The fast growing production of carbon based nanomaterials (CNMs) and their potential widespread use in consumer products raise concerns regarding their potential risks to human health and ecosystems. The present study investigated the role of photochemical transformation and natural organic matter (NOM) in the fate, transport, and toxicity of fullerenes and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in natural aquatic systems, providing fundamental information for risk assessment and management. Photochemical transformation of aqueous fullerene nanoparticles (nC60) and CNTs occurs at significant rates under UVA irradiation at intensity similar to that in sunlight. The transformation processes are mediated by self-generated ROS, resulting in changes of surface structure depending on the initial surface oxidation state of CNMs. UVA irradiation leads to oxygenation of nC60 surface and decarboxylation of carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (COOH-MWNTs). The environmental transport of CNMs is significantly affected by their surface chemistry, concentration and species of electrolytes, and concentration and properties of co-existing NOM. In electrolyte solutions without NOM, the mobility of CNMs is largely decided by their surface chemistry, primarily the oxygen-containing functional groups. In NaCl solutions, UVA irradiation remarkably enhanced the mobility of nC60; conversely, it reduced nC60 stability in CaCl2 solutions. The mobility of COOH-MWNTs in NaCl solutions correlated well with the abundance of surface carboxyl groups. Humic acid, once adsorbed on the nC60 surface, can significantly enhance its stability through steric hindrance. The extent of stabilization depends on the amount and properties of humic acid adsorbed. Humic acid has limited adsorption on UVA-irradiated nC60. Soil humic acid is more efficient in stabilizing nC60 than aquatic humic acid due to its higher molecular weight. Humic acid immobilized onto the silica surface can potential enhance or hinder nC60 deposition, depending on the complex interplay of attractive and repulsive forces. MWNTs are more toxicity to bacteria, Escherichia coli, than COOH-MWNTs due to their higher bioavailability and oxidative capacity. Surface oxidation induced by •OH reduced the toxicity of MWNT while reactions with •OH have little effect on the COOH-MWNT toxicity. Antioxidants such as glutathione can effectively inhibit the antibacterial activity of MWNTs.

Owing to their unique physical, chemical, and mechanical properties, nanoparticles (NPs) have been used, or are being evaluated for use, in many fields (e.g., personal care and cosmetics, pharmaceutical, energy, electronics, food and textile). However, concerns regarding the environmental and biological implications of NPs are raised alongside the booming nanotechnology industry. Numerous studies on the biological effect of NPs have been done in the last decade, and many mechanisms have been proposed. In brief, mechanisms underlying the adverse biological effect caused by NPs can be summarized as: (i) indirect adverse effect induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by NPs, (ii) indirect adverse effect induced by released toxic ions, and (iii) adverse effect induced by direct interactions of NPs with biological systems. Up to now, most efforts have been focused on the first two mechanisms. In contrast, adverse biological effects induced by direct nano-bio interactions are the least researched. This is largely because of the complexity and lack of suitable techniques for characterizing the nano-bio interface. This dissertation aims at advancing our understanding of the nano-bio interactions leading to the adverse biological effect of NPs. Specifically, it is comprised of three parts. Firstly, because the aggregation of NPs alters particle size and other physicochemical properties of NPs, the property of NPs reaching and interacting with biological cells is very likely different from that of what we feed initially. Consequently, as the first step and an essential prerequisite for understanding the biological effect of NPs, NP aggregation is investigated and models are developed for predicting the stability and the extent of aggregation of NPs. Secondly, interactions between NPs and cell membrane are studied with paramecium as the model cell. Due to the lack of cell wall, the susceptible cell membrane of paramecium is directly exposed to NPs in the medium. The extent and strength of direct nano-cell membrane interaction is evaluated and quantified by calculating the interfacial force/interaction between NPs and cell membrane. A correlation is further established between the nano-cell membrane interaction and the lethal acute toxicity of NPs. We find NPs that have strong association or interaction with the cell membrane tend to induce strong lethal effects. Lastly, we demonstrate systematic experimental approaches based on atomic force microscope (AFM), which allows us to characterize nano-bio interfaces on the single NP and single-molecular level, coupled with modeling approaches to probe the nano-DNA interaction. Using quantum dots (QDs) as a model NP, we have examined, with the novel application of AFM, the NP-to-DNA binding characteristics including binding mechanism, binding kinetics, binding isotherm, and binding specificity. We have further assessed the binding affinity of NPs for DNA by calculating their interaction energy on the basis of the DLVO models. The modeling results of binding affinity are validated by the NP-to-DNA binding images acquired by AFM. The investigation of the relationship between the binding affinity of twelve NPs for DNA with their inhibition effects on DNA replication suggests that strong nano-DNA interactions result in strong adverse genetic effects of NPs. In summary, this dissertation has furthered our understanding of direct nano-bio interactions and their role in the biological effect of NPs. Furthermore, the models developed in this dissertation lay the basis for building an “ultimate” predictive model of biological effects of NPs that takes into account multiple mechanisms and their interactions, which would save a lot of testing costs and time in evaluating the risk of NPs.

