A nanosilver-based spectrophotometric method for sensitive determination of methyl violet in river water

A method is reported for the determination of methyl violet in the range of 10–120 nmol L^?1. The method is based on the catalytic effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the oxidation reaction of methyl violet by potassium bromate in acid medium. The reaction is followed spectrophotometrically by measuring the change in absorbance () at 620 nm using a fixed time method. The reaction variables were optimized in order to achieve highest sensitivity. The 3б criterion detection limit was 5 nmol L^?1, and the relative standard deviation for ten replicate determinations at a concentration of methyl violet of 15 nmol L^?1 was 0.97% (n = 10). The method was successfully applied to the determination of methyl violet in river water samples.     

Structural effect on photocatalytic degradation of metallised azo dyes in aqueous TiO2 suspension

Three metallised azo dyes were investigated under TiO₂‐photocatalytic and photosensitised conditions in aqueous buffering solutions. The degradation follows apparent first‐order kinetics. The size and strength of intramolecular conjugation determine the light‐fastness of the investigated dyes. Compared with ¹O₂ produced in photosensitised process, the more powerful *OH radicals in TiCO₂ photocatalytic process are highly reactive towards the investigated azo dyes. And as a result, the TiO₂‐photocatalysis makes little less distinction in the degradation kinetic data of the azo dyes compared with the photosensitised degradation of them.     

纳米金颗粒进入梨形四膜虫体内的方式及其分布

以梨形四膜虫为模式动物,研究水体中的纳米金颗粒进入生物体的方式、分布及其生物学效应.实验中所采用的纳米金颗粒平均粒径为13 nm,分散均匀.透射电镜结果表明,纳米金颗粒可以通过口沟（进食）和细胞膜（内吞）两种方式进入梨形四膜虫体内;纳米金颗粒进入梨形四膜虫体内后,主要分布在食物泡中,另外细胞质和细胞核（大核）中也含有少量的纳米金颗粒.同时,研究表明在实验所用的浓度范围内,纳米金颗粒对梨形四膜虫无明显毒性.     

纳米Fe3O4对小鼠肺细胞的氧化损伤

纳米Fe3O4作为一种功能材料,在生物医药、生物靶向材料、微波吸收材料和高梯度磁分离器等方面应用前景广阔,其潜在的生物毒性也备受关注。为研究纳米Fe3O4对生物体可能造成的氧化损伤,以昆明小鼠为受试体,设置5、10、20和40mg·kg-14个染毒组,腹腔注射染毒7d后,测定小鼠肺组织中活性氧(reactive oxygen species,ROS)、还原型谷胱甘肽(glutathione,GSH)和丙二醛(malondialdehyde,MDA)的含量。结果显示,随着纳米Fe3O4染毒剂量的升高,肺组织ROS和MDA含量逐渐上升,GSH含量逐渐降低,各指标均呈一定的剂量-效应关系。剂量≥10mg·kg-1,肺组织ROS含量与对照组相比有显著差异(p<0.05);剂量≥20mg·kg-1,肺组织MDA含量与对照组相比有显著差异(p<0.05);剂量≥40mg·kg-1,肺组织GSH含量与对照组相比有显著差异(p<0.05)。研究表明,较高剂量(≥20mg·kg-1)的纳米Fe3O4颗粒材料会引起小鼠肺细胞的氧化损伤。     

Dissolution of zinc oxide nanoparticles in exposure media of algae,daphnia, and fish embryos for nanotoxicological testing

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are being widely investigated in a bioassay due to potential negative effects to biological receptor. The dissolution of metal nanoparticles such as ZnO NPs is crucial to interpret nanotoxicity results because ZnO NPs can release toxic-free ions in exposure media. In the present study, dissolution of ZnO NPs was evaluated in three selected synthetic media for aquatic toxicological testing: Elendt M4 daphnia medium, OECD algal medium, and fish embryo rearing solution. Both media are currently recommended for OECD testing for daphnia and algae. Time-dependent dissolution of ZnO NPs has been investigated in terms of sonication time to be used for the preparation of aqueous NPs suspension, and dissolution time corresponding to exposure period in toxicity testing. Since sonication is widely applied for NPs dispersion in the most of nanotoxicological testing, the emphasis of this study was on the dissolution of NPs as a function of sonication time. We also investigated the concentration-dependent dissolution of ZnO NPs. Our results demonstrated that dissolution of ZnO NPs was significantly affected by sonication and dissolution time, as well as NPs concentration. This study showed that parameters affecting dissolution of ZnO NPs should be considered in nanotoxicological testing.     

Entomotoxic effect of silicon dioxide nanoparticles on Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) under laboratory conditions

The use of higher dosage and repeated applications of conventional pesticides have led to the rapid development of insect resistance to pesticide and adverse effects on human health and environment. Accordingly, researchers are prompted to identify an alternative entomotoxic agent for crop protection. Nanocides are being considered as alternatives to conventional insecticides because they are expected to lessen the application rate and reduce the chances of resistance development in pests. In this study, we evaluated the entomotoxic effects of nanosilica on larvae of Plutella xylostella, in a laboratory by using dust spray, larva dipping, leaf dipping, and solution spray methods. Dust treatment showed a more highly significant effect than the other three treatments. The mortality percentage increased up to 58% and 85% at 24 and 72 h after treatment, respectively, when nanosilica was applied at a rate of 1 mg cm^?2. In all four bioassays, mortality rate increased with both increased time after nanosilica exposure and increased concentration. Light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy images showed that larval death was due to desiccation, body wall abrasion, and spiracle blockage. These results suggested that nanosilica can be an alternative to conventional pesticides if dust formulation would be properly used.     

