Transformation of aggregated C60 in the aqueous phase by UV irradiation

New Insights into Aggregation Behaviors of the UV-Irradiated Dissolved Biochars (DBioCs) in Aqueous Environments: Effects of Water Chemistries and Variation in the Hamaker Constant

The aggregation behavior of ubiquitous dissolved black carbon (DBC) largely affects the fate and transport of its own contaminants and the attached contaminants. However, the photoaging processes and resulting effects on its colloidal stability remain yet unknown. Herein, dissolved biochars (DBioCs) were extracted from common wheat straw biochar as a proxy for an anthropogenic DBC. The influences of UV radiation on their aggregation kinetics were systematically investigated under various water chemistries (pH, electrolytes, and protein). The environmental stability of the DBioCs before and after radiation was further verified in two natural water samples. Hamaker constants of pristine and photoaged DBioCs were derived according to Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) prediction, and its attenuation (3.19 ± 0.15 × 10-21 J to 1.55 ± 0.07 × 10-21 J after 7 days of radiation) was described with decay kinetic models. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that the surface properties and aggregation behaviors of DBioCs were significantly correlated with radiation time (p < 0.05), indicating its profound effects. Based on characterization and experimental results, we proposed a three-stage mechanism (contended by photodecarboxylation, photo-oxidation, and mineral exposure) that DBioCs might experience under UV radiation. These findings would provide an important reference for potential phototransformation processes and relevant behavioral changes that DBC may encounter.

Aggregation kinetics of UV-aged soot nanoparticles in wet environments: Effects of irradiation time and background solution chemistry

Soot nanoparticles (SNPs) undergo aging processes in aqueous systems, altering their physicochemical properties and affecting their fate and transport. This study investigated the aging effects via ultraviolet irradiation on aggregation kinetics of SNPs in water. The results showed that, compared to fresh SNPs, those irradiated for 1 day aggregated more easily in NaCl and CaCl₂ solutions, with reduction of critical coagulation concentrations by 72% and 40%, respectively. Similar phenomena were found in additional six electrolyte solutions, and SNPs irradiated for > 3 days had no measurable difference in aggregation rate. The aggregation-enhancement of irradiated SNPs was more prominent at low electrolyte concentrations and pH > 4. However, in the presence of macromolecules, irradiated SNPs could be stabilized against aggregation via steric hindrance with strength of bovine serum albumin > humic acid > alginate > fulvic acid, whereas alginate further destabilized aged SNPs via calcium bridging. The fitted Hamaker constant increased from 7.8 × 10^-20 (fresh) to 1.2 × 10^-19 J (7-day irradiated), suggesting that decarboxylation during irradiation may weaken electrical repulsion and enhance van der Waals attraction, promoting aggregation. These results demonstrated the vital role of UV-induced aging in fate and transport of SNPs in wet environments.

Potential concerns in fullerene application to water treatment related to transformation, cellular uptake and intracellular catalysis

Fullerene (C₆₀) exhibits versatile properties that shows great potential for improving water treatment technologies. However, the probable transformation of C₆₀ during water treatment, which consequently changes the physicochemical properties and toxicity of the parent compound, may introduce doubt concerning its application. Our results demonstrated that the C₆₀ aggregate (nC₆₀) was transformed to a more oxidized form under common water disinfection processes (i.e., ultraviolet irradiation and photochlorination). The light-irradiated product (UV_nC₆₀) exhibited lower cytotoxicity toward macrophage J774A.1 cells relative to nC₆₀, whereas the photochlorinated product (UV/Cl_nC₆₀) increased the toxic effect. Particularly, the internalization of nanoparticles and the mimetic superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity resulted in the selective accumulation of intracellular hydrogen peroxide. Thus, sequential exposure to a nonlethal dose of nanoparticles followed by 5 μM copper ions (which is a much lower level than the EPA-regulated level of 20 μM in drinking water) led to the significant production of hydroxyl radicals inside cells. The uptake and SOD-like activity were highly structure-related, with the most noteworthy activity obtained for UV/Cl_nC₆₀. These results emphasize that environmental transformation-induced property changes should be given adequate consideration in the risk assessment of C₆₀.

Aggregation behavior of aqu/nC60 produced via extended mixing: Influence of sunlight and agitation intensity

Aggregation of C₆₀, as an important process governing its mobility and toxicity, has been quantitatively investigated. However, effects of sunlight and agitation intensity on the aggregation behavior of aqu/nC₆₀ produced via extended mixing, have not been clarified. Therefore, in the present study, the aggregation behavior of aqu/nC₆₀ produced at 500 and 800 rpm in the absence and presence of sunlight was investigated. Aggregation with increasing concentrations could be accelerated, while changes of Z_ave and zeta potential were not obvious. Critical coagulation concentrations (CCCs) of aqu/nC₆₀ obtained at 800 rpm in the absence/presence of sunlight and that at 500 rpm under sunlight were 330, 205 and 170 mM NaCl, and 10.0, 2.6 and 3.1 mM CaCl₂, respectively. These CCCs indicated that the aqu/nC₆₀ prepared by the extended mixing were more stable than those produced by other methods. Salt-induced aggregation occurred more easily for aqu/nC₆₀ formed under sunlight than that formed in the dark. Extra surface oxidation induced by high agitation intensity remarkably increased the stability of aqu/nC₆₀ in NaCl solutions. In contrast, in CaCl₂ solutions, aqu/nC₆₀ formed at high agitation intensity had similar stability or even inadequate stability to that obtained at low agitation intensity due to the charge neutralization and cross-link bridging.

Generation and properties of aqu/nC60: the combined effects of humic acid, sunlight, and agitation intensity

Once released into natural water, the environmental behavior and fate of C₆₀ could inevitably been affected by humic acid (HA), sunlight, and hydrodynamic conditions. However, the combined effects of these factors are not so clear. Therefore, in the present study, effects of HA, sunlight, and agitation intensity on generation and properties of aqu/nC₆₀ were investigated. The results indicated that HA could increase the concentration of aqu/nC₆₀ mainly through the steric hindrance effect. The higher agitation intensity led to higher concentrations of aqu/nC₆₀ and more efficient steric stabilization was formed by HA. Sunlight irradiation promoted the surface oxidization and consequently enhanced the dispersion of C₆₀. The relative order of the influence on the UV/vis concentration was sunlight > agitation intensity > HA. In addition, HA might not always enhance the dispersion of aqu/nC₆₀ due to light screening/ROS scavenging, over-coating, or chain-like bridging mechanism. Therefore, evaluating the environmental behavior and fate of C₆₀ should take these factors into account together.

