Publikationsrepositorium - Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf

In order to characterize the potential hazards of anthropogenic nanomaterials to humanity and the environment, as well as the successful implementation of SSbD approaches, it is imperative to have access to analytic tools that provide sensitive detection at low concentrations in complex media such as surface and waste water, sewage sludge, soil, biota, etc. against same element and particle backgrounds. The radiolabeling of nanomaterials provides these features for laboratory studies. We present an overview of our radiolabelling efforts with examples of their applications.
We have developed a library of radiolabelling methods for the most common anthropogenic nanomaterials, including nanoplastics, that allow us to track nanomaterials in release, mobility and uptake studies including such complex systems as waste water treatment plants, plants, water organisms and soil. The labeling techniques are the synthesis of the nanoparticles using radioactive starting materials, the binding of the radiotracer to the nanoparticles, the activation of the nanoparticles using proton/neutron irradiation, the recoil labeling utilizing the recoil of a nuclear reaction to implant a radiotracer into the nanoparticle, and the in-diffusion of radiotracers into the nanoparticles at elevated temperatures. Using these methods we have produced [105/110mAg]Ag, [124/125/131I]CNTs, [48V]TiO2, [139/141Ce]CeO2, [7Be]MWCNT, [64Cu]SiO2, [64Cu]PS, etc. for accurate quantification in complex media at an environmentally relevant low concentrations range even with a background of the same element and without complicated sample preparations necessary.
Using these approaches, we can go beyond mere quantification and gain mechanistic insights into nanomaterial behavior in the environment. For example, we have tracked the dissolution and internalization of CeO2 NP in freshwater shrimp, the dissolution of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots in waste water treatment or the size-dependent uptake of TiO2 in plants.