A Comparative Study of the Biodurability and Persistence of Gold, Silver and Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Using the Continuous Flow through System.

The potential for nanoparticles to cause harm to human health and the environment is correlated with their biodurability in the human body and persistence in the environment. Dissolution testing serves to predict biodurability and nanoparticle environmental persistence. In this study, dissolution testing using the continuous flow through system was used to investigate the biodurability and persistence of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO NPs) in five different simulated biological fluids and two synthetic environmental media to predict their behaviour in real life situations.

Dissolution kinetics of silver nanoparticles: Behaviour in simulated biological fluids and synthetic environmental media.

Silver nanoparticles offer a wide range of benefits including their application in several fields such as medical, food, health care, consumer, and industrial purposes. However, unlocking this potential requires a responsible and co-ordinated approach to ensure that potential challenges emanating from the use of silver nanoparticles are being addressed. In this study body fluids and environmental media were used to investigate the effects of citrate coated silver nanoparticles (cit-coated AgNPs) to mimic their behaviour in real life situations.

Dissolution of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in synthetic biological and environmental media to predict their biodurability and persistence.

Investigating the biodurability and persistence of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO NPs) is of paramount importance because these parameters influence the particles' impact on human health and the environment. Contrary to most research conducted so far, the present study elucidates the dissolution kinetics, namely the dissolution rates, rate constants, order of reaction and half-times of TiO NPs in five different simulated biological fluids and two synthetic environmental media to predict their behaviour in real life situations. Results have shown that the dissolution of TiO NPs in all simulated fluids was limited.

Mercury accumulation and biotransportation in wetland biota affected by gold mining.

Phytoremediation is a cost-effective, eco-friendly technology for the removal of metals from polluted areas. In this study, six different plant species (Datura stramonium, Phragmites australis, Persicaria lapathifolia, Melilotus alba, Panicum coloratum, and Cyperus eragrostis) growing in a gold mine contaminated wetland were investigated as potential phytoremediators of mercury. The accumulation of total mercury and methylmercury in plant tissues was determined during the wet and dry seasons to establish the plants' variability in accumulation.