Water disinfection processes change the cytotoxicity of C60 fullerene: Reactions at the nano-bio interface

The environmental transformation of nanoparticles results in significant changes in their structure, properties, and toxicity, which are imperative for assessing their environmental impact and health risks. Little is known about the toxicity alteration of fullerene nanoparticles (C₆₀) after water disinfection processes considering their potential application in antimicrobial control in water treatment ultimately ending in sewage treatment plants. We showed that C₆₀ aggregates (nC₆₀) were converted to more oxidized forms via commonly used water disinfection processes (i.e., phototransformation and photochlorination treatment). The light-irradiated nanoparticles (UV_nC₆₀) exhibited mitigated cytotoxicity relative to nC₆₀, whereas photochlorinated nC₆₀ (UV/Cl_nC₆₀) showed an exacerbated outcome. We revealed a distinct toxic mechanism occurring at the nano-bio interface, for which electrons were shuttled by C₆₀ nanoparticles from membrane-bound NADPH oxidase to extracellular molecular oxygen, resulting in the production of various extracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). UV/Cl_nC₆₀ showed the highest electron-shuttling activity due to its high carbonyl content, and more than 2.4-fold higher level of extracellular hydroxyl radicals were detected relative to that in untreated cells. Although UV_nC₆₀ possessed a somewhat higher carbonyl content than nC₆₀, it showed a weaker adhesion to the cell membrane, which compromised the electron-transfer process. The intrinsic ROS generation/quenching capabilities and oxidative potentials of the various nanoparticles were also systematically compared. Overall, this report highlights the importance of understanding environmental transformations in risk assessment and uncovers an overlooked mechanism through which nC₆₀/derivatives can modulate the electron transfer process at the nano-bio interface via acting as electron shuttles.

The dispersion, stability, and resuspension of C60 in environmental water matrices

Environmental waters cover a range of water quality characteristics which could greatly affect the behavior and fate of C₆₀ in the aquatic environment. In this study, the dispersion and stability of C₆₀ in several environmental water matrices during a 70-day extended mixing period were investigated to better understand its environmental behavior and fate in environmental waters. Relatively stable nanoscale aggregates in water (aqu/nC₆₀) could be formed in wastewater influent, while unstable suspensions were obtained in river water, wastewater effluent, seawater, and estuarine water. During the extended mixing under sunlight, oxygen-containing moieties were produced on the surface of the C₆₀ aggregates, independent of the kind of environmental water matrices. Once the mixed system went under quiescent condition, aggregation and sedimentation of aqu/nC₆₀ occurred. However, an extremely short-time disturbance could easily resuspend the C₆₀ aggregates deposited and increase the concentration of aqu/nC₆₀ in the overlying water column. Therefore, the effects of resuspension should be considered when investigating the environmental behavior and fate of C₆₀.

Incubation of solid state C60 fullerene under UV irradiation mimicking environmentally relevant conditions

Carbon-based nanomaterials, such as C₆₀ fullerenes, are expected to accumulate in soil due to direct release and deposition from the atmosphere. However, little is known about the environmental fate of these nanoparticles which may be susceptible to photochemical and microbial degradation. In the present work, C₆₀ was incubated for a period of 28 days and irradiated with UVA light. Three experiments were carried out where the fullerenes were either spiked onto a glass surface or added to quartz sand or sandy soil samples. At specific time intervals the samples were extracted and analysed by liquid chromatography coupled to UV or high resolution mass spectrometric (HRMS) detection. The fullerenes were degraded in all the treatments and the decay followed a pseudo-first-order rate law. In absence of a solid matrix, the half-life (t_1⁄2) of the C₆₀ was 13.1 days, with an overall degradation of 45.1% that was accompanied by the formation of functionalized C₆₀-like structures. Furthermore, mass spectrometric analysis highlighted the presence of a large number of transformation products that were not directly related to the irradiation and presented opened cage and oxidized structures. When C₆₀ was spiked into solid matrices the degradation occurred at a faster rate (t_1⁄2 of 4.5 and 0.8 days for quartz sand and sandy soil, respectively). Minor but consistent losses were found in the non-irradiated samples, presumably due to biotic or chemical processes occurring in these samples. The results of this study suggest that light-mediated transformation of the fullerenes will occur in the environment.

Chemical grafting of Co9S8 onto C60 for hydrogen spillover and storage

Metal modified C₆₀ is considered to be a potential hydrogen storage medium due to its high theoretical capacity. Research interest is growing in various hybrid inorganic compounds-C₆₀. While the design and synthesis of a novel hybrid inorganic compound-C₆₀ is difficult to attain, it has been theorized that the atomic hydrogen could transfer from the inorganic compound to the adjacent C₆₀ surfaces via spillover and surface diffusion. Here, as a proof of concept experiment, we graft Co₉S₈ onto C₆₀via a facile high energy ball milling process. The Raman, XPS, XRD, TEM, HTEM and EELS measurements have been conducted to evaluate the composition and structure of the pizza-like hybrid material. In addition, the electrochemical measurements and calculated results demonstrate that the chemical "bridges" (C-S bonds) between these two materials enhance the binding strength and, hence, facilitate the hydriding reaction of C₆₀ during the hydrogen storage process. As a result, an increased hydrogen storage capacity of 4.03 wt% is achieved, along with a favorable cycling stability of ∼80% after 50 cycles. Excluding the direct hydrogen storage contribution from Co₉S₈ in the hybrid paper, the hydrogen storage ability of C₆₀ was enhanced by 5.9× through the hydriding reaction caused by the Co₉S₈ modifier. Based on these experimental measurements and theoretical calculations, the unique chemical structure reported here could potentially inspire other C₆₀-based advanced hybrids.

Photochemical reactivity of aqueous fullerene clusters: C60 versus C70

Over the past few years, there has been a strong interest in exploring the potential impact of fullerenes in the environment. Despite that both C₆₀ and C₇₀ have been detected in environmental matrices, the research on the impact of higher fullerenes, such as C_70, has been largely missing. This study evaluated and compared the phototransformation of aqueous C₆₀ and C₇₀ clusters (nC₆₀ and nC₇₀) and their ¹O₂ production under sunlight and lamp light irradiation (315nm, 360nm and 420nm). The nC₆₀ and nC₇₀ samples formed by direct mixing with water adopted a face-centered cubic (FCC) crystal structure. The apparent quantum yields (AQYs) of fullerene phototransformed were relatively constant over the examined wavelengths, while ¹O₂ production AQYs decreased with increased wavelengths. The long-term fate studies with outdoor sunlight indicated that both nC₆₀ and nC₇₀ lost considerable organic carbon contents (>80%) in water after ∼8 months of irradiation and that the intermediate photoproducts of nC₆₀ and nC₇₀ exhibited a progressively increased level of oxygen-containing functionalities. Overall, the study indicates that nC₇₀ can be photochemically removed under sunlight conditions and that the photoreactivity of nC₆₀ based on AQYs is greater than that of nC₇₀.

Is there evidence for man-made nanoparticles in the Dutch environment?

