• Toxicological Research
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.253-259
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• 2010

We are consistently being exposed to nanomaterials in direct and/or indirect route as they are used in almost all the sectors in our life. Nations across the worlds are now trying to put global regulation policy on nanomaterials. Sometimes, they are reported to be more toxic than the corresponding ion and micromaterials. Therefore, safety research of nanoparticles has huge implications on a national economics. In this study, we evaluated and analyzed the research trend of ecotoxicity of nanoparticles in soil environment. Test species include terrestrial plants, earthworms, and soil nematode. Soil enzyme activities were also discussed. We found that the results of nanotoxicity studies were affected by many factors such as physicochemical properties, size, dispersion method and test medium of nanoparticle, which should be considered when conducting toxicity researches. In particular, more researches on the effect of physicochemical properties and fate of nanoparticles on toxicity effect should be conducted consistently.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제55권1호
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• pp.57-60
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• 2015

To investigate kinetics of free $^{177}Lu$ and $^{177}Lu$-labeled thermally cross-linked superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (TCL-SPION), suspensions were intravenously injected into the tail vein of mice at a dose of $5{\mu}Ci$/mouse or 15 mg/kg body weight, respectively. Free $^{177}Lu$ radioactivity levels were highest in kidney followed by liver and lung 1 day post-injection. $^{177}Lu$-labeled TCL-SPION radioactivity in liver and spleen was significantly higher compared to that of other organs throughout the experimental period (p < 0.05). Radioactivity in blood, brain, and epididymis rapidly declined until 28 days. Based on these results, TCL-SPION could be a safe carrier of therapeutics.

• 한국물환경학회지
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• 제28권6호
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• pp.943-953
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• 2012

Because of their unique properties, nano-sized metallic nanomaterials (NMs) have been used in extensive applications of biomedicine, electronics, optics, engineering, and personal care products. Accordingly, with the increasing release of NMs into the environment, numerous studies of nanoecotoxicity have been conducted. Fish embryo toxicity test (FET) has many benefits in evaluating toxicity of NMs as an alternative to a whole-body test in fish. In this study, we collected and analyzed the toxicity studies of metallic NMs on freshwater fish embryos. Most studies have demonstrated that metallic NMs are highly toxic during the early development of fish embryos. However, it should be noted that the results for the same NMs on the same test species show variation due to differences in the size or surface properties of the test NMs and exposure conditions. For the safe use of metallic NMs, we need to analyze their effects based on their properties, test species, environmental media, and diverse conditions.

• 한국물환경학회지
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.313-319
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• 2012

Various nanomaterials may flow into the aquatic ecosystem via production, use, and treatment processes. Especially, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were categorized as manufactured nanomaterials presented by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (OECD WPMN) in 2010. AuNPs have been used in medical area, however, they were reported to induce cytotoxicity and oxidative DNA damage, as well as down-regulation of the DNA repair gene in mice and human cell lines. In this study, the aquatic toxicity data of AuNPs and gold ions were collected, with the specific test methods analyzed with respect to the form and size of AuNPs, test species, exposure duration, and endpoints. Currently, aquatic toxicity data of AuNPs and gold ions have been presented in 14 studies including 4 fish, 6 crustacean, 2 green algae, and 2 macrophytes studies, as well as a further 8 studies including 4 fish, 4 crustacean, 1 platyhelminthes, and 1 green algae, respectively. The AuNPs were 0.8-100 nm in size, as gold nanoparticles, gold nanorod, glycodendrimer-coated gold nanoparticles, and amine-coated gold nanoparticles. The tested endpoints were the individual toxicities, such as mortality, malformation, reproduction inhibition, growth inhibition and genetic toxicity such as oxidative stress, gene expression, and reactive oxygen species formation. The accumulation of AuNPs was also confirmed in the various receptor organs. These results are expected to be useful in understanding the aquatic toxicity of AuNPs and gold ions, as well as being applicable to future toxicity studies on AuNPs.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• 제5권1호
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• pp.51-57
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• 2009

