Asli Baysal

Interaction of multi-functional silver nanoparticles with living cells

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used in household products and in medicine due to their antibacterial and to wound healing properties. In recent years, there is also an effort for their use in biomedical imaging and photothermal therapy. The primary reason behind the effort for their utility in biomedicine and therapy is their unique plasmonic properties and easy surface chemistry for a variety of functionalizations. In this study, AgNPs modified with glucose, lactose, oligonucleotides and combinations of these ligands are investigated for their cytotoxicity and cellular uptake in living non-cancer (L929) and cancer (A549) cells. It is found that the chemical nature of the ligand strongly influences the toxicity and cellular uptake into the model cells. While the lactose-and glucose-modified AgNPs enter the L929 cells at about the same rate, a significant increase in the rate of lactose-modified AgNPs into the A549 cells is observed. The binding of oligonucleotides along with the carbohydrate on the AgNP surfaces influences the differential uptake rate pattern into the cells. The cytotoxicity study with the modified AgNPs reveals that only naked AgNPs influence the viability of the A549 cells. The findings of this study may provide the key to developing effective applications in medicine such as cancer therapy.

A practical method for the determination of sulphur in coal samples by high-resolution continuum source flame atomic absorption spectrometry

Sulphur in coal was determined using a high-resolution continuum source flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (HR-CS-FAAS) with actylene/air flame. The C-S absorption band at 258.056 nm was found the most suitable analytical line with respect to sensitivity and spectral interferences. The instrumental parameters were optimized. The coal samples were dried and dissolved using microwave-assisted digestion technique. The validity of the method was tested using standard reference material and certified values were found in the limits of 95% confidence level. Since the concentrations of matrix elements of coal other than carbon are low enough not to cause any spectral interferences, the linear calibration method was applied in all quantifications without any problem. The calibration standards were prepared in sulphuric acid. The method was accurate, fast, simple and sensitive. The limit of detection (LOD, 3δ, N=10) and the limit of quantification (LOQ, 10δ, N=10) were found to be 0.01 and 0.03% (w/w), respectively. The sulphur concentrations of various kinds of the coal samples received around Turkey were determined. The sulphur contents of the coal samples were ranged from ≤ LOQ to 1.2%.

A novel slurry sampling analysis of lead in different water samples by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry after coprecipitated with cobalt/pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate complex

A preconcentration/separation technique based on the coprecipitation of lead with cobalt/pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate complex (Co(PDC)(2)) and subsequently its direct slurry sampling determination by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) was described. For this purpose, at first, lead was coprecipitated with cobalt/pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate complex formed using ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (APDC) as a chelating agent and cobalt as a carrier element. The supernatant was then separated and the slurry of the precipitate prepared in Triton X-100 was directly analyzed by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry with respect to lead concentration. The effects of experimental conditions on coprecipitation of lead with gathering precipitate as well as homogeneity and stability of the slurry were investigated. After the optimization of experimental parameters, a 100-fold enrichment of the analyte with quantitative recovery (>90%) and high precision (<10% R.S.D.) were obtained. By using the proposed technique, the lead concentrations in heavy matrices of Certified Sea-water and wastewater samples could be practically and rapidly determined in the range of 95% confidence level. The detection limit of the described method for lead using sample-matching blanks was 1.5 ng/L (3 sigma, N=10).

Influence of surface properties of zinc oxide nanoparticles on their cytotoxicity.

The toxicity of nanoparticles (NPs) depends on several factors including size, shape, surface properties and chemical nature of the NPs. The release of toxic ions due to the dissolution of NPs is another important factor. In addition, impurities or reaction products from synthesis procedures on the NP surfaces may contribute to the toxicity. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are one of the unique NPs showing toxicity through all of these mentioned factors. In this study, we demonstrate that the treatment of the ZnO NPs with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) alters the surface properties of the ZnO NPs by decomposing organic impurities remained from synthesis procedures. The changes on the surface chemistry and properties of the ZnO NPs influence their behavior in cell culture media and the NPs-cell interactions. Finally, a decrease in the cytotoxicity of H2O2 treated ZnO NPs is observed on HDF and A549 cells through the decrease of the membrane damage and oxidative stress.

Determination of Trace Metals in Waste Water and Their Removal Processes

Since the second part of 20th century, there has been growing concern over the diverse ef‐ fects of heavy metals on humans and aquatic ecosystems. Environmental impact of heavy metals was earlier mostly attributed to industrial sources. In recent years, metal production emissions have decreased in many countries due to strict legislation, improved cleaning/ purification technology and altered industrial activities. Today and in the future, dissipate losses from consumption of various metal containing goods are of most concern. Therefore, regulations for heavy metal containing waste disposal have been tightened [1].

