Etienne Durand

CYTOTOXICITY AND OXIDATIVE STRESS INDUCED BY DIFFERENT METALLIC NANOPARTICLES ON HUMAN KIDNEY CELLS

BackgroundSome manufactured nanoparticles are metal-based and have a wide variety of applications in electronic, engineering and medicine. Until now, many studies have described the potential toxicity of NPs on pulmonary target, while little attention has been paid to kidney which is considered to be a secondary target organ. The objective of this study, on human renal culture cells, was to assess the toxicity profile of metallic nanoparticles (TiO2, ZnO and CdS) usable in industrial production. Comparative studies were conducted, to identify whether particle properties impact cytotoxicity by altering the intracellular oxidative status.ResultsNanoparticles were first characterized by size, surface charge, dispersion and solubility. Cytotoxicity of NPs was then evaluated in IP15 (glomerular mesangial) and HK-2 (epithelial proximal) cell lines. ZnO and CdS NPs significantly increased the cell mortality, in a dose-dependent manner. Cytotoxic effects were correlated with the physicochemical properties of NPs tested and the cell type used. Analysis of reactive oxygen species and intracellular levels of reduced and oxidized glutathione revealed that particles induced stress according to their composition, size and solubility. Protein involved in oxidative stress such as NF-κb was activated with ZnO and CdS nanoparticles. Such effects were not observed with TiO2 nanoparticles.ConclusionOn glomerular and tubular human renal cells, ZnO and CdS nanoparticles exerted cytotoxic effects that were correlated with metal composition, particle scale and metal solubility. ROS production and oxidative stress induction clearly indicated their nephrotoxic potential.

Electrochemical properties and structures of surface-fluorinated graphite for the lithium ion secondary battery

Surface modification of graphite powder has been performed by elemental fluorine and radiofrequency (rf) plasma fluorination. Both methods give rise to an enlargement of the surface areas of graphite samples and a change of the pore volume distribution. The capacities of surface-fluorinated graphite samples are higher than those of original samples and even more than the theoretical capacity of graphite, 372 mAh g−1, without any reduction of the first colombic efficiencies. The increments of the capacities are ∼5, 10, and 15% for graphite samples with average particle diameters of 7, 25 and 40 μm, respectively.

Synthesis of hybrid gold-gold sulfide colloidal particles.

The nucleation and growth mechanism of nanometer size gold onto gold sulfide colloidal particles by irradiation-induced reduction is reported. The process is characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, electronic diffraction, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, allowing for observation of several key intermediates and characteristics of the growth mechanism. The formation mechanism of gold on the surface of the gold sulfide particles is shown to depend strongly on the deposition rate. At low dose rate, gold nucleates preferentially onto specific gold-rich Au2S facets {110}, resulting in epitaxial growth. The gold crystal lattice plastically deforms near the interface to accommodate a substantial lattice mismatch. Upon increasing gold precursor concentration, this low dose rate results in growth of elongated gold island on the gold sulfide surface. At a high dose rate, several randomly oriented gold particles are simultaneously produced on gold sulfide, resulting in a layered structure. The absorption spectra of these particles show a dominant surface plasmon band, whose peak wavelength shifts markedly to the red as layered structure is formed.

Coupling sol-gel synthesis and microwave-assisted techniques: a new route from amorphous to crystalline high-surface-area aluminium fluoride.

A non-aqueous sol-gel Al-based fluoride has been subjected to the microwave solvothermal process. The final material depends on the temperature heat treatment used. Three types of material have been prepared: 1) for low temperature heat treatment (90 degrees C) X-ray amorphous alkoxy fluoride was obtained; 2) for the highest temperature used (200 degrees C) the metastable form beta-AlF3 was obtained with a very large surface area of 125 m2 g(-1). The mechanism of the amorphous=crystalline transformation has been rationalised by the occurrence of a decomposition reaction of the gel fluoride induced by the microwave irradiation. 3) Finally, at intermediate temperature (180 degrees C) a multi-component material mixture exhibiting a huge surface area of 525 m2 g(-1) has been obtained and further investigated after mild post-treatment fluorination using F2 gas. The resulting aluminium-based fluoride still possesses a high-surface-area of 330 m2 g(-1). HRTEM revealed that the solid is built from large particles (50 nm) identified as alpha-AlF3, and small ones (10 nm), relative to an unidentified phase. This new high-surface-area material exhibits strong Lewis acidity as revealed by pyridine adsorption and catalytic tests. By comparison with other materials, it has been shown that whatever the composition/structure of the Al-based fluoride materials, the number of strong Lewis acid sites is related to the surface area, highlighting the role of surface reconstruction occurring on a nanoscopic scale on the formation of the strongest Lewis acid sites.

Impact of dietary cadmium sulphide nanoparticles on Danio rerio zebrafish at very low contamination pressure

Abstract To address the impact of cadmium sulphide nanoparticles (CdSNPs) of two different sizes (8 and 50 nm), Danio rerio zebrafish were dietary exposed to very low doses: 100 or 40 ng CdSNPs/day/g body weight for 36 or 60 days, respectively. The results obtained using RAPD-PCR genotoxicity test showed genomic alteration since the number of hybridisation sites of the RAPD probes was significantly modified after CdSNPs exposure. In addition, selected stress response genes were either repressed or upregulated in tissues of CdSNPs-exposed fish. Mitochondrial dysfunction was also caused by the presence of CdSNPs in food. Cadmium accumulation in fish tissues (brain and muscles) could only be observed after 60 days of exposure. CdSNPs toxicity was dependent on their size and concentration.