Carbon –based engineered nanoparticles have been widely used due to their small size and uniquephysical and chemical properties. They can dissolve in water, transport through soil and reach drinkingwater resources. The toxic effect of engineered nanoparticles on human and fish cells has beenobserved; therefore, their release and distribution into the environment is a subject of concern. In thisstudy, two types of engineered nanoparticles, multi-walled carbon nano-tubes (MWCNT) and C60 withcylindrical and spherical shapes, respectively, were used. The aim of this study was to investigatetransport and retention of carbon-based engineered and natural nanoparticles through saturated porousmedia. Several laboratory experiments were conducted to observe transport behavior of thenanoparticles through a column packed with sand as a representative porous media. The columnexperiments were intended to monitor the effect of ionic strength, input concentration and the effect ofparticle shape on transport. The results were then interpreted using Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeak (DLVO) theory based on the sum of attractive and repulsive forces which exist betweennanoparticles and the porous medium. It was observed that as the ionic strength increased from 1.34mM to 60 mM, the mobility of the nanoparticles was reduced. However, at ionic strength lower than10.89 mM, mobility of C60 was slightly higher than that of MWCNTs. At ionic strength of 60 mMMWCNT particles were significantly more mobile. It is rather difficult to relate this difference to theshape of particle and further studies are required.The effect of input concentration on transport of MWCNTs and C60 was observed in bothmobility of the particle and shape of breakthrough curves while input concentration was elevated from7 mg/l to 100 mg/l. A site-blocking mechanism was suggested to be responsible for the steep andasymmetric shape of the breakthrough curves at the high input concentration.Furthermore inverse modeling was used to calculate parameters such as attachment efficiency,the longitudinal dispersivity, and capacity of the solid phase for the removal of particles. The inversionprocess was performed in a way that the misfit between the observed and simulated breakthroughcurves was minimized. The simulated results were in good agreement with the observed data.

This understanding of nanocellulose can be directly applied in future formulation design to use nanocellulose in polymer nanocomposites, foams, emulsions, latexes, gels and biomedical materials. / In this study, the potential of nanocellulose as a reinforcing agent in composite materials was investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM). AFM was used to probe the mechanical properties of nanocelluloses and to investigate their interactions and adhesion in liquid media. Amplitude modulated-frequency modulated AFM was used to map the mechanical properties of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs). Results showed Young’s moduli of 90 GPa and 120 GPa for CNCs and CNFs, respectively, which are comparable to literature values determined using other methods. Additionally, colloid probe AFM was implemented to observe the interactions (attractive, repulsive, steric, adhesive) between cellulose and silica colloid probes with anionic CNCs (containing either a Na+ or H+ counterion) and cationic CNCs. Colloid probe AFM measurements were carried out in five different liquid media: two salt solutions (NaCl and CaCl2) and three surfactant solutions (cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB; anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS; and nonionic Triton X100). It was found that low salt concentrations resulted in electrostatic repulsion and high adhesion, whereas the reverse was observed at high salt concentrations. On the contrary, an increased surfactant concentration and increased number of surfactant aggregates (micelles, bilayers, etc.) resulted in increased adhesion. Surprisingly, the interactions were strongly dependent on the CNC counterion as surfactant adsorption seemed to be primarily driven by electrostatic interactions; CTAB adsorbed more to anionic CNCs, SDS adsorbed more to cationic CNCs and Triton X100 adsorbed minimally to all CNCs. Electrophoretic mobility and particle size data showed complementary results to colloid probe AFM, indicating that interactions between surfactants and CNC films and CNCs in suspension are closely related. This research suggests that CNCs have potential as reinforcing agents due to their high strength and the tunability of their interactions through the simple addition of salts or surfactants. This understanding can be directly applied in future formulation design to use nanocellulose in polymer nanocomposites, foams, emulsions, latexes, gels and biomedical materials. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc) / Nanocellulose is a sustainable nanomaterial most commonly extracted from plants and trees. In recent research, nanocellulose has been shown to have potential as a reinforcing agent for materials such as plastics, foams, paints and adhesives. In this study, the potential of nanocellulose was investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM). As predicted, AFM measurements indicated that nanocellulose has a high stiffness, supporting the substitution of this biobased material in the place of metals and synthetic fibres. AFM was also used to examine particle interactions in salt and soap-like (surfactant) solutions; changes in nanocellulose size and charge were used to support the findings. Negatively charged nanocellulose interacted more with positively charged surfactants and vice versa. Low salt and high surfactant concentrations led to high adhesion and better material compatibility, which is preferred. This understanding can help us design better nanocellulose materials for future applications.

