Unit VII Laboratory: Exposure and Hazards of Engineered Nanomaterials

Learning Objectives
At the end of this activity, students will be able to:
1. Discuss how ENMs are made
2. Enumerate what are the major components of ENMs
3. Determine the hazards involve in handling ENMS
Lesson Proper
The word nano came from the Greek Word “nannos” which literally pertains to dwarf. In
science, it is a unit of measurement for very small quantity and has an equivalent of 1 billionth.
Nanomaterials and nanotechnology are relatively new fields in research. The development in
this field has created a staggering number in the production of new materials and each have
their own compositions and properties. The size, composition and properties create uncertainty
to the safety of production and usage of this materials. The figure below shows the comparative
size of Engineered nanomaterials (ENM) to the more familiar metarials.

Composition of ENMs
The figure above will give us perspective on how small an ENMs can be. These materials are
primarily composed of carbon or metal/metal oxide.
Carbon based nanomaterials include single and multi walled nanotubes, fullerenes (20-80
carbons, graphenes (carbon sheets), buckyballs(spherical carbon) and dendrimers. Carbon

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nanotubes, single and multi walles, have diameters from 1 nm to 2 nm and 2nm to 50 nm
respectively.
Metal/metal oxide ENMs are mostly gallium,gold,nickel, arsenide, platinum, silver, titanium
dioxide, zins oxide, silicon dioxide an cadmium. The size of these materials are in the range of
cells and its compartments.

Some ENMs contain contaminants due to the metal catalyst used in its synthesis. Common
metals used in the synthesis of carbon nanotubes are Lead,Gold, Cobalt, and Iron.

Synthesis of Nanomaterials

Top-down and bottom-up are the two main approaches in the synthesis of nanomaterials.

Top-down approach pertains to size reduction of bulk materials. This route uses physical
process like milling, crushing and grinding. These processes are not suitable for creating
uniformly sized ans shaped nanomaterials. This creates imperfection on the nanomaterials and
which has a significant in the physical properties and surface morphology of it. Example of
this is ball milliing

Bottom-up approach refers to the material synthesis from atomic level. In this route materials
are built from atom to atom, molecule to molecule or cluster by cluster. This route is usually
chosen because if its ability to produce a uniform shape, size and distribution nano-scale
materials. Thus includes chemical synthesi with precisely controlled reaction to inhibit further
particle growth. Example of this process are sol gel method, gas condensation, and furnace.

The following table shows the the comparison of the two approaches

Top-down
1.Reduction of particles into nano scale
2.Can oonly be used for hard brittle
matarials
3.Buk material may not break down into
nano size
4.Contamination due to miling tools
Bottom-up
1. Particle growth from atomic size
2. can be used for gas, liquids and solids
3. particle can be cotrolled
4. less chance of contamination.

To know more about nanomaterial synthesis please follow links:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FPY1uLi2_Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXQAY2irUBk

Disadvantages of ENMs.

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Some of the disadvantages of ENMs are summarized below.

Instability of the particles - Kinetics is one of the issues that must be solved in the
development of nanomaterials. They are thermodynamically metastable and lies in the region
of high energy. Meaning they are prone to attack of other species and undergoes transformation
specially the metal nanoparticles. Some of the challenges in producing nanomaterials are poor
corrosion resistance, readily go phase transformation and high solubility. Inorder to retain its
activity, some of the nanomaterials are encapsulated in a matrix when they are produced.

Though it is considered as disadvantage, explosive scientist had taken advantage of its

instability. Fine metal nanoparticles act a s strong explosive when it comes in direct contact
with oxygen. Their exothermic reaction can easily cause explosion.

Impurity –Synthesizing nanoparticles with high purity is a hard challenge. Since it is highly
reactive, it readily interacts with impurities and also to retain its activity, encapsulation is
necessary when synthesized in a solution. The stabilization of nanoparticles occurs when non-
reactive species reacts with nanospecies thus these impurities becomes part of the synthesized
nanoparticles.

Biologically harmful – Due to the lack of information about the adverse effects of
nanotechnology, the concerns about the safety and hazards of these budding technology has
been raised. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have
compared the hazards of nanotechnology into genetically modified foods. They noted that lack
information about the hazards of these materials could lead to restrictions, ban and conflict that
may hinder its development.

Predicting the hazards of nanomaterials was proven to be a problematic task since the chemical,
physical and biological properties of nanomaterials vary from individual atom, to molecule and
to bulk materials. These hazards include rate of pulmonary deposition, ability to travel from
lungs to other sites and high inflammatory potential

Some reports have shown that nanomaterials can cause irritation and cancer. They can also
interact with liver and blood components which was proven to be harmful.

Recycling and disposal – since nanomaterials are relatively new compared to other more
familiar materials, there are still no concrete disposal policies. Results of exposure experiments
must be available to establish its toxicity to human and to the environment.

To know more about the hazards of nanomaterials pleas follow this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkpcUpattE8

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Assessing Learning

Activity 7
Engineered Nanomaterials

Name: _______________________________ Score: __________

Course/Year/Section______________ Date: ___________

Using your internet browser, research and make a summary of the different top-down and
bottom-up approaches of nanomaterial synthesis.

Top-down Methods Bottom Up Methods

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References
Alagarasi, A. (2011). Chapter 1-Introduction to Nanomaterials. In Introduction to
Nanomaterials.
Hochella, J. M., Mogk, D. W., Ranville, J., & Allen, I. C. (2019). Natural, incidental, and
engineered nanomaterials and their impacts on the Earth system. Science.
Nanofibers: Uses and Applications. (2007). Retrieved from UnderstandingNano.com:
https://www.understandingnano.com/nanofiber-applications.html
Quantum Dots and their Applications. (2007). Retrieved from UnderstandingNano.com:
https://www.understandingnano.com/quantum-dots-applications.html
Salamon, A. W., Courtney, P., & Shuttler, I. (2010). Nanotechnology and Engineered
Nanomaterials. PerkinElmer.
Salieb-Beugelaar, G. B., Schöpfer, F., Bächer, M., Hunt, M., Gehr, P., & Hunziker, P. (2017,
February). Engineered Nanomaterials: Impacts and Safety Aspects. Swiss National
Science Foundation.
Vaishnav, D. G. (2011). Introduction to nanomaterials. Researchgate.
Yokel, R. A., & MacPhail, R. C. (2011). Engineered nanomaterials: exposures, hazards,.
Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology.

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