Synthesis and characterization of Al3+, Cr3+, Fe3+ and Ga3+ hydroxyfluorides: correlations between structural features, thermal stability and acidic properties

The synthesis of aluminium, chromium, iron and gallium hydroxyfluorides in their hexagonal tungsten bronze (HTB) β-form has been undertaken by sol precipitation followed by thermal treatments. These solids, which could be used in heterogeneous catalysis, have been firstly characterized by chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction and FTIR spectroscopy in order to determine their composition and structural features. In the HTB hydroxyfluorides series, there is competition between the formation of M–F and M–OH bonds, which depends on the type of cation, the nature of precursor and the route of synthesis. FTIR spectroscopy study has shown the presence of both free- and linked- OH− groups. The nature of cations, the decomposition kinetics of the M(H2O)63+ aquo-complex and the size of tunnels in the HTB framework account for the thermal stability of these compounds. For instance, a comparison between Al3+ and Fe3+ hydroxyfluorides shows that the Al–(F,OH) bond is more stable than the Fe–(F,OH) bond, with a difference of more than 200 K in their thermal stabilities. The substitution of Fe3+ by Cr3+, which gives rise to an increase in the content of H2O/OH groups preferentially around Cr3+, allows the improvement of the M–F bonding stability. The template effect of water has also been pointed out. The acidic character of these solids has been evaluated by FTIR analysis using probe molecule adsorption and leads to the conclusion that the strongest Lewis acidity is found in Al3+ and Ga3+ homologous compounds with respect to that of iron hydroxyfluoride. These characteristics can be directly related to the strength of the M–(F,OH) chemical bond and the thermal stability of these solids. The use of the ratio χ/r2 between the electronegativity χ and the ionic radius r, which can be ascribed to an electrical field gradient around the cation, has been proposed. This parameter allows a more accurate approach of both the acidic strength and the thermal stability in the hydroxyfluoride series and accounts for the experimentally observed sequence.

Chemistry and key structural features of oxyhydroxy-fluorides: relationships with the acidic character, thermal stability and surface area

Abstract The stability of Al, Cr and Fe hydroxy-fluorides MF 3− x (OH) x which adopt the hexagonal-tungsten–bronze (HTB)-type structure has been discussed by considering the lability of water coordinated to metals from a kinetic point of view. Thus, in the case of Al or Fe compounds, the easy departure of water contributes to the stabilization of fluoride ions as well as isolated hydroxyl groups around the metal, leading to the formation of the HTB structure. The stabilization of the HTB structure with respect to another structural type, the pyrochlore, with a lower density, is governed by this kinetic feature as well as the ability of fluorinated salts used as precursors to attract hydroxyls. Al(III) and Fe(III) represent the strongest acidic cations and the associated HTB-type structure containing isolated OH groups can easily be stabilized. In the case of Cr, a mixture of pyrochlore and HTB-type structure is generally obtained. We have succeeded in preparing, using supercritical medium, new (Fe, Cr) oxyhydroxy-fluorides which exhibit edge-shared octahedra and large 1D tunnels. These compounds can be considered as potential candidates for acid catalysts.

Opening Mechanism of Closed Graphitized Tips via Low-Temperature Surface Fluorination Interest for Electrochemical Storage

When treated at high temperatures, petroleum coke materials exhibit structures which are formed of graphitized closed tips. The external surface of these materials is mostly formed of hemispherical tips similar to those found in carbon nanotubes. By low-temperature fluorination using CF4 radio-frequency plasmas, an opening mechanism of the closed tips occurs, thus allowing a drastic increase of possible intercalation into the structure...

The p–T phase diagram of ammonium hexafluoroaluminate

The heat capacity and the effect of hydrostatic pressure on structural phase transitions in ammonium hexafluoroaluminate, (NH4)3AlF6, have been studied. Two heat capacity anomalies have been found with maxima at T 1 = 218.5 ± 0.5 K and T 2 = 179 ± 2 K. Respective entropy changes of phase transitions are ΔS1 = 15.3 ± 0.5 J mol−1 K−1 and ΔS2 = 2.5 ± 0.5 J mol−1 K−1. It is shown that the p–T phase diagram of this compound is rather complex and contains a triple point (ptp = 0.12 GPa, Ttp = 221 K) and high-pressure phase. The mechanism of transformations and generalized p–T phase diagram for compounds of the (NH4)3MIIIF6 family are discussed within the framework of the rotational order–disorder model.

Surface modification of phyllosilicate minerals by fluorination methods

The effect of fluorination on various types of phyllosilicate minerals has been investigated. Two different fluorination techniques have been used: direct F2 gas and cold radio frequency plasma involving c-C4F8 or O2/CF4 mixtures. The modifications of the surface composition and properties have been followed mostly by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Depending of the fluorination reagents, a reactive etching process involving M-F bonding occurs (direct F2 gas; O2–CF4 rf plasma) or a carbon fluoride deposition takes place (c-C4F8 rf plasma). In the case of F2-gas treated minerals, Si 2p XPS signal accounts for the presence of fluorinated Si environments.