Quantum Dot (QD) nanoparticles are used in various industrial applications, such as diagnostic, drug delivery, and imaging agents of biomedicine. Although QDs are extensively used in many medical science, several studies have been demonstrated the potential toxicity of nanoparticles. The first objective of this study was to investigate the nanotoxicity of QDs in the HaCaT human keratinocyte cell line by focusing on gene expression pattern. In order to evaluate the effect of QDs on gene expression profile in HaCaT cells, we analyzed the differential genes which related to oxidative stress and antioxidant defense mechanisms by using human cDNA microarray and PCR array. A human cDNA microarray was clone set, which was sorted for a list of genes correlated with cell mechanisms. We tried to confirm results of cDNA microarray by using PCR array, which is pathway-focused gene expression profiling technology using Real-Time PCR. Although we could not find the exactly same genes in both methods, we have screened the effects of QDs on global gene expression profiles in human skin cells. In addition, our results show that QD treatment somehow regulates cellular pathways of oxidative stress and antioxidant defense mechanisms. Therefore, we suggest that this study can enlarge our knowledge of the transcriptional profile and identify new candidate biomarker genes to evaluate the toxicity of nanotoxicology.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.365-370
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• 2014

For real-time monitoring of colloidal nanoparticles (NPs) in aqueous media, a light sheet type dark-field microscopy system combined with a microfluidic concentration gradient generator (${\mu}FCGG$-LSDFM) was developed. Various concentrations of colloidal Au NPs were simultaneously generated with the iFCGG and characterized with the LSDFM setup. The number concentrations and hydrodynamic size distributions were measured via particle counting and tracking analysis (PCA and PTA, respectively) approaches. For the 30 nm Au NPs used in this study, the lower detection limit of the LSDFM setup was 3.6 ng/mL, which is about 400 times better than that of optical density measurements under the same ${\mu}FCGG$ system. Additionally, the hydrodynamic diameter distribution of Au NPs was estimated as $39.7{\pm}12.2nm$ with the PTA approach, which agrees well with DLS measurement as well as the manufacturer's specification. We propose this ${\mu}FCGG$-LSDFM setup with features of automatic generation of NP concentration gradient and real-time monitoring of their physicochemical characteristics (e.g., number concentration, and hydrodynamic size distribution) as an important component of future high-throughput screening or high-content analysis platforms of nanotoxicity.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.257-265
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• 2008

Nanotechnology is emerging as one of the key technologies of the 21 st century and is expected to enable one to broaden the applicability across a wide range of sectors that can benefit public and improve industrial competitiveness. Already, consumer products containing nanomaterials are available in markets including coatings, computers, clothing, cosmetics, sports equipment and medical devices. Recently, Institute of Occupational Medicine in UK reported an occupational hygiene review for nanoparticles in the viewpoint of nanotoxicity. They reported that the exposure control is very important issues in workplace for exposure assessment, but no proper methods are available to measure the extent of exposures to nanoparticles in the workplace. Therefore, for the estimation of exposure of nanomaterials, we have to approach the material-balance methodology, which similarly carried out in TRI (toxic release inventory) for hazardous chemicals. In order to use this methodology, the exposure source of nanomaterials should be determined firstly. Therefore, herein we investigated the main sources and processes for the exposure to nanomaterals by conducting the survey. The results could be used to define and assess nanohazard sources.

