Collaborative Research: Characterization of Environmental Transformation, Exposure from Sediment, and Toxicity (E-TEST) for ZnO Nanomaterials in Natural Systems

项目编号：1437409/ 1437451纳米颗粒（NP）老化及老化条件的研究是NP纳米毒理学研究的重要组成部分。一个重要的方面是能够区分NPs可能的内在毒性与其可溶性离子的毒性。研究人员提出了一种跨学科的方法，将同位素示踪与NP老化、RNA测序技术和动态建模相结合，研究沉积物水中纳米颗粒生物利用度的机制。同位素示踪将使用稳定同位素示踪技术，这将使研究人员能够更好地确定毒性是由于NPs本身还是溶解的锌离子。纳米颗粒老化和老化条件的研究是纳米毒理学研究的一个重要方面，区分纳米颗粒及其可溶性离子的影响的能力也是纳米毒理学研究的一个重要方面，这对于理解这些颗粒在环境中的命运和运输至关重要。pi一直致力于拓展和教育学生，并将继续他们的活动，例如在肯塔基州路易斯维尔的肯塔基科学中心举办NP与环境和人体相互作用的永久性展览。该提案旨在表征水柱和沉积物之间的NP分配，描述颗粒老化如何影响这些过程，并了解这种分配对沉积物栖息生物的后果。具体来说，PI将研究ZnO纳米颗粒及其与沉积物的相互作用，解决几个关键参数，以了解NP在环境中的长期影响。区分纳米颗粒及其可溶性离子的作用对于理解这些颗粒在环境中的命运和运输至关重要。他们提出了几个假设来测试，例如，NP溶解度的降低将导致aztecahyalella（一种片脚甲壳类动物）对Zn++的吸收减少，并且NP的吸收主要发生在沉积物表面，而Zn++离子的吸收主要通过水柱暴露发生。研究人员称这种方法为环境转化、沉积物暴露和毒性（E-TEST）。这些研究和方法将以一种综合的方式引入纳米颗粒评估的新技术。这些实验是经过深思熟虑的，很可能会从研究中得到很好的信息。这是两位研究人员从不同角度研究这个问题的一次极好的合作。

PI: Poynton, Helen / Unrine, JasonProposal Number: 1437409/ 1437451The study of nanoparticle (NP) aging and aging conditions is an important part of NP nanotoxicology research. One essential aspect is to be able to differentiate between possible intrinsic toxicity of NPs from the toxicity of their soluble ions. The investigators propose an interdisciplinary approach that combines isotope tracing with NP aging, RNA sequencing technology, and dynamic modeling to study mechanisms of nanoparticle bioavailability in sediment water. The isotopic tracing will use stable isotope tracer techniques, which will enable the investigators to better identify whether the toxicity is due to the NPs themselves or to dissolved Zn ions. The study of nanoparticle aging and aging conditions is an important aspect in nanotoxicology research, as is the ability to differentiate between the effect of the nanoparticles and their soluble ions, which is critical in understanding the fate and transport of these particles in the environment. The PIs have a record of strong commitment to outreach and education of students and will continue their activities, such as making a permanent exhibition of NP interactions with the environment and the human body at the Kentucky Science Center, in Louisville, KY.This proposal aims to characterize NP partitioning between the water column and sediments, to describe how particle aging influences these processes, and to understand the consequences of this partitioning for sediment dwelling organisms. Specifically, the PI will investigate ZnO nanoparticles and their interaction with sediments, addressing several key parameters in understanding long term NP effects in the environment. Differentiation between the effect of the nanoparticles and their soluble ions is critical in understanding the fate and transport of these particles in the environment. They lay out several hypotheses to test, e.g., that decreasing NP solubility will result in decreased uptake of Zn++ by _Hyalella Azteca_ , a species of amphipod crustacean and that NP uptake will occur primarily at the sediment surface, while Zn++ ion uptake will occur primarily through water column exposure. The investigators call this approach Environmental Transformation, Exposure from Sediments, and Toxicity (E-TEST). These studies and approach will introduce new techniques in an integrated way for nanoparticle assessment. The experiments are well thought-out and it is likely that excellent information will come from the study. This is an excellent collaboration between two investigators that approach the problem from different perspectives.