Nanomaterials for water pollution monitoring and remediation

Water shortage and pollution are serious challenges for many countries. Nanomaterials are promising new tools for water quality management due to unique physicochemical properties, high economic benefit, high removal efficiency and environmental friendliness. Here we describe four types of nanomaterials used for water treatment: nanofiltration membranes, photocatalytic nanomaterials, adsorption nanomaterials and reducing nanomaterials. We discuss their properties, applications and mechanisms for pollutant removal. We also review nanomaterials used for water quality monitoring, notably nanomaterials used for the detection of trace pollutants and pathogens. These nanomaterials include carbon nanotubes, magnetic nanoparticles, noble metal nanomaterials and quantum dots.     

Toxicity and regulations of food nanomaterials

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Food nanotechnology has been rapidly growing in last decade due to the unique properties of nanomaterials. Nonetheless, the presence of nanomaterials in food...     

Nanomaterials for agriculture,food and environment: applications,toxicity and regulation

Nanotechnology is expected to have a beneficial influence on agriculture, food and environment, due to the unique properties of nanomaterials. However, little is known about their safety and potential toxicity. Here we review metal nanoparticles, nanometal oxides, carbon nanotubes, liposomes and dendrimers. We present the application of these nanomaterials in agriculture, food and environment for plant protection; disease treatment; packing materials; development of new tastes, textures and sensations; pathogen detection; and delivery systems. We discuss risk assessment of nanomaterials and toxicological impacts of nanomaterials on agriculture, food and environment. We then provide regulatory guidelines for the safer use of nanomaterials.     

纳米材料对藻细胞毒性效应及致毒机理

纳米材料因其独特的性质被广泛应用于生物医疗、光学工程、催化等领域。随着纳米材料的生产量逐年增大,越来越多的纳米粒子被释放到水生生态环境中,其生态毒性效应影响也备受人们的关注。本文根据纳米材料的分类总结了不同种类纳米材料对水生生态系统的初级生产者藻类的毒性效应,归纳了纳米材料影响藻类毒性大小的主要因素,如纳米材料的物理化学性质、水体性质和藻种等,并探讨了纳米材料对藻类的致毒机理,如金属离子溶出、氧化损伤和遮光效应等,最后总结展望了纳米毒理学研究的发展方向,以期为纳米材料对藻类的毒性研究提供一定的理论依据。     

典型纳米材料的土壤微生物效应研究进展

纳米材料的大量生产和广泛应用使其不可避免地进入环境中,而土壤是人工纳米材料释放到环境的主要的汇。土壤中的微生物群落能敏感地反映土壤环境质量的变化,其对物质循环与能量转换具有极重要的生态学意义,然而纳米材料因其独特的物理化学特性,对土壤微生物群落及其功能的影响尚不明确。在参考纳米材料对微生物影响相关研究的基础上,总结了土壤中纳米材料的主要类型及来源,综述了典型纳米材料对土壤微生物群落结构、丰度、功能的影响及可能的影响机制,探讨了环境因子对人工纳米材料土壤生物效应的调控作用,对需要深入研究的方向进行了展望。     

An exploratory study of chemical elements in drinking water and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Nanomaterials are widely used in the field of engineering and in modern society. Although the unique characteristics of nanoparticles also enable them to provide environmental solutions to reduce the formation and emissions of pollutants, adverse effects on human health may occur from the exposure to nanomaterials during the manufacturing processes and when nanomaterials are released and they contaminate the environment. It is essential to understand the factors affecting the accumulation, aggregation, deposition, translocation, and distribution of nanomaterials (natural or engineered) in the ecosystem. This study presents an extensive review of the environmental effects of nanomaterials, including classification, adverse impacts on human health and the environment, transport pathways, monitoring methods, and the current regulations regarding nanomaterials. The review indicates that the diversity of nanoparticles and their properties make the identification and characterization of nanomaterials a difficult task, and an improvement in sensitivity and selectivity of analytical methods for detecting nanoparticles in the environment is required. Besides, few regulations have been established for the management of nanoparticles released into the environment. In order to expedite the environmental management of nanomaterials, this study proposes a risk assessment framework based on the findings in the review as a practice alternative for the environmental assessment and effective management of nanomaterials. Development of practical innovative risk-based management measures may help us to find answers to the concerns such as safety of engineering and applying nanomaterials and effective control of nanoparticle contamination in the environment.     