Only very limited information is available on measured environmental concentrations of nanoparticles. In this study, several environmental compartments in The Netherlands were probed for the presence of nanoparticles. Different types of water were screened for the presence of inorganic (Ag, Au, TiO₂) and organic nanoparticles (C₆₀, C₇₀, [6,6]-phenyl-C₆₁-butyric acid octyl ester, [6,6]-phenyl-C₆₁-butyric acid butyl ester, [6,6]-phenyl-C₆₁-butyric acid methyl ester, [6,6]-bis-phenyl-C₆₁-butyric acid methyl ester, [6,6]-phenyl-C₇₁-butyric acid methyl ester, [6,6]-thienyl-C₆₁-butyric acid methyl ester). Air samples were analysed for the presence of nanoparticulate Mo, Ag, Ce, W, Pd, Pt, Rh, Zn, Ti, Si, B as well as Fe and Cu. ICP-MS, Orbitrap-HRMS, SEM and EDX were used for this survey. Water samples included dune and bank filtrates, surface waters and ground waters as well as influents, effluents and sludge of sewage treatment plants (STPs), and surface waters collected near airports and harbours. Air samples included both urban and rural samples. C₆₀ was detected in air, sewage treatment plants, influents, effluents and sludge, but in no other aqueous samples despite the low detection limit of 0.1ng/L. C₇₀ and functionalised fullerenes were not detected at all. In STP sludge and influent the occurrence of Ag and Au nanoparticles was verified by SEM/EDX and ICP-MS. In air up to about 25m% of certain metals was found in the nanosize fraction. Overall, between 1 and 6% of the total mass from metals in the air samples was found in the size fraction <100nm.

Different effects of sonication pretreatment on carbon nanomaterials under low hydrogen peroxide concentrations

Dispersing carbon nanomaterials with the aid of sonication has become a widely used procedure for generating homogenous solutions. A systematic study was performed to evaluate the effects of a practical sample preparation procedure that involves mild sonication with/without low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is ubiquitously present in surface water and involved in advanced oxidation processes. Significant oxidation was observed for fullerene in the liquid phase, whereas an appreciable amount of hydrogen was covalently attached to the carbon cage of solid fullerene. Under the same conditions, only the removal of oxidized amorphous carbon was detected for carbon nanotubes. The presence of a low concentration of hydrogen peroxide during sonication exacerbated the effects. The changes in physicochemical properties were characterized quantitatively using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and elemental chemical analysis and qualitatively using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectroscopy, ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Our results highlight the effects that can occur during sample preparation step and the potential for misinterpreting the toxicity, reactivity and environmental fate of carbon nanomaterials.

Ground State Reactions of nC60 with Free Chlorine in Water

Facile, photoenhanced transformations of water-stable C60 aggregates (nC60) to oxidized, soluble fullerene derivatives, have been described as key processes in understanding the ultimate environmental fate of fullerene based materials. In contrast, fewer studies have evaluated the aqueous reactivity of nC60 during ground-state conditions (i.e., dark conditions). Herein, this study identifies and characterizes the physicochemical transformations of C60 (as nC60 suspensions) in the presence of free chlorine, a globally used chemical oxidant, in the absence of light under environmentally relevant conditions. Results show that nC60 undergoes significant oxidation in the presence of free chlorine and the oxidation reaction rates increase with free chlorine concentration while being inversely related to solution pH. Product characterization by FTIR, XPS, Raman Spectroscopy, TEM, XRD, TOC, collectively demonstrates that oxidized C60 derivatives are readily formed in the presence of free chlorine with extensive covalent oxygen and even chlorine additions, and behave as soft (or loose) clusters in solution. Aggregation kinetics, as a function of pH and ionic strength/type, show a significant increase in product stabilities for all cases evaluated, even at pH values approaching 1. As expected with increased (surface) oxidation, classic Kow partitioning studies indicate that product clusters are relatively more hydrophilic than parent (reactant) nC60. Taken together, this work highlights the importance of understanding nanomaterial reactivity and the identification of corresponding stable daughter products, which are likely to differ significantly from parent material properties and behaviors.

Functionalized fullerenes in water: a closer look

The excellent photophysical properties of C60 fullerenes have spurred much research on their application to aqueous systems for biological and environmental applications. Spontaneous aggregation of C60 in water and the consequent diminution of photoactivity present a significant challenge to aqueous applications. The mechanisms driving the reduction of photoactivity in fullerene aggregates and the effects of functionalization on these processes, however, are not well understood. Here, we take a closer look at the molecular phenomena of functionalized fullerene interactions in water utilizing simulation and experimental tools. Molecular dynamic simulations were performed to investigate time-evolved molecular interactions in systems containing fullerenes with water, oxygen, and/or neighboring fullerene molecules, complimented by physical and chemical characterizations of the fullerenes pre- and postaggregation. Aggregates with widely different photoactivities exhibit similar fullerene-water interactions as well as surface and aggregation characteristics. Photoactive fullerene aggregates had weaker fullerene-fullerene and fullerene-O2 interactions, suggesting the importance of molecular interactions in the sensitization route.

Reduction of hydroxylated fullerene (fullerol) in water by zinc: reaction and hemiketal product characterization

Water-soluble, hydroxylated fullerene (fullerol) materials have recently gained increasing attention as they have been identified as the primary product(s) during the exposure of fullerenes (as water stable, nanoscale aggregated C60) to UV light in water. The physical properties and chemical reactivity of resulting fullerols, however, have not been thoroughly studied. In this paper, we identified and characterized the reductive transformation of fullerol (C60(OH)x(ONa)y) by solid zinc metal (Zn(0)) through a series of batch reaction experiments and product characterization, including (13)C NMR, FTIR, XPS, UV-vis, DLS, and TEM. Results indicated the facile formation of water stable, pH sensitive hemiketal functionality as part of a relatively reduced fullerol product. Further, aqueous physical behavior of the product fullerol, as measured by octanol partitioning and surface deposition rates, was observed to significantly differ from the parent material and is consistent with a relative increase in molecular (product) hydrophobicity.

Identification and avoidance of potential artifacts and misinterpretations in nanomaterial ecotoxicity measurements

Novel physicochemistries of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) offer considerable commercial potential for new products and processes, but also the possibility of unforeseen and negative consequences upon ENM release into the environment. Investigations of ENM ecotoxicity have revealed that the unique properties of ENMs and a lack of appropriate test methods can lead to results that are inaccurate or not reproducible. The occurrence of spurious results or misinterpretations of results from ENM toxicity tests that are unique to investigations of ENMs (as opposed to traditional toxicants) have been reported, but have not yet been systemically reviewed. Our objective in this manuscript is to highlight artifacts and misinterpretations that can occur at each step of ecotoxicity testing: procurement or synthesis of the ENMs and assessment of potential toxic impurities such as metals or endotoxins, ENM storage, dispersion of the ENMs in the test medium, direct interference with assay reagents and unacknowledged indirect effects such as nutrient depletion during the assay, and assessment of the ENM biodistribution in organisms. We recommend thorough characterization of initial ENMs including measurement of impurities, implementation of steps to minimize changes to the ENMs during storage, inclusion of a set of experimental controls (e.g., to assess impacts of nutrient depletion, ENM specific effects, impurities in ENM formulation, desorbed surface coatings, the dispersion process, and direct interference of ENM with toxicity assays), and use of orthogonal measurement methods when available to assess ENMs fate and distribution in organisms.

