Metal oxide nanoparticles : relations between surface reactivity and the biological effects

The growing interest in nanotechnology is comparable to a new industrial revolution. It affects also the environmental field since nanoparticles (NPs) provide solutions to several environmental issues. For instance, we have shown the strong retention efficiency of As (8As/nm2) by iron oxide NPs (6nm). This is linked to their large specific surface area and their strong surface reactivity, due to the presence of unusual adsorption sites and to the significant decrease of surface energy during adsorption.<br />But some questions concern the (eco)toxicological impact arising from an increasing NPs production. A classification of the toxicity of oxide NPs as a function of their redox properties has been proposed. While chemically stable NPs (γFe2O3) in biological media have no apparent toxicity, NPs with a strong oxydant (CeO2) or reductive (Fe°) power appear cytotoxic for Escherichia coli and genotoxic for human fibroblasts.