• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.255-263
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• 2010

In many fields, nanotechnology is leading to the development of purposely-engineered nanoparticles and devices demonstrating new, unique and non-scalable properties. However, concern has been expressed that these same properties may present unique challenges in terms of the potential health impact. Airborne particles associated with engineered nanoparticles are of particular concern, as they can readily enter the body through inhalation. Research into the potential occupational health risks associated with inhaling engineered nanoparticles is actively being conducted in the U.S. and globally. In this article, the potential occupational health effects of inhaled nanoparticles and methods for measuring exposure to nanoparticles are discussed. Critical research needs in this field are also briefly addressed.

• Journal of the Korean Professional Engineers Association
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.37-40
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• 2009

Engineered nanoparticles are materials purposefully produced with at least one dimension between 1 and 100 nanometers. Nanotechnology has the potential to dramatically improve the effectiveness of a number of existing consumer and industrial products and could have a substantial impact on the development of new products in all sectors. However, nanoparticles is little known about what effect these properties may have on human health. This materials provide an overview of what is known about the potential hazards of engineered nanoparticles and measures that can be taken to minimize workplace exposures.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.366-371
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• 2010

Accompanying the rapid advance of nanotechnology, various nano-particles have shown promise as strong antimicrobial agents against a broad spectrum of microorganisms. These nanoparticles also have potential applications in medical devices, water treatments systems, environmental sensors and so on. However, with increasing concerns about the impact of engineered nanoparticles, many researchers are recently reporting the cytotoxicity of nanoparticles. In this review paper, we summarized the antimicrobial activities and mechanisms of various kinds of engineered nanoparticles to imprale understanding about these characteristics of nanoparticles.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.29-37
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• 2022

To verify the fate and transport of engineered nanoparticles (ENP), it is essential to understand its interactions with organic matter. Previous research has shown that dissolved organic matter (DOM) can increase particle stability through steric repulsion. However, the majority of the research has been focused on model organic matter such as humic or fulvic acids, lacking the understanding of organic matter found in field conditions. In the current study, organic matter was sampled from wastewater treatment plants to verify the stability of engineered nanoparticles (ENP) under field conditions. To understand how different types of organic matter may affect the fate of ENP, wastewater was sampled and separated based on their size; as small organic particular matter (SOPM) and large organic particular matter (LOPM), and dissolved organic matter (DOM). Each size fraction of organic matter was tested to verify their effects on nano-zinc oxide (nZnO) and nano-titanium oxide (nTiO₂) stability. For DOM, critical coagulation concentration (CCC) experiments were conducted, while sorption experiments were conducted for organic particulates. Results showed that under field conditions, the surface charge of the particles did not influence the stability. On the contrary, surface charge of the particles influenced the amount of sorption onto particulate forms of organic matter. Results of the current research show how the size of organic matter influences the fate and transport of different ENPs under field conditions.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.20 no.4 s.51
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• pp.259-271
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• 2005

Engineered nanoparticles exhibit a variety of unique and tunable chemical and physical properties. These unique properties make the nanoparticles central components and widespread potential applications in nanoindustry. However, the potential toxicities of nanoparticles have not been fully evaluated. Recently, the impacts of nanoparticles to human and environment became the emerging issue of toxicology. In this article, physicochemical properties and toxicities of carbon nanotube, fullerene, quantum dots, and other types of nanomaterials were reviewed and the strategy of risk assessment were suggested based on the frame of chemical assessment.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.29
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• pp.16.1-16.9
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• 2014

Objectives Rapid increase in engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) in many goods has raised significant concern about their environmental safety. Proper methodologies are therefore needed to conduct toxicity and exposure assessment of nanoparticles in the environment. This study reviews several analytical techniques for nanoparticles and summarizes their principles, advantages and disadvantages, reviews the state of the art, and offers the perspectives of nanometrology in relation to ENP studies. Methods Nanometrology is divided into five techniques with regard to the instrumental principle: microscopy, light scattering, spectroscopy, separation, and single particle inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Results Each analytical method has its own drawbacks, such as detection limit, ability to quantify or qualify ENPs, and matrix effects. More than two different analytical methods should be used to better characterize ENPs. Conclusions In characterizing ENPs, the researchers should understand the nanometrology and its demerits, as well as its merits, to properly interpret their experimental results. Challenges lie in the nanometrology and pretreatment of ENPs from various matrices; in the extraction without dissolution or aggregation, and concentration of ENPs to satisfy the instrumental detection limit.