Nanotechnology innovations,industrial applications and patents

Nanotechnology can be defined as the use of nanomaterials for human benefit. Nanomaterials have unique properties due to their physical and chemical characteristics at the nanoscale (10^?9 nm). Nowadays, nanotechnology is providing new products in all industrial sectors. This article reviews innovations in fields such as biomedical, diagnosis of diseases, therapeutics, agriculture and food, nanofertilizers, oil, gas, textile and cosmeceuticals and packaging. Recent trends of patents and scholarly publications in nanotechnology are also discussed.     

Nanosensors for food quality and safety assessment

Food toxins are produced as defense tools by microorganisms that use nutrients for their growth. Microorganisms thus spoil food, taste and can infect humans, sometimes leading to death. Food adulteration and brand protection are also major issues in the food industry. Here we review the use of nanomaterials for sensing food quality. Nanosensors can detect pathogenic bacteria, food-contaminating toxins, adulterant, vitamins, dyes, fertilizers, pesticides, taste and smell. Food freshness can be monitored using time–temperature and oxygen indicators. Product authenticity and brand protection can be assessed using invisible nanobarcodes. Overall, nanosensors with unique properties are improving food security.     

石墨烯纳米材料对哺乳动物的毒性及其作用机制

石墨烯是一种应用广泛的新兴非金属纳米材料,具有独特的电学机械性能、超大的比表面积以及潜在的生物相容性,在材料、电子、能源、光学以及生物医学等领域得到广泛应用。与此同时,石墨烯的环境行为和生物毒性也随之引起日益广泛的关注。本文通过对石墨烯纳米材料的动物毒性、细胞毒性、毒性影响因素和毒性机制等相关研究进展进行总结。石墨烯纳米材料可通过气管滴注、吸入、静脉注射、腹腔注射以及口服等方式进入体内,通过机械屏障、血脑屏障和血液胎盘屏障等积累在肺、肝、脾等部位引起急性或者慢性损伤;目前有关石墨烯毒性机制的研究主要集中于线粒体损伤、DNA损伤、炎性反应、凋亡等终点及氧化应激参与的复杂信号通路,不同石墨烯纳米材料的浓度、尺寸、表面结构和官能团等对石墨烯的生物毒性影响不同。鉴于当前该领域研究的局限性,对石墨烯纳米材料生物毒性研究的发展方向进行了展望,进而为石墨烯材料的安全应用提供理论借鉴和实践参考。     

金属和非金属纳米材料对四膜虫生物毒性研究

纳米材料是"21世纪最有前途的材料",以其优良的性能广泛应用于许多领域,随之以多种形式释放到环境中。目前,关于纳米材料的安全性还没有明确的论断。本文介绍了四膜虫在纳米材料生物效应研究中的优势,重点论述了金属纳米材料、非金属纳米材料对四膜虫的生物效应以及毒性机制的研究状况,并对今后纳米材料生物毒性效应研究提供了建设性的方法及意见。     

Nano-QSAR: 纳米毒理学领域的新方法

随着纳米毒理学实验研究的不断深入,反映纳米材料生物毒性效应的数据也不断丰富,以这些数据为基础建立的定量结构活性关系(QSAR)模型开始发挥其在纳米材料潜在毒性研究和预测方面的作用。纳米材料的QSAR(Nano-QSAR)研究以经典QSAR模型为指导,结合纳米材料特殊的物理化学性质,提供了一种对纳米材料快速筛选和优先测试的新途径。本文就Nano-QSAR的前期研究现状,从纳米材料结构描述符、毒性效应数据和建模方法3个方面分析了模型的构建流程和框架;通过列举部分研究成果和主要的模型指标,初步探讨了建模方法的选择和结构描述符的识别;最后指出目前Nano-QSAR研究面临的挑战和今后努力的方向。     

