IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 998: Investigating the Role of Gold Nanoparticle Shape and Size in Their Toxicities to Fungi
IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 998: Investigating the Role of Gold Nanoparticle Shape and Size in Their Toxicities to Fungi
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15050998
Authors:
Kangze Liu
Zhonglei He
Hugh J. Byrne
James F. Curtin
Furong Tian
Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are increasingly being used in a wide range of applications, and such they are being released in greater quantities into the environment. Consequently, the environmental effects of GNPs, especially toxicities to living organisms, have drawn great attention. However, their toxicological characteristics still remain unclear. Fungi, as the decomposers of the ecosystem, interact directly with the environment and critically control the overall health of the biosphere. Thus, their sensitivity to GNP toxicity is particularly important. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of GNP shape and size in their toxicities to fungi, which could help reveal the ecotoxicity of GNPs. Aspergillus niger, Mucor hiemalis, and Penicillium chrysogenum were chosen for toxicity assessment, and spherical and star/flower-shaped GNPs ranging in size from 0.7 nm to large aggregates of 400 nm were synthesised. After exposure to GNPs and their corresponding reaction agents and incubation for 48 h, the survival rates of each kind of fungus were calculated and compared. The results indicated that fungal species was the major determinant of the variation of survival rates, whereby A...
Source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Kangze Liu Zhonglei He Hugh J. Byrne James F. Curtin Furong Tian Tags: Article Source Type: research
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