineral recovery
Transformation-aware separation and recovery approaches help retain critical elements in circulation while reducing environmental burden.
Circular resources06
Micro- & nanoplastics
We investigate how plastic particles age, interact with contaminants and reshape exposure pathways across environmental and biological systems.
Particle pollution
Flagship programme · Funded by UKRI–NERC
Predicting the transformation of advanced materials.
Our programme follows nano-MOFs through environmental-to-biological exposure sequences, linking molecular-scale transformation with organism-level outcomes. The goal is a predictive evidence base for materials innovation—not a retrospective safety check.
- 2025–30
- Five-year research programme
- MOFs
- Core material systems
- XAS/XRF
- Synchrotron-enabled methods
Environmental hierarchy
How sequential exposure changes material identity, fate and toxicity.
Biological commit points
When transformation makes uptake, persistence or toxicity difficult to reverse.
MOF platforms for recovery
Patent-linked, safer-by-design materials for remediation and critical-resource recovery.
Funders & facilities
Powered by leading
research partners.
TRACE Lab is connected to a national and international network of funders, large-scale facilities and research infrastructures.
UK Research and Innovation
Natural Environment Research Council
The Royal Society
German Academic Exchange Service
Diamond Light Source
European Synchrotron Radiation Facility
Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin
Deutsches Elektronen-SynchrotronThe group
Curious minds.
Connected disciplines.
We bring together environmental science, chemistry, biology and large-scale facilities to answer questions no single discipline can resolve.
UKRI–NERC Independent Research Fellow · Group Lead
Dr Swaroop Chakraborty
Dr Swaroop Chakraborty leads TRACE Lab at the University of Birmingham. His research follows emerging materials through environmental and biological systems, connecting particle transformation and reactivity with organism-level outcomes to enable safer, more sustainable materials design.
University of Birmingham profile ↗
NERC CENTA Doctoral Researcher
Girija Bansod
Mapping the environmental transformation of metal–organic frameworks
MSc Biochemistry Student
Mimha Choudhury
Biomolecular transformation of micro- and nanoplastics
NERC CENTA REP Summer Student
Raihan Lenoire
Heavy-metal speciation on biofouled micro- and nanoplastics
Lab Mascot
Genie
Head of morale, wellbeing and fieldwork companionship
Past members
Royal Society International Exchange Doctoral Researcher
Nihal Singh
MOF–DNA hydrogel systems for environmental remediation
Visiting Doctoral Researcher
Prathmesh Bhadane
MOF-based Environmental Remediation
Selected publications
Ideas that shape
the field.
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ACS Nano · 2026
Hierarchical Environmental Exposure Transforms Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 and Increases Toxicity in Daphnia magna
Original researchEnvironmental Science & Technology · 2026
Mapping the Hierarchical Environmental Transformations of Nanoscale UiO-66 Metal–organic Framework
Original researchNature Reviews Chemistry · 2025
Biomolecular coronas govern the environmental fate of metal–organic frameworks
ReviewNature Reviews Materials · 2026
Environmental transformation of covalent organic frameworks
ReviewNature Reviews Materials · 2025
Capturing rapid nanomaterial transformations with cross-platform operando characterization
ReviewEco-Environment & Health · 2025
Environmental hierarchy as the third dimension of nanomaterial transformation science
PerspectiveAccounts of Chemical Research · 2025
Biomolecular Transformations Shape the Environmental Fate of Nanoscale and Emerging Materials
Invited accountNature Reviews Materials · 2025
Make metal–organic frameworks safe and sustainable by design for industrial translation
CommentaryComplete catalogue
66 publications listed
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View live Google Scholar profile ↗Ghost MOFs and the boundaries of framework identity
Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances
Adsorption-Programmed Transformation of a Two-Dimensional Cu-Imidazolate Framework into Mn-Integrated Catalytic Nanonetwork
Small
Substrate-fed metal-organic framework thin films through regenerative growth-removal cycling
Cell Reports Physical Science
Selective heavy-metal sequestration and rare-earth element recovery using metal-organic frameworks
Nature Protocols
Accounting for dynamic nanomaterial behavior in toxicological study design
Cell Reports Physical Science
Freeze-drying enables resource-efficient isolation of copper imidazolate metal–organic framework nanosheets for transformation-aware lead capture
