We have developed structure/toxicity relationships for amorphous silica nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized through low temperature, colloidal (e.g. Stöber silica) or high temperature pyrolysis (e.g. fumed silica) routes. Through combined spectroscopic and physical analyses, we have determined the state of aggregation, hydroxyl concentration, relative proportion of strained and unstrained siloxane rings, and potential to generate hydroxyl radicals for Stöber and fumed silica NPs with comparable primary particle sizes (16-nm in diameter). Based on erythrocyte hemolytic assays and assessment of the viability and ATP levels in epithelial and macrophage cells, we discovered for fumed silica an important toxicity relationship to post-synthesis thermal annealing or environmental exposure, whereas colloidal silicas were essentially non-toxic under identical treatment conditions. Specifically, we find for fumed silica a positive correlation of toxicity with hydroxyl concentration and its potential to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cause red blood cell hemolysis. We propose fumed silica toxicity stems from its intrinsic population of strained three-membered rings (3MRs) along with its chain-like aggregation and hydroxyl content. Hydrogen-bonding and electrostatic interactions of the silanol surfaces of fumed silica aggregates with the extracellular plasma membrane cause membrane perturbations sensed by the Nalp3 inflammasome, whose subsequent activation leads to secretion of the cytokine IL-1β. Hydroxyl radicals generated by the strained 3MRs in fumed silica but largely absent in colloidal silicas may contribute to the inflammasome activation. Formation of colloidal silica into aggregates mimicking those of fumed silica had no effect on cell viability or hemolysis. This study emphasizes that not all amorphous silica is created equal and that the unusual toxicity of fumed silica compared to colloidal silica derives from its framework and surface chemistry along with its fused chain-like morphology established by high temperature synthesis (>1300°C) and rapid thermal quenching.

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Solution and solid state electronic absorption, magnetic circular dichroism, and resonance Raman spectroscopies have been used to probe in detail the excited state electronic structure of LMoO(bdt) and LMoO(tdt) (L ) hydrotris-(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)borate; bdt ) 1,2-benzenedithiolate; tdt ) 3,4-toluenedithiolate). The observed energies, intensities, and MCD band patterns are found to be characteristic of LMoO(S-S) compounds, where (S-S) is a dithiolate ligand which forms a five-membered chelate ring with Mo. Ab initio calculations on the 1,2-enedithiolate ligand fragment, -SCdCS -, show that the low-energy S f Mo charge transfer transitions result from one-electron promotions originating from an isolated set of four filled dithiolate orbitals that are primarily sulfur in character. Resonance Raman excitation profiles have allowed for the definitive assignment of the ene-dithiolate S in-plane f Mo d xy charge transfer transition. This is a bonding-to-antibonding transition, and its intensity directly probes sulfur covalency contributions to the redox orbital (Mo d xy ). Raman spectroscopy has identified three totally symmetric vibrational modes at 362 cm -1 (S-Mo-S bend), 393 cm -1 (S-Mo-S stretch), and 932 cm -1 (MotO stretch), in contrast to the large number low-frequency modes observed in the resonance Raman spectrum of Rhodobacter sphaeroides DMSO reductase. These results on LMoO(S-S) complexes are interpreted in the context of the mechanism of sulfite oxidase, the modulation of reduction potentials by a coordinated ene-dithiolate (dithiolene), and the orbital pathway for electron transfer regeneration of pyranopterin dithiolate Mo enzyme active sites.

The preparation and characterization of a series of encapsulated-lanthanide 15-metallacrown-5 complexes are reported. Planar ligands such as picoline hydroxamic acid (picha) or nonplanar alpha-amino hydroxamic acids (e.g., glycine hydroxamic acid (glyha)) led to one-step syntheses of metallacrowns in yields as high as 85%. The reaction of the appropriate hydroxamic acid with copper acetate and (1)/(5) equiv of gadolinium(III) or europium(III) nitrates in DMF or water yielded crystals of Gd(NO(3))(3)[15-MC(Cu(II)N(picha))-5], 1, Eu(NO(3))(3)[15-MC(Cu(II)N(picha))-5], 2, and Eu(NO(3))(3)[15-MC(Cu(II)N(glyha))-5], 3. Several other 15-metallacrown-5 complexes were synthesized with (1) Cu(II) or Ni(II) in the metallacrown ring metal position, (2) various lanthanides (La(III), Nd(III), Sm(III), Eu(III), Gd(III), Dy(III), Ho(III), Er(III), and Yb(III)) encapsulated in the center of the ring, and (3) chiral alpha-amino hydroxamic acids (e.g., phenylalanine hydroxamic acid (H(2)pheha), leucine hydroxamic acid (H(2)leuha), and tyrosine hydroxamic acid (H(2)tyrha)). It is believed that all of the complexes containing Cu(II) ions have the ring metals either in four-coordinate, square-planar environments, bound to two tetradentate hydroximate ligands, or in five-coordinate, square-pyramidal geometries if solvent is bound. Spectroscopic and magnetic characterization of the Ni(II) complexes suggests that they are either five- or six-coordinate. The encapsulated lanthanides are generally pentagonal bipyramidal, with five oxygen donors from the metallacrown ring and solvent or bidentate nitrate ions in the axial positions. The circular arrangement of ions results in interesting magnetic behavior. With Dy(III) encapsulated in the center of the ring, a magnetic moment as high as 10.9 &mgr;(B) is achieved. Analysis of the variable-temperature susceptibility of La(NO(3))(3)[15-MC(Cu(II)N(picha))-5] indicates that the five Cu(II) ions are antiferromagnetically coupled, forming an S = (1)/(2) ground spin state with a moment of 1.7 &mgr;(B) at liquid helium temperatures. Complex 1 shows ferromagnetic coupling of the Gd(III) ion to the five Cu ions at temperatures below 15 K. Studies of the metallacrown complexes in solution show that they are stable and soluble in DMF and water. A proton relaxation study on complex 1 has revealed a relaxivity of 9.8 mM(-)(1) s(-)(1) (20 degrees C and 30 MHz), a value that is comparable to those of clinically useful MRI contrast enhancement agents. Complex 1 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P&onemacr;, with a = 12.657(3) Å, b = 14.833(3) Å, c = 17.707(3) Å, alpha = 79.65(2) degrees, beta = 86.06(2) degrees, gamma = 68.69(2) degrees, V = 3046.6(12) Å, and Z = 2 (R1 = 0.0534, wR2 = 0.1289). Complex 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n, with a = 16.319(2) Å, b = 21.863(2) Å, c = 18.410(3) Å, beta = 96.85(1) degrees, V = 6522(2) Å(3), and Z = 4 (R1 = 0.0463, wR2 = 0.0750). Complex 3 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P&onemacr;, with a = 11. 173(6) Å, b = 11.534(6) Å, c = 13.3...