Environmental (aquatic) exposure reduction of product released engineered nanomaterials: safer-by-design approach

IF 2.6 4区材料科学 Q3 CHEMISTRY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Journal of Nanoparticle Research Pub Date : 2025-07-21 DOI:10.1007/s11051-025-06395-y

Mbuyiselwa Shadrack Moloi, Raisibe Florence Lehutso, Lehlohonolo Trinity Thato Motaung, Mariana Erasmus, Paul J. Oberholster, Melusi Thwala

{"title":"Environmental (aquatic) exposure reduction of product released engineered nanomaterials: safer-by-design approach","authors":"Mbuyiselwa Shadrack Moloi, Raisibe Florence Lehutso, Lehlohonolo Trinity Thato Motaung, Mariana Erasmus, Paul J. Oberholster, Melusi Thwala","doi":"10.1007/s11051-025-06395-y","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Environmental exposure and impact of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) have the potential to induce various undesirable effects. To mitigate these effects, the safer-by-design (SbD) approach for ENMs synthesis and formulation of nano-enabled products (NEPs) has been proposed. The current study investigated the application of SbD (to reduce the ENMs’ release from the product matrix) in the formulation of skin moisturisers, focusing on reducing ENMs concentrations in the NEPs. Specifically, industrial cosmetic titania (nT-Avo) was incorporated into skin moisturisers at different concentrations [1.5, 5, and 10% (w/v)] to assess the effects of T-Avo reduction on the potential for ENMs environmental exposure. The incorporated needle-like (31.45 × 9.499 nm) nT-Avo particles coated with a silicon (Si) layer were negatively charged and in the rutile phase. The incorporation into skin moisturisers did not affect their physicochemical properties; nT-Avo maintained their morphology (needle-like shape, 28.68–32.53 × 10.50–11.24 nm), negative zeta potential (− 44.04 to − 76.67 mV) and Si coating. The reduction of T-Avo from 10 to 5% reduced nT-Avo release by 30%, indicating the effectiveness of reducing ENMs in the NEPs to reduce their environmental exposure. ENMs concentration reduction from 10 to 5% did not affect the functional efficiency; the moisturiser met the required UV protection standards (SPF = 21). However, reduction from 5 to 1.5% indicated the loss of functional efficiency (SPF 21.01 vs 2.72). The current findings illustrate that it is possible for manufacturers to minimise nanopollution at the product formulation stage whilst retaining envisaged nanofunctionality. The study demonstrated SbD application for commercial products. For products that exhibit a high likelihood to emit ENMs, manufacturers are encouraged to investigate the optimisation of environmental safety-informed design of their products.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":653,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nanoparticle Research","volume":"27 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6000,"publicationDate":"2025-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11051-025-06395-y.pdf","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Nanoparticle Research","FirstCategoryId":"88","ListUrlMain":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11051-025-06395-y","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"CHEMISTRY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Environmental exposure and impact of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) have the potential to induce various undesirable effects. To mitigate these effects, the safer-by-design (SbD) approach for ENMs synthesis and formulation of nano-enabled products (NEPs) has been proposed. The current study investigated the application of SbD (to reduce the ENMs’ release from the product matrix) in the formulation of skin moisturisers, focusing on reducing ENMs concentrations in the NEPs. Specifically, industrial cosmetic titania (nT-Avo) was incorporated into skin moisturisers at different concentrations [1.5, 5, and 10% (w/v)] to assess the effects of T-Avo reduction on the potential for ENMs environmental exposure. The incorporated needle-like (31.45 × 9.499 nm) nT-Avo particles coated with a silicon (Si) layer were negatively charged and in the rutile phase. The incorporation into skin moisturisers did not affect their physicochemical properties; nT-Avo maintained their morphology (needle-like shape, 28.68–32.53 × 10.50–11.24 nm), negative zeta potential (− 44.04 to − 76.67 mV) and Si coating. The reduction of T-Avo from 10 to 5% reduced nT-Avo release by 30%, indicating the effectiveness of reducing ENMs in the NEPs to reduce their environmental exposure. ENMs concentration reduction from 10 to 5% did not affect the functional efficiency; the moisturiser met the required UV protection standards (SPF = 21). However, reduction from 5 to 1.5% indicated the loss of functional efficiency (SPF 21.01 vs 2.72). The current findings illustrate that it is possible for manufacturers to minimise nanopollution at the product formulation stage whilst retaining envisaged nanofunctionality. The study demonstrated SbD application for commercial products. For products that exhibit a high likelihood to emit ENMs, manufacturers are encouraged to investigate the optimisation of environmental safety-informed design of their products.

