Themed collection Recent Open Access Articles

Drawing the picture of the opportunities and challenges of using in vitro data to calculate effect factors in LCA.

An overall structure of this review.

This review discusses the interactions between graphene-based nanomaterials and microbial communities in different environmental compartments reconstituted in microcosms, from soil and freshwater to bioprocesses treating waste.

MNPs may undergo different environmental transformations in aquatic systems, consequently changing their mobility, bioavailability and toxicity to freshwater invertebrates.

A systematic review of the use of single particle ICP-MS to analyse engineered nanomaterials in biological samples has highlighted that efforts have focused on a select few compositions and there is a lack of information for some important tissues.

The toxicity and ecotoxicity effects, handling and disposal of synthetic amorphous silica nanoparticles and aerogels are reviewed and discussed.

A critical review which delves into the advantages of the use of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) in nano-based cancer therapy, which includes its more positive environmental impact compared to previous systems.

We successfully predict distribution of nanoparticles (NPs) in human tissues applying surface energies for NPs, membranes, plasma and protein, considering various biochemical interactions. Phagocyte-rich and cancerous tissues accumulate NPs.

Commercial titania modified the behavior of ants by changing their cuticular hydrocarbon profile composition through photocatalytic oxidation.

Aramid amphiphiles with chelating head groups spontaneously form robust nanoribbons in water with surfaces capable of heavy metal remediation.

Aqueous Ca-(bi)carbonate organic associations with increased thermal stability.

Polycarbonate photodegradation products, namely nanoplastics and molecular by-products, are formed in a single step. Studying their effects in a suitable hepatic model proves that both components induce toxicity toward hepatocellular functions.

Exposure to non-cytotoxic concentrations of E551 and E172 causes similar changes in the expression levels of genes related to the regulation of oxidative stress and DNA integrity in Drosophila intestines and human differentiated Caco-2 cells.

Gene expression was more disrupted in the case of diet-borne exposure of bivalves to NP-L (from the Leyre River) compared to NP-PS, accompanied by neurotoxic effects, synergistic effects with aluminium, and this, even after 7 days of depuration.

TNB molecules exhibiting eco-corona on the surface of carboxylated polystyrene nano-plastic in the aquatic environment.

Understanding the uptake and elimination kinetics of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) in aquatic organisms is essential for their environmental risk assessment.

Nanocarrier-delivered dsRNA can be a promising environmentally friendly pest management solution.

A classification SAR approach for the toxicity of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, towards various cells and organisms. The analysis revealed key nanoparticle properties that induce toxicity.

In this study, we demonstrate and elucidate how spermidine carbon dots (Spd-CDs) enhance tomato tolerance under heat stress (45 °C).

In this study, we developed nano-mixture QSAR models using molecular dynamic (MD) descriptors to predict the toxicity of MONPs to A. fischeri.

Metal oxide engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) in study influenced soil function and microbes, but we found no evidence that changes were caused exclusively by a nano-size effect.

PHBH incorporated with cellulose nanofibers was fabricated as a completely bio-derived bioplastic with high seawater degradability and mechanical properties by electrospinning Pickering emulsions.

CsAKT1 is a key gene involved in PNC improved cucumber salt tolerance.

Inorganic fibers and nanoparticles of the same chemical composition induce similar biological effects in pulmonary cells, which means no or negligible toxicity.

An effective, eco-friendly and easily scalable nanosilver-based technology offers affordable and broad-spectrum antimicrobial solutions against SARS-CoV-2 and Escherichia coli.

Nano- and microplastics exist in the environment and atmosphere in mixed-phase aqueous systems. The density and size of plastics as well as the density of the liquid phase determines if these plastics will float or diffuse through the liquid.

An antibody-functionalized gold nanorod array enables the realization of a reusable early-warning system for detecting harmful pathogens dispersed in drinkable water.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are predicted to be continuously released in the agricultural sector, the subsequent potential human health risks through consumption of food crops has raised concern.

Macrophages treated with polystyrene beads of different sizes show different adaptive responses but no inflammatory responses.

The low yield and active ingredient content of medicinal plants is always a challenge.

Combination of transcriptomics, metabolomics and physiology studies highlighted the nanoparticle size- and concentration-dependent disturbance in algal metabolism induced by nTiO₂.

Mineral dust aerosols in snow were analyzed by single particle ICP-MS with machine learning to classify particle groups.

Toxic and non-toxic polystyrene particles bind different proteins during filtration by zooplankton.

Colloidal silica nanomaterials as adsorbents for aquatic pollutants.

Nanoencapsulation of pesticide atrazine improves efficacy. However, this study discovered adverse bioreactivity in alveolar type 1 epithelial cells (a major recipient of inhaled nano-sized particles), following exposure to nanoencapsulated atrazine.

Understanding the interaction of wood-based nanomaterials with different pharmaceuticals is basic for future engineering of nanostructured wood-based adsorbents for pharmaceutical pollutants.

Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPLs) are intentionally produced for commercial uses (primary MNPLs) or are formed from environmentally aged plastics (secondary MNPLs).

Life cycle assessment can help quantify the environmental impacts of products embedding nanoparticles. Furthermore, it can support the evaluation of absolute environmental sustainability by employing carrying-capacity normalization factors.

