Physiological effects of magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles on perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and pumpkin (Cucurbita mixta) plants.

To date, knowledge gaps and associated uncertainties remain unaddressed on the effects of nanoparticles (NPs) on plants. This study was focused on revealing some of the physiological effects of magnetite (Fe(3)O(4)) NPs on perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and pumpkin (Cucurbita mixta cv. white cushaw) plants under hydroponic conditions. This study for the first time reports that Fe(3)O(4) NPs often induced more oxidative stress than Fe(3)O(4) bulk particles in the ryegrass and pumpkin roots and shoots as indicated by significantly increased: (i) superoxide dismutase and catalase enzyme activities, and (ii) lipid peroxidation. However, tested Fe(3)O(4) NPs appear unable to be translocated in the ryegrass and pumpkin plants. This was supported by the following data: (i) No magnetization was detected in the shoots of either plant treated with 30, 100 and 500 mg l(-1) Fe(3)O(4) NPs; (ii) Fe K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopic study confirmed that the coordination environment of Fe in these plant shoots was similar to that of Fe-citrate complexes, but not to that of Fe(3)O(4) NPs; and (iii) total Fe content in the ryegrass and pumpkin shoots treated with Fe(3)O(4) NPs was not significantly increased compared to that in the control shoots.

Effect of dissolved organic matter on the stability of magnetite nanoparticles under different pH and ionic strength conditions.

Upon release of engineered nanoparticles (NPs) into the subsurface environment, their fate and transport and hence their potential environmental and public health impacts will largely depend on how stable these NPs are as suspended particles in the natural environment. In this study, we systematically examine the effect of humic acid (HA) on surface charge status and aggregation potential of magnetite (Fe(3)O(4)) NPs, selected as a model for metal oxide NPs, over a wide range of solution pH and ionic strength. Through zeta potential (ZP) measurements, we found that HA can adsorb to magnetite particles hence modifying their surface charge status. At low loadings, the presence of HA can induce a shift in the point zero of charge of due to partial neutralization of the positive charges on magnetite NPs. At high loadings, however, HA is capable of completely cover magnetite particles giving rise to a suspension ZP profile similar to its own (observed in presence of 20 mg L(-)(1) HA). These impacts on surface charge correspond well with the observed aggregation behaviors in the absence and presence of HA. From the dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements, fast aggregation, which is independent of solution chemistry, took place when the pH is close to the point zero charge (PZC) and the ionic strength is above the critical coagulation concentration (CCC). At high ionic strength, a small dose (2 mg L(-)(1)) of HA stabilized the NPs' suspension significantly. This stabilization effect is substantially enhanced with increasing HA concentration. The calculated DLVO (Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek) interaction energy profiles, using experimentally determined values of Hamaker constant, adequately support the experimental observations. The DLVO analysis further reveals the possible presence of secondary energy minima and the possibility of deaggregation of magnetite agglomerates. The complexation of HA-NPs and the HA effects on NPs aggregations were confirmed by atomic force microscope (AFM) observations.