Increased proliferation of nanotechnology has led to concerns regarding its implication to the water environment. Gold nanoparticles (AuNP) were used as a model nanomaterial to investigate the fate and dynamics of nanoparticles in the complex water environment. A column study was performed to examine the fate and transport of gold nanoparticles with two different coatings in porous media. The resulting data suggested that gold nanoparticles aggregate significantly in the porespace of the column interior, a finding that is not predicted by traditional colloidal filtration theory or Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) was developed as a new technique to investigate AuNP aggregation in water with varying salt levels. The SERS technique proved valuable as an analytical technique, elucidating information about aggregation as well as AuNP surface interactions with dissolved halides in water. A thorough investigation examining Aunt aggregation with monovalent and divalent salts utilizing SERS, ultraviolet-visible light (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, and dynamic light scattering (DLS) was conducted. Each technique provided data describing different aspects of the dynamic behavior of AuNPs in complex water environments. Results suggest that in addition to attractive and repulsive interactions described by DLVO theory, chemical interactions between the AuNP surface and dissolved halides were also a significant driving force for aggregation and other transformative behaviors of AuNPs in water. The SERS technique developed in this work was shown to be a viable tool to help unveil the vastly complex dynamics of nanomaterial in the water environment. / Ph. D.

The object of this thesis is to apply scanning probemicroscopy (SPM) to the field of advanced powder processing.Measurement of interparticle surface forces at conditionsrelevant to ceramic processing has been performed together withthorough studies of powder friction. Surface force measurements between silicon nitride andsilica surfaces in 1-bromonaphtalene and diiodomethane resultedin an attractive van der Waals force in both media for thesymmetric systems and a repulsive van der Waals force for theasymmetric systems. This agreed well with theoreticalpredictions from Lifshitz theory. Measurements in electrolytesolutions between silicon nitride surfaces with a varyingdegree of oxidation showed that silanol groups dominated theinteractions at a high degree of oxidation, whereas theinfluence of amine species became stronger after surfaceetching. Surface charge, surface potential and density ofsurface groups have been extracted from DLVO computer modellingof the experimental force curves. Surface force measurementshave been carried out using a nitrided silica sphere as acolloidal probe, representative for commercial silicon nitridepowders. Adsorption of poly(acrylic acid) above the isoelectricpoint generated a thin polymer layer of an essentially flatconformation. Friction force measurements were attainable via novelcalibration procedures of both the lateral photodetectorresponse and the cantilever torsional spring constant.Combining the method for detector calibration with evaluationof static friction slopes simplified the choice of appropriatecontact mechanics theory to evaluate the friction measurements.Applying the method on friction measurements between ironsurfaces coated with commercial lubricants showed a substantialsurface deformation not seen from the friction force alone. Thenanorheological properties of silica surfaces coated with twodifferent stearic acids have been evaluated from friction forcemeasurements. Steady sliding motion was replaced by highlyregular stick-slip motion at a critical load and velocity. Thestick-slip motion was successfully described and fitted to aphenomenological model. The contact area evaluated fromMaugis-Dugdale theory revealed the contact diameter to be veryclose to the stick-slip periodicity. Friction measurements were carried out between individualspray-dried ceramic granules as a function of binderconcentration and relative humidity. The hygroscopic nature ofthe binder resulted in a higher adhesion force but lowerfriction coefficient with increasing humidity. This effect wasascribed to softening of the binder and a lowering of the shearstrength of the binder rich surface layer on the granules.Comparison of the friction force between two granules and agranule and a hard metal surface confirmed that resistance toflow during the initial stages of powder pressing is dominatedby granule-wall friction and adhesion. Keywords: Atomic force microscope, AFM, SPM, van der Waalsinteraction, DLVO-theory, surface forces, colloidal probe,force curve, friction, adhesion, stick-slip, cantilever,calibration, spring constant, silicon nitride, iron,silica.