Oxidation of c60 aerosols by atmospherically relevant levels of o3

Atmospheric processing of carbonaceous nanoparticles (CNPs) may play an important role in determining their fate and environmental impacts. This work investigates the reaction between aerosolized C60 and atmospherically relevant mixing ratios of O3 at differing levels of humidity. Results indicate that C60 is oxidized by O3 and forms a variety of oxygen-containing functional groups on the aerosol surface, including C60O, C60O2, and C60O3. The pseudo-first-order reaction rate between C60 and O3 ranges from 9 × 10(-6) to 2 × 10(-5) s(-1). The reaction is likely to be limited to the aerosol surface. Exposure to O3 increases the oxidative stress exerted by the C60 aerosols as measured by the dichlorofluorescein acellular assay but not by the uric acid, ascorbic acid, glutathione, or dithiothreitol assays. The initial prevalence of C60O and C60O2 as intermediate products is enhanced at higher humidity, as is the surface oxygen content of the aerosols. These results show that C60 can be oxidized when exposed to O3 under ambient conditions, such as those found in environmental, laboratory, and industrial settings.

Toxicity of oxidatively degraded quantum dots to developing zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Once released into the environment, engineered nanoparticles (eNPs) are subjected to processes that may alter their physical or chemical properties, potentially altering their toxicity vis-à-vis the as-synthesized materials. We examined the toxicity to zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) embryos of CdSecore/ZnSshell quantum dots (QDs) before and after exposure to an in vitro chemical model designed to simulate oxidative weathering in soil environments based on a reductant-driven Fenton's reaction. Exposure to these oxidative conditions resulted in severe degradation of the QDs: the Zn shell eroded, Cd(2+) and selenium were released, and amorphous Se-containing aggregates were formed. Products of QD weathering exhibited higher potency than did as-synthesized QDs. Morphological endpoints of toxicity included pericardial, ocular and yolk sac edema, nondepleted yolk, spinal curvature, tail malformations, and craniofacial malformations. To better understand the selenium-like toxicity observed in QD exposures, we examined the toxicity of selenite, selenate, and amorphous selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs). Selenite exposures resulted in high mortality to embryos/larvae while selenate and SeNPs were nontoxic. Co-exposures to SeNPs + CdCl2 resulted in dramatic increase in mortality and recapitulated the morphological endpoints of toxicity observed with exposure to products of QD weathering. Cadmium body burden was increased in larvae exposed to weathered QDs or SeNP + CdCl2 suggesting the increased potency of products of QD weathering was due to selenium modulation of cadmium toxicity. Our findings highlight the need to examine the toxicity of eNPs after they have undergone environmental weathering processes.

Uncontrolled variability in the extinction spectra of C60 nanoparticle suspensions

To properly investigate the environmental transport, fate, and impact of fullerene C60 nanoparticles (nC60), it is necessary to reproducibly obtain nC60 suspensions and to accurately determine their concentration ([C60]). The results in the present study, however, clearly illustrate that the production of nC60 via extended mixing and via sonication are highly stochastic top-down processes subject to widely divergent end points. nC60 suspensions exhibit variable characteristics (e.g., [C60], average particle size, size distribution, etc.) that make it challenging, if not impossible, to acquire reproducible UV-vis extinction spectra. The mass extinction coefficient, which is the absorptivity of a suspension with [C60] = 1 mM obtained by normalizing UV-vis spectra by the mass concentration of C60 in the suspension, decreases with a given suspension's hydrodynamic diameter, whereas the particle extinction coefficient, which is the absorptivity of a suspension containing one mole of nC60 nanoparticles with the same size distribution as the target suspension and calculated based upon the suspension nanoparticle size distribution, increases with its number weighted average diameter. Other spectroscopic properties of nC60 (e.g., absorbance bandwidth, position of absorption maximum, and relative extinction intensity) also change with average particle size. As a result of the extant variability between samples, when UV-vis spectra are employed to calculate or represent [C60] for fullerene nanoparticle suspensions, extreme care must be taken and other colloidal properties of this suspension must be measured to obtain an accurate result.

Long-lifetime and asymmetric singlet oxygen photoluminescence from aqueous fullerene suspensions

The photoexcited aqueous fullerene (C60) suspension was shown to exhibit an asymmetric photoluminescence (PL) spectrum, which, different from the symmetric spectrum observed previously in C60 solutions or suspensions, still stems from the characteristic phosphorescence of singlet oxygen (O2(a(1)Δ)) owing to its dependence on oxygen concentration. In contrast to the microsecond-level lifetime of O2(a(1)Δ) in water solutions, that in our C60 suspensions was measured at room temperature to be relatively long, about 2-3 ms, which is ~1000 times longer than the value reported by Bilski et al. The physical mechanism for the asymmetric O2(a(1)Δ) PL from C60 suspensions was studied in depth, indicating that it in fact originates from O2 molecules trapped in the C60 lattice within the suspended C60 aggregates (nC60). This mechanism, which can explain well our above results, was further validated by the nC60's high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images with lattice fringes and the experimental temperature dependence of O2(a(1)Δ) lifetimes in nC60 suspensions. Our findings suggest that the bulk-phase O2(a(1)Δ) in aqueous nC60 suspensions results from the diffusion of the O2(a(1)Δ) generated within the interior of nC60 aggregates.

How redox conditions and irradiation affect sorption of PAHs by dispersed fullerenes (nC60)

Surface properties, dispersion state, and sorption behavior of carbon-based nanomaterials will change after being released into the environment. To study these processes, five different scenarios were considered to probe the impact of changes in surface properties of dispersed fullerenes (nC60) on their sorption potential due to irradiation and presence of oxygen. Sorption isotherms of pyrene by nC60 were determined at environmentally relevant concentrations applying a passive sampling method. Isotherms of all dispersion scenarios were best fit with the Dubinin-Ashthakov model. Sorption was strongest for nC60 kept under anoxic condition. Both the presence of oxygen and irradiation significantly decreased the sorption capacity of nC60, while commercially available polyhydroxy fullerenes had the smallest sorption. In addition, competition for sorption sites was never observed in multiple sorbate experiments with four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at small concentration. A strong relationship between sorption coefficients and hydrophobic properties of sorbates suggests that hydrophobic interactions are of major importance. The results emphasize that aging of released fullerenes results in a reduced strength of interactions with nonpolar compounds and, thus, reduces the impact on the environmental transport of hydrophobic pollutants.

Quenching and sensitizing fullerene photoreactions by natural organic matter

Effects of natural organic matter (NOM) on the photoreaction kinetics of fullerenes (i.e., C60 and fullerenol) were investigated using simulated sunlight and monochromatic radiation (365 nm). NOM from several sources quenched (slowed) the photoreaction of C60 aggregates in water (aqu/nC60), but sensitized (accelerated) photoreaction of fullerenol. Kinetic studies indicated that the quenching occurred through a static mechanism involving NOM molecules adsorbed on the aqu/nC60 surface. Quenching constants for the photoreaction of aqu/nC60 correlated approximately with optical parameters related to the aromaticity and molecular size of the NOM. Association of aqu/nC60 particles with NOM was investigated indirectly via the study of the aggregation kinetics of colloidal C60 in the presence and absence of NOM as a function of NaCl strength at pH 7. In contrast to aqu/nC60, the photoreaction efficiencies of the hydrophilic fullerene, fullerenol, increased linearly with increasing NOM concentrations and kinetic parameters for the sensitized photoreactions increased as the spectral slope coefficients and ratio of absorption coefficients at 254 to 365 nm (E2:E3) of the NOM increased. The results indicate that triplet excited states of the NOM are key intermediates in the photosensitized reactions.

