Nanoparticle Characterization Methods and Its Importance in Ecotoxicity Experiments

Nanotechnology is an important area of innovation, scientific and economic growth. However, nanoparticles may have harmful effects on human health and the environment. So far, despite the increased number of studies on the toxicity of nanoparticles, there is still a lack of quantitative ecotoxicity data. At least one dimension of Naparticles is ≤100 nm and can consist of very different base materials such as carbon, silicon and metals. The reactivity is high because about 40-50% of the atoms in the nanoparticle are on the surface. Accordingly, different biological effects are expected. Nanoparticles and nanoparticle aggregates should be characterized in detail in ecotoxicity assays. Because the environmental concentrations of nanoparticles change both the efficacy ratings and the exposure assessments. The structure of the surrounding nanoparticles and aggregate nanoparticles is of great importance to the properties of end products and their behavior in the environment. When measuring nanoparticles in different media, it is not enough to provide data on concentrations. It is also necessary to know the size distribution and physicochemical properties of nanoparticles. A single technique can not provide all of this information, so a different analytical technique is required. In this review, the significance of nanoparticle characterization in assessing nanoparticle toxicity is described. At the same time, the characterization of nanoparticles has been discussed in detail, taking into consideration the nanoparticle size and physicochemical properties, such as microscopic, chromatographic, spectroscopic methods, centrifugation and filtration techniques and other techniques