氧化铜纳米颗粒(CuO NPs)对土壤环境因子与砷生物有效性的影响

氧化铜纳米颗粒（CuO NPs）可以通过农药和肥料施用、意外泄露或污水灌溉进入As污染农田土壤,从而对土壤环境因子和As生物有效性产生影响.本试验选取两种不同类型土壤（安徽宿松黄棕壤和黑龙江海伦黑土）进行人工As污染,添加不同浓度的CuO NPs,探究90 d淹水-落干过程中CuO NPs对As污染农田环境因子和As生物有效态的影响.结果表明,CuO NPs进入土壤后12 h内快速溶解产生Cu²⁺,且在黄棕壤中的溶解速度较黑土迅速.CuO NPs可在短时间内降低土壤pH,提高土壤氧化还原电位（E_h）,降低土壤电导率（EC）,但随着培养时间增加土壤EC逐渐提高.一定时间内CuO NPs在两种类型土壤中可降低51.0%~82.5%土壤浸出液中的As和15.7%~66.5%的As生物有效性,减少淹水时Fe （II）的含量.但在土壤落干时期产生一定的“纳米效应”从而促进了Fe （II）的产生.研究表明,CuO NPs进入As污染农田改变了土壤环境因子,一定时间内降低了土壤As生物有效性.     

不同培养介质中纳米氧化铜对小麦毒性的影响（Influence of Culture Media on the Phytotoxicity of CuO Nanoparticles to Wheat（Triticum aestivum L.））

通过比较纳米氧化铜(CuONPs)和微米氧化铜(CuOMPs)在两种土壤中Cu2+的溶出及其对脲酶活性影响,结合产生脲酶活性抑制效应的Cu2+浓度阈值,研究了CuONPs和CuOMPs对土壤脲酶活性的毒性效应机制.结果表明:CuONPs和CuOMPs的Cu2+溶出量随其浓度增加而增加,溶出比率随浓度增加而减少,两者在红壤中Cu2+的溶出均比在乌栅土中高;在1～1000mg·kg-1范围内,CuONPs对土壤脲酶活性产生了显著(p≤0.05)或极显著(p≤0.01)的抑制效应;同浓度下,CuONPs在土壤中的Cu2+溶出及其对脲酶活性的抑制效应均大于CuOMPs;在相对低浓度(1～10mg·kg-1,红壤;1～100mg·kg-1,乌栅土)下,CuO的纳米态对土壤脲酶活性具有抑制毒性,在相对高浓度(≥50mg·kg-1,红壤;≥500mg·kg-1,乌栅土)下,CuO的纳米态和溶出Cu2+共同作用引起了脲酶活性抑制;与CuONPs不同,CuOMPs只有通过溶出Cu2+抑制土壤脲酶活性,其颗粒态对脲酶活性无显著影响;值得注意的是,在低浓度(1mg·kg-1)下CuONPs对土壤脲酶活性具有微米态和离子态所没有的抑制毒性,说明其对土壤酶影响应存在特殊机理,值得进一步深入研究.     

Deposition and Retention of Ultrafine Aerosol Particles in the Human Respiratory System. Normal and Pathological Cases

The particle number concentration in ambient air is dominated by nanometersized particles. Recent epidemiological studies report an association between the presence of nanoparticles in inhaled air at the workplace and acute morbidity and even mortality in the elderly. A theoretical model of deposition of 20 nm particles in the human alveolus was formulated. Gas flow structure and deposition rate were calculated for alveoli with different elastic properties of lung tissue. Data obtained in the paper show increased convective effects and diffusional rate of deposition of nanoparticles for alveoli with higher stiffness of the alveolar wall. The retention of deposited particles is also higher in these pathological alveoli. Results of our calculations indicate a possibility of existence of a positive loop of coupling in deposition and retention of nanoparticles in the lung with pathological changes.     

Efficiency of Filtering Materials Used in Respiratory Protective Devices Against Nanoparticles

The basic aim of this research was to establish the efficiency of filtering materials widely used in respiratory protection devices with particular interest in their porosity, degree of electric and changeable process parameters, such as the flow rate of the test nanoaerosol and the size range of nanoparticles. Tests were carried out with an NaCl solid aerosol of 3.2 × 10⁵ particles/cm³ for the range of particle size of 7–270 nm, at aerosol flow rate of 1800, 2700, 3600, 4500 and 5400 L/h. The tests showed that electrospun nonwovens were the most effective filtering materials for nanoparticles over 20 nm. Melt-blown electret nonwovens with lower porosity than electrospun nonwovens had higher values of penetration of 1%–4%. Those materials provided very efficient protection against nanoparticles of certain sizes only.