Baoshan Xing

Bacterial toxicity comparison between nano- and micro-scaled oxide particles

Toxicity of nano-scaled aluminum, silicon, titanium and zinc oxides to bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas fluorescens) was examined and compared to that of their respective bulk (micro-scaled) counterparts. All nanoparticles but titanium oxide showed higher toxicity (at 20 mg/L) than their bulk counterparts. Toxicity of released metal ions was differentiated from that of the oxide particles. ZnO was the most toxic among the three nanoparticles, causing 100% mortality to the three tested bacteria. Al(2)O(3) nanoparticles had a mortality rate of 57% to B. subtilis, 36% to E. coli, and 70% to P. fluorescens. SiO(2) nanoparticles killed 40% of B. subtilis, 58% of E. coli, and 70% of P. fluorescens. TEM images showed attachment of nanoparticles to the bacteria, suggesting that the toxicity was affected by bacterial attachment. Bacterial responses to nanoparticles were different from their bulk counterparts; hence nanoparticle toxicity mechanisms need to be studied thoroughly.

Adsorption of Organic Compounds by Carbon Nanomaterials in Aqueous Phase: Polanyi Theory and Its Application

11. Conclusions and Perspectives 6005 12. Acknowledgments 6006 13. References 6006

Toxicity of nanoparticulate and bulk ZnO, Al2O3 and TiO2 to the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

Limited information is available on the environmental behavior and associated potential risk of manufactured oxide nanoparticles (NPs). In this research, toxicity of nanoparticulate and bulk ZnO, Al(2)O(3) and TiO(2) were examined to the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans with Escherichia coli as a food source. Parallel experiments with dissolved metal ions from NPs were also conducted. The 24-h median lethal concentration (LC(50)) and sublethal endpoints were assessed. Both NPs and their bulk counterparts were toxic, inhibiting growth and especially the reproductive capability of the nematode. The 24-h LC(50) for ZnO NPs (2.3 mg L(-1)) and bulk ZnO was not significantly different, but significantly different between Al(2)O(3) NPs (82 mg L(-1)) and bulk Al(2)O(3) (153 mg L(-1)), and between TiO(2) NPs (80 mg L(-1)) and bulk TiO(2) (136 mg L(-1)). Oxide solubility influenced the toxicity of ZnO and Al(2)O(3) NPs, but nanoparticle-dependent toxicity was indeed observed for the investigated NPs.

Interactions of Humic Acid with Nanosized Inorganic Oxides

Adsorption of natural organic matter (NOM) on nanoparticles (NPs) is important for evaluating their transport, transfer, and fate in the environment, which will also affect sorption of hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) by NPs and thereby potentially alter the toxicity of NPs and the fate, transport, and bioavailability of HOCs in the environment. Therefore, the adsorption behavior of humic acids (HA) by four types of nano-oxides (i.e., TiO2, SiO2, Al2O3, and ZnO) was examined in this study to explore their interaction mechanisms using techniques including Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and elemental, zeta potential, and surface area analyses. Adsorption of HA was observed on nanosized TiO2, Al2O3, and ZnO but not on nano-SiO2. Furthermore, HA adsorption was pH-dependent. HA adsorption by nano-oxides was mainly induced by electrostatic attraction and ligand exchange between HA and nano-oxide surfaces. Surface hydrophilicity and negative charges of nano-oxides affected their adsorption of HA. However, the maxima of HA adsorption on nano-oxides were limited by the surface area of nano-oxides. HA phenolic OH and COOH groups were responsible for its ligand exchange with nano-TiO2 and nano-ZnO, respectively, while either HA COOH or HA phenolic/aliphatic OH was responsible for its ligand exchange with nano-Al2O3. HA adsorption decreased the micropore surface area of nano-oxides but not the external surface area because of the micropore blockage. HA adsorption also decreased the zeta potential of nano-oxides, indicating that HA-coated nano-oxides could be more easily dispersed and suspended and more stable in solution than uncoated ones because of their enhanced electrostatic repulsion.

Graphene in the Aquatic Environment: Adsorption, Dispersion, Toxicity and Transformation

Graphene-family nanomaterials (GFNs) including pristine graphene, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and graphene oxide (GO) offer great application potential, leading to the possibility of their release into aquatic environments. Upon exposure, graphene/rGO and GO exhibit different adsorption properties toward environmental adsorbates, thus the molecular interactions at the GFN-water interface are discussed. After solute adsorption, the dispersion/aggregation behaviors of GFNs can be altered by solution chemistry, as well as by the presence of colloidal particles and biocolloids. GO has different dispersion performance from pristine graphene and rGO, which is further demonstrated from surface properties. Upon exposure in aquatic environments, GFNs have adverse impacts on aquatic organisms (e.g., bacteria, algae, plants, invertebrates, and fish). The mechanisms of GFNs toxicity at the cellular level are reviewed and the remaining unclear points on toxic mechanisms such as membrane damage are presented. Moreover, we highlight the transformation routes of GO to rGO. The degradation of GFNs upon exposure to UV irradiation and/or biota is also reviewed. In view of the unanswered questions, future research should include comprehensive characterization of GFNs, new approaches for explaining GFNs aggregation, environmental behaviors of metastable GO, and the relationship between dispersion of GFNs and the related adsorption properties.

