CAREER: Detection and quantification of metal-based engineered nanoparticles in surface waters

提议：1553909PI：巴鲁沙，穆罕默德设计的纳米颗粒目前被认为是一种新的污染物，因为它们在消费产品中的生产和使用增加导致释放到环境中。纳米技术对人类或环境的风险评估是由于工程纳米颗粒在水生系统中积累的增加而造成的，目前由于难以区分工程纳米颗粒与自然存在的纳米颗粒以及量化工程纳米颗粒暴露的浓度和性质而受到阻碍。该职业奖旨在开发识别工程纳米颗粒和天然纳米颗粒的方法，并测量自然环境中工程纳米颗粒的浓度和性质。这项职业奖将开发一种多方法分析平台，能够根据纳米颗粒的物理化学特性(如尺寸、形态、化学成分、元素/同位素比和/或这些特性的组合)区分工程纳米颗粒和天然纳米颗粒。其假设是，相对于天然纳米颗粒，工程纳米颗粒具有显著不同的物理化学性质，这将使复杂基质中的工程纳米颗粒能够被检测和量化。多方法包括场流分离与电感耦合等离子体质谱联用、单颗粒-电感耦合等离子体质谱联用和透射电子显微镜与X射线能谱联用技术和方法。特别是，这项研究将评估这些方法识别工程纳米颗粒和天然纳米颗粒物理化学性质细微差异的能力，以：1)实现工程纳米颗粒的检测和量化，2)确定这些方法在地表水中分析工程纳米颗粒的适用性和局限性，3)分析接收废物处理厂污水的地表水中的工程纳米颗粒，以及4)与美国政府合作应用多方法方法监测地表水中的工程纳米颗粒。拟议的研究结果将影响其他学科，如水生毒理学和环境纳米科学和工程学。量化地表水中工程纳米颗粒的浓度和性质将通过关注工程纳米颗粒在环境中转化后的形式来影响工程纳米颗粒的危害和风险表征。此外，测量地表水中工程纳米颗粒的浓度和性质将使工程纳米颗粒命运模型的验证成为可能。为了整合研究、教育和服务，PI将：1)开发环境纳米科学的本科和研究生讲座和课程，2)编辑可用作教科书材料的书籍，3)加强本科生、研究生和高中的实验室和实地经验，4)为高中教师制定专业培训计划，5)提高高中生对纳米技术及其可能提供的机遇和挑战的认识，6)培训学生审查提案，7)让学生参与助学金的制定和撰写，7)组织FFF2018研讨会，以及高中生与国际研究人员的会议和讨论。

Proposal: 1553909PI: Baalousha, Mohammed Engineered nanoparticles are currently considered as an emerging contaminant because their increased production and use in consumer products leads to release into the environment. Risk assessment of nanotechnology to humans or the environment, resulting from increased accumulations of engineered nanoparticles in aquatic systems, is currently impeded by the difficulty in differentiating engineered nanoparticles from naturally occurring nanoparticles and quantifying engineered nanoparticle exposure concentrations and properties. This CAREER award aims to develop methods to discern engineered and natural nanoparticles and to measure the concentration and properties of engineered nanoparticles in the natural environment. This CAREER award will develop a multi-method analytical platform capable of discerning engineered nanoparticles from natural nanoparticles based on differences in their physicochemical properties such as size, morphology, chemical composition, elemental/isotopic ratios, and/or combinations of these properties. The hypothesis is that engineered nanoparticles possess significantly different physicochemical properties, relative to natural nanoparticles, which will enable detection and quantification engineered nanoparticles in complex matrices. The multi-method approach includes field flow fractionation coupled with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy, single particle-ICP-MS and transmission electron microscopy coupled with X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy techniques and methodologies. In particular, the research will evaluate the capability of these methods to identify subtle differences in physicochemical properties of engineered versus natural nanoparticles to: 1) enable detection and quantification of engineered nanoparticles, 2) determine applicability and limitations of these methods for engineered nanoparticle analysis in surface waters, 3) perform analysis of engineered nanoparticles in surface waters receiving effluents from waste treatment plants, and 4) apply the multi-method approach for monitoring of engineered nanoparticles in surface waters in collaboration with the USGS.The outcomes of the proposed research will impact other disciplines such as aquatic toxicology and environmental nanoscience and engineering. Quantifying concentrations and properties of engineered nanoparticles in surface waters will affect engineered nanoparticle hazard and risk characterization by focusing on the form of engineered nanoparticles after their transformations in the environment. Also, measuring the concentrations and properties of engineered nanoparticles in surface waters will enable validation of engineered nanoparticles fate models. The outcome of the proposed research will also inform federal agencies (e.g. EPA, NIST, and USGS) and industry on nanoparticle regulation and best safety practices.To integrate research, education and service, the PI will: 1) develop undergraduate and graduate lectures and courses in environmental nanoscience, 2) edit books that can be used as text book material, 3) enhance undergraduate, graduate, and high school laboratory and field experiences, 4) develop a professional training program for high school teachers, 5) enhance high school students awareness of nanotechnology and the opportunities and challenges it may offer, 6) train students on reviewing proposals, 7) involve students in grants development and writing, and 7) organize the FFF2018 symposium, and a meeting and discussion of high school student with international researchers.