A new approach for the determination of sulphur in food samples by high-resolution continuum source flame atomic absorption spectrometer

The new approach for the determination of sulphur in foods was developed, and the sulphur concentrations of various fresh and dried food samples determined using a high-resolution continuum source flame atomic absorption spectrometer with an air/acetylene flame. The proposed method was optimised and the validated using standard reference materials, and certified values were found to be within the 95% confidence interval. The sulphur content of foods ranged from less than the LOD to 1.5mgg(-1). The method is accurate, fast, simple and sensitive.

A rapid method for the determination of Pb, Cu and Sn in dried tomato sauces with solid sampling electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

In this work, lead, copper and tin were determined in tomato sauces by solid sampling graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (SS-GFAAS) and the results were compared with those obtained after sample digestion. The tomato sauce samples were dried at 90 °C for 12 h and directly introduced into the graphite furnace by means of solid auto sampler. Alternatively the dried samples were digested with concentrated HNO(3) (65%) and pipetted into the graphite furnace. After the optimization of the experimental parameters, the average lead, copper and tin concentrations found by the solid sampling and digestion methods in 10 different kinds of tomato sauce samples were not significantly different at 95% confidence level. For solid sampling technique, the limits of detection (LOD) for Cu, Sn and Pb were 10.4, 3.2 and 0.4 ng/g, respectively. Whereas for digestion method, for Cu, Sn and Pb were 6.7, 2.7 and 0.3 ng/g, respectively. The proposed solid sampling technique was fast, simple, the risks of contamination and analyte loss were low.

The use of solid-phase extraction and direct injection of a copolymer sorbent as slurry into the graphite furnace prior to determination of cadmium by ETAAS

Cadmium in different certified materials was determined by direct injection of sorbent loaded with the analyte into the graphite furnace of electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometer. For this purpose, cadmium was collected on ethylene glycol dimethacrylatemethacrylic acid copolymer treated with ammonium pyrolidine dithiocarbamate by the batch technique. After separation of liquid phase, slurry of the sorbent was prepared for the direct injection of the sorbent into graphite furnace. Optimum conditions for quantitative sorption and those for preparing homogeneous and durable slurry were investigated. A 100-fold enrichment factor could be reached. Cadmium in certified sea water and bovine liver samples was determined within the 95% confidence limits. The proposed technique is fast and simple, and the risk of contamination is low. The calculated detection limit for cadmium using sample-matching blanks was 0.09 µg L−1 according to the 3σ concept for the described method.

A new approach for the determination of sulphur in airborne particles by HR-CS ETAAS

ABSTRACT In this work, water and nitric acid extractable sulphur concentrations in PM2.5 fraction of urban aerosols were determined by high-resolution continuum source electrothermal molecular absorption spectrometry using most suitable CS molecular absorption band at 258.056 nm. For this purpose, the PM2.5 airborne particulates were collected on quartz filters using a high-volume sampler (500 L/min) in Istanbul (Turkey) during six months (January–June) of two consecutive years. The instrumental and experimental parameters (pyrolysis temperature, molecule formation temperature and leaching reagents) were optimised. The validity of the method for the sulphur was tested using standard reference material and the results were found to be in the uncertainty limits of the certified value.

Interaction of PM2.5 airborne particulates with ZnO and TiO 2 nanoparticles and their effect on bacteria

A significant knowledge gap in nanotechnology is the absence of standardized protocols for examining and comparison the effect of metal oxide nanoparticles on different environment media. Despite the large number of studies on ecotoxicity of nanoparticles, most of them disregard the particles physicochemical transformation under real exposure conditions and interaction with different environmental components like air, soil, water, etc. While one of the main exposure ways is inhalation and/or atmosphere for human and environment, there is no investigation between airborne particulates and nanoparticles. In this study, some metal oxide nanoparticle (ZnO and TiO2) transformation and behavior in PM2.5 air particulate media were examined and evaluated by the influence on nanoparticle physicochemical properties (size, surface charge, surface functionalization) and on bacterium (Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus/Gram-negative Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria) by testing in various concentrations of PM2.5 airborne particulate media to contribute to their environmental hazard and risk assessment in atmosphere. PM2.5 airborne particulate media affected their toxicity and physicochemical properties when compared the results obtained in controlled conditions. ZnO and TiO2 surfaces were functionalized mainly with sulfoxide groups in PM2.5 air particulates. In addition, tested particles were not observed to be toxic in controlled conditions. However, these were observed inhibition in PM2.5 airborne particulates media by the exposure concentration. These observations and dependence of the bacteria viability ratio explain the importance of particulate matter-nanoparticle interaction.