Xylem- and Phloem-Based Transport of CuO Nanoparticles in Maize (Zea mays L.)

This work reports on the toxicity of CuO nanoparticles (NPs) to maize (Zea mays L.) and their transport and redistribution in the plant. CuO NPs (100 mg L(-1)) had no effect on germination, but inhibited the growth of maize seedlings; in comparison the dissolved Cu(2+) ions and CuO bulk particles had no obvious effect on maize growth. CuO NPs were present in xylem sap as examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), showing that CuO NPs were transported from roots to shoots via xylem. Split-root experiments and high-resolution TEM observation further showed that CuO NPs could translocate from shoots back to roots via phloem. During this translocation, CuO NPs could be reduced from Cu (II) to Cu (I). To our knowledge, this is the first report of root-shoot-root redistribution of CuO NPs within maize. The current study provides direct evidence for the bioaccumulation and biotransformation of CuO NPs (20-40 nm) in maize, which has significant implications on the potential risk of NPs and food safety.

Copper Oxide Nanoparticle Mediated DNA Damage in Terrestrial Plant Models

Engineered nanoparticles, due to their unique electrical, mechanical, and catalytic properties, are presently found in many commercial products and will be intentionally or inadvertently released at increasing concentrations into the natural environment. Metal- and metal oxide-based nanomaterials have been shown to act as mediators of DNA damage in mammalian cells, organisms, and even in bacteria, but the molecular mechanisms through which this occurs are poorly understood. For the first time, we report that copper oxide nanoparticles induce DNA damage in agricultural and grassland plants. Significant accumulation of oxidatively modified, mutagenic DNA lesions (7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine; 2,6-diamino-4-hydroxy-5-formamidopyrimidine; 4,6-diamino-5-formamidopyrimidine) and strong plant growth inhibition were observed for radish (Raphanus sativus), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), and annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) under controlled laboratory conditions. Lesion accumulation levels mediated by copper ions and macroscale copper particles were measured in tandem to clarify the mechanisms of DNA damage. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence of multiple DNA lesion formation and accumulation in plants. These findings provide impetus for future investigations on nanoparticle-mediated DNA damage and repair mechanisms in plants.

Toxicity and Internalization of CuO Nanoparticles to Prokaryotic Alga Microcystis aeruginosa as Affected by Dissolved Organic Matter

This is the first study investigating the toxicity of nanoparticles (NPs) to algae in the presence of dissolved organic matter (DOM). Suwannee river fulvic acid (SRFA), a type of DOM, could significantly increase the toxicity of CuO NPs to prokaryotic alga Microcystis aeruginosa. Internalization of CuO NPs was observed for the first time in the intact algal cells using high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and the cell uptake was enhanced by SRFA. A fast Fourier transformation (FFT)/inversed FFT (IFFT) process revealed that a main form of intracellular NPs was Cu(2)O, and an intracellular environment may reduce CuO into Cu(2)O. The internalization behavior alone did not seem to pose a hazard to membrane integrity as shown from the flow cytometry data. Elevated CuO nanotoxicity by SRFA was related to a combination of a lesser degree of aggregation, higher Cu(2+) release, and enhanced internalization of CuO NPs.

ADSORPTION OF FULVIC ACID BY CARBON NANOTUBES FROM WATER

This study investigated adsorption of fulvic acid (FA) by single-walled (SWCNT) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and activated carbon. Adsorption of FA depends greatly on the adsorbent surface area and solution pH. SWCNT has higher adsorption than MWCNT and activated carbon. Lower E4/E6 (absorbance at 465 nm to that at 665 nm) and higher E2/E3 (absorbance at 250 nm to that at 365 nm) ratios of the residual FA in solution after adsorption than that of original FA in low pH ranges suggest that aromatic rich FA fractions with polar moieties readily adsorb on the adsorbents. The apparent interaction mechanisms between FA and CNT surfaces include electrostatic, hydrophobic, pi-pi and hydrogen-bond interactions. FA adsorption was reduced greatly with increasing pH because of the increase of electrostatic repulsion and the decrease of hydrophobic and hydrogen-bond interactions.

Phytoextraction: a review on enhanced metal availability and plant accumulation

A fitoextracao e uma tecnologia emergente para despoluicao de solos contaminados por metais pesados que usa plantas para transferir metais do solo para a parte aerea, a qual pode ser removida da area poluida. Esta revisao apresenta uma sintese do atual conhecimento sobre fitoextracao de metais pesados do solo e sua acumulacao em plantas. O objetivo e integrar em uma mesma discussao os avancos relacionados a quimica do solo (exsudacao radicular e adicao de agentes quelantes para aumentar a absorcao) e a biologia (tolerância a metais e melhoramento genetico) visando sugerir futuras pesquisas na area. Embora promissor, o atual estado de desenvolvimento da fitoextracao ainda nao permite estabelece-la como uma tecnologia comercial. A pesquisa ainda nao encontrou agentes quelantes facilmente biodegradaveis que possam substituir o EDTA na solubilizacao de metais pouco disponiveis em solos. Entretanto, significativos progressos tem sido feitos no entendimento dos mecanismos fisiologicos e moleculares de tolerância e acumulacao de metais em plantas. Uma abordagem multidisciplinar dos varios aspectos que envolvem a fitoextracao podera tornar essa tecnologia economica e ambientalmente viavel a medio prazo.