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Updated: May 7, 2026
13:34
Generation of Scalable, Metallic High-Aspect Ratio Nanocomposites in a Biological Liquid Medium
Published on: July 8, 2015
Biological and environmental transformations of copper-based nanomaterials
Zhongying Wang1, Annette von dem Bussche, Pranita K Kabadi
1Department of Chemistry, ‡School of Engineering, §Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and ⊥Institute for Molecular and Nanoscale Innovation, Brown University , Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States.
ACS Nano
|September 17, 2013
Summary
Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) transform in biological and environmental conditions. Sulfidation reduces CuO-NP toxicity, but reactive oxygen species can still release toxic copper ions.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Environmental Science
- Toxicology
Background:
- Copper-based nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) have diverse applications but raise environmental and safety concerns due to toxicity.
- Elemental nanocopper readily oxidizes, making copper oxides relevant for impact studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the chemical transformations of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) under biologically and environmentally relevant conditions.
- To assess the impact of these transformations on CuO-NP toxicity and redox activity.
Main Methods:
- Studied CuO-NP dissolution at different pH levels and in cell culture media.
- Utilized electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy to identify redox-active species.
- Investigated CuO-NP sulfidation via dissolution-reprecipitation and its effect on cytotoxicity.
Main Results:
- CuO-NPs dissolve at lysosomal pH and in cell culture media due to ligand-assisted ion release.
- Dissolved copper associated with CuO-NPs is the primary redox-active species.
- Sulfidation of CuO-NPs forms less cytotoxic copper sulfide nanoparticles, but ROS can still release copper.
Conclusions:
- Copper oxide nanoparticles undergo significant chemical transformations in biological and environmental settings.
- Sulfidation offers a partial detoxification mechanism, but complete detoxification is unlikely in environments with reactive oxygen species.
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