Manufactured silver and gold nanoparticles-induced apoptosis by caspase-pathway in human cell lines

Abstract

Metallic nanoparticles have emerged as an important class of nanomaterials for a wide range of industrial and medical applications. Because of the intensive commercial applications, risk assessment of these nanoparticles is of great importance. In the present study, the human hepatoma and leukemia cells were used to characterize the apoptotic effects of silver nanoparticles (4.7 and 42?nm) and gold nanoparticles (30?nm). Apoptotic cells were identified by chromatin condensation and flow cytometry analysis, using Annexin V/PI, TUNEL and caspase activation assays. Flow cytometry analysis showed that the three metallic nanoparticles induced apoptotic cell death in a concentration and time dependent-manner. Moreover, the three nanoparticles induced activation of caspase-3 and -7 in hepatoma and leukemia cells. Apoptotic effects were stronger after exposure of both cell lines with 4.7?nm silver nanoparticles than those obtained with 42?nm silver and 30?nm gold nanoparticles. In conclusion, silver (4.7 and 42?nm) and gold (30?nm) nanoparticles induced apoptosis in hepatoma and leukemia cells via the caspase dependent pathway. The smaller silver nanoparticles (4.7?nm) had a greater ability to induce apoptosis in both cell lines.     

Effects of cerium oxide nanoparticles on biochemical and oxidative parameters in marigold leaves

Abstract

The effects of suspensions of cerium oxide nanoparticles sprayed onto marigold seedlings (Calendula officinalis L.) at concentrations between 50 and 3200 mg L^?1 were studied. At concentrations of 50 and 100 mg L^?1, the nanoparticles had a slight positive effect on some growth parameters, but at higher concentrations they caused severe oxidative damage. Activities of phenylalanine ammonia lyase and lipoxygenase increased from 400 mg L^?1 upward, tyrosine ammonia lyase from 1600 mg L^?1. Ascorbate and glutathione contents decreased from 400 mg L^?1 upwards.     

Cytotoxicity and cell membrane depolarization induced by aluminum oxide nanoparticles in human lung epithelial cells A549

The cytotoxicity of 13 and 22 nm aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) nanoparticles was investigated in cultured human bronchoalveolar carcinoma-derived cells (A549) and compared with 20 nm CeO₂ and 40 nm TiO₂ nanoparticles as positive and negative control, respectively. Exposure to both Al₂O₃ nanoparticles for 24 h at 10 and 25 µg mL^?1 doses significantly decreased cell viability compared with control. However, the cytotoxicity of 13 and 22 nm Al₂O₃ nanoparticles had no difference at 5–25 µg mL^?1 dose range. The cytotoxicity of both Al₂O₃ nanoparticles were higher than negative control TiO₂ nanoparticles but lower than positive control CeO₂ nanoparticles (TiO₂ < Al₂O₃ < CeO₂). A real-time single cell imaging system was employed to study the cell membrane potential change caused by Al₂O₃ and CeO₂ nanoparticles using a membrane potential sensitive fluorescent probe DiBAC₄(3). Exposure to the 13 nm Al₂O₃ nanoparticles resulted in more significant depolarization than the 30 nm Al₂O₃ particles. On the other hand, the 20 nm CeO₂ particles, the most toxic, caused less significant depolarization than both the 13 and 22 nm Al₂O₃. Factors such as exposure duration, surface chemistry, and other mechanisms may contribute differently between cytotoxicity and membrane depolarization.     

不同尺度纳米镍对秀丽线虫的发育毒性

应用模式生物-秀丽隐杆线虫研究金属纳米镍的生殖发育毒性.采用20 nm和90 nm镍分别以2.5和5.0 μg·cm2两个剂量对秀丽隐杆线虫进行染毒,并以微米镍和生理盐水作对照,采用后代数目、世代时间、形态和体长、寿命和半数致死率等生殖发育相关评价指标,对纳米镍生殖发育毒性进行评价.结果发现,与生理盐水对照组和微米镍组比较,秀丽线虫暴露于20 nm和90 nm镍的两个剂量组后,均表现出生殖和发育的异常(P)＜0.01),并有剂量依赖性.且90 nm镍暴露对秀丽线虫后代数目、世代时间、形态和体长、寿命和半数致死天数等指标的缺陷作用均显著于20 nm镍.研究表明,纳米镍可影响秀丽线虫的生殖和发育功能,这一效应与纳米粒径和暴露浓度有关.此结论可为制定纳米镍的接触限值标准提供参考.     

Catalytic decomposition of low level ozone with gold nanoparticles supported on activated carbon

Highly dispersed gold nanoparticles were supported on coal-based activated carbon (AC) by a sol immobilization method and were used to investigate their catalytic activity for low-level ozone decomposition at ambient temperature. Nitrogen adsorption-desorption, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to characterize the catalysts before and after ozone decomposition. The results showed that the supported gold nanoparticles prepared with microwave heating were much smaller and more uniformly dispersed on the activated carbon than those prepared with traditional conduction heating, exhibiting higher catalytic activity for ozone decomposition. The pH values of gold precursor solution significantly influenced the catalytic activity of supported gold for ozone decomposition, and the best pH value was 8. In the case of space velocity of 120000h⁻¹, inlet ozone concentration of 50mg/m³, and relative humidity of 45%, the Au/AC catalyst maintained the ozone removal ratio at 90.7% after 2500min. After being used for ozone decomposition, the surface carbon of the catalyst was partly oxidized and the oxygen content increased accordingly, while its specific surface area and pore volume only decreased a little. Ozone was mainly catalytically decomposed by the gold nanoparticles supported on the activated carbon.     

