Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

This grant application proposes a unifying methodology for the selective detection of metal oxide/hydroxide/chloride/boride nanoparticles and carbon nanomaterials in water, as well as sensitive determination of environmentally toxic and biochemically active contaminants that are bound on them. The toxic effects of these emerging contaminants have been verified by Health Canada and Environment Canada using bioassays. The method begins with a sample treatment step that encapsulates all waterborne nanoparticles/nanomaterials into lecithin liposomes. Centrifugation concentrates the loaded liposomes after the supernatant water is discarded. A surfactant disintegrates the liposomes and removes lecithin from the nanoparticles/nanomaterials. Contaminants are desorbed from their surfaces using coordination chemistry, biochemical interaction, laser photo/photothermal chemistry, aerosol nebulization, and electrospray ionization. The desorbed contaminants can be analyzed, either immediately or after separation by capillary electrophoretic/gel filtration/liquid chromatography, by spectrofluorometric and mass spectrometric detection. Optical incoherent scattering and electrochemical chemistry will be adapted for further development by my research group to detect the nanoparticles/nanomaterials and desorbed contaminants at trace/ultratrace levels.Nanoparticles/nanomaterials end up in waste streams, consequently infiltrating the aquatic environments and drinking water resources. Their increasing use as a solid carrier in the preparation of drug products requires more advanced analytical methods than conventional water analysis to prevent Canadians from unintended exposure to the released pharmaceuticals. Determination of nanoparticles/nanomaterials in drinking water has important implications for protecting public health sustainability. Unfortunately, many emerging contaminants are not yet stipulated in water quality regulations due to a lack of monitoring technology. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop new analytical methods that can monitor emerging contaminants in water resources. The interplay of nanoparticles/nanomaterials, environmental pollution, and health risks is key to all industrial, environmental and drinking water treatment processes. This analytical methodology will help scientists and engineers strengthen their control of nanoparticles/nanomaterials in freshwater sources for drinking water treatment plants. New results from the proposed research may challenge the notion that environmental toxicological events involve only dissolved contaminants. Rather they can involve a complex mixture of nanoparticles/nanomaterials and associated contaminants whose combined effects on biological and mammalian cells is relatively unexplored.