Nanoscale Zero-Valent Iron(nZVI)for Heavy Metal Wastewater Treatment:A Perspective

Industries such as non-ferrous metal smelting discharge billions of gallons of highly toxic heavy metal wastewater(HMW)worldwide annually,posing a severe challenge to conventional wastewater treatment plants and harming the environment.HMW is traditionally treated via chemical precipitation using lime,caustic,or sulfide,but the effluents do not meet the increasingly stringent discharge standards.This issue has spurred an increase in research and the development of innovative treatment technologies,among which those using nanoparticles receive particular interest.Among such initiatives,treatment using nanoscale zero-valent iron(nZVI)is one of the best developed.While nZVI is already well known for its site-remediation use,this perspective highlights its application in HMW treatment with metal recovery.We demonstrate several advantages of nZVI in this wastewater application,including its multifunctionality in sequestrating a wide array of metal(loid)s(>30 species);its capability to capture and enrich metal(loid)s at low concentrations(with a removal capacity reaching 500 mg·g^(-1)nZVI);and its operational convenience due to its unique hydrodynamics.All these advantages are attributable to nZVI’s diminutive nanoparticle size and/or its unique iron chemistry.We also present the first engineering practice of this application,which has treated millions of cubic meters of HMW and recovered tons of valuable metals(e.g.,Cu and Au).It is concluded that nZVI is a potent reagent for treating HMW and that nZVI technology provides an eco-solution to this toxic waste.

Green Synthesis of Iron(Ⅱ,Ⅲ)-polyphenol Nanoparticles and Their Adsorption of Malachite Green

Three kinds of iron nanoparticles(FeNPs)were prepared via green route based on pomegranate(PG),green tea(GT),and mulberry(ML)extracts under ambient conditions.The obtained materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy(SEM),transmission electronic microscopy(TEM),X-ray energy-dispersive spectrometer(EDS),X-ray diffraction(XRD),fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR),and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS)techniques.The experimental results show that FeNPs were in the form of amorphous iron(Ⅱ,Ⅲ)-polyphenol complex with different dispersity and morphologies.GT-Fe has the smallest size range of 25-35 nm,PG-Fe has a moderate size-distribution of 30-40 nm,while ML-Fe formed a tuberous net-type with a sheeting structure.PG-Fe displays the highest removal efficiency of 90.2%in 20 min towards cationic dye of malachite green(16.6%by ML-Fe and 69.3%by GT-Fe),which is attributed to its highest polyphenol content,lowest zeta potential,as well as the most Fe^(2+)on the surface of FeNPs.The removal mechanism was mainly induced by electrostatic adsorption based on pH and zeta potential tests.

Study of diclofenac removal by the application of combined zero-valent iron and calcium peroxide nanoparticles in groundwater

Diclofenac(DCF)is one of the most frequently detected pharmaceuticals in groundwater,posing a great threat to the environment and human health due to its toxicity.To mitigate the DCF contamination,experiments on DCF degradation by the combined process of zero-valent iron nanoparticles(nZVI)and nano calcium peroxide(nCaO_(2))were performed.A batch experiment was conducted to examine the influence of the adding dosages of both nZVI and nCaO_(2)nanoparticles and pH value on the DCF removal.In the meantime,the continuous-flow experiment was done to explore the sustainability of the DCF degradation by jointly adding nZVI/nCaO_(2)nanoparticles in the reaction system.The results show that the nZVI/nCaO_(2)can effectively remove the DCF in the batch test with only 0.05 g/L nZVI and 0.2 g/L nCaO_(2)added,resulting in a removal rate of greater than 90%in a 2-hour reaction with an initial pH of 5.The degradation rate of DCF was positively correlated with the dosage of nCaO_(2),and negatively correlated with both nZVI dosage and the initial pH value.The order of significance of the three factors is identified as pH value>nZVI dosage>nCaO_(2)dosage.In the continuous-flow reaction system,the DCF removal rates remained above 75%within 150 minutes at the pH of 5,with the applied dosages of 0.5 g/L for nZVI and 1.0 g/L for nCaO_(2).These results provide a theoretical basis for the nZVI/nCaO_(2)application to remove DCF in groundwater.

Recent Progress in Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles(SPIONs)have immeasurable potentials in many fields such as nanobiotechnology and biomedical engineering because of their superparamagnetic properties and small particle size.This review introduces the methods for SPIONs synthesis,including co-precipitation,thermal decomposition,microemulsion and hydrothermal reaction,and surface modification of SPIONs with organometallic and inorganic metals,surface modification for targeted drug delivery,and the use of SPIONs as a contrast agent.In addition,this article also provides an overview of recent progress in SPIONs for the treatment of glioma,lung cancer and breast cancer.