Toxicity and transfer of metal oxide nanoparticles from microalgae to sea urchin larvae

Nanoparticles (NPs) contained in commercial products are released and enter into the aquatic ecosystem, posing serious possible risks to the environment and affecting the food chain. Therefore, investigating the potential toxicity of NPs on aquatic organisms has become an important issue. This study assessed the toxicity and trophic transfer of metal oxide NPs from marine microalgae (Cricosphaera elongata) to the larvae of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus. Larvae (24 h old) were fed on 2000 cell mL^?1 48 h of microalgae contaminated with 5 mg L^?1 of several metal oxide NPs (SiO₂, SnO₂, CeO₂, Fe₃O₄) for 15 days. Larval viability and development were monitored from the 4-arm stage to the 8-arm pluteus stage. A significant decrease in survival was observed in larvae fed with microalgae exposed to SiO₂ and CeO₂ NPs. Abnormal development, characterised by skeletal degeneration and altered rudiment growth, was observed in all larvae fed with contaminated NP algae. Our findings revealed that SiO₂ and CeO₂ NPs exerted a toxic effect in the trophic interaction analysed, by reducing sea urchin larval viability, and all metal oxide NPs induced toxicological effects. In conclusion, metal oxide NPs may enter the food chain and become bioavailable for marine organisms, affecting their development.     

Genotoxic effects of Ag2S and CdS nanoparticles in blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) haemocytes

The use of functionalised metal sulphide nanoparticles (NPs) for nanoremediation and biomedical application is rapidly increasing, which could lead to significant inputs into the marine environment. The potential impact of some NPs on marine organisms is still poorly understood. In the present paper the genotoxic potential of Ag₂S and CdS NPs on Mytilus edulis haemocytes was assessed. MPEG-SH (thiol-terminated methyl polyethylene glycol), was used as capping agent to avoid NPs agglomeration. TEM analysis showed that the Ag₂S NPs size was 13±7 nm, whereas CdS quantum dots had an average diameter of 4±1 nm. DNA integrity was evaluated by Comet assay following exposure to increasing concentration series (0.01–10 mg/L). Both silver and cadmium NPs showed genotoxic effects at the highest dose. MPEG-SH was also found to exert a weak genotoxic activity, suggesting that at least part of the genotoxic potential of functionalised NPs on mussel cells might be attributable to the capping agent. These results confirm the genotoxic potential of Ag₂S NPs for mussel cells and demonstrated, for the first time, that CdS NPs is genotoxic in a marine organism.     

纳米金属氧化物对土壤酶活性的影响研究进展

纳米金属氧化物的大量生产和广泛应用使其不可避免地进入环境中,土壤是其释放到环境中主要的汇。纳米颗粒由于尺寸效应,具有许多独特的物理化学性质,其进入环境后潜在的生态和健康风险问题日益受到研究者的关注。土壤酶是土壤生物化学过程的主要参与者,也是生态系统物质循环和能量流动过程中最活跃的生物活性物质。土壤酶活性的变化能反映土壤中生化反应的情况,可作为评价土壤中纳米材料污染状况的生物学指标。本文较系统地回顾和总结了纳米金属氧化物对土壤酶活性的影响及可能的影响途径,探讨了纳米金属氧化物作用于土壤酶的主要影响途径,并展望了未来研究主要发展方向。     

纳米Au/TiO2薄膜真空紫外光催化降解甲醛

为提高真空紫外光催化对甲醛的去除率并降低副产物O3的浓度,采用低温吸附法在TiO2薄膜上负载纳米Au.研究比较了UV254nm光催化(TiO2/UV)、真空紫外光降解(VUV)、真空紫外光催化(TiO2/VUV)等3种方法对低浓度甲醛的降解效果.结果表明,TiO2/VUV对甲醛的去除率显著高于VUV和TiO2/UV.TiO2表面负载纳米Au粒子能促进光生电子和空穴的分离.因此,在真空紫外光催化降解过程中, Au/TiO2不仅提高甲醛的降解率,还显著分解副产物臭氧,使尾气臭氧浓度降低32%.而且Au/TiO2薄膜在真空紫外光催化过程中具有很好的稳定性.     

纳米银在水环境中的环境行为和毒性效应研究进展

纳米材料的环境行为和生态效应是目前国内外研究的热点,其中纳米银颗粒(Ag NPs)是使用量最高的纳米材料。本文主要总结了Ag NPs在水环境中的赋存、Ag NPs的环境行为、Ag NPs对不同种类微生物的毒性效应以及影响Ag NPs毒性效应的因素,最后对Ag NPs在河口区的研究进行了展望。