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In addition to the combinatorial library
of engineered nanomaterials, the
following natural nanoparticles will be studied. First, we intend to assess their
physicochemical characteristics, transport and fate, and biological interactions
for direct comparison with engineered nanomaterials. Next, we will determine how selected natural materials
interact with engineered nanomaterials to alter physicochemical properties,
transport, fate, and toxicity. The
proposed research on the interactions between natural and engineered
nanomaterials in different aqueous matrices may to lead to novel approaches for
tailoring the stability of engineered nanoparticles to facilitate or hinder
transport, reactivity, and uptake as desired. These solutions will inform and direct nanoparticle synthesis
and modification strategies to enable safety-by-design and enhance environment
protection and remediation strategies.
Table 1. Selection of natural nanomaterials
|
Category/Class
|
Composition
|
Size/Mw
|
Supplier
|
Product No.
|
|
Aerosol nanoparticles
|
|
|
|
|
|
Carbonaceous
|
Carbon nanopowder
|
< 50 nm
|
Sigma
|
633100
|
|
Silicic
|
Silica nanopowder
|
10-20 nm
|
Sigma
|
637238
|
|
Silicic
|
Porous silica nanopowder
|
5-15 nm
|
Sigma
|
637246
|
|
Aquatic colloidal materials
|
|
|
|
|
|
Metal
oxides
|
Alumina nanoparticles
|
< 50 nm
|
Sigma
|
544833
|
|
Metal
oxides
|
Alumina nanowiskers
|
2-4 nm × 2800 nm
|
Sigma
|
551643
|
|
Metal
oxides
|
Iron (II,III) oxides
|
< 50 nm
|
Sigma
|
637106
|
|
Metal
oxides
|
Calcium oxide
|
50-160
|
Sigma
|
634182
|
|
Metal
oxides
|
Magnesium oxide
|
25-50
|
Sigma
|
549649
|
|
Clays
|
Halloysite nanoparticles
|
~30 nm × 0.5-4 μm
|
Sigma
|
685445
|
|
Clays
|
Bentonite nanoparticles
|
~1-2000 nm
|
Sigma
|
682659
|
|
Biopolymers
|
Alginic acid
|
~20-80 kDa
|
Sigma
|
A7003
|
|
Biopolymers
|
γ-cyclodextrin
|
~1300 Da
|
Fluka
|
28708
|
|
Biopolymers
|
Phosphatidylinositol
|
~700-1,000 Da
|
BioChemika
|
79403
|
|
Humics
|
soil-derived humic acid
|
~500-10,000 Da
|
IHSS
|
1S102H
|
|
Humics
|
soil-derived fulvic acid
|
~500-10,000 Da
|
IHSS
|
2S102F
|
|
Humics
|
aquatic humic acid
|
~500-10,000 Da
|
IHSS
|
2S101H
|
|
Humics
|
aquatic fulvic acid
|
~500-10,000 Da
|
IHSS
|
1S101F
|
UC Nanotox researchers have already
characterized physical-chemical properties of a wide array of aquatic organic
matter, colloids, and microorganisms.
For example, we already have characterized aquatic NOM, algal
biopolymers, proteins, oxide and clay particles, yeast cells, and bacteria by
light scattering, particle micro-electrophoresis, direct titration, scanning
electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and multiple probe liquid contact
angle analyses. Representative
surface charge and energy data are presented in the tables below as an example
of one of our approaches for ranking engineered and natural NM properties. The techniques utilized here are being
extended to characterize engineered nanomaterials in various dry and dispersed
states. Basic characterization of
engineered nanomaterials are performed in isolation and in the presence of
natural nanoparticles, organics, and bacteria. The latter studies will provide an understanding of the
impacts of water quality and natural nanomaterials on the physicochemical
properties of reference nanomaterials synthesized for the CEIN.
Table 2. Surface energetic ranking of
natural and engineered materials
Table 3. Surface charge ranking of
natural and engineered materials
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