Abstract
Given the broad commercial applications for ZnO nanomaterials, accurate attribution of physicochemical characteristics that induce toxic effects is particularly important. We report on the physicochemical properties of three commercial nano-ZnO products: Z-COTE and Z-COTE HP1 from BASF, and Nanosun from Micronisers, and, for reference, “bulk” ZnO from Sigma-Aldrich. Z-COTE, Nanosun and “bulk” consist of uncoated particles with different sizes, while Z-COTE HP1 consists of nanoparticles with a hydrophobic coating. Specific batches of these ZnO products were included in the OECD Sponsorship Programme to test manufactured nanomaterials. In order to identify properties potentially susceptible to variations between production runs, three additional batches of Z-COTE and Nanosun and two additional batches of Z-COTE HP1 were also investigated here. In general, all products showed little variation between batches for properties measured from powdered samples, but batch variations in the amount of surface coating were evident for the coated Z-COTE HP1. Properties measured with samples dispersed in liquids (agglomeration, photocatalytic activity, dissolution) were highly dependent on dispersion protocols, and this made it difficult to differentiate between differences due to dispersion and due to batches. However, batch-sensitive properties did appear to be present in Z-COTE and Z-COTE HP1 (photocatalytic activity), and Nanosun (dissolution). Intra-batch time and/or storage-dependent changes in the applied surface coating, noted specifically for the OECD batch of Z-COTE HP1, highlight the need for best practice when storing and accessing stocks of nano products. Awareness of inter-batch and intra-batch variability is essential for commercial applications and for nanotoxicological studies aimed at identifying links between physicochemical properties and any adverse effects in biological systems.
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Acknowledgments
We thank Dr Steffi Friedrichs and Dr Charanjeet Singh from the Nanotechnology Industry Alliance, who coordinated international efforts to test ZnO in the OECD Sponsorship Programme, for their support during this study, and BASF Germany and Micronisers Pty Ltd Australia for supplying the ZnO nanomaterials. We thank Dr. Aaron Seeber, Ms. Liz Goodall, Dr. Zongli Xie, Mr. Winston Liew and Dr. Thomas Gengenbach, all from CSIRO Clayton, for their characterisation work using XRD, BET and XPS and Dr Minoo Moghaddam from CSIRO North Ryde for extensive discussions on TGA. Funding for the experimental part of this study was provided by CSIRO’s Nanosafety Stream within the Advanced Materials Transformational Capability Platform and by the Australian Government’s National Enabling Technologies Strategy (NETS) for work conducted at NMIA. The NETS and the Australian Government’s International Science Linkages Program funded a number of workshops which aided inter-laboratory discussions during the OECD study.
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Yin, H., Coleman, V.A., Casey, P.S. et al. A comparative study of the physical and chemical properties of nano-sized ZnO particles from multiple batches of three commercial products. J Nanopart Res 17, 96 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-014-2851-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-014-2851-y