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Updated: Jul 10, 2026
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Published on: April 12, 2019
Nonspherical Silica Nanoparticle Aggregates Exacerbate Pulmonary Surfactant Monolayer Disturbance
Kailiang Tang1, Honglin Hang1, Haiwen Ge2
1School of Aerospace Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|July 8, 2026
Summary
Inhaled lunar dust (LD) aggregates, primarily silica nanoparticles (SiNPs), disrupt lung surfactant more than single particles. Aggregate shape, not size, dictates this harmful interaction, crucial for astronaut health.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Biomolecular Simulation
- Aerospace Medicine
Background:
- Inhaled lunar dust (LD) poses a significant risk to astronaut health.
- Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) are the primary component of LD.
- Pulmonary surfactant (PS) plays a critical role in lung function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the biotoxicity of inhaled lunar dust (LD) aggregates.
- To understand the interaction between silica nanoparticle (SiNP) aggregates and pulmonary surfactant (PS) monolayers.
- To provide data for dust-mitigation strategies in lunar missions.
Main Methods:
- Coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations were employed.
- Simulations involved nine SiNP aggregates of varying size, shape, and surface features.
- Interactions with a pulmonary surfactant (PS) monolayer were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Aggregate shape, not size, governs architecture and interaction dynamics.
- Cubic SiNPs formed the most aspherical aggregates, influencing translocation.
- Aggregates caused greater PS disturbance than single SiNPs, particularly nonspherical ones.
Conclusions:
- Aggregate morphology, rather than mass, exacerbates PS monolayer disturbance.
- Surface bulges can rupture the PS monolayer above a certain threshold.
- Findings offer quantitative benchmarks for lunar dust-mitigation strategies.
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