NANOTECHNOLOGY IS CURRENTLY BEING PURSUED AS A NOVEL MEANS TO ENHANCE THE EFFICACY OF DIVERSE CHEMICALS OF VALUE TO THE AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY, SUCH AS VETERINARY DRUGS, NUTRIENTS OR VITAMINS FOR LIVESTOCK. THIS PROJECT FOCUS ON THE APPLICATION OF NANOMATERIALS TO DELIVER ANTIBIOTICS FOR LIVESTOCK. THE EXTENSIVE AND WIDESPREAD USE OF CONVENTIONAL ANTIBIOTICS FOR LIVESTOCK IN PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF DISEASE HAS LED TO SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL AND FOOD SAFETY CONCERNS, INCLUDING THE PROLIFERATION OF ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANT MICROORGANISMS. NANOMATERIALS KNOWN TO PROVIDE SLOW RELEASE OF DRUGS AND TARGETED DELIVERY COULD ENHANCE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ANTIBIOTICS AND REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF ANTIBIOTICS USED FOR TREATMENT. THE USE OF THESE NANOPARTICLES IS EXPECTED TO CHANGE THE FATE AND TOXICITY OF ANTIBIOTICS, AS WELL AS THE RISK FOR DEVELOPMENT OF ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE. HOWEVER, CURRENT LIMITATIONS IN KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH, AND SAFETY CONSEQUENCES, EITHER POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE, OF NANO-DELIVERED ANTIBIOTICS HINDERS THEIR APPLICATION IN LIVESTOCK. THIS RESEARCH ON THE SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION, FATE, AND BIOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS OF NANOPARTICLES IN THE GUT ENVIRONMENT IS EXPECTED TO BE BROADLY APPLICABLE TO DESIGN SAFE AND EFFECTIVE NANOMATERIALS ACROSS ALL SECTORS OF AGRICULTURE, FROM DRUG AND NUTRIENT DELIVERY FOR LIVESTOCK TO PESTICIDE AND FERTILIZER DELIVERY FOR CROPS.