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Published on: August 19, 2013
Carboxylic acids accelerate acidic environment-mediated nanoceria dissolution.
Robert A Yokel1, Matthew L Hancock2, Eric A Grulke2
1a Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of Kentucky , Lexington , KY , USA.
Carboxylic acids accelerate nanoceria dissolution in acidic environments, impacting its environmental and biological fate. This study quantifies this effect, revealing faster degradation in conditions mimicking biological and environmental systems.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Nanoceria exhibits diverse applications, including therapeutics and energy storage.
- Understanding nanoceria's biotransformation and environmental degradation is crucial.
- Ligands significantly influence nanoceria's dissolution rate and behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the role of carboxylic acids in nanoceria dissolution.
- To investigate nanoceria's fate in aqueous, acidic environments.
- To determine the impact of specific carboxylic acids on nanoceria stability.
Main Methods:
- Citrate-stabilized nanoceria dispersions were used in dialysis cassettes.
- Cassettes were immersed in carboxylic acid solutions at pH 4.5 and 37°C.
- Cerium concentrations and nanoceria particle sizes were analyzed using ICP-MS and TEM.
Main Results:
- Carboxylic acids significantly increased nanoceria dissolution (>96% cerium release).
- Dissolution half-lives ranged from 800-4000 hours in carboxylic acid solutions.
- Specific acids like citric, malic, and lactic acid showed slower dissolution compared to others.
Conclusions:
- Acidic environments with carboxylic acids promote nanoceria degradation.
- This dissolution is relevant to biological systems (e.g., phagolysosomes) and environmental niches (e.g., plant rhizosphere).
- Nanoceria's fate and effects are strongly influenced by its dissolution characteristics.
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