<p>The object of this thesis is to apply scanning probemicroscopy (SPM) to the field of advanced powder processing.Measurement of interparticle surface forces at conditionsrelevant to ceramic processing has been performed together withthorough studies of powder friction.</p><p>Surface force measurements between silicon nitride andsilica surfaces in 1-bromonaphtalene and diiodomethane resultedin an attractive van der Waals force in both media for thesymmetric systems and a repulsive van der Waals force for theasymmetric systems. This agreed well with theoreticalpredictions from Lifshitz theory. Measurements in electrolytesolutions between silicon nitride surfaces with a varyingdegree of oxidation showed that silanol groups dominated theinteractions at a high degree of oxidation, whereas theinfluence of amine species became stronger after surfaceetching. Surface charge, surface potential and density ofsurface groups have been extracted from DLVO computer modellingof the experimental force curves. Surface force measurementshave been carried out using a nitrided silica sphere as acolloidal probe, representative for commercial silicon nitridepowders. Adsorption of poly(acrylic acid) above the isoelectricpoint generated a thin polymer layer of an essentially flatconformation.</p><p>Friction force measurements were attainable via novelcalibration procedures of both the lateral photodetectorresponse and the cantilever torsional spring constant.Combining the method for detector calibration with evaluationof static friction slopes simplified the choice of appropriatecontact mechanics theory to evaluate the friction measurements.Applying the method on friction measurements between ironsurfaces coated with commercial lubricants showed a substantialsurface deformation not seen from the friction force alone. Thenanorheological properties of silica surfaces coated with twodifferent stearic acids have been evaluated from friction forcemeasurements. Steady sliding motion was replaced by highlyregular stick-slip motion at a critical load and velocity. Thestick-slip motion was successfully described and fitted to aphenomenological model. The contact area evaluated fromMaugis-Dugdale theory revealed the contact diameter to be veryclose to the stick-slip periodicity.</p><p>Friction measurements were carried out between individualspray-dried ceramic granules as a function of binderconcentration and relative humidity. The hygroscopic nature ofthe binder resulted in a higher adhesion force but lowerfriction coefficient with increasing humidity. This effect wasascribed to softening of the binder and a lowering of the shearstrength of the binder rich surface layer on the granules.Comparison of the friction force between two granules and agranule and a hard metal surface confirmed that resistance toflow during the initial stages of powder pressing is dominatedby granule-wall friction and adhesion.</p><p>Keywords: Atomic force microscope, AFM, SPM, van der Waalsinteraction, DLVO-theory, surface forces, colloidal probe,force curve, friction, adhesion, stick-slip, cantilever,calibration, spring constant, silicon nitride, iron,silica.</p>

Depuis son invention en 1986, les microscopes à force atomique (AFM) ont été des puissants outils pour la caractérisation des matériaux et des propriétés des matériaux à l'échelle nanométrique. Cette thèse est entièrement dédiée à la mesure de l'interaction entre une sonde AFM et une surface avec une nouvelle technique AFM appelée Force Feedback Microscopy (FFM). La technique a été développée et utilisée pour l'étude d'échantillons biologiques. Le principe central de la technologie FFM est que la force totale moyenne appliquée à la pointe est égal à zéro. En conséquence, en présence d'une interaction pointe-échantillon, une force égale et contraire doit être appliquée à la pointe par une boucle de rétroaction. La force de réaction est ici appliquée à la pointe à travers le déplacement d'un petit élément piézoélectrique positionné à la base du levier AFM. La boucle de rétroaction permet d'éviter instabilités mécaniques tels que le saut au contact, permettant la mesure complète de la courbe d'interaction. En plus, il donne la possibilité de mesurer simultanément les parties élastique et inélastique de l'interaction. La