Nanotechnology has revolutionized the world through introduction of a unique class of materials and consumer products in many arenas. It has led to production of innovative materials and devices. Despite of their unique advantages and applications in domestic and industrial sectors, use of materials with dimensions in nanometers has raised the issue of safety for workers, consumers, and human environment. Because of their small size and other unique characteristics, nanoparticles have ability to harm human and wildlife by interacting through various mechanisms. We have reviewed the characteristics of nanoparticles which form the basis of their toxicity. This paper also reviews possible routes of exposure of nanoparticles to human body. Dermal contact, inhalation, and ingestion have been discussed in detail. As very limited data is available for long-term human exposures, there is a pressing need to develop the methods which can determine short and long-term effects of nanoparticles on human and environment. We also discuss in brief the strategies which can help to control human exposures to toxic nanoparticles. We have outlined the current status of toxicological studies dealing with nanoparticles, accomplishments, weaknesses, and future challenges.

Impact of nanoparticles on human and environment: review of toxicity factors, exposures, control strategies, and future prospects

Presently, nanotechnology is a multi-trillion dollar business sector that covers a wide range of industries, such as medicine, electronics and chemistry. In the current era, the commercial transition of nanotechnology from research level to industrial level is stimulating the world’s total economic growth. However, commercialization of nanoparticles might offer possible risks once they are liberated in the environment. In recent years, the use of zebrafish (Danio rerio) as an established animal model system for nanoparticle toxicity assay is growing exponentially. In the current in-depth review, we discuss the recent research approaches employing adult zebrafish and their embryos for nanoparticle toxicity assessment. Different types of parameters are being discussed here which are used to evaluate nanoparticle toxicity such as hatching achievement rate, developmental malformation of organs, damage in gill and skin, abnormal behavior (movement impairment), immunotoxicity, genotoxicity or gene expression, neurotoxicity, endocrine system disruption, reproduction toxicity and finally mortality. Furthermore, we have also highlighted the toxic effect of different nanoparticles such as silver nanoparticle, gold nanoparticle, and metal oxide nanoparticles (TiO2, Al2O3, CuO, NiO and ZnO). At the end, future directions of zebrafish model and relevant assays to study nanoparticle toxicity have also been argued.

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Zebrafish: A complete animal model to enumerate the nanoparticle toxicity.

Silver nanoparticles in aquatic environments: Physiochemical behavior and antimicrobial mechanisms

Zinc oxide nanoparticles induce oxidative DNA damage and ROS-triggered mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in zebrafish embryos.

A critical review on the electrospun nanofibrous membranes for the adsorption of heavy metals in water treatment.

The increasing use of silver (Ag) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) in consumer products and their inevitable seepage into the environment prompted us to investigate their potential toxicity to a fish cell line (BF-2) and zebrafish embryos under dark and Simulated Solar Light (SSL) exposure conditions. Using high throughput screening (HTS) platforms, we showed that the oxidative stress-dependent cytotoxicity and embryonic toxicity of NPs were significantly increased upon exposure to SSL. While, the toxicity of TiO2 NPs under SSL exposure could be explained by hydroxyl radical generation, the enhanced toxicity of Ag NPs under SSL exposure was due to surface oxidation and physicochemical modification of Ag NPs and shedding of Ag+, leading to an increased bioavailability of silver. Our observations that solar light could induce physicochemical transformation of TiO2 and Ag NPs and enhance their toxic potential emphasizes the need for conducting future toxicity studies under environmentally rele...

Differential effect of solar light in increasing the toxicity of silver and titanium dioxide nanoparticles to a fish cell line and zebrafish embryos.

Water scarcity has become a global systemic risk, prompting the development of more efficient filtration technologies. Recently, increasing attention has been given to low cost membrane materials such as polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers for water filtration. In this study, electrospun PAN nanofibrous membranes were functionalized with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles and coated with a layer of electrospun chitosan (Cs), in order to improve the mechanical properties, and anti-bacterial and water filtration performance of the membranes. Morphological analysis revealed that the PAN/ZnO–Cs membranes featured a structural hierarchy comprising a layer of highly porous nanofibrous PAN membranes and a less fibrous and thinner layer of a Cs coating. Addition of the Cs layer increases the tensile strength and elastic modulus of the membranes. Results acquired from a water permeability test indicated that the bi-layer membranes possessed adequate transport properties for typical membrane applications. Furthermore, the additional Cs layer and ZnO nanoparticles significantly improved the heavy metal ion adsorption performance of the PAN membranes. Moreover, the efficiency of the PAN/ZnO–Cs membrane for bacteria filtration has a log reduction value 2 orders of magnitude higher than PAN membranes, while the efficiency of these membranes for antibacterial action (i.e. in terms of log reduction value) is 6 orders of magnitude higher than PAN membranes. These results indicate the PAN/ZnO–Cs membranes are structurally more stable than PAN membranes, better at bacteria removal during the filtration process and better at self-cleaning (i.e. membrane biofouling resistance) than PAN membranes, signifying the potential of these membranes for water filtration applications.

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Electrospun functionalized polyacrylonitrile–chitosan Bi-layer membranes for water filtration applications

A variety of bioactive composites have been invested over the last two decades as substitute materials for diseased or damaged tissues in the human body. In this paper, bioactive composites were prepared using polycaprolactone (PCL) and hydroxyapatite (HA). The influence of micro-sized and nano-sized HA on composite properties was investigated. The nano-HA was prepared by wet chemical co-precipitation reaction method. Studies of biocomposite specimen morphology were performed by Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM). XRD (X-Ray Diffraction) and DSC (Differential scanning calorimetry) were used to assess the crystal structure of HA and thermal properties of the composites, respectively. The synthesized nano-HA is found to be of high purity HA structure. The relationship between composition, structure and properties was studied. Different methods to prepare uniform composites were tried, and the outcome of this work suggests that by proper manipulation of biodegradable polymers and bioactive ceramics through material design, bioactive composites with controlled properties might be achievable.

Hengky Chang

Papers

Differential effect of solar light in increasing the toxicity of silver and titanium dioxide nanoparticles to a fish cell line and zebrafish embryos.

Electrospun functionalized polyacrylonitrile–chitosan Bi-layer membranes for water filtration applications

Preparation and characterization of bioactive composites of pcl/bioactive fillers