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Application potential of screening in vitro toxicological assays in qualitative risk assessment of nanomaterials
Závodná, Táňa ; Topinka, Jan ; Danihelka, J.
Undeniable benefits of engineered nanomaterials might be discredited by their potential enhanced or unexpected toxicity arising from nano-specific properties and behavior. An analysis of the applicability of the traditional chemical risk assessment approach in nanomaterials revealed high levels of uncertainty in both hazard characterization and exposure assessment due to the lack of relevant validated methods and reliable data. This indicates the limited capability of the conventional risk assessment approach to ensure the safe use of nanomaterials. Based on the identified uncertainties, the control banding approach was proposed as a suitable tool for preliminary qualitative risk assessment of nanomaterials in occupational settings. Control banding categorizes hazard and exposure into levels referred to as bands. The combination of the hazard and exposure bands results in a risk band determining the necessary degree of control and regulatory measures. To decrease the number of cases where, based on the precautionary principle, unavailable experimental or field data would lead to the assignment to the highest hazard category requiring costly exposure control, screening evaluation of nanomaterial toxicity was proposed as an additional decision criterion. For this purpose, a battery of in vitro toxicological assays enabling screening evaluation of potential toxic effects of NMs was proposed. The assays evaluate endpoints covering basic toxic effects of substances (cytotoxicity, genotoxicity), as well as known nonspecific mechanisms of toxicity typical for nanomaterials (oxidative stress, inflammation). The proposed risk management strategy is intended to assist small and medium-sized enterprises to implement adequate measures to ensure employee safety.
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Nanosecond laser damage of metallic mirrors
Muresan, Mihai-George ; Pilná, Kateřina ; Čech, Pavel ; Mydlář, Martin ; Vanda, Jan ; Navrátil, Petr
Laser surface processing is an established method to introduce surface functionalities on solid surfaces with the required throughputs for a commercial process. Fabrication of laser induced surface structures in an effective matter is done by laser interaction studies, which reveal the best processing parameters (laser wavelength, fluence, repetition, together with the processing speed and environment). Customized solutions are providing the best yields and they are being implemented faster than ever. However, the optics manufacturers are not being to keep up the pace with the new requirements, so they turn instead on older, but safer technology. In order to get a better understanding of optics capabilities, thorough testing is required. Common laser metallic mirrors, commercially available, are being rigorously tested using a nanosecond Yb:YAG laser and the results are compared with the vendor’s information.\n
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Magnetic properties of electrospun polyvinyl butyral/Fe2O3 nanofibrous membranes
Peer, Petra ; Cvek, M. ; Urbánek, M. ; Sedlačík, M.
In this contribution, magnetic Fe2O3 nanoparticles (MNPs) were successfully incorporated into the polyvinyl butyral (PVB) nanofibrous membranes using the electrospinning process. The effects of the MNP concentration on the morphology of the nanofibres and their magnetic properties were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy confirmed their concentration-dependent, yet uniform diameter, and the presence of well-embedded MNPs inside the PVB nanofibres. The magnetic properties of the PVB/MNP membranes were studied using the vibrating-sample magnetometry. The saturation magnetization increased from 6.4 to 45.5 emu/g as the MNP concentration in the feedstock solution increased from 1 to 15 wt%. The fabricated PVB/MNP nanofibrous membranes possessed the ability to respond to the external magnetic fields, which determines their potential in the development of the advanced smart textiles.
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Mass production of hydrogenated ZnO nanorods
Chang, Yu-Ying ; Remeš, Zdeněk ; Míčová, J.
We have developed an inexpensive and efficient technology of hydrothermal growth of ZnO nanorods from zinc nitrate hexahydrate (Zn(NO3)2·6H2O), as a precursor and hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) (C6H12N4), as a surfactant followed by plasma hydrogenation in a novel inductively coupled plasma (ICP) quartz reactor and equipped with the rotary sample holder to stir powder during plasma treatment. We have optimized the photoluminescence spectroscopy for measuring optical scattering samples with the high sensitivity, precise sample positioning and very low influence of the scattered excitation light. Here we present the latest results on the enhancement of the UV photoluminescence of the ZnO nanorods after plasma hydrogenation. The exciton-related photoluminescence has been significantly enhanced whereas the deep defect related yellow photoluminescence has been significantly decreased.\n
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Comparison of microbial interactions of zinc oxide nanomaterials in various size and shape
Rutherford, D. ; Jíra, J. ; Mičová, J. ; Remeš, Zdeněk ; Hsu, H.S. ; Rezek, B.
Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NP) have shown great potential as a novel antibacterial material at a time when resistance towards conventional antibiotics is becoming more prevalent. We report bacteria inactivation by ZnO NP with novel hedgehog-like morphology using model gram-negative (E. coli) and gram-positive (S. aureus) bacteria. E. coli exposed to the novel ZnO hedgehog NP during growth resulted in 4 orders of magnitude reduction in viable cell concentration after 24 h, which is more than 2 orders higher reduction compared to commercially available ZnO NPs with nominal sizes from 50 nm to 20 um. There was a positive correlation between hedgehog NP concentration and bacteria cell concentration reduction within the range tested 0.1 – 1.0 mg/mL. S. aureus was less sensitive to ZnO NP exposure and inactivation effect of various ZnO NP, was comparable. The effect can be thus attributed to direct mechanical damage of the bacterial mebrane that is the most effective for the novel hedgehog ZnO NP. This conclusion was corroborated also by disk diffusion assays.\n
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