Implications and potential applications of bactericidal fullerene water suspensions: effect of nC(60) concentration, exposure conditions and shelf life.

Stable fullerene water suspensions (nC(60)) exhibited potent antibacterial activity to physiologically different bacteria in low-salts media over a wide range of exposure conditions. Antibacterial activity was observed in the presence or absence of light or oxygen, and increased with both exposure time and dose. The activity was also influenced by the nC(60) storage conditions and by the age of the buckminsterfullerene (C(60)) used to make nC(60). These results reflect the potential impact of nC(60) on the health of aquatic ecosystems and suggest novel alternatives for disinfection and microbial control.

Comparative toxicity of nano-scale TiO2, SiO2 and ZnO water suspensions.

TiO2, SiO2 and ZnO are common additives with improved applications at the nanoscale. The antibacterial activity of TiO2, which has important ecosystem health implications, is well understood. However, less attention has been paid to the antibacterial activity of SiO2 and ZnO despite them also producing reactive oxygen species. This paper explores the relative toxicity of TiO2, SiO2 and ZnO water suspensions towards bacteria (B. subtilis, E. coli) and the eukaryotic Daphnia magna. These three photosensitive nanomaterials were hazardous to all test organisms, with toxicity increasing with particle concentration. Toxicity of the three compounds decreased from ZnO to TiO2 to SiO2 and Daphnia were most susceptible to their effects. Nominal particle size did not affect the toxicity of these compounds. Antibacterial activity was noted under both dark and light conditions indicating that mechanisms additional to ROS production were responsible for growth inhibition. These results highlight the need for caution during the use and disposal of such manufactured nanomaterials to prevent unintended environmental impacts, as well as the importance of further research on the mechanisms and factors that increase toxicity to enhance risk management.

C60 in water: nanocrystal formation and microbial response.

Upon contact with water, under a variety of conditions, C60 spontaneously forms a stable aggregate with nanoscale dimensions (d = 25-500 nm), termed here "nano-C60". The color, hydrophobicity, and reactivity of individual C60 are substantially altered in this aggregate form. Herein, we provide conclusive lines of evidence demonstrating that in solution these aggregates are crystalline in order and remain as underivatized C60 throughout the formation/stabilization process that can later be chemically reversed. Particle size can be affected by formation parameters such as rates and the pH of the water addition. Once formed, nano-C60 remains stable in solution at or below ionic strengths of 0.05 I for months. In addition to demonstrating aggregate formation and stability over a wide range of conditions, results suggest that prokaryotic exposure to nano-C60 at relatively low concentrations is inhibitory, indicated by lack of growth (> or = 0.4 ppm) and decreased aerobic respiration rates (4 ppm). This work demonstrates the fact that the environmental fate, distribution, and biological risk associated with this important class of engineered nanomaterials will require a model that addresses not only the properties of bulk C60 but also that of the aggregate form generated in aqueous media.