Eco friendly adsorbents for removal of phenol from aqueous solution employing nanoparticle zero-valent iron synthesized from modified green tea bio-waste and supported on silty clay

The present research investigated a novel route for the synthesis of nanoparticle zero-valent iron(NZVI)utilizing an aqueous extract of green tea waste as a reductant with ferric chloride.Also,the supported nanoparticle zerovalent iron was synthesized using natural silty clay as a support material(SC-NZVI).The NZVI and SC-NZVI were characterized by infrared spectroscopy(FTIR),scanning electron microscope(SEM),X-ray diffraction(XRD),Brunauer–Emmett–Teller(BET),and zeta potential(ζ).The interpretation of the results demonstrated that the polyphenol and other antioxidants in green tea waste can be used as reduction and capping agents in NZVI synthesis,with silty clay an adequate support.Additionally,the experiments were carried out to explore phenol adsorption by NZVI and SC-NZVI.To determine the optimum conditions,the impact of diverse experimental factors(i.e.,initial pH,adsorbent dose,temperature,and concentration of phenol)was studied.Langmuir,Freundlich,and Tempkin isotherms were used as representatives of adsorption equilibrium.The obtained results indicated that the adsorption processes for both NZVI and SC-NZVI well fitted by the Freundlich isotherm model.The appropriateness of pseudofirstorder and pseudosecondorder kinetics was investigated.The experimental kinetics data were good explained by the second-order model.The thermodynamic parameters(ΔH0,ΔS0,andΔG0)for NZVI and SC-NZVI were determined.The maximum removal rates of phenol at optimum conditions,when adsorbed onto NZVI and SC-NZVI,were found to be 94.8%and 90.1%,respectively.

Preparation of Superparamagnetic Dextran-coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles used as a Novel Gene Carrier into Human Bladder Cancer Cells'

Objective: Application of magnetic nanoparticles as gene carrier in gene therapy has developed quickly. This study was designed to investigate the preparation of superparamagnetic dextran-coated iron oxide nanoparticles (SDION) and the feasibility of SDION used as a novel gene carrier for plasmid DNA in vitro. Methods: SDION were prepared by chemical coprecipitation and separated by gel filtration on Sephacryl S-300HR, characterized by TEM, laser scattering system and Vibrating Sample Magnetometer Signal Processor. The green fluorescent protein (pGFP-C2) plasmid DNA was used as target gene. SDION-pGFP-C2 conjugate compounds were produced by means of oxidoreduction reaction. The connection ratio of SDION and pGFP-C2 DNA was analyzed and evaluated by agarose electrophoresis and the concentration of pGFP-C2 in supernatant was measured. Using liposome as control, the transfection efficiency of SDION and liposome was respectively evaluated under fluorescence microscope in vitro. Results: The diameter of SDION ranges from 3 nm to 8 nm, the effective diameter was 59.2 nm and the saturation magnetization was 0.23 emu/g. After SDION were reasonably oxidized, SDION could connect with pGFP-C2 to a high degree. The transfection efficiency of SDION as gene carrier was higher than that of liposome. Conclusion: The successes in connecting SDION with pGFP-C2 plasmid by means of oxidoreduction reaction and in transferring pGFP-C2 gene into human bladder cancer BIU-87 cells in vitro provided the experimental evidence for the feasibility of SDION used as a novel gene carrier.

Synthesis of clay-supported nanoscale zero-valent iron using green tea extract for the removal of phosphorus from aqueous solutions

This study addresses the synthesis of nanoscale zero-valent iron(n ZVI) in the presence of natural bentonite(B-n ZVI) using green tea extract. The natural bentonite and B-n ZVI were then applied for the removal of phosphorus from aqueous solutions at various concentrations, p H levels and contact time. The desorption of phosphorus(P) from adsorbents was done immediately after sorption at the maximum initial concentration using the successive dilution method. The characterization of FTIR, SEM, and XRD indicated that n ZVI was successfully loaded to the surface of natural bentonite. The sorption of phosphorus on B-n ZVI was observed to be p H-dependent, with maximum phosphorus removal occurring at the p H range of 2 to 5. The results demonstrate that the maximum sorption capacities of natural bentonite and B-n ZVI were 4.61 and 27.63 mg·g^(-1), respectively.Langmuir, Freundlich, and Redlich–Peterson models properly described the sorption isotherm data. For either adsorbent, desorption isotherms did not coincide with their corresponding sorption isotherms, suggesting the occurrence of irreversibility and hysteresis. The average percentages of retained phosphorus released from natural bentonite and B-n ZVI were 80% and 9%, respectively. The results indicated that sorption kinetics was best described by the pseudo-second-order model. The present study suggests that B-n ZVI could be used as a suitable adsorbent for the removal of phosphorus from aqueous solutions.