Green Chemistry
Plastic particle risk is shaped by transformation history
Environmental Science and Ecotechnology
Structural Persistence Masks Commit-Point Chemical Transformation in Copper–Imidazolate Nanosheet Metal–Organic Frameworks
ACS Nano
A coupling platform for microplastics extraction and detection: Pollutant monitoring
Nature Water
Biofouled Micro-and Nanoplastics as Reactive Platforms for Potentially Toxic Element Transformation
Environmental Science & Technology
Environmental transformation of covalent organic frameworks
Nature Reviews Materials
Hierarchical Environmental Exposure Transforms Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 and Increases Toxicity in Daphnia magna
ACS Nano
Failure windows and commit points of engineered nanomaterials in the environment
Environmental Science and Ecotechnology
A Transformation-First Roadmap for Safe and Sustainable Emerging Advanced Materials
Accounts of Materials Research
Biomolecular coronas govern the environmental fate of metal–organic frameworks
Nature Reviews Chemistry
Capturing rapid nanomaterial transformations with cross-platform operando characterization
Nature Reviews Materials
Mapping the Hierarchical Environmental Transformations of Nanoscale UiO-66 Metal–organic Framework
Environmental Science & Technology
Invisible contaminants, irreversible consequences? LDPE residues twist the Arabidopsis holobiome
Journal of Experimental Botany
Enhancing amantadine delivery through PLGA micelles: a novel approach using oleic acid and Pluronic F68 for sustained release and reduced toxicity
RSC Advances
Surface functionalization of graphene-based materials: biological behavior, toxicology, and safe-by-design aspects
Advanced Biology
Evaluating the path to sustainability: SWOT analysis of safe and sustainable by design approaches for metal–organic frameworks
Green Chemistry
Green-synthesised carbon nanodots: A SWOT analysis for their safe and sustainable innovation
Journal of Cleaner Production
Cross-material synergies of carbon nanomaterials, MOFs, and COFs: Innovative approaches for sustainable environmental remediation and resource recovery
Coordination Chemistry Reviews
Make metal–organic frameworks safe and sustainable by design for industrial translation
Nature Reviews Materials
Nanoplastics in aquatic environments: The hidden impact of aging on fate and toxicity
Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology
A two-dimensional metal-organic framework for efficient recovery of heavy and light rare earth elements from electronic wastes
Separation and Purification Technology
Safe and sustainable by design MOF beads for selective entrapment and recovery of rare earth elements
Environmental Science & Technology
An integrated multimethod approach for size-specific assessment of potentially toxic element adsorption onto micro-and nanoplastics
Nanoscale
Environmental hierarchy as the third dimension of nanomaterial transformation science
Eco-Environment & Health
Designing safer nanohybrids: stability and ecotoxicological assessment of graphene oxide–gold nanoparticle hybrids in embryonic zebrafish
Environmental Science: Nano
Biomolecular Transformations Shape the Environmental Fate of Nanoscale and Emerging Materials
Accounts of Chemical Research
Biotic Transformation of Abiotically Stable Nanoscale UiO-66 Metal–Organic Framework by Daphnia magna Results in Chronic Reproductive Toxicity
ACS Nano
Characterising Dissolution Dynamics of Engineered Nanomaterials: Advances in Analytical Techniques and Safety-by-Design
Small
From soil to table: How safe and sustainable by design MOFs can revolutionize agriculture and food security
Matter
Synchrotrons, neutron sources, and XFELs guiding the future of safe and sustainable nanomaterials
Cell Reports Physical Science
Cellulose acetate-nanoMOF beads: a safe, sustainable and scalable solution for Pb remediation in complex water systems
Environmental Science: Nano
Are Ni–SiC nanoparticle electroplated coatings a safer alternative to hard chromium? A comprehensive aging, toxicity, and in silico study
Environmental Science: Nano
The dark side of MOFs: Uncovering hidden costs in the pursuit of environmental sustainability
Cell Reports Sustainability
Optimized multi-shell engineering for enhanced luminescence in core@shell@shell upconversion nanorods for dual-channel imaging
Journal of Alloys and Compounds
Soil-based zeolite and metal oxide nanomaterial application alters reactive nitrogen losses and lettuce growth
Environmental Science: Nano
Assessment of Phage-Displayed Peptides Targeting Cancer Cell Surface Proteins: A Comprehensive Molecular Docking Study
Journal of Peptide Science
Perturbation of enzyme structure by nano-metal organic frameworks: A question mark on their safety-by-design?