Photochemical and photophysical properties of sequentially functionalized fullerenes in the aqueous phase

The vast range of C₆₀ derivatives makes it difficult to assess the potential environmental impact of this class of materials, while past environmental studies mostly focused only on pristine C₆₀. Central to derivatized C₆₀'s potential to negatively impact (micro)biological receptors upon unintended release is its unique property of mediating the transfer of light energy to ambient oxygen, producing ¹O₂. To initiate the process of establishing a thorough understanding of the photoinduced adverse biological effects of functionalized fullerenes and their aqueous dispersions, the photochemical properties relevant to ¹O₂ production were evaluated using three selected series of mono-, bis-, and tris-adducted fullerene materials. Differential ¹O₂ production of derivatives in toluene were explained by spectral variations under visible and UVA light conditions. Of the nine functionalities studied only aggregates of two positively charged derivatives showed significant photoactivity under experimental conditions. Laser flash photolysis revealed a triplet excited state in the photoactive aggregates with a sufficiently long lifetime to be quenched by ³O₂. Dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and electron diffraction patterns revealed aggregates with sizes typical of aqueous C₆₀ colloids that varied in crystallinity based on functionality. Results raised questions about our current understanding of the photoactivity of fullerene aggregates.

(Photo)chlorination-induced physicochemical transformation of aqueous fullerene nC60

This study confirmed the physicochemical transformation of aqueous fullerene aggregates (nC(60)) produced via solvent exchange from toluene by chlorine in the dark and under fluorescent light (representing visible light) by comparing the changes in light absorbance at 700 nm and size distribution of nC(60) and characterizing the photochlorination products of nC(60) by XPS, FTIR and TOF-SIMS techniques. The (photo)chlorination of nC(60) was enhanced by increasing the chlorine dosage and the salinity concentration, and the presence of fluorescent light. During (photo)chlorination, nC(60) underwent surface chlorination, hydroxylation and oxidation, and was transformed into products containing carbon-chlorine, epoxy and hydroxyl functional groups. Extensive (photo)chlorination produced products that might not possess the isolated benzenoid ring structure on their cages, although they retained the 60-carbon cage structure. These findings imply the necessity of assessing the fate and toxicity of nC(60) after (photo)chlorination in both engineered and natural environments and demonstrate a simple way to produce new nC(60) derivatives that contain chlorine and oxygen.

C60 oxide as a key component of aqueous C60 colloidal suspensions

Stable aqueous fullerene colloidal suspensions (nC(60)) are demonstrated to rely on the [6,6]-closed epoxide derivative of the fullerene (C(60)O) for stability. This derivative is present, though often unrecognized, in small quantities in nearly all C(60) starting materials due to a reaction with air. The low-yield formation of nC(60) from organic solvent solutions results from a preferential partitioning and thus enrichment of C(60)O in the colloidal particles. This partitioning is significantly retarded in the nC(60) synthesis method that does not involve organic solvent solutions: long-term stirring in water. Instead, this method relies on trace levels of ozone in the ambient atmosphere to produce sufficient C(60)O at the surfaces of the nC(60) particles to allow stable suspension in water. Controlled-atmosphere syntheses, deliberate C(60)O enrichment, light scattering measurements, and extraction followed by HPLC analysis and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy support the above model of nC(60) formation and stabilization.

Bacteriophage inactivation by UV-A illuminated fullerenes: role of nanoparticle-virus association and biological targets

Inactivation rates of the MS2 bacteriophage and (1)O(2) generation rates by four different photosensitized aqueous fullerene suspensions were in the same order: aqu-nC(60) < C(60)(OH)(6) ≈ C(60)(OH)(24) < C(60)(NH(2))(6). Alterations to capsid protein secondary structures and protein oxidation were inferred by detecting changes in infrared vibrational frequencies and carbonyl groups respectively. MS2 inactivation appears to be the result of loss of capsid structural integrity (localized deformation) and the reduced ability to eject genomic RNA into its bacterial host. Evidence is also presented for possible capsid rupture in MS2 exposed to UV-A illuminated C(60)(NH(2))(6) through TEM imagery and detection of RNA infrared fingerprints in ATR-FTIR spectra. Fullerene-virus mixtures were also directly visualized in the aqueous phase using a novel enhanced darkfield transmission optical microscope fitted with a hyperspectral imaging (HSI) spectrometer. Perturbations in intermolecular extended chains, HSI, and electrostatic interactions suggest that inactivation is a function of the relative proximity between nanoparticles and viruses and (1)O(2) generation rate. MS2 log survival ratios were linearly related to CT (product of (1)O(2) concentration C and exposure time T) demonstrating the applicability of classical Chick-Watson kinetics for all fullerenes employed in this study. Results suggest that antiviral properties of fullerenes can be increased by adjusting the type of surface functionalization and extent of cage derivatization thereby increasing the (1)O(2) generation rate and facilitating closer association with biological targets.

Apoptosis-mediated in vivo toxicity of hydroxylated fullerene nanoparticles in soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

Although a number of manufactured nanoparticles are applied for the medical and clinical purposes, the understanding of interaction between nanomaterials and biological systems are still insufficient. Using nematode Caenorhabditis elegans model organism, we here investigated the in vivo toxicity or safety of hydroxylated fullerene nanoparticles known to detoxify anti-cancer drug-induced oxidative damages in mammals. The survival ratio of C. elegans rapidly decreased by the uptake of nanoparticles from their L4 larval stage with resulting in shortened lifespan (20 d). Both reproduction rate and body size of C. elegans were also reduced after exposure to 100 μg mL(-1) of fullerol. We found ectopic cell corpses caused by apoptotic cell death in the adult worms grown with fullerol nanoparticles. By the mutation of core pro-apoptotic regulator genes, ced-3 and ced-4, these nanoparticle-induced cell death were significantly suppressed, and the viability of animals consequently increased despite of nanoparticle uptake. The apoptosis-mediated toxicity of nanoparticles particularly led to the disorder of digestion system in the animals containing a large number of undigested foods in their intestine. These results demonstrated that the water-soluble fullerol nanoparticles widely used in medicinal applications have a potential for inducing apoptotic cell death in multicellular organisms despite of their antioxidative detoxifying property.

Production and consumption of reactive oxygen species by fullerenes

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are one of the most important intermediates in chemical, photochemical, and biological processes. To understand the environmental exposure and toxicity of fullerenes better, the production and consumption of ROS (singlet oxygen, superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radicals) by Buckminster fullerene (C(60) ) and fullerenol were investigated in aqueous systems. Fullerenol exhibits higher photoproduction efficiency of singlet oxygen and superoxide than aqueous suspensions of C(60) aggregates (aqu/nC(60) ), and this higher efficiency results in higher steady-state concentrations of these two ROS. Transmission electron microscopy indicates that the C(60) molecules in aqu/nC(60) are much more closely packed than the C(60) cages in fullerenol. These observations provide additional evidence that the lower ROS production efficiency of aqu/nC(60) is attributable primarily to efficient self-quenching of C(60) triplet states. Production of singlet oxygen by aqu/nC(60) is accelerated by increasing oxygen concentration and in part is sensitized by fluorescent photoproducts that accumulate during irradiation. The fullerenes react slowly with singlet oxygen (second-order rate constant <4 × 10(5)  M(-1)  s(-1) ), but react rapidly with hydroxyl radicals (second-order rate constants of 5.4 × 10(9) and 4 × 10(8)  M(-1)  s(-1) for aqu/nC(60) and fullerenol, respectively). These results show that environmental conditions, including light exposure and oxygen concentration, have the potential to impact the generation of toxic ROS by fullerenes.

