Effect of size and surface chemistry of gold nanoparticles on their retention in a sediment-water system and Lumbriculus variegatus.

With the increased production, usage, and disposal of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs), there is growing concern over the fate of ENPs in the environment, their potential bioavailability and ecotoxicity. It is assumed that bioavailability and uptake into organisms depend on the environmental conditions as well as the physicochemical properties of ENPs, such as particle size or surface coating. A major sink for nanoparticles is expected to be sediments due to sorption and agglomeration processes. Accordingly, this study, investigated how different sizes (5 and 30 nm) and surface coatings of three different AuENPs based on citrate (AuCIT), mercaptoundecanoic acid (AuMUDA), and bovine serum albumin (AuBSA) affected the retention of ENPs in a sediment-water system and subsequent uptake into sediment-dwelling organism Lumbriculus variegatus (L. variegatus). Surface charge was found to be one of the factors affecting retention of the AuENPs in the sediment-water system. More negatively charged AuENPs had a higher mass fraction in the supernatant after 24 h exposure. Furthermore, the stability of AuENPs in the supernatant depended more on their zeta potential than particle size (5 nm vs. 30 nm). The surface coating was found to play an important role in the uptake (after depuration) of Au in L. variegatus, that is, AuBSA > AuCIT > AuMUDA.

A uniform measurement expression for cross method comparison of nanoparticle aggregate size distributions.

Available measurement methods for nanomaterials are based on very different measurement principles and hence produce different values when used on aggregated nanoparticle dispersions. This paper provides a solution for relating measurements of nanomaterials comprised of nanoparticle aggregates determined by different techniques using a uniform expression of a mass equivalent diameter (MED). The obtained solution is used to transform into MED the size distributions of the same sample of synthetic amorphous silica (nanomaterial comprising aggregated nanoparticles) measured by six different techniques: scanning electron microscopy in both high vacuum (SEM) and liquid cell setup (Wet-SEM); gas-phase electrophoretic mobility molecular analyzer (GEMMA); centrifugal liquid sedimentation (CLS); nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA); and asymmetric flow field flow fractionation with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry detection (AF4-ICP-MS). Transformed size distributions are then compared between the methods and conclusions drawn on methods' measurement accuracy, limits of detection and quantification related to the synthetic amorphous silca's size. Two out of the six tested methods (GEMMA and AF4-ICP-MS) cross validate the MED distributions between each other, providing a true measurement. The measurement accuracy of other four techniques is shown to be compromised either by the high limit of detection and quantification (CLS, NTA, Wet-SEM) or the sample preparation that is biased by increased retention of smaller nanomaterials (SEM). This study thereby presents a successful and conclusive cross-method comparison of size distribution measurements of aggregated nanomaterials. The authors recommend the uniform MED size expression for application in nanomaterial risk assessment studies and clarifications in current regulations and definitions concerning nanomaterials.

Production of reference materials for the detection and size determination of silica nanoparticles in tomato soup.

A set of four reference materials for the detection and quantification of silica nanoparticles (NPs) in food was produced as a proof of principle exercise. Neat silica suspensions were ampouled, tested for homogeneity and stability, and characterized for total silica content as well as particle diameter by dynamic light scattering (DLS), electron microscopy (EM), gas-phase electrophoretic molecular mobility analysis (GEMMA), and field-flow fractionation coupled with an inductively coupled mass spectrometer (FFF-ICPMS). Tomato soup was prepared from ingredients free of engineered nanoparticles and was spiked at two concentration levels with the silica NP suspension. Homogeneity of these materials was found sufficient to act as reference materials and the materials are sufficiently stable to allow long-term storage and distribution at ambient temperature, providing proof of principle of the feasibility of producing liquid food reference materials for the detection of nanoparticles. The spiked soups were characterized for particle diameter by EM and FFF-ICPMS (one material only), as well as for the total silica content. Although questions regarding the trueness of the results from EM and FFF-ICPMS procedures remain, the data obtained indicate that even assigning values should eventually be feasible. The materials can therefore be regarded as the first step towards certified reference materials for silica nanoparticles in a food matrix.

Advances in Nanotechnology as a Potential Alternative for Plant Viral Disease Management.

Plant viruses cause enormous losses in agricultural production accounting for about 47% of the total overall crop losses caused by plant pathogens. More than 50% of the emerging plant diseases are reported to be caused by viruses, which are inevitable or unmanageable. Therefore, it is essential to devise novel and effective management strategies to combat the losses caused by the plant virus in economically important crops. Nanotechnology presents a new tendency against the increasing challenges in the diagnosis and management of plant viruses as well as plant health. The application of nanotechnology in plant virology, known as nanophytovirology, includes disease diagnostics, drug delivery, genetic transformation, therapeutants, plant defense induction, and bio-stimulation; however, it is still in the nascent stage. The unique physicochemical properties of particles in the nanoscale allow greater interaction and it may knock out the virus particles. Thus, it opens up a novel arena for the management of plant viral diseases. The main objective of this review is to focus on the mounting collection of tools and techniques involved in the viral disease diagnosis and management and to elucidate their mode of action along with toxicological concerns.

Uncertainties of size measurements in electron microscopy characterization of nanomaterials in foods.

Electron microscopy is a recognized standard tool for nanomaterial characterization, and recommended by the European Food Safety Authority for the size measurement of nanomaterials in food. Despite this, little data have been published assessing the reliability of the method, especially for size measurement of nanomaterials characterized by a broad size distribution and/or added to food matrices. This study is a thorough investigation of the measurement uncertainty when applying electron microscopy for size measurement of engineered nanomaterials in foods. Our results show that the number of measured particles was only a minor source of measurement uncertainty for nanomaterials in food, compared to the combined influence of sampling, sample preparation prior to imaging and the image analysis. The main conclusion is that to improve the measurement reliability, care should be taken to consider replications and matrix removal prior to sample preparation.