Comparative Effects of Particle Sizes of Cobalt Nanoparticles to Nine Biological Activities

The differences in the toxicity of cobalt oxide nanoparticles (Co-NPs) of two different sizes were evaluated in the contexts of the activities of bacterial bioluminescence,xyl-luxgene, enzyme function and biosynthesis of beta-galactosidase, bacterial gene mutation, algal growth, and plant seed germination and root/shoot growth. Each size of Co-NP exhibited a different level of toxicity (sensitivity) in each biological activity. No revertant mutagenic ratio (greater than 2.0) ofSalmonella typhimuriumTA 98 was observed under the test conditions in the case of gene-mutation experiments. Overall, the inhibitory effects on all five bacterial bioassays were greater than those on algal growth, seed germination, and root growth. However, in all cases, the small Co-NPs showed statistically greater (total average about two times) toxicity than the large Co-NPs, except in shoot growth, which showed no observable inhibition. These findings demonstrate that particle size may be an important physical factor determining the fate of Co-NPs in the environment. Moreover, combinations of results based on various biological activities and physicochemical properties, rather than only a single activity and property, would better facilitate accurate assessment of NPs' toxicity in ecosystems.