Nanotoxicology
Synthetic clays, metal oxides and carbon nanotubes are very important classes of nanomaterials that are already employed in large volumes. The primary aims of this project are to develop robust approaches for radiolabelling and fluorescently labelling these materials for further nanotoxicological and nanoparticle tracking studies.
Major achievements
- Methodology for (single and dual isotopic) radiolabelling and size fractionation of LDH has been completed (manuscript in preparation).
- Trials on the use of lanthanide elements as fluorescent probes for LDH have been completed and results published.
- Fluorescent labelling of LDH via a range of commercial dyes investigated.
- The synthesis of TiO2 NPs of varying size and shape also completed, as well as proving coupling of fluorescent labels and cage ligands (for radiolabelling) via enediol likers.
This work was carried out by PhD student Anthony Musumeci during a 3 month visit to Argonne National Labs in the USA.
Future plans and directions
Further work at ANSTO on hectorite and TiO2 size and shape control, radiolabelling and stability.
Dr Tara Schiller has joined the team full-time and she will work with Lawrie Gahan on covalently coupling cage ligands to MWCNTs, and with Queen’s University Belfast and Cochlear/ Aortech on measuring the release of various nanoparticles from commercially important nanocomposite biomaterials with the potential to be used in Cochlear implants and orthopaedic bone cements.
Collaborations
Suzanne Smith, ANSTO
Rod Minchin and Lawrie Gahan, UQ
Tijana Rajh Argonne National Labs, USA
Dr Tony McNally and Dr Nicholas Dunne, Queen’s University, Belfast, Northern Ireland