Aqueous suspension methods of carbon-based nanomaterials and biological effects on model aquatic organisms

The preparation of aqueous suspensions of carbon-based nanomaterials (NMs) requires the use of dispersing agents to overcome their hydrophobic character. Although studies on the toxicity of NMs have focused primarily on linking the characteristics of particles to biological responses, the role of dispersing agents has been overlooked. This study assessed the biological effects of a number of commonly used dispersing agents on Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata and Ceriodaphnia dubia as model test organisms. The results show that for a given organism, NM toxicity can be mitigated by use of nontoxic surfactants, and that a multispecies approach is necessary to account for the sensitivity of different organisms. In addition to the intrinsic physicochemical properties of NMs, exposure studies should take into account the effects of used dispersing fluids.

Escherichia coli Inactivation by UVC-Irradiated C60: kinetics and mechanisms

Motivated by recent studies that documented changes in fullerene toxicity after chemical transformation, C(60) aggregates (nC(60)) were subject to UVC irradiation at monochromatic 254 nm and subsequently evaluated for antibacterial and bactericidal properties against Escherichia coli. The nC(60) treated with UVC irradiation, referred to herein as UVC-irradiated C(60), did not directly inhibit bacterial growth at concentrations up to 20 mg/L. In the presence of UVA and visible light, however, UVC-irradiated C(60) rapidly inactivated E. coli, suggesting that photochemical production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was involved. The use of ROS scavengers and probes determined that hydroxyl radicals were the primary ROS responsible for the E. coli inactivation. Results from protein release, lipid peroxidation, cell permeability, and intracellular enzyme assays suggest that the inactivation mechanism involves UVC-irradiated C(60) diffusing through E. coli cell membrane and producing hydroxyl radicals within the cell. Further study on water-soluble C(60) derivatives and possible transformative processes is, therefore, recommended based on the environmental implications of results presented herein that nC(60) exposed to UVC irradiation is more toxic than parent nC(60).

Environmental implications of nanomaterials: are we studying the right thing?

A fundamental lack of data on the potential impacts of carbon based nanomaterials on natural ecosystems currently exists. The gap between what we know about environmental impacts and new products that may contain nanomaterials continues to get wider especially related to knowledge about nanocomposites. In this paper we present ideas and concerns about the current state of knowledge on nanomaterials in the environment and present a number of points about what recent work has provided us about the novel materials.

Distribution of fullerene nanomaterials between water and model biological membranes

Biological membranes are one of the important interfaces between cells and pollutants. Many polar and hydrophobic chemicals can accumulate within these membranes. For this reason, artificial biological membranes are appealing surrogates to complex organisms for assessing the bioaccumulation potential of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs). To our knowledge, this work presents the first quantitative study on the distribution of fullerene ENMs between lipid bilayers, used as model biological membranes, and water. We evaluated the lipid bilayer-water association coefficients (K(lipw)) of aqueous fullerene aggregates (nC(60)) and fullerol (C(60)(ONa)(x)(OH)(y), x + y = 24). Kinetic studies indicated that fullerol reached apparent equilibrium more rapidly than nC(60) (2 h versus >9 h). Nonlinear isotherms can describe the distribution behavior of nC(60) and fullerol. The lipid bilayer-water distributions of both nC(60) and fullerol were pH-dependent with the accumulation in lipid bilayers increasing systematically as the pH decreased from 8.6 (natural water pH) to 3 (the low end of physiologically relevant pH). This pH dependency varies with the zeta potentials of the ENMs and leads to patterns similar to those previously observed for the lipid bilayer-water distribution behavior of ionizable organic pollutants. The K(lipw) value for nC(60) was larger than that of fullerol at a given pH, indicating a greater propensity for nC(60) to interact with lipid bilayers. For example, at pH 7.4 and an aqueous concentration of 10 mg/L, K(lipw) was 3.5 times greater for nC(60) (log K(lipw) = 2.99) relative to fullerol (log K(lipw) = 2.45). Comparisons with existing aquatic organism bioaccumulation studies suggested that the lipid bilayer-water distribution is a potential method for assessing the bioaccumulation potentials of ENMs.

Degradability of aged aquatic suspensions of C60 nanoparticles

In this study, aged aqueous suspensions of C(60) (nC(60)) were investigated in the respirometric OECD test for ready biodegradability. Two suspensions of nC(60) were prepared by stirring and aged under indirect exposure to sunlight for 36 months. ATR-FTIR analyses confirmed the presence of C(60)-structures in the suspensions. Samples of the nC(60) suspensions (20mg/l) were inoculated with activated sludge (30 mgTSS/L) and incubated in a mineral medium under aerobic conditions. Since no mineralisation of nC(60) was observed after 28 days of incubation, 5mg/l sodium acetate was added to the media. After additional 20 days, no mineralisation of nC(60) was observed. However, within a few days sodium acetate was completely mineralised, showing that the biomass was not inhibited by the presence of nC(60). Based on results from this simple approach, aged nC(60) can be classified as not ready biodegradable according to the standard OECD test procedure.

Quantifying summed fullerene nC60 and related transformation products in water using LC LTQ Orbitrap MS and application to environmental samples

The application of engineered nanomaterials increases strongly. Development of analytical techniques and their application to environmental samples is essential for human and environmental risk assessment of the nanoparticles. The objective of this study was to develop a sensitive analytical method to quantify nC(60) in water, using accurate mass screening liquid chromatography-hybrid linear ion trap Orbitrap mass spectrometry. nC(60) can be transformed by oxidation, reduction and photochemical reaction. Therefore, the formation of some transformation products of nC(60) was studied as well. Finally, the developed analytical method was applied to surface water samples from several locations in the Netherlands. The developed method enabled to detect and quantify aqueous concentrations of the summed nC(60) and its transformation products as low as 5 ng/L. It was observed that nC(60) transformation products exceed quantities of the parent C(60). Despite the high sensitivity of the developed method, no nC(60) or transformation products were detected in an array of Dutch surface waters. This might be due to low emissions, losses in the aqueous phase by sedimentation, sorption or further transformation processes.

Aqueous fullerene aggregates (nC60) generate minimal reactive oxygen species and are of low toxicity in fish: a revision of previous reports

This review aims to clarify inconsistencies in previous reports regarding the potential for aqueous aggregates of fullerenes (nC60) to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cause toxicity in fish. Methods for evaluation of ROS production and toxicity of aqueous nC60 have evolved over time and limitations in initial studies have led to unintentional erroneous reports of nC60 ROS generation and toxicity. Some of these reports continue to lead to misconceptions of the environmental effects of C60. Critical review of the evidence (2007-2011) indicates that aqueous nC60 have minimal potential to produce ROS and that oxidative stress in fish is not induced by environmentally relevant exposure to nC60. Future studies should acknowledge that current evidence indicates low toxicity of nC60 and refrain from citing articles that attribute toxicity in fish to nC60 based on methods shown to be compromised by experimental artifacts. Despite low toxicity of nC60 in fish, an emerging environmental issue is that nC60 can affect environmental fate, transport, and bioavailability of co-contaminants in aquatic environments in a similar manner to that observed for other anthropogenic particulates (e.g., microplastics).

