Potential application of Au core labeling for tracking Ag nanoparticles in the aquatic and biological system

The entering of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) in natural environments constantly increases due to their widespread production and application. While the environmental behavior, impacts, and fate of Ag NPs were critically assessed, the main challenge represents continuous tracking and quantification of Ag NPs in environmental and biological matrices. A group of labeled Ag NPs with gold cores (Au@Ag NPs) was developed for distinguishing between pristine Ag NPs and their other forms, and we comprehensively compared their physicochemical properties, environmental behavior, and biological effects with unlabeled Ag NPs. The electron transfer process from the Au core to the Ag shell gradually decreased with the increase of Ag shell thickness, then the inhibition of Ag⁺ release induced by the Au core was gradually alleviated, but the generation of superoxide radicals was intensified sharply. Then, the effect of the Au core on the dissolution capacity and free radicals' generation significantly altered the biological toxicity of Ag NPs, and the influence degree was related to the test organism's species. Nevertheless, the Au core retained the surface properties of Ag NPs, leading to the uptake of Au@Ag NPs, entirely consistent with the behavior of unlabeled Ag NPs. These findings confirmed that Au core labeling provides new opportunities for tracking Ag NPs in environmental and biological systems, and the exposure conditions and test organisms should be carefully assessed before employing the Au core labeling technology.