Treatment of simulated wastewater containing Reactive Red 195 by zero-valent iron/activated carbon combined with microwave discharge electrodeless lamp/sodium hypochlorite

A comparative study of treatment of simulated wastewater containing Reactive Red 195 using zero-valent iron/activated carbon （ZVI/AC）, microwave discharge electrodeless lamp/sodium hypochlorite （MDEL/NaCIO） and the combination of ZVI/AC- MDEL/NaCIO was conducted. The preliminary results showed the two steps method of ZVI/AC-MDEL/NaCIO had much higher degradation efficiency than both single steps. The final color removal percentage was nearly up to 100% and the chemical oxygen demand reduction percentage was up to approximately 82%. The effects of operational parameters, including initial pH value of simulated wastewater, ZVI/AC ratio and particle size of ZVI were also investigated. In addition, from the discussion of synergistic effect between ZVI/AC and MEDL/NaCIO, we found that in the ZVI/AC-MEDL/NaCIO process, ZVI/AC could break the azo bond firstly and then MEDLfNaCIO degraded the aromatic amine products effectively. Reversing the order would reduce the degradation efficiency.

Highly Efficient Labeling of Human Lung Cancer Cells Using Cationic Poly-L-lysine-Assisted Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

Cell labeling with magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles(IONPs)is increasingly a routine approach in the cellbased cancer treatment.However,cell labeling with magnetic IONPs and their leading effects on the biological properties of human lung carcinoma cells remain scarcely reported.Therefore,in the present study the magnetic c-Fe2O3nanoparticles(MNPs)were firstly synthesized and surface-modified with cationic poly-L-lysine(PLL)to construct the PLL-MNPs,which were then used to magnetically label human A549 lung cancer cells.Cell viability and proliferation were evaluated with propidium iodide/fluorescein diacetate double staining and standard 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-diphenyl-tetrazolium)bromide assay,and the cytoskeleton was immunocytochemically stained.The cell cycle of the PLL-MNPlabeled A549 lung cancer cells was analyzed using flow cytometry.Apoptotic cells were fluorescently analyzed with nuclear-specific staining after the PLL-MNP labeling.The results showed that the constructed PLL-MNPs efficiently magnetically labeled A549 lung cancer cells and that,at low concentrations,labeling did not affect cellular viability,proliferation capability,cell cycle,and apoptosis.Furthermore,the cytoskeleton in the treated cells was detected intact in comparison with the untreated counterparts.However,the results also showed that at high concentration(400 lg m L-1),the PLL-MNPs would slightly impair cell viability,proliferation,cell cycle,and apoptosis and disrupt the cytoskeleton in the treated A549 lung cancer cells.Therefore,the present results indicated that the PLL-MNPs at adequate concentrations can be efficiently used for labeling A549 lung cancer cells and could be considered as a feasible approach for magnetic targeted anti-cancer drug/gene delivery,targeted diagnosis,and therapy in lung cancer treatment.

Biodistribution and Toxicity Assessment of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles In Vitro and In Vivo

Biodistribution and toxicity assessment are critical for safe clinical use of newly developed medicines.Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION)are effective carriers for targeted drug delivery.This study aimed to examine the toxicity and biodistribution of SPION coated with polyethylenimine (PEI)(SPION-PEI)designed for small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery both in vitro and in vivo.SPION-PEI/siRNA complexes were prepared at different weight ratios.Cytotoxic effects of SPION-PEI/siRNA on HSC-T6 cell viability were determined by using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT).Rats were divided into three groups:a control group,a normal-saline group and a SPION-PEI/siRNA group.After a single intravenous injection,in vivo nanoparticle biodistribution and accumulation were evaluated by Prussian blue staining in the heart,liver,spleen,lung and kidney 8 h,24 h,and 7 days after the injection.Their distribution was histologically studied at the three time points by measuring ironpositive areas (μm2)in organ sections stained with Prussian blue.The same organs were analyzed by H&E staining for any possible histopathological changes.Furthermore,biochemical indexes such as alanine amino transaminase (ALT),aspartate transaminase (AST),blood urea nitrogen (BUN)and creatinine (CREA)were also assessed at all experimental time points.Electrophoresis exhibited that the SPION-PEI could retard siRNA altogether at weight ratios above 4.MTT assay showed that SPION-PEI loaded with siRNA had low cytotoxicity.In vivo study revealed that the liver and spleen were the major sites of SPION-PEI/siRNA deposition.The iron content was significantly increased in the liver and spleen,peaking 24 h after intravenous injection and then declining gradually.No evidence was found of irreversible histopathological damage to any of the organs tested.These results suggested that most SPION-PEI/siRNA complexes were distributed in the liver and spleen,which might be the target organs of SPION-PEI/siRNA complexes.SPION- PEI/siRNA may serve as in vivo carrier for biomedical medicines.