• Carbon letters
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.56-59
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• 2012

The defect sites on chemical vapor deposition grown graphene are investigated through the selective electrochemical deposition (SED) of Au nanoparticles. For SED of Au nanoparticles, an engineered potential pulse is applied to the working electrode versus the reference electrode, thereby highlighting the defect sites, which are more reactive relative to the pristine surface. Most defect sites decorated by Au nanoparticles are situated along the Cu grain boundaries, implying that the origin of the defects lies in the synthesis of uneven graphene layers on the rough Cu surface.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.140-145
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• 2018

Cancer is a major burden of human disease worldwide. Current chemotherapy has severe side effects because the drugs affect whole body nonspecifically. In addition, the drugs to reach cancer cells are very limited. Over the last two decades, Drug Delivery System (DDS) using nanoparticles has suggested promising results to improve current limitations. In this study, we prepared PLGA nanoparticles with different charge properties and observed their stability and internalization effect to cancer cells. Results using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the size and chemical composition of the nanoparticles. The stability of the nanoparticles in pH buffers were variable depending on charge properties. The nanoparticles showed different cytotoxicity and internalization effects to MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. In conclusion, we demonstrated the importance of delicately engineered nanoparticles for better DDS in cancer.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.132-132
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• 2013

Colloidal synthesis of nanoparticles with well-controlled size, shape, and composition, together with development of in situ surface science characterization tools, such as ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (APXPS), has brought new opportunities to unravel the surface structure of working catalysts. Recent studies suggest that surface oxides on transition metal nanoparticles play an important role in determining the catalytic activity of CO oxidation. In this talk, I will outline the recent studies on the influence of surface oxides on Rh, Pt, Ru and Co nanoparticles on the catalytic activity of CO oxidation [1-3]. Transition metal nanoparticle model catalysts were synthesized in the presence of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) polymer capping agent and deposited onto a flat Si support as two-dimensional arrays using the Langmuir-Blodgett deposition technique. APXPS studies exhibited the reversible formation of surface oxides during oxidizing, reducing, and CO oxidation reaction [4]. General trend is that the smaller nanoparticles exhibit the thicker surface oxides, while the bigger ones have the thin oxide layers. Combined with the nature of surface oxides, this trend leads to the different size dependences of catalytic activity. Such in situ observations of metal nanoparticles are useful in identifying the active state of the catalysts during use and, hence, may allow for rational catalyst designs for practical applications. I will also show that the surface oxide can be engineered by using the simple surface treatment such as UV-ozone techniques, which results in changing the catalytic activity [5]. The results suggest an intriguing way to tune catalytic activity via engineering of the nanoscale surface oxide.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.6039-6046
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• 2015

Aims: To investigate effect of metallic nanoparticles, silver (AgNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as antitumor treatment in vitro against human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and their associated mechanisms. This could provide new class of engineered nanoparticles with desired physicochemical properties and may present newer approaches for therapeutic modalities to breast cancer in women. Materials and Methods: A human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) was used as a model of cells. Metallic nanoparticles were characterized using UV-visible spectra and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Cytotoxic effects of metallic nanoparticles on MCF-7 cells were followed by colorimetric SRB cell viability assays, microscopy, and cellular uptake. Nature of cell death was further investigated by DNA analysis and flow cytometry. Results: Treatment of MCF-7 with different concentrations of 5-10nm diameter of AgNPs inhibited cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, with IC50 value of $6.28{\mu}M$, whereas treatment of MCF-7 with different concentrations of 13-15nm diameter of AuNPs inhibited cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, with IC50 value of $14.48{\mu}M$. Treatment of cells with a IC50 concentration of AgNPs generated progressive accumulation of cells in the S phase of the cell cycle and prevented entry into the M phase. The treatment of cells with IC50 concentrations of AuNPs similarly generated progressive accumulation of cells in sub-G1 and S phase, and inhibited the entrance of cells into the M phase of the cell cycle. DNA fragmentation, as demonstrated by electrophoresis, indicated induction of apoptosis. Conclusions: Our engineered silver nanoparticles effectively inhibit the proliferation of human breast carcinoma cell line MCF-7 in vitro at high concentration ($1000{\mu}M$) through apoptotic mechanisms, and may be a beneficial agent against human carcinoma but further detailed study is still needed.