• 대한환경공학회지
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.288-294
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• 2012

나노산업의 발달로 인해 나노제품의 제조, 소비, 폐기 과정에서 나노물질이 직 간접적인 경로를 통해 수생태 및 토양생태계로 유입되고 있다. 나노물질은 벌크물질과는 다른 특성을 가지고 있으며 나노물질의 다양한 물리화학적 변화는 환경내 나노물질의 거동 및 무생물적 생물적 상호작용에 영향을 미친다. 나노물질의 생태 독성 연구는 꾸준하게 증가하는 추세이며 특히 나노물질의 마이크로코즘 연구가 최근 보고되고 있다. 마이크로코즘(Microcosm)은 통제된 실험 조건 하에서 생태계의 일부분을 모사하여 자연 현상을 연구하기 위한 기법으로서, 마이크로코즘 연구는 생태계 내 나노물질의 거동과 통합적인 독성영향 평가를 가능하게 한다. 본 연구는 수생태 및 토양생태계에서 나노물질을 이용한 마이크로코즘 및 메조코즘(Mesocosm) 선행연구를 국제 학술 논문을 중심으로 조사하였다. 현재까지 마이크로코즘 연구는 총 12건의 논문이 발표되었고 단 1건의 메조코즘 연구가 보고되었는데, 대부분의 연구들이 미생물 군집 수준에서 나노물질의 영향을 제한적으로 평가하였다. 나노물질의 통합적 독성 영향을 평가하기 위해서 좀 더 다양한 생물종을 대상으로 그들의 상호작용을 연구할 필요가 있다. 본 연구에서는 수생태 및 토양생태계에서 나노물질의 마이크로코즘 연구동향을 분석하고 중금속, 유기물질과 같은 일반 화학물질 이용한 마이크로코즘 독성 연구를 바탕으로 향후 나노물질의 마이크로코즘 연구방향을 제시하였다.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• 제50권1호
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• pp.112-117
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• 2012

나노기술의 발전과 함께 나노물질을 포함한 소비재가 대중화되고 있다. 그러나 지난 10여년간 조심스럽게 제기되고 있는 나노물질의 잠재적 위해성으로 인해, 나노제품 사용을 불안해하고 있다. 특히 나노제품을 직접 취급하는 생산시설(연구소 및 업체)의 작업자는 직접적인 인체 노출을 초래하게 된다. 따라서 이들에 대한 인체 및 환경 노출 안전관리를 위하여, 직접적인 노출평가가 필요하다. 본 연구에서는 기상 및 액상 반응을 통해 나노물질을 생산하는 두 곳의 업체를 현장 방문하여 나노물질의 주요 노출대상 공정과 노출원을 파악하고 SMPS를 이용한 실시간 현장 모니터링을 실시하였다. 분석 결과, 액상 공정도 기상으로의 나노입자 노출이 심각하게 발생하고 있음을 확인하였다. 가장 문제가 되는 점은 나노물질의 잠재적인 위해성에 관한 인식의 부족으로 제대로 된 방호활동을 못하고 있다는 점이다. 따라서 보다 다양한 나노물질 취급 시설에 대한 환경노출 평가가 필요하고 이를 바탕으로 한 나노물질 취급 안전관리 방법이 제시되어야 한다.

• 청정기술
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.89-95
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• 2016

화장품이나 타이어에 주로 사용되는 ZnO 나노입자에 대한 나노위해성 문제가 대두되고 있다. 이에 본 연구에서는 수계상에 존재하는 ZnO 나노입자에 대한 제거 및 생물학적 독성평가를 실시하였다. 송사리(O. Latipes) 수정란을 이용한 단기 노출평가에서는 5 mg L⁻¹에서는 일부 개체에서 기형이 관찰되었고, 10 mg L⁻¹에서 성장지연에 의한 부화율저감이 관찰되었다. 이러한 결과를 바탕으로 ZnO 나노입자가 수생생물종에게 독성을 보인다는 것을 확인하고, 이를 제거하기 위한 방법인 침전법을 제안하였다. Na₂S와 Na₂HPO₄를 이용하여 ZnO를 ZnS와 Zn₃(PO₄)₂로 전환시켜 침전시켰으며, 이들의 침전에 의한 제거율은 거의 100%에 이르렀다. 또한 해당 침전물 대한 물벼룩(D. magna) 급성독성 평가에서 어떠한 독성 영향도 찾지 못하였다. 이는 ZnO의 황 및 인처리를 통한 변환이 독성 감소에 효과적이었음을 나타낸다.