Our extensive research on nanomaterials in the nbml-E3 lab indicates that metal/metal oxide NPs have unique physico-chemical, interfacial, electrical and optoelectronic properties that find widespread applications for new classes of catalytic, energetic and thermoelectric materials.  While these qualities emerge from the drastic increase in the surface area-to-volume ratio of NPs that leads to behavioral domination by surface atoms and quantum confinement effects, the health and environmental risk factors arising from unique properties of NPs might be potentially dangerous, that are very difficult to predict yet. To this end, we seek  to study the effect of nanoparticles on biological membranes by investigating the poration effects of certain metal oxides (ZnO, Co3O4, TiO2, etc.) on synthetic lipid membranes by examining membrane integrity before and after liposome exposure to the NPs. We aim to achieve a fundamental understanding on the cytotoxicity of NP-cell membrane interactions from the perspective of “nanotoxicology” and/or, targeted drug delivery applications in future.