EAGER: NanoEHS Critical Needs - Determining Surface Composition in Biological Media and the Roles of Core Composition and Very Small Particles

摘要CBET-1424502Vicki H.Grassian概述：在理解纳米材料(NanoEHS)的环境健康和安全方面存在许多挑战，但从科学的角度来看，几个基本问题仍然是至关重要的。事实上，很明显，如果没有研究来解决这些问题，进展将是有限的。智力上的优点：这个急切的提案将在一个具有特定目标、假设和目标的集中计划中解决几个关键需求。这些关键领域包括：1。生物介质中纳米材料表面的性质2。核在表面功能化纳米粒子中的作用3。非常小的纳米粒子的独特行为不仅是由于物理尺寸，而且是由于量子和其他固有的尺寸依赖的电子效应。为了满足这些需求，人们提出了一系列有针对性的实验。这些实验是可行的，并将提供必要的结果，以确定解决本提案中讨论的问题的框架。在这些实验中，纳米颗粒将使用包括蛋白质在内的不同表面功能进行覆盖。我们将在不同的介质中进行这些研究，以了解这些颗粒的毒性，即几种不同pH的模拟生物介质，以反映胃液和肺液。此外，我们可以量化其中每一个中的溶解和ROS生成量，作为粒子大小的函数，在量子限制重要的大小范围内，以及在与电子态结构的整体属性(如带隙)相关的大小范围外。广泛影响：拟议的研究有几个更广泛的影响和翻译方面。首先，拟议的研究旨在更好地了解纳米材料对环境和健康的影响。这些研究将有助于关于纳米科学和纳米技术对环境和健康的潜在影响的不断增长的数据库。这项社会相关研究旨在解决纳米技术产业潜在的环境问题。因此，总的来说，它有可能为公众和消费者提供更大的利益。拟议的活动提供了在涉及环境科学和工程学、化学、纳米科学、胶体和表面化学的高度跨学科研究领域培训学生的机会。PI有成功指导从高中到博士后助理和访问研究科学家的各级学生的记录，并将继续努力指导下一代科学家和工程师。许多学生来自科学和工程领域代表性不足的群体，其中包括很大比例的女性(超过60%)和少数族裔，包括参加免费午餐计划和折扣午餐计划的学生，以及通常更多样化的学生群体。这笔资金将用于培训研究生和本科生，以更好地让这些小学生以及公众参与到科学和工程领域。

AbstractCBET - 1424502Vicki H. GrassianOverview:The challenges in understanding the environmental health and safety of nanomaterials (NanoEHS)are many but several fundamental issues in particular remain critical from a scientific perspective.In fact, it has become apparent that progress will be limited without studies to address these issues.Intellectual Merit:This EAGER proposal will address several critical needs in a concentrated program with specific objectives, hypotheses and goals. These critical areas include:1. The nature of the surface of nanomaterials in biological media2. The role of the core in surface functionalized nanoparticles3. The unique behavior imparted to very small nanoparticles that is not just due to physical size but instead due to quantum and other intrinsic size dependent electronic effects.A series of targeted experiments are proposed to address these needs. These experiments are feasible and will provide the necessary results to define a framework to address the issues discussed in this proposal. In these experiments, nanoparticles will be covered using different surface functionalities including proteins. We will conduct these studies in different media relevant to understanding the toxicity of these particles, i.e. several simulated biological media of different pH to reflect both stomach and lung fluids. Furthermore, we can quantify the amount of dissolution and ROS production in each of these and as a function of particlesize, within a size range where quantum confinement is important and outside of that size range where bulk properties of electronic state structure, e.g. the band gap, are relevant.Broader Impacts:There are several broader impacts and translational aspects of the proposed research. First, the proposed studies are designed to gain better insight into the environmental and health impacts of nanomaterials. These studies will contribute to the growing database on the potential environmental and health implications of nanoscience and nanotechnology. This society relevant research is designed to address potential environmental problems for the nanotechnology industry. Therefore overall it has the potential to provide for the greater good of the public and consumers. The proposed activities provide an opportunity to train students in a highly interdisciplinary research area that involves environmental science and engineering, chemistry, nanoscience, colloid and surface chemistry. The PI has a track record of successfully mentoring students at all levels from high school to postdoctoral associates and visiting research scientists and will continue this effort to mentor the next generation of scientists and engineers. Many of the students are from underrepresented groups in science and engineering including a large percentage of women (more than 60%) and minorities including students on free and reduced lunch programs and typically more diverse student populations. Funds from this NSFgrant will be used to train graduate and undergraduate students to better engage these elementary students as well as the public in science and engineering.