查看原文本刊更多论文

减少产品释放的工程纳米材料的环境（水生）暴露：更安全的设计方法

工程纳米材料（enm）的环境暴露和影响有可能诱发各种不良影响。为了减轻这些影响，研究人员提出了一种设计更安全的方法来合成ENMs和制备纳米产品（NEPs）。目前的研究调查了SbD（减少enm从产品基质中释放）在润肤霜配方中的应用，重点是降低nep中enm的浓度。具体而言，将工业化妆品二氧化钛（nT-Avo）以不同浓度[1.5%，5%和10% (w/v)]加入皮肤保湿剂中，以评估T-Avo减少对环境暴露的影响。所制备的针状（31.45 × 9.499 nm） nT-Avo颗粒包覆硅（Si）层，带负电且处于金红石相。与润肤霜的掺入不影响润肤霜的理化性质；nT-Avo保持了其针状形态（28.68 ~ 32.53 × 10.50 ~ 11.24 nm）、负zeta电位（−44.04 ~−76.67 mV）和Si涂层。将T-Avo从10%减少到5%，nT-Avo的释放减少了30%，这表明减少nep中enm以减少其环境暴露的有效性。ENMs浓度从10%降低到5%不影响功能效率；该润肤霜符合要求的紫外线防护标准（SPF = 21）。然而，从5%减少到1.5%表明功能效率的损失（SPF 21.01 vs 2.72）。目前的研究结果表明，制造商有可能在产品配方阶段最大限度地减少纳米污染，同时保留设想的纳米功能。该研究证明了SbD在商业产品中的应用。对于极有可能排放enm的产品，鼓励制造商对其产品的环境安全设计进行优化研究。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Journal of Nanoparticle Research 工程技术-材料科学：综合

CiteScore

4.40

自引率

4.00%

发文量

198

审稿时长

3.9 months

期刊介绍： The objective of the Journal of Nanoparticle Research is to disseminate knowledge of the physical, chemical and biological phenomena and processes in structures that have at least one lengthscale ranging from molecular to approximately 100 nm (or submicron in some situations), and exhibit improved and novel properties that are a direct result of their small size. Nanoparticle research is a key component of nanoscience, nanoengineering and nanotechnology. The focus of the Journal is on the specific concepts, properties, phenomena, and processes related to particles, tubes, layers, macromolecules, clusters and other finite structures of the nanoscale size range. Synthesis, assembly, transport, reactivity, and stability of such structures are considered. Development of in-situ and ex-situ instrumentation for characterization of nanoparticles and their interfaces should be based on new principles for probing properties and phenomena not well understood at the nanometer scale. Modeling and simulation may include atom-based quantum mechanics; molecular dynamics; single-particle, multi-body and continuum based models; fractals; other methods suitable for modeling particle synthesis, assembling and interaction processes. Realization and application of systems, structures and devices with novel functions obtained via precursor nanoparticles is emphasized. Approaches may include gas-, liquid-, solid-, and vacuum-based processes, size reduction, chemical- and bio-self assembly. Contributions include utilization of nanoparticle systems for enhancing a phenomenon or process and particle assembling into hierarchical structures, as well as formulation and the administration of drugs. Synergistic approaches originating from different disciplines and technologies, and interaction between the research providers and users in this field, are encouraged.