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Nanoparticles with photoinduced precipitation for the extraction of pollutants from water and soil

Author

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  • Ferdinand Brandl

    (David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 500 Main Street, Building 76-661, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
    Present address: Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Regensburg, 93040 Regensburg, Germany.)

  • Nicolas Bertrand

    (David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 500 Main Street, Building 76-661, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
    Present address: Faculty of Pharmacy, University Laval, CHUQ (CHUL) Research Center, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada G1V 4G2.)

  • Eliana Martins Lima

    (Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Federal University of Goiás)

  • Robert Langer

    (David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 500 Main Street, Building 76-661, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
    MIT)

Abstract

Nanotechnology may offer fast and effective solutions for environmental clean-up. Herein, amphiphilic diblock copolymers are used to develop a platform of photosensitive core-shell nanoparticles. Irradiation with ultraviolet light removes the protective layer responsible for colloidal stability; as a result, the nanoparticles are rapidly and irreversibly converted to macroscopic aggregates. The associated phase separation allows measuring the partitioning of small molecules between the aqueous phase and nanoparticles; data suggests that interactions are enhanced by decreasing the particle size. Adsorption onto nanoparticles can be exploited to efficiently remove hydrophobic pollutants from water and contaminated soil. Preliminary in vivo experiments suggest that treatment with photocleavable nanoparticles can significantly reduce the teratogenicity of bisphenol A, triclosan and 17α-ethinyl estradiol without generating obviously toxic byproducts. Small-scale pilot experiments on wastewater, thermal printing paper and contaminated soil demonstrate the applicability of the approach.

Suggested Citation

  • Ferdinand Brandl & Nicolas Bertrand & Eliana Martins Lima & Robert Langer, 2015. "Nanoparticles with photoinduced precipitation for the extraction of pollutants from water and soil," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-10, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms8765
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8765
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