Stormwater and fire as sources of black carbon nanoparticles to Lake Tahoe

Emitted to the atmosphere through fire and fossil fuel combustion, refractory black carbon nanoparticles (rBC) impact human health, climate, and the carbon cycle. Eventually these particles enter aquatic environments, where they may affect the fate of other pollutants. While ubiquitous, the particles are still poorly characterized in freshwater systems. Here we present the results of a study determining rBC in waters of the Lake Tahoe watershed in the western United States from 2007 to 2009. The study period spanned a large fire within the Tahoe basin, seasonal snowmelt, and a number of storm events, which resulted in pulses of urban runoff into the lake with rBC concentrations up to 4 orders of magnitude higher than midlake concentrations. The results show that rBC pulses from both the fire and urban runoff were rapidly attenuated suggesting unexpected aggregation or degradation of the particles. We find that those processes prevent rBC concentrations from building up in the clear and oligotrophic Lake Tahoe. This rapid removal of rBC soon after entry into the lake has implications for the transport of rBC in the global aquatic environment and the flux of rBC from continents to the global ocean.

Bioaccumulation of 14C60 by the earthworm Eisenia fetida

Carbon fullerenes, including buckminsterfullerene (C(60)), are increasingly available for numerous applications, thus increasing the likelihood of environmental release. This calls for information about their bioavailability and bioaccumulation potential. In this study, (14)C-labeled C(60) and (14)C-phenanthrene (positive control) were added separately to soils of varying composition and organic carbon content (OC), and their bioaccumulation in the earthworm Eisenia fetida was compared. Biota-sediment accumulation factors (BSAF) were measured after 24 h depuration in soils with high C(60) dosages (60, 100, and 300 mg-C(60) kg(-1) dry soil), which exceed the soil sorption capacity, as well as in soils with a low C(60) dose (0.25 mg kg(-1)) conducive to a high fraction of sorbed molecular C(60). The BSAF value for the low-dose soil (0.427) was 1 order of magnitude lower than for less hydrophobic phenanthrene (7.93), inconsistent with the equilibrium partition theory that suggests that BSAF should be constant and independent of the K(OW) value of the chemical. Apparently, the large molecular size of C(60) hinders uptake and bioaccumulation. Lower BSAF values (0.065-0.13) were measured for high-dose soils, indicating that C(60) bioaccumulates more readily when a higher fraction of molecular C(60) (rather than larger precipitates) is available. For the high-dose tests (heterogeneous C(60) system), soil OC content did not significantly affect the extent of C(60) bioaccumulation after 28 d of incubation, although higher OC content resulted in faster initial bioaccumulation. For low-dose soils, C(60) BSAF decreased with increasing soil OC, as commonly reported for hydrophobic chemicals due to partitioning into soil OC. There was no detectable transformation of (14)C(60) in either soil or worm tissue. Overall, the relatively low extent but rapid bioaccumulation of C(60) in E. fetida suggests the need for further studies on the potential for trophic transfer and biomagnification.

Effects of humic acid and sunlight on the generation and aggregation state of aqu/C60 nanoparticles

Aqueous suspensions of nanoscale C(60) aggregates (aqu/C(60)) were produced by stirring in water with Suwanee River Humic Acid (humic acid) and water from Call's Creek, a small stream near Athens, GA. Time course experiments were conducted to determine the effects of sunlight and solution chemistry on the mass of aqu/C(60) suspended, nanoparticle size, and ζ potential. For all treatments, sunlight had the greatest effect on the mass of aqu/C(60) suspended. The sunlight-exposed Call's Creek samples exhibited the greatest increase in mass suspended with aqu/C(60) concentrations 17 times greater than those of the dark controls, followed by the humic acid treatments, 8.1 times, and deionized water, 3.4 times. Asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation indicated that aqu/C(60) nanoparticles in humic acid were the smallest and their mass was evenly distributed in the 120-300 nm hydrodynamic diameter (D(h)) size range, whereas aqu/C(60) nanoparticles in Call's Creek water were the largest and were evenly distributed in the size range of 200-300 nm D(h). Aqu/C(60) in deionized water and humic acid treatments exposed to sunlight exhibited a trend of increasingly negative ζ potentials as suspension time increased; however, this trend was not observed for the Call's Creek treatment.

Photochemistry of aqueous C₆₀ clusters: wavelength dependency and product characterization

To construct accurate risk assessment models for engineered nanomaterials, there is urgent need for information on the reactivity (or conversely, persistence) and transformation pathways of these materials in the natural environment. As an important step toward addressing this issue, we have characterized the products formed when aqueous C(60) clusters (nC(60)) are exposed to natural sunlight and also have assessed the wavelengths primarily responsible for phototransformation. Long-wavelength light (λ ≥ 400 nm) isolated from sunlight, was shown to be important in both the phototransformation of nC(60) and in the production of (1)O(2). The significance of visible light in mediating the phototransformation of nC(60) was supported by additional experiments with monochromatic light in which the apparent quantum yield at 436 nm (Φ(436 nm) = (2.08 ± 0.08) × 10(-5)) was comparable to that at 366 nm (Φ(366 nm) = (2.02 ± 0.07) × 10(-5)). LDI-TOF mass spectrometry indicated that most of the photoproducts formed after 947 h of irradiation in natural sunlight retain a 60 atom carbon structure. A combination of (13)C NMR analysis of (13)C-enriched nC(60), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and FTIR indicated that photoproducts have olefinic carbon atoms as well as a variety of oxygen-containing functional groups, including vinyl ether and carbonyl or carboxyl groups, whose presence destroys the native π-electron system of C(60). Thus, the photoreactivity of nC(60) in sunlight leads to the formation of water-soluble C(60) derivatives.

Nanoparticle aggregation: challenges to understanding transport and reactivity in the environment

Unique forms of manufactured nanomaterials, nanoparticles, and their suspensions are rapidly being created by manipulating properties such as shape, size, structure, and chemical composition and through incorporation of surface coatings. Although these properties make nanomaterial development interesting for new applications, they also challenge the ability of colloid science to understand nanoparticle aggregation in the environment and the subsequent effects on nanomaterial transport and reactivity. This review briefly covers aggregation theory focusing on Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeak (DLVO)-based models most commonly used to describe the thermodynamic interactions between two particles in a suspension. A discussion of the challenges to DLVO posed by the properties of nanomaterials follows, along with examples from the literature. Examples from the literature highlighting the importance ofaggregation effects on transport and reactivity and risk of nanoparticles in the environment are discussed.