Nanomaterials for water cleaning and desalination,energy production,disinfection, agriculture and green chemistry

Nanomaterials may help to solve issues such as water availability, clean energy generation, control of drug-resistant microorganisms and food safety. Here we review innovative approaches to solve these issues using nanotechnology. The major topics discussed are wastewater treatment using carbon-based, metal-based and polymeric nanoadsorbents for removing organic and metal contaminants; nanophotocatalysis for microbial control; desalination of seawater using nanomembranes; energy conversion and storage using solar cells and hydrogen-sorbents nanostructures; antimicrobial properties of nanomaterials; smart delivery systems; biocompatible nanomaterials such as nanolignocellulosis and starches-based materials, and methods to decrease the toxicity of nanomaterials. Significantly, here it is reviewed two ways to palliate nanomaterials toxicity: (a) controlling physicochemical factors affecting this toxicity in order to dispose of more safe nanomaterials, and (b) harnessing greener synthesis of them to bring down the environmental impact of toxic reagents, wastes and byproducts. All these current challenges are reviewed at the present article in an effort to evaluate environmental implications of nanomaterials technology by means of a complete, reliable and critical vision.     

海洋环境中纳米金属的生物吸收及生物效应

当前随着纳米科技的发展,纳米材料,特别是纳米金属,因其独特的物化性质,在各行各业中的使用量呈指数增长,致使其在大气、水域、土壤环境中的安全性问题引起公众关注。尤其是在受到人类活动密切影响的近岸海洋环境中,纳米金属的潜在生态效应成为当前国内外研究的热点之一。本文重点综述了由于海洋环境的理化因子以及纳米金属独特的物化性质导致的纳米金属的环境行为,海洋生物对纳米金属的吸收,以及纳米金属的生物效应和可能的致毒机制,旨在为评估海洋环境中纳米金属的潜在生态危害,完善纳米材料的监管机制及保障纳米科技的可持续发展提供思路。     

Nanoconfinement engineering for enchanced adsorption of carbon materials,metal–organic frameworks,mesoporous silica,MXenes and porous organic polymers: a review

In material synthesis, nanoconfinement acts both as a physical reactor to tune the shape and size of nanomaterials, and as a chemical microenvironment for the nucleation and growth of nanoconfined substances, resulting in unique material properties. This nanoconfinement effect has been extensively applied to synthesize materials for hydrogen storage, catalysis and separation for environmental protection. Here, we review methods to construct nanoconfined space in carbon materials, metal–organic frameworks, mesoporous silica, porous organic polymers and MXenes, a class of two-dimensional inorganic compounds. We discuss nanoconfinement for enhanced adsorption with focus on covering size and dispersion, crystallization and stability, confined water and coordination.

     

包装材料及食品中纳米材料的检测与表征技术

随着纳米技术的发展,纳米材料在包装行业及食品工业中得到了广泛的应用。然而,纳米材料的安全应用高度依赖于对其生物及环境效应的了解。有研究表明,纳米材料对人类健康及生态环境存在着潜在危害,这使得纳米材料的安全性成为毒理学领域的热点研究课题。同时纳米材料的安全性问题也成为纳米复合包装材料及纳米食品研究和开发的新瓶颈。在对纳米材料没有充分认识的情况下,为了消费者和生态环境的安全,必须控制包装材料及食品中纳米颗粒的种类、来源、含量及可能的释放,这就需要可靠的方法对纳米颗粒的性质和结构进行检测及表征。首先,综述了目前纳米材料在复合包装材料及食品加工中的应用,然后总结了包装材料及食品中纳米材料的检测技术及表征方法,例如显微技术、色谱分离技术、光谱与质谱技术等。由于纳米材料的理化性质参数众多,应用多种分析手段来检测和表征纳米材料成为必然。最后对目前检测技术及表征方法的不足和今后发展方向进行了探讨。     