Tailoring the surface structures of iron oxide nanorods to support Au nanoparticles for CO oxidation

Iron oxide supported Au nanomaterials are one of the most studied catalysts for low-temperature CO oxidation.Catalytic performance not only critically depends on the size of the supported Au nanoparticles(NPs)but also strongly on the chemical nature of the iron oxide.In this study,Au NPs supported on iron oxide nanorods with different surface properties throughβ-FeOOH annealing,at varying temperatures,were synthesized,and applied in the CO oxidation.Detailed characterizations of the interactions between Au NPs and iron oxides were obtained by X-ray diffraction,transmission electron microscopy(TEM),and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.The results indicate that the surface hydroxyl group on the Au/FeOOH catalyst,before calcination(Au/FeOOH-fresh),could facilitate the oxygen adsorption and dissociation on positively charged Au,thereby contributing to the low-temperature CO oxidation reactivity.After calcination at 200℃,under air exposure,the chemical state of the supported Au NP on varied iron oxides partly changed from metal cation to Au0,along with the disappearance of the surface OH species.Au/FeOOH with the highest Au0 content exhibits the highest activity in CO oxidation,among the as-synthesized catalysts.Furthermore,good durability in CO oxidation was achieved over the Au/FeOOH catalyst for 12 h without observable deactivation.In addition,the advanced identical-location TEM method was applied to the gas phase reaction to probe the structure evolution of the Au/iron oxide series of the catalysts and support structure.A Au NP size-dependent Ostwald ripening process mediated by the transport of Au(CO)x mobile species under certain reaction conditions is proposed,which offers a new insight into the validity of the structure-performance relationship.

Removal of hexavalent chromium from aqueous solution by iron nanoparticles

Groundwater remediation by nanoparticles has received increasing interest in recent years. This report presents a thorough evaluation of hexavalent chromium removal in aqueous solutions using iron (Fe0) nanoparticles. Cr(VI) is a major pollutant of groundwater. Zero-valent iron, an important natural reductant of Cr(VI), is an option in the remediation of contami- nated sites, transforming Cr(VI) to essentially nontoxic Cr(III). At a dose of 0.4 g/L, 100% of Cr(VI) (20 mg/L) was degraded. The Cr(VI) removal efficiency decreased significantly with increasing initial pH. Different Fe0 type was compared in the same con- ditions. The reactivity was in the order starch-stabilized Fe0 nanoparticles>Fe0 nanoparticles>Fe0 powder>Fe0 filings. Electro- chemical analysis of the reaction process led to the conclusion that Cr(OH)3 should be the final product of Cr(VI). Iron nanopar- ticles are good choice for the remediation of heavy metals in groundwater.

Magnetite Nanoparticles Coated with Synthetic Polymer for Hyperthermia Application: Review

Hyperthermia treatment using appropriate magnetic materials in an alternating magnetic field to generate heat has been proposed as a low-invasive cancer treatment method. Magnetite iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4) are expected to be an appropriate type of magnetic material for this purpose due to its biocompatibility. Several polymers are used to Fe3O4 MNPs to avoid or decrease agglomeration, and in most cases increase dispersion stability. In this review, we will give briefly how these coated magnetite nanoparticles (PMNPs) are synthesized in the first part. The main characterization techniques usually used to study the properties of these MNPs are prseneted in the second part. Finally, most recent results on the heating ability of polymeric coated magnetite nanoparticles (PMNPs) are given in the last part of this review.