Journal of Hazardous Materials Letters
Modulation of heat shock protein expression in alveolar adenocarcinoma cells through gold nanoparticles and cisplatin treatment
Pharmaceutics
Hydrolytic Enzyme-Facilitated Mass Spectrometric Investigation of Metals in Processed Food Matrices
ACS Food Science & Technology
Antimicrobial and antiviral properties of stainless steel enhanced by controlled silver nano-island deposition
Journal of Materials Research and Technology
Hydrolytically stable nanosheets of Cu–imidazolate MOF for selective trapping and simultaneous removal of multiple heavy metal ions
Environmental Science: Nano
Outstanding Reviewers for Environmental Science: Nano in 2023
Environmental Science: Nano
How safe are nanoscale metal-organic frameworks?
Frontiers in Toxicology
Does the doping strategy of ferrite nanoparticles create a correlation between reactivity and toxicity?
Environmental Science: Nano
Gold nanoparticles induced size dependent cytotoxicity on human alveolar adenocarcinoma cells by inhibiting the ubiquitin proteasome system
Pharmaceutics
Functionalized gold nanoparticles suppress the proliferation of human lung alveolar adenocarcinoma cells by deubiquitinating enzymes inhibition
ACS Omega
Development of isotopically labelled 65Cu embedded PMMA-65CuO nanocomposites for detection and quantification of PMMA bone cement degradation
Materials Today Communications
CuO nanoparticles as copper-ion reservoirs for elesclomol-mediated intracellular oxidative stress
ACS Applied Nano Materials
Toxicological Impact and in Vivo Tracing of Rhodamine Functionalised ZIF-8 Nanoparticles
Frontiers in Toxicology
Doxorubicin encapsulated hollow self-assembled CuS nanoparticle clusters for bio-responsive chemo-photo therapy
Materials Letters
Novel dual labelled nanoprobes for nanosafety studies: Quantification and imaging experiment of CuO nanoparticles in C. elegans
Chemosphere
Biotransformation modulates the penetration of metallic nanomaterials across an artificial blood–brain barrier model
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Enhanced Visible/NIR driven catalytic activity in presence of neodymium, for Yb and Tm doped NaYF4 nanoparticles
Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering
Intranasal exposure to ZnO nanoparticles induces alterations in cholinergic neurotransmission in rat brain
Nano Today
Glycol chitosan in situ coating on PLGA nanoparticle curtails extraneous paclitaxel precipitates
Carbohydrate Polymers
Enhanced detection using stable isotope enriched 65Cu doped ferrite nanoparticles for tracing studies
Journal of Alloys and Compounds
A comparative analysis of dialysis based separation methods for assessing copper oxide nanoparticle solubility
Environmental Nanotechnology, Monitoring & Management
Multifunctional Fe3O4-ZnO nanocomposites for environmental remediation applications
Environmental Nanotechnology, Monitoring & Management
Exposure media: a critical factor for controlling dissolution of CuO nanoparticles
Journal of Nanoparticle Research
Glycol chitosan assisted in situ reduction of gold on polymeric template for anti-cancer theranostics
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
Tailoring of physicochemical properties of nanocarriers for effective anti-cancer applications
Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A
Latest news
From the group.
7 October 2026 · Water Magazine · Vlog
Greener processing makes novel material cheaper for water decontamination.
Swaroop joins Phil Alsop to discuss greener MOF processing and heavy-metal removal from wastewater.
Watch the vlog ↗
Lab news · 2026
First TRACE Lab group lunch.
A warm welcome to the team as we came together for our first group lunch.
2026 · Green Chemistry
Freeze-drying enables resource-efficient isolation of copper imidazolate metal–organic framework nanosheets for transformation-aware lead capture.
Read the paper ↗
2026 · ACS Nano
Structural persistence masks commit-point chemical transformation in copper–imidazolate nanosheet metal–organic frameworks.
Read the paper ↗
2026 · ACS Nano
Hierarchical environmental exposure transforms ZIF-8 and increases toxicity in Daphnia magna.
Read the paper ↗
Facility visit · ESRF
Six days at ID21 for nanoscale XRF and X-ray absorption spectroscopy.
With Rhiannon Boseley and Iuliia Mikulska, exploring particle transformation with the support of the ID21 team.
Facility visit · BESSY II
Synchrotron X-ray CT of Daphnia magna at BAMline.
Three days of experiments with Ana Guilherme Buzanich, Henning Markötter and Martin Radtke at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin.
PhD opportunities
Join TRACE Lab.
Opportunities
Come help us understand
what materials become.
We welcome enquiries from prospective doctoral researchers, visiting researchers and collaborators interested in advanced materials, environmental biology or synchrotron methods.
s.chakraborty@bham.ac.ukContact TRACE Lab ↗