Multi-elemental spICP-TOFMS is used to simultaneously classify mixtures of engineered, incidental, and natural Ce-containing nanoparticles based on conserved Ce : La and Ce : Nd ratios in natural Ce particles.

The combination of advanced spectroscopic and microscopic methods used in this work enables molecular and atomic levels understanding of the Pu(IV) nanoparticles formation under acidic conditions (pH 1–4).

Candle soot nanoparticles deposited onto hydrophilic cellulose foam greatly improved the solar-powered steam generation and yield of freshwater, resulting in the production of low-cost potable water from brackish input water.

Integrated approaches to testing and assessment (IATA) provide a framework for combining different information (experimental or in silico) for hazard characterization of chemicals, including nanomaterials (NM), based on a weight of evidence approach.

Anaerobic nitrate-dependent iron(II) oxidation is a process common to many bacterial species, which promotes the formation of Fe(III) minerals that can influence the fate of soil and groundwater pollutants, such as arsenic.

This meta-analysis identifies linkages between the tiers in the bioaccumulation testing strategy.

Toxic differences between antibacterial silver (either ionic Ag⁺ and nanoparticle – AgNPs) were related to the microbial metabolism of enriched organic matter in the gut.

Goethite nanoparticles attached to sand grains in column reactors increase grown in length when exposed to ferrous iron and 4-chloronitrobenzene.

High throughput imaging is used to assess hatching, lethality and malformations in zebrafish embryos and is suitable for hazard ranking of different nanomaterials.

Raman tweezers allow us to trap and analyze nanoparticles generated during tire abrasion and brake pad friction.

Microbial response to copper oxide nanoparticles in soils is controlled by land use rather than copper fate.

Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) aggregation in cosmetics can lower their UV protection efficacy and affect their subsequent environmental impact. In situ ENMs aggregation state can be easily evaluated using 2D X-rays absorption spectroscopy.

We designed nanoparticles able to protect the elicitor on the leaves of grapevines over long periods of time. The foliar application of this nanoelicitor produced wines with high content of stilbenes at significantly reduced dosages.

Conservative engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) that resist transformation during wastewater treatment and sludge incineration can be released from sewage sludge ash. Transient ENPs that undergo transformation are retained in the sewage sludge ash.

How to use chemical triggers and invertebrate tests in the lower tiers of a bioaccumulation testing strategy.

Gold nanostars (AuNSt) amalgamated with mercury ions (Hg²⁺) results in reduced SERS performance whilst their enzyme-mimicking capability is not deteriorated, thus providing a basis for Hg²⁺ detection with inverse sensitivity.

Silver (Ag) nanomaterials (NMs) are used in many products, reaching the environment at some life stage. Their impact assessed via toxicokinetics differed between Ag salt and nano forms and also with soil aging.

The dynamic interplay between toxicity pathways (oxidative stress, calcium disturbances, genetic damage) caused by nanoparticles and the repair mechanisms of inhibition of cell division and induction of cell death is explored in zebrafish embryo cells.

Laser desorption ionization Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry for direct molecular characterization of nanoparticle coronas.

The dietary bioaccumulation potential of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) remains poorly understood.

A novel off-lattice three-dimensional coarse-grained Monte Carlo model is developed to study engineered nanoparticle (ENP) behavior in porous media.

A combined experimental and theoretical approach to obtain the attachment efficiency (α) of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) for heterogeneous natural soils from short, saturated packed columns was investigated and optimized.

Environmental transformations modify the physicochemical properties of ZnO NPs, modulate their ability to reduce zinc ions, and determine the degree of toxicity reduction in zebrafish embryos.

The combination of nanoplastic metal doping and biodynamic modeling allows for accurate assessment of bioaccumulation and effects on Gammarus pulex, even in a complex environmental matrix such as sediment.

Following exposure to a diet containing a control (no added Ag), AgNO₃, Ag NPs or Ag₂S NPs, Ag-containing particles were found in organs of all treatments, with the highest concentrations following exposure to AgNO₃ or Ag NP.

Sub-micron aerosol filtration of non-woven materials and fabric treatments were investigated. Select low-cost, readily available and easily cut non-woven materials were identified as suitable filter inserts for cloth-based masks.

Exposure of Prochlorococcus cultures to research-grade and extracted nano-sized TiO₂ at environmentally-relevant and supra-environmental concentrations (1 μg L⁻¹ to 100 mg L⁻¹) results in initial cell decline, followed by full population recovery.

High-throughput single-particle ICP-TOFMS analyses are used to quantify and classify diverse metal nanoparticle types from wastewater treatment plant samples.

With the increased hospital-acquired infections caused by bio-contaminated surfaces, the requirement for a safer and more efficient antibacterial strategy in designing personal protective equipment such as N95 respirators is rising with urgency.

Acute exposure of A549 cells to Ag-NPs induces stronger effects on DNA integrity, ROS level, cell metabolism and cell cycle than repeated exposure. Ag-NPs dissolves in both exposure conditions and Ag ions recombine with thiolated proteins.

Easy method to count and size plastic nanoparticles in water. A combination of sensitive fluorescence video microscopy, NileRed staining of plastic particles, and single particle tracking allows for counting and sizing nanoplastics.