Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology: Applications and Implications

Kristen M. Kulinowski, Ph.D.Department of Chemistry

CBEN Executive Director for Education and Public Policy

The only federally-funded nanotech center whose exclusive emphasis is

health and the environmentA National Science Foundation center of excellence

NSF Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center, Vicki Colvin, Director

Investigating and developing nanoscience at the "wet/dry" interfaceExplore the interface between nanomaterials and aqueous systems at multiple length scales including interactions with solvents, biomolecules, cells, whole organisms and the environment

Significant education and outreach componentNanoscience introduction in K-12, with a focus on teachers

New curriculum and summer internships in research for undergraduates

Industrial connectionsAffiliates program

Entrepreneurship – Forums, classes and distinguished seminars

Nanomanufacturing facility

Policy and Government Interactions

What is Nanotechnology?

Nanotechnology is the creation of functional materials, devices,and systems through control of matter on the nanometer length scale, exploiting novel phenomena and properties (physical, chemical, biological) present only at that length scale.

“If I were asked for an area of science and engineering that will most likely produce the breakthroughs of tomorrow, I would point to nanoscale science and engineering.”

Neal LaneFormer NSF DirectorAssistant to President Clinton for Science and Technology

“NanoX”= any material you want

10 nm

Fe3O4, d=4.5 nm

CdSe

Carbon

CBEN’s Organizing Principle

NanoX

Applications and Implications

The Wet/Dry Interface

Theme 2: NanoBioengineering

(West)

Theme 1: Nanoscience

(Colvin)

Theme 3: NanoEnvironmental Engineering

(Hughes/Alvarez)

Bioengineering Applications

1. Functional Bionanoconjugates

2. Engineered nanostructures for tissue replacement

Bioanalytical problemsDrug deliveryTherapeutic agentsBiological imaging

Tissue growth control(nanostructured surfaces)

Joint/Hip replacements(nanocomposites)

Bone Replacements(nanofibers and nanocomposites)

Collaborative Efforts between Engineers, Biologists, and Chemists

Metal Nanoshells for Cancer Therapy

Jennifer West

Tumor capillary

“Leaky” endothelium

Carcinoma cells

Nanoshells for Photothermal Cancer Therapy

Nanoshell BNCs + near IR light =Carcinoma cell death

Jennifer West

TCE Reduction

Mineralization of organics

Industrial wastewater treatments

Arsenic removal

Environmental Engineering Applications

2. Sorption1. S

epar

ation

s

3. Remediation

Arsenic in Drinking Water

Arsenic in water linked to cancer

EPA standards: 50 ug/L to 10 ug/L

Natural and anthropogenic sources

Enormous interest in removalPlants (phytofiltration)Muds and sedimentsZero valent iron – in-situMine tailings (e.g., iron oxides)

Ayotte et al, Envi. Sci. Tech. 2003 37, p.2075

Arsenic Sorption onto Iron Oxides

Models for surface interactions*

CBEN’s approach is to use nanoscale iron oxides as sorbentsIncreased capacity from high surface areaRemoval and reuse via magnetic filtersTailorability of surface chemistry

Strong and specific sorption Chemical transformationSubjected to interferences

Silicate and phosphatesHumic acids

* D. M. Sherman, S. R. Randall Geochimica et Cosmochimica v. 67 no. 22 p. 4223

Improved Recovery of Nanocrystals

Solution before

After column(one pass)

After recovery/wash

22 nm Fe3O4in hexanes

10 nm Fe3O4in water

Health and Environmental Implications of Nanomaterials

Fate and transport

Biological transformations and ecotoxicology

Health effects and toxicology

Engineered Nanostructures and Cells

• Receptor mediated endocytosisd > 100 nm colloids don’td < 50 nm do

• High reactivity of nanoparticle surfacesStrong oxidizing/reducing agentsFree radical activity

Bruchez, Alivisatos et al Science 281 (1998) p. 2013From J. West, Rice U.

100 nm particles, intercellular space 10 nm particles, inside cell

Environmental Implications: Fate, Transport, Transformation

Exposure assessment: framework for analysis

Developing hypotheses for nanosized materials

Little literature on engineered nanomaterials

Extrapolate from molecular or colloidal data

Molecular(dissolved)

Colloidal(particulate)

‘Nano’: Transition

Ängstroms Microns

Biological Implications: Hazard StudiesPulmonary Toxicology of SWNTs in Mice/Rats

Buckyball Clusters and Fish

Quantum Dots

Warheit et al. V. Colvin A. Derfus et al.

Warheit, D.M., et al, Toxicol. Sci., Jan 2004; 77: 117 - 125.Eva Oberdörster, Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol. 112, No. 10, July 2004Austin M. Derfus, et al., NANO LETTERS, 2004, Vol. 4, No. 1, 11-18Christie M. Sayes, et al., NANO LETTERS, 2004, Vol. 4, No. 10, 1881-1887

Emerging data on engineered nanomaterials

Polyaromatichydrocarbons Carbon soot

Add water0.3% NaCl

1% NaCl

3% NaCl

Bleach Extract 50 mg/L

Bayou Water

Vicki Colvin, Rice

Highly stable fullerene nanoparticleNegatively charged surfaceSizes range, typically 30-300 nm

Solid or solution

watern-C60

Important form of C60 in the aqueous environment

Nano-C60: Environmentally Relevant

Vicki Colvin, Rice

11,000THF

1,600Toluene

10Benzo[a]pyrene*

0.02n-C60

100Paraquat

0.001Dioxin*

17,000Ethyl Alcohol*

> 100,000C60-(OH)x

LC50, mg/kgToxin

* National Institute of Health, Registry of Cytotoxicity Data (ZEBET)

nano-C60 Relative Cytotoxicity

n-C60

Vicki Colvin, Rice

OHOH

OH

OH

HO

HO

OH

OHHO

HO

HOOH

OHHO

OHOH

O

O

O

O

OO

O

O

Na

Na

Na

Na

NaNa

Na

Na

10-4 10-2 100 102 104 106 108

0

20

40

60

80

100

% D

ead

Fullerene Species Concentraion (ppb)

COOHHOOC

HOOC

HOOC

HOOC

COOH

Towards Structure-Function Relationships

Fullerene Species Concentration (ppb)

Vicki Colvin, Rice

How can we engineer safe nanoparticles?

Are engineered nanoparticles dangerous?

Framing the question in nanotoxicology

Conclusions

Responsible nanotechnology acknowledges both BENEFITS and RISKS

Nanomaterials may pose novel risks requiring new management policies

Scientific, legal, advocacy and regulatory communities should work together to manage nanomaterial risk

Acknowledgementsn-C60 Group

Christie Sayes

Dr. Joe Hughes

John Fortner

Delina Lyon

Adina Boyd

Dr. Jennifer West

Andre Gobin

CBEN ResearchersDr. Vicki Colvin

Dr. Jennifer West

Dr. Mason Tomson

Dr. Mark Wiesner

Dr. Pedro Alvarez

Dr. Joe Hughes

Dr. Paul Laibinis

NSF-NSEC CBEN, ONRNSF-NIRT Chemistry/Engineering

Welch FoundationResearch CorporationDreyfus Foundation

• Dr. Wenh Guo• Dr. Yitzhi Jane Tao• Dr. Mason Tomson• Dr. Kevin Ausman• Dr. Jane Grande-Allen• Dr. Lon Wilson