UV irradiation and humic acid mediate aggregation of aqueous fullerene (nC₆₀) nanoparticles

The transport and fate of engineered nanomaterials is affected by multiple environmental factors, including sunlight and natural organic matter. In this study, the initial aggregation kinetics of aqueous fullerene (nC(60)) nanoparticles before and after UVA irradiation was investigated in solutions varying in ionic strength, ionic composition, and humic acid concentration. In NaCl solutions, surface oxidation induced by UV irradiation remarkably increased nC(60) stability due to the increased negative surface charge and reduced particle hydrophobicity; although humic acid greatly enhanced the stability of pristine nC(60) via the steric hindrance effect, it had little influence on the stability of UV-irradiated nC(60) in NaCl due to reduced adsorption on oxidized nC(60) surface. In contrast, UV irradiation reduced nC(60) stability in CaCl(2) due to specific interactions of Ca(2+) with the negatively charged functional groups on UV-irradiated nC(60) surface and the consequent charge neutralization. By neutralizing surface charges of both UV-irradiated nC(60) and humic acid as well as forming intermolecular bridges, Ca(2+) facilitated humic acid adsorption on UV-irradiated nC(60), resulting in enhanced stability in the presence of humic acid. These results demonstrate the critical role of nC(60) surface chemistry in its environmental transport and fate.

Characterizing photochemical transformation of aqueous nC60 under environmentally relevant conditions

Engineered nanomaterials may undergo transformation upon interactions with various environmental factors. In this study, photochemical transformation of aqueous nC60 was investigated under UVA irradiation. nC60 underwent photochemical transformation in the presence of dissolved O2, resulting in surface oxygenation and hydroxylation as demonstrated by XPS and ATR-FTIR analyses. The reaction followed a pseudo-first order rate law with the apparent reaction rate constant of 2.2 x 10(-2) h(-1). However, the core of the nanoparticles remained intact over 21 days of irradiation. Although no mineralization or dissolution of nC60 was observed, experiments using fullerol as a reference fullerene derivative suggested likely dissolution and partial mineralization of nC60 under long-term UVA exposure. Aquatic humic acid reduced nC60 transformation kinetics presumably due to scavenging of reactive oxygen species. Results from this study imply that photochemical transformation is an important factor controlling nC60 physical and chemical properties as well as its fate and transport in the natural aqueous environment. In addition, changes in nC60 surface chemistry drastically reduced C60 extraction efficiency by toluene, suggesting that the existing analytical method for C60 may not be applicable to environmental samples.

Evaluation of perfused porcine skin as a model system to quantitate tissue distribution of fullerene nanoparticles

Nanomaterials are increasingly playing a role in society for uses ranging from biomedicine to microelectronics, however pharmacokinetic studies, which will be necessary for human health risk assessments, are limited. Tissue distribution, one component of pharmacokinetics, can be assessed by quantifying arterial extraction of materials in an isolated perfused porcine skin flap (IPPSF). The objective of this study was to assess the IPPSF as a model system to quantitate the distribution of fullerene nanoparticles (nC(60)) from the vascular space into tissues. IPPSFs were perfused for 4h with 0.885 microg/mL nC(60) in media with immunoglobulin G present (IgG(+)) or absent (IgG(-)) followed by a 4h perfusion with media only during a washout phase. Arterial and venous concentrations of nC(60) were measured in the media by HPLC-UV/vis chromatography. Steady state differences in the arterial and venous nC(60) concentrations were compared to determine extraction from the vascular space of the IPPSF, and the venous nC(60) concentration versus time profiles were used to calculate compartmental pharmacokinetic parameters. The steady state differences in the arterial and venous concentrations in the IPPSF were small with extraction percentages (mean+/-sd) of 8.2+/-5.7% and 4.2+/-6.7% for IgG(+) and IgG(-) media, respectively, and were not significantly different between the types of media. The venous concentrations of nC(60) in both types of media were best fit with a 2 compartment model with terminal half lives (harmonic mean) of 17.5 and 28.0 min for IgG(+) and IgG(-) media, respectively. The apparent volumes of distribution at steady state were 0.12+/-0.047 and 0.10+/-0.034 L/kg, for IgG(+) and IgG(-) media, respectively. By 4 h following infusion of nC(60), the recovery of nC(60) in the venous effluent was 94+/-5.5% and 97+/-6.8% of the infused nC(60) for IgG(+) and IgG(-) media, respectively. Based on the apparent volume of distribution, the low extraction during the perfusion, and the high percentage recovery following the washout phase, there was limited distribution of nC(60) from the vascular space into the extracellular space and negligible intracellular uptake of nC(60) in this system.

Photochemical and antimicrobial properties of novel C60 derivatives in aqueous systems

Four novel hexakis C60 derivatives with varying functionalities were synthesized, and their photochemical properties and photodynamic disinfection efficiencies were quantitatively evaluated. All these C. derivatives generated O2 more efficiently than commercial multihydroxylated C60 (fullerol), as assessed by furfuryl alcohol consumption and electron paramagnetic resonance analysis. Despite significant agglomeration/aggregation in the aqueous phase to micrometer-sized particles, nanosecond laser flash photolysis showed that the lifetime of triplet state (a key intermediate for energy transfer responsible for (1)O2 production) was comparable to reported values for pristine C. in organic phase. As a result of facile (1)O2 production, the Co derivatives efficiently inactivated Escherichie coli and MS-2 bacteriophage. Cationic aminofullerene hexakis, which likely exerted electrostatic attraction, exhibited exceptionally rapid virus inactivation even compared to commercial nano-TiO2 photocatalyst These unique photodynamic, hydrophilic and cationic properties may be instrumental for the development of next generation photocatalysts for disinfection applications. The high ROS (reactive oxygen species) production activity and associated cytotoxicity are concerns for potential releases of functionalized Ca to the environment, and require careful assessment apart from other forms of C60 (e.g., nC60) that have been widely studied as model nanomaterials but behave differently.

Quantitative analysis of fullerene nanomaterials in environmental systems: a critical review

The increasing production and use of fullerene nanomaterials has led to calls for more information regarding the potential impacts that releases of these materials may have on human and environmental health. Fullerene nanomaterials, which are comprised of both fullerenes and surface-functionalized fullerenes, are used in electronic, optic, medical, and cosmetic applications. Measuring fullerene nanomaterial concentrations in natural environments is difficult because they exhibit a duality of physical and chemical characteristics astheytransition from hydrophobic to polar forms upon exposure to water. In aqueous environments, this is expressed as their tendency to initially (i) self-assemble into aggregates of appreciable size and hydrophobicity, and subsequently (ii) interact with the surrounding water molecules and other chemical constituents in natural environments thereby acquiring negative surface charge. Fullerene nanomaterials may therefore deceive the application of any single analytical method that is applied with the assumption that fullerenes have but one defining characteristic (e.g., hydrophobicity). Our findings include the following: (1) Analytical procedures are needed to account for the potentially transitory nature of fullerenes in natural environments through the use of approaches that provide chemically explicit information including molecular weight and the number and identity of surface functional groups. (2) Sensitive and mass-selective detection, such as that offered by mass spectrometry when combined with optimized extraction procedures, offers the greatest potential to achieve this goal. (3) Significant improvements in analytical rigor would result from an increased availability of well characterized authentic standards, reference materials, and isotopically labeled internal standards. Finally, the benefits of quantitative and validated analytical methods for advancing the knowledge on fullerene occurrence, fate, and behavior are indicated.