NER: Fullerene-Microbe Interactions: Implications for Disinfection and Risk Assessment

0508207威斯纳了解C60纳米材料富勒烯的生物反应性是很重要的，因为这些纳米材料被考虑用于许多应用。已知富勒烯具有高电子亲和力和与亲核试剂的高反应性。它们可以作为光敏剂产生活性氧物种，如羟基自由基、超氧阴离子和过氧基物种，所有这些都是高度生物活性的物种。这些特性可能导致的富勒烯的潜在生物学效应还没有被很好地理解。它们可能会对各种生物造成各种各样的毒性影响，但它们也有可能被开发成控制生物污垢或对水进行消毒的工程策略。这个项目是在评估富勒烯对细菌和病毒的相关影响的背景下，研究基于富勒烯的纳米材料产生活性氧的化学。具体地说，研究人员正在评估三个假说：(1)富勒烯可以通过光催化或暗反应产生抑制或钝化微生物生长的活性氧物种；(2)富勒烯形成的活性氧物种阻碍异养和光合作用活动，并引起种群变化，反映不同物种使用的不同反应和保护机制；以及(3)通过磷脂过氧化和环氧化导致细胞膜的氧化应激是导致细胞死亡的重要机制。

0508207 Wiesner Understanding the bio-reactivity of fullerenes, which are C60 nano materials, is important because of the many applications for which these nanomaterials are being considered. Fullerenes are known to have a high electron affinity and high reactivity with nucleophiles. They may serve as photosensitizers to produce reactive oxygen species such as hydroxyl radicals, superoxide radical anions, and peroxyl species, all of which are highly bio-reactive species. The potential biological effects of fullerenes that could result from these characteristics are not well understood. They may cause a wide variety of toxic effects to various organisms, but they also have the potential to be developed into engineering strategies to control biofouling or disinfect water. This project is studying the chemistry of reactive oxygen production by fullerene-based nanomaterials in the context of assessing the associated effects of fullerenes on bacteria and viruses. Specifically, the investigators are evaluating three hypotheses: (1) that fullerenes can act photocatalytically or through dark reactions to produce reactive oxygen species that inhibit or inactivate microbial growth; (2) that the reactive oxygen species formed from fullerenes hinder heterotrophic and photosynthetic activities and cause population shifts reflecting differential responses and protective mechanisms used by different species; and (3) that oxidative stress of cell membranes through peroxidation and epoxidation of phospholipids is an important mechanism responsible for cell death.