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Tangential Flow Ultrafiltration: A “Green” Method for the Size Selection and Concentration of Colloidal Silver Nanoparticles
Published on: October 4, 2012
Systematic analysis of silver nanoparticle ionic dissolution by tangential flow filtration: toxicological
Elizabeth I Maurer1, Monita Sharma, John J Schlager
1711 Human Performance Wing/RHDJ, Human Effectiveness Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base , Dayton, Ohio , USA.
Nanotoxicology
|July 16, 2013
Summary
Scientists developed a new filtration method to separate silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) from dissolved ions, revealing that ions exacerbate Ag-NP toxicity in lung cells. This improves nanomaterial toxicology assessments.
Area of Science:
- Nanotoxicology
- Materials Science
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Determining the specific toxicological effects of nanoparticles (NPs) versus dissolved ions remains a challenge in nanomaterial toxicology.
- Existing separation methods like centrifugation are insufficient for accurately isolating ions from NPs, hindering toxicological analysis.
- Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) are widely studied, but the precise contribution of released ions to their toxicity is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and apply an enhanced separation technique for accurately distinguishing between Ag-NPs and their dissolved ions.
- To investigate the dissolution kinetics of Ag-NPs (10 and 50 nm) in biologically relevant solutions.
- To evaluate the differential toxicity of separated Ag-NPs and their ions using a lung epithelial cell line (A549).
Main Methods:
- Utilized a recirculating tangential flow filtration system with diffusion-driven filtration for NP-ion separation.
- Characterized Ag-NPs in various solutions to understand dissolution over time, considering factors like exposure duration, composition, and temperature.
- Quantified separated ions using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and assessed toxicity via cell-based assays.
Main Results:
- The filtration system successfully achieved reproducible separation of Ag-NPs from solvated ions.
- Ag-NP ion dissolution was found to be dependent on exposure time, solution chemistry, and temperature.
- Exposed lung epithelial cells showed that while Ag-NPs are toxic, the dissolved ions significantly exacerbated the toxicological effects.
Conclusions:
- Enhanced filtration techniques provide a reliable method for separating NPs from ions, crucial for accurate toxicological studies.
- Dissolved ions play a significant role in the overall toxicity of silver nanoparticles, potentially more than previously assumed.
- Findings necessitate careful consideration of ion dissolution in the risk assessment of metallic nanomaterials and their biological impact.