technique a été appliquée à l'étude des interactions à l'interface solide/gaz, avec un intérêt particulier pour l'observation de la formation et de la rupture des ponts capillaires entre pointe et échantillon. Ensuite, on a focalisé notre attention aux interfaces solide/liquide. Dans ce contexte, courbes complètes de type DLVO sont caractérisées d'un point de vue élastique et dissipatif. Nous avons développé des nouveaux modes d'imagerie AFM pour l'étude des biomolécules. Images de phospholipides et de l'ADN à force constante ont été réalisées et certaines propriétés mécaniques comme le module de Young des échantillons ont été évaluées. En plus, nous avons réalisé une étude spectroscopique de l'élasticité et du coeffcient d'amortissement de l'interaction entre des cellules vivantes de type PC12 et une pointe AFM en nitrure de silicium. L'étude montre que le FFM est un instrument capable de mesurer l'interaction à des fréquences qui ne sont pas nécessairement liées aux résonances caractéristiques du levier. L'étude spectroscopique pourrait avoir dans le futur des applications importantes pour l'étude des biomolécules et des polymères.

La compréhension du transport et du dépôt bio-colloïdal dans un milieu poreux présente un grand intérêt dans les applications environnementales, en particulier pour le contrôle de la bio-remédiation des sols et la protection des ressources en eau souterraine. Afin de mieux évaluer et prévenir les risques de contamination de la nappe phréatique et de proposer des solutions adéquates de remédiation, il est nécessaire d’avoir une bonne compréhension des mécanismes qui contrôlent le transport et le dépôt des bactéries dans les milieux poreux saturés et non saturés. L’objectif des ces travaux de thèse est d’étudier le rôle de l’hétérogénéité physique du milieu poreux (distribution granulométrique, porosité…) et de l’hydrodynamique du milieu sur les mécanismes de transport et de dépôt de particules bio-colloïdales, tout en prenant en compte l’impact des propriétés de cellules bactériennes sur ces mécanismes. Des expériences de traçage et d’injection de suspensions bactériennes ont été menées à l’échelle de colonnes de laboratoire dans trois milieux poreux avec une porosité et une distribution de taille de pore distincte. Afin de caractériser l’écoulement dans les milieux poreux, un soluté non-réactif a été utilisé comme traceur de l’eau. Trois souches bactériennes ont été utilisées pour préparer les suspensions bactériennes : une bactérie mobile (Escherichia coli), et deux non mobiles (Klebsiella sp. et R. rhodochrous). La caractérisation des propriétés cellulaires (telles que la taille et la forme des cellules, le potentiel zêta, la motilité et l'hydrophobicité) a été effectuée pour chaque souche. Des simulations numériques ont été réalisées en utilisant le code de calcul HYDRUS-1D afin de modéliser l’écoulement et d’estimer les paramètres de transport et de dépôt des bactéries. Ces derniers ont été explorés afin d'identifier le mode de transport bactérien et les mécanismes physico-chimiques ou physiques impliqués dans le dépôt des bactéries. Des expériences supplémentaires à l'échelle des pores ont été réalisées à l'aide de dispositifs microfluidiques conçus à cet effet. Un calcul théorique des différentes interactions entre les bactéries et le milieu poreux aux interfaces air/eau/solide a été effectué pour compléter les résultats expérimentaux ainsi que ceux issus de la modélisation numérique. Ainsi, les énergies d’interactions telles que les forces de van der Waals, électrostatiques de double couche, hydrophobes, stériques, capillaires et hydrodynamiques, impliquées dans le dépôt de bactéries ont été calculées pour décrire les interactions bactéries-interfaces afin d'identifier leur impact relatif sur le dépôt physico-chimique et physique des bactéries. Les résultats expérimentaux et la modélisation numérique ont mis en évidence un écoulement non uniforme, dépendant de la taille des grains ainsi que de la distribution de la taille des pores du milieu poreux. Pour un milieu poreux donné, l’écoulement devient plus dispersif quand la teneur en eau du milieu diminue. Ceci est dû à l’augmentation de la tortuosité du milieu, du fait de la présence de l’air dans les pores. Le transport des bactéries