Preparation of Iron Nanoparticles from Iron Pentacarbonyl Using an Atmospheric Microwave Plasma

A novel method is introduced for preparing iron nanoparticles from iron pentacar- bonyl using an atmospheric microwave plasma. The prepared iron nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The results show that the size of the particles can be controlled by adjusting the microwave power and the flow rate of the carrier gas. The magnetic properties of the synthesized iron particles were studied and a saturation magnetiza- tion of ~95 emu/g was obtained. The convenient preparation process and considerable production rate were also found to be satisfactory for industrial applications.

Simultaneous removal of Cr(Ⅵ), Cd, and Pb from aqueous solution by iron sulfide nanoparticles: Influencing factors and interactions of metals

Cadmium(Cd),lead(Pb),and hexavalent chromium(Cr(Ⅵ)) are often found in soils and water affected by metal smelting,chemical manufacturing,and electroplating.In this study,synthetic iron sulfide nanoparticles(FeS NPs) were stabilized with carboxymethyl cellulose(CMC) and utilized to remove Cr(Ⅵ),Cd,and Pb from an aqueous solution.Batch experiments,a Visual MINTEQ model,scanning electron microscopy(SEM),X-ray diffraction(XRD),and X-ray photoelectron spectrometer(XPS) analysis were used to determine the removal efficiencies,influencing factors,and mechanisms.The FeS NP suspension simultaneously removed Cr(Ⅵ),Cd,and Pb from an aqueous solution.The concentrations of Cr(Ⅵ),Cd,and Pb decreased from 50,10,and 50 mg·L^(-1) to 2.5,0.1,and 0.1 mg·L^(-1),respectively.The removal capacities were up to 418,96,and 585 mg per gram of stabilized FeS NPs,respectively.The acidic conditions significantly favored the removal of aqueous Cr(Ⅵ) while the alkaline conditions favored the removal of Cd and Pb.Oxygen slightly inhibited the removal of Cr(Ⅵ),but it had no significant influence on the removal of Cd and Pb.A potential mechanism was proposed for the simultaneous removal of Cr(Ⅵ),Cd,and Pb using FeS NPs.The interactions of the three heavy metals involved a cationic bridging effect on Cr(Ⅵ) by Cd,an enhanced adsorption effect on Cd by [Cr,Fe](OH)_3,precipitation of PbCrO_4,and transformation of PbCrO_4 to PbS.Therefore,FeS NPs have a high potential for use in the simultaneous removal of Cr(Ⅵ),Cd,and Pb from contaminated aqueous solutions.

Green synthesis of iron oxide(Fe_3O_4)nanoparticles using two selected brown seaweeds:Characterization and application for lead bioremediation

The exploitation of different plant materials for the biosynthesis of nanoparticles is considered a green technology because it does not involve any harmful chemicals. In this study, iron oxide nanoparticles（Fe3O4-NPs） were synthesized using a completely green biosynthetic method by reduction of ferric chloride solution using brown seaweed water extracts. The two seaweeds Padina pavonica（Linnaeus） Thivy and Sargassum acinarium（Linnaeus） Setchell 1933 were used in this study. The algae extract was used as a reductant of Fe Cl3 resulting in the phytosynthesis of Fe3O4-NPs. The phytogenic Fe3O4-NPs were characterized by surface plasmon band observed close to 402 nm and 415 nm; the obtained Fe3O4-NPs are in the particle sizes ranged from 10 to 19.5 nm and 21.6 to 27.4 nm for P. pavonica and S. acinarium, respectively. The strong signals of iron were reported in their corresponding EDX spectra. FTIR analyses revealed that sulphated polysaccharides are the main biomolecules in the algae extracts that do dual function of reducing the Fe Cl3 and stabilizing the phytogenic Fe3O4-NPs. The biosynthesized Fe3O4-NPs were entrapped in calcium alginates beads and used in Pb adsorption experiments. The biosynthesized Fe3O4-NPs alginate beads via P. pavonica（Linnaeus） Thivy had high capacity for bioremoval of Pb（91%） while that of S. acinarium（Linnaeus） Setchell 1933 had a capacity of（78%） after 75 min.The values of the process parameters for the maximum Pb removal efficiency by Fe3O4-NPs alginate beads synthesized via P. pavonica（Linnaeus） Thivy were also estimated.

