Silicon nanoparticles: characterization and toxicity studies

This paper is devoted to characterization and toxicity testing of the emerging class of nanomaterials for diverse applications: silicon nanoparticles. Silicon nanoparticles with a mean size of 2–4 nm were prepared and stabilized by different hydrocarbons (C4H9, C6H5), a fluorocarbon (C4F9), and N-heterocyclic carbene radicals. The toxicity of the prepared Si nanoparticles was studied using swollen river mussels by monitoring the heart rhythms and by using embryos of Danio rerio. The nanotoxicity was shown to result mostly from the presence of fluorinated radicals rather than because of the intrinsic toxicity of the Si nanoparticles.