Inhalation bioacessibility and lung cell penetration of indoor PM2.5-bound PAEs and its implication in risk assessment.

Several studies have evaluated the human exposure of phthalate esters (PAEs) in PM2.5 via inhalation route, however, inhalation bioaccessibility and the lung cell penetration of PAEs were barely considered in risk assessment. In the present study, PM2.5 samples collected from indoor environments were investigated for inhalation bioaccessibility of PAEs using two simulated lung fluids (gamble's solution (GMB) and artificial lysosomal fluid (ALF)). The results showed that the inhalation bioaccessibility of PAEs (except for diethyl phthalate) under healthy state (GMB: 8.9%-62.8%) was lower than that under the inflammatory condition (ALF: 14.5%-67.6%). Lung cell permeation and metabolism of three selected PAEs (diethyl phthalate, di(n-butyl)phthalate and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate) was tested using equivalent lung cell (A549) model. The inhalation bioavailability obtained by combination of the bioaccessibility of PAEs in indoor PM2.5 and permeability data of A549 cell ranged from 11.7% to 51.1% in health condition, and 13.5%-55.0% in inflammatory state. The calibration parameter (Fc) based on the inhalation bioavailability was established in present study and could provide a reference for a more accurate risk assessment of PM2.5-bound PAEs.

Gold nanoparticles decorated graphene oxide/nanocellulose paper for NIR laser-induced photothermal ablation of pathogenic bacteria.

A functionalized paper based on gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) conjugated graphene oxide (GO) was developed for near-infrared (NIR) laser triggered photothermal ablation against infectious bacterial pathogens. Firstly, quaternized carboxymethyl chitosan (QCMC) not only acted as reducing agent to synthesize Au NPs, but also functioned as coupling agent to link up Au NPs with GO. Au-QCMC-GO(+) was supposed to synergistically intensify the photothermal effect, which was then mixed with nanocellulose to form a functionalized paper via vacuum filtration. The photothermal efficiency, antibacterial treatment and mechanical property of Au-QCMC-GO(+)/nanocellulose paper were investigated. Excited by NIR laser irradiation, Au-QCMC-GO(+)/nanocellulose paper generated a temperature rise over 80 °C, sufficient for photothermal ablation upon both Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis and Stapylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). Additionally, Au-QCMC-GO(+)/nanocellulose paper showed a remarkable enhancement in tensile strength, bursting index and tear index compared to those of pure nanocellulose paper.