Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026
08:13
Using Magnetometry to Monitor Cellular Incorporation and Subsequent Biodegradation of Chemically Synthetized Iron Oxide Nanoparticles
Published on: February 27, 2021
4.6K
Iron Oxide (Magnetite)-Based Nanobiomaterial with Medical Applications-Environmental Hazard Assessment Using
Susana I L Gomes1, Janeck J Scott-Fordsmand2, Mónica J B Amorim1
1Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
Journal of Xenobiotics
|March 27, 2024
Summary
Magnetite nanoparticles coated with PEG and PLGA show no toxicity in soil invertebrates. This nanobiomaterial poses no unacceptable risk to the terrestrial environment, ensuring safety for environmental applications.
Area of Science:
- Environmental toxicology
- Nanomaterial safety assessment
- Terrestrial ecotoxicology
Background:
- Nanobiomaterials (NBMs) show promise in cancer diagnosis and treatment.
- Assessing the health and environmental impact of NBMs is crucial for safety.
- Fe3O4 (magnetite) nanoparticles coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) are under investigation for medical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the environmental effects of Fe3O4 PEG-PLGA nanobiomaterials in terrestrial ecosystems.
- To assess the toxicity of both coated (Fe3O4 PEG-PLGA) and uncoated (Fe3O4 NMs) nanoparticles.
- To determine the risk posed by these NBMs to soil invertebrates.
Main Methods:
- Standard OECD 28-day and extended 56-day tests were performed on soil invertebrates.
- The study included model organisms: Enchytraeus crypticus (Oligochaeta) and Folsomia candida (Collembola).
- Endpoints evaluated included survival, reproduction, and size of the test organisms.
Main Results:
- No toxicity was observed for Fe3O4 PEG-PLGA or uncoated Fe3O4 NMs across all evaluated endpoints.
- Survival, reproduction, and size of Enchytraeus crypticus and Folsomia candida were not adversely affected.
- The results indicate a lack of adverse effects in the tested terrestrial soil environment.
Conclusions:
- The nanobiomaterial Fe3O4 PEG-PLGA demonstrates no unacceptable risk to the terrestrial environment.
- These findings support the safe use of Fe3O4 PEG-PLGA in potential environmental applications.
- Further research into NBMs' environmental fate and effects is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Microbes and Other Elemental Cycles
Microbial activity plays a pivotal role in the biogeochemical cycling of iron and manganese, especially at the redox gradients characteristic of stratified aquatic environments. These cycles are driven by microbial transformations between oxidized and reduced forms of the metals, allowing organisms to exploit them for metabolic energy and structural purposes.Iron Cycling Across Redox GradientsIn neutral, oxygen-rich surface waters, iron is predominantly found in its oxidized, insoluble ferric...
01:25Microbial Bioremediation of Uranium
Microorganisms play a critical role in the transformation and immobilization of uranium in contaminated environments through four main pathways: bioreduction, biosorption, bioaccumulation, and biomineralization. These mechanisms reduce uranium’s toxicity and prevent its migration through groundwater systems, offering sustainable approaches for in situ bioremediation.Bioreduction of UraniumBioreduction is driven by anaerobic bacteria such as certain strains of Geobacter and Shewanella, which use...