diffère de celui du traceur de l’eau. Le dépôt bactérien a été fortement influencé par la géométrie du réseau poral du milieu, les propriétés cellulaires et le degré de saturation en eau. Le piégeage physique et physico-chimique sont des mécanismes qui doivent être pris en compte pour bien décrire le dépôt bactérien, mais leur importance sur les mécanismes de dépôt est étroitement liée aux propriétés du milieu poreux et des cellules. Ces travaux mettent en évidence l’effet simultané des propriétés cellulaires, des propriétés physiques (granulométrie et distribution de taille de pores) et de l'hydrodynamique du milieu poreux sur les mécanismes de transport et de dépôt bactérien. Le calcul des différentes énergies d’interaction a permis d’identifier leur importance sur les mécanismes de dépôt bactérien. / The investigation of the transport and retention of bacteria in porous media has a great practical importance in environmental applications, such as protection of the surface and groundwater supplies from contamination, risk assessment from microorganisms in groundwater, and soil bioremediation. The aim of this study is to gain a fundamental understanding of the mechanisms that control bacteria transport and deposition in saturated and unsaturated porous media. Laboratory tracer and bacteria transport experiments at Darcy scale were performed in three porous media with distinct pore size distribution in order to investigate and quantify water and bacteria transport process under steady state flow conditions. A conservative solute was used as water tracer to characterize water flow pathways through porous media. A gram negative, motile Escherichia coli, a gram negative, non-motile Klebsiella sp. and a gram positive, non-motile R. rhodochrous were selected for the transport experiments. Characterization of cell properties (such as cell size and shape, zeta potential, motility and hydrophobicity) was performed for each strain. Numerical simulations with HYDRUS-1D code were performed to characterize water flow and to estimate bacteria transport and deposition parameters. The later were explored to identify bacteria flow patterns and physicochemical or physical mechanisms involved in bacteria deposition. To provide a better understanding of the mechanisms involved on bacteria transport and deposition, pore scale experiments were carried out by using microfluidic devices, designed for this purpose. The information obtained from laboratory experiments and numerical modeling was improved by theoretical calculation of different interactions between bacteria and porous media at air/water/solid interfaces. DLVO and non-DLVO interactions such as hydrophobic, steric, capillary and hydrodynamic forces involved in bacteria deposition were considered to describe bacteria-interface interactions in order to identify their relative impact on physicochemical and physical deposition of bacteria. Results obtained through both laboratory experiments and numerical simulationsoutlined non-uniform flow pathways, which were dependent on both grain/pore size as well as pore size distribution of the porous media. For a given porous medium, water flow patterns became more non-uniform and dispersive with decreasing water saturation due to the presence of air phase, which lead to an increase of the tortuosity of the flow pathways under unsaturated conditions. Bacteria transport pathways were different from the tracer transport, due to size exclusion of bacteria from smaller pore spaces and bacteria motility. Bacteria deposition was greatly influenced by pore network geometry, cell properties and water saturation degree. Both physical straining and physicochemical attachment should be taken into account to well describe bacteria deposition, but their importance on bacteria deposition is closely linked to porous media and cell properties. The results obtained in this work highlighted the simultaneous role of cell properties, pore size distribution and hydrodynamics of the porous media on bacteria transport and deposition mechanisms. The calculation of DLVO and non-DLVO interactions showed that bacteria deposition in saturated and unsaturated porous media was influenced by both kinds of interactions.

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