Applications of hollow nanomaterials in environmental remediation and monitoring: A review

Hollow nanomaterials have attracted significant attention because of their high chemical and thermal stability, high specific surface area, high porosity, low density, and good biocompatibility. These state-of-the-art nanomaterials have been shown to efficiently adsorb heavy metals, and volatile hazardous substances, photodegrade persistent organic pollutants, and other compounds, and inactivate bacteria. Such properties have enabled the use of these materials for environmental remediation, such as in water/wastewater treatment, soil remediation, air purification, and substance monitoring, etc. Hollow nanomaterials showed higher photocatalytic activity than those without hollow structure owing to their high active surface area, reduced diffusion resistance, and improved accessibility. And, the Doping method could improve the photocatalytic performance of hollow nanomaterials further under visible light. Moreover, the synthetic mechanisms and methods of these materials are important because their size and morphology help to determine their precise properties. This article reviews the environmental applications and potential risks of these materials, in addition to their syntheses. Finally, an outlook into the development of these materials is provided.     

The Toxicology of Silica Nanoparticles: A Review

Silica nanoparticles are increasingly used in industrial, cosmetics, and medical applications. Workers in nanosilica production industries, laboratory personnel in drug production industries, patients taking drugs with nanosilica in its formulations, and everyone in society who uses cosmetics are potentially at risk to health effects induced by silica nanoparticles. Like other nanomaterials, nanosilica has unique physical and chemical properties that modify its toxic effects compared to bulk silica or microparticles of silica. Nanosilica toxicology has been studied by various in vitro and in vivo protocols and on humans, studies which are collected and summarized in the present publication. The toxic effects are outlined based on the type of body compartment, viz. cardiovascular, dermal, respiratory, neural, hepatic, genetic, immune, reproductive, and renal system. Further information, especially the experimental protocols and toxicological endpoints, are summarized in tables.     

Environmental friendly food nano-packaging

Nanotechnology has found many applications in various fields. Nanotechnology promises many interesting changes for a better life, such as to improve health, wealth, products and quality of life, as well as reducing impact on the environment. Food nano-packaging is, however, still poorly developed despite several potentials to improve packaging materials and functions. This article reviews recent advances in food nano-packaging, including bio-based packaging, improved packaging, active packaging and smart packaging. Bio-based packaging, including biodegradable packaging and biocompatible packaging, is an alternative to actual packaging that uses non-degradable plastic polymers. Improved packaging focusses on nanomaterials that improve barrier properties, strength, flexibility and stability. Active packaging is based upon active nanomaterials such as antimicrobials and oxygen scavenging materials. Smart packaging refers to smart functions provided by nanomaterials, such as nanosensors and nanodevices that detect freshness or monitor changes in packaging integrity.     

纳米二氧化钛和单壁碳纳米管对普通小球藻生长的抑制效应(Effects of Nano-TiO2 and Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes on the Growth of Chlorella vulgaris)

纳米材料独特的理化性质使其得到了广泛的应用,但其可能带来的生物安全性问题引起了社会各界的广泛关注.采用污染物藻类毒性测试的标准实验方法,研究了纳米二氧化钛(nano-TiO2)和单壁碳纳米管(SWCNTs)对普通小球藻(Chlorella vulgaris)生长的抑制效应.结果表明,在0.01～500mg·L-1浓度范围内,nano-TiO2对普通小球藻的生长没有明显的抑制现象,而SWCNTs却对普通小球藻的生长存在明显的抑制效应,其96h半效应浓度(96h-EC50)为261.5mg·L-1.光学和电子显微镜观察发现,与nano-TiO2相比,SWCNTs能够发生凝聚并吸附大量的普通小球藻细胞,因此严重抑制了普通小球藻的正常生长.