Green synthesis of bentonite-supported iron nanoparticles as a heterogeneous Fenton-like catalyst:Kinetics of decolorization of reactive blue 238 dye

This study aimed to synthesize green tea nano zero-valent iron(GT-NZVI)and bentonite-supported green tea nano zero-valent iron(BGT-NZVI)nanoparticles using green tea extracts in an environmentally sustainable way.Bentonite was used as a support material because it disperses and stabilizes GT-NZVI,and it helps to reduce the cost,increase the adsorption capacity of GT-NZVI,and decrease the optimum amount of GT-NZVI used in Fenton-like oxidation.A scanning electron microscope,an atomic force microscope,and a Fourier transform infrared spectroscope were used to characterize GT-NZVI and B-GT-NZVI,while the zeta potential was measured to evaluate the stability of iron nanoparticles.The decolorization kinetics of reactive blue 238(RB 238)dye in the aqueous phase in the Fenton-like oxidation process were investigated as well.The effects of various experimental conditions such as reaction time,dosages of catalysts,concentration of H2O2,temperature,addition of inorganic salts,and other parameters were investigated.The results show that the oxidative degradation efficiencies of RB 238 dye catalyzed by GT-NZVI and B-GT-NZVI were 93.5%and 96.2%,respectively,at the optimum reaction conditions as follows:c(H2O2)¼5 mmol/L,r(GT-NZVI)¼0.5 g/L or r(B-GT-NZVI)¼0.5 g/L,c(RB 238 dye)¼0.05 mmol/L,and pH¼2.5 at 180 min.The best catalytic performance was exhibited when B-GT-NZVI was used.Three kinetic models were employed,and the second-order model was found to be the best model representing the experimental kinetic data of RB 238 dye.The value of activation energy decreased from 38.22 kJ/mol for GT-NZVI to 14.13 kJ/mol for B-GT-NZVI.This indicates that the effect of B-GT-NZVI in decreasing the energy barrier is more pronounced than that of the GT-NZVI catalyst,leading to improved Fenton-like oxidation processes.©2020 Hohai University.Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Use of PEI-coated Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles as Gene Vectors

Summary: To evaluate the feasibility of using polyethyleneimine (PEI) coated magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (polyMAG-1000) as gene vectors. The surface characteristics of the nanoparticles were observed with scanning electron microscopy. The ability of the nanoparticles to combine with and protect DNA was investigated at different PH values after polyMAG-1000 and DNA were combined in different ratios. The nanoparticles were tested as gene vectors with in vitro transfection models. Under the scanning electron microscope the nanoparticles were about 100 nm in diameter. The nanoparticles could bind and condense DNA under acid, neutral and alkaline conditions, and they could transfer genes into cells and express green fluorescent proteins (GFP). The transfection efficiency was highest (51 %) when the ratio of nanoparticles to DNA was 1:1 (v:w). In that ratio, the difference in transfection efficiency was marked depending on whether a magnetic field was present or not: about 10 % when it was absent but 51 % when it was present. The magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles coated with PEI may potentially be used as gene vectors.

Toxicity of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles: Research strategies and implications for nanomedicine

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles （SPIONs） are one of the most versatile and safe nanoparticles in a wide variety of biomedical applications. In the past decades, considerable efforts have been made to investigate the potential adverse biological effects and safety issues associated with SPIONs, which is essential for the development of next-generation SPIONs and for continued progress in translational research. In this mini review, we summarize recent developments in toxicity studies on SPIONs, focusing on the relationship between the physicochemical properties of SPIONs and their induced toxic biological responses for a better toxicological understanding of SPIONs.

Biochar Supported Nanoscale Zero-valent Iron Composites for the Removal of Petroleum from Wastewater

Considering the need for efficiently and rapidly treating oily wastewater while preventing secondary pollution,the nanoscale zero-valent iron(nZVI)was supported on biochar prepared by using a spent mushroom substrate(SMS),to produce an iron-carbon composite(SMS-nZVI).The ability of the SMS-nZVI to treat wastewater containing high concentration of oil was then comprehensively evaluated.The morphology,structure,and other properties of the composite were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy,transmission electron microscopy,the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller nitrogen sorption analysis,and the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.The results show that the biochar prepared by using the SMS can effectively prevent the agglomeration of nZVI and increase the overall specific surface area,thereby enhancing the absorption of petroleum by the composite.Experiments reveal that compared with the SMS and nZVI,the SMS-nZVI composite removes petroleum faster and more efficiently from wastewater.Under optimized conditions involving an nZVI to biochar mass ratio of 1:5 and a pH value of 4,the efficiency for removal of petroleum from wastewater with an initial petroleum concentration of 1000 mg/L could reach 95%within 5 h.Based on a natural aging treatment involving exposure to air for 30 d,the SMS-nZVI composite retained an oil removal rate of higher than 62%,and this result could highlight its stability for practical applications.