Ni@C nanocomposites and the carbon shells extracted by etching Ni@C in nitric acid have been characterized by means of soft X-ray absorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies. It was found on the base of Ni 2p X-ray absorption spectra and atomic multiplet calculations that Ni traces in the carbon-shell sample are in the Ni2+ state formed probably by nickel nitrate hexahydrate, Ni(NO3)2·6H2O. Second derivatives of C 1s of X-ray absorption spectra and C 1s X-ray photoelectron spectra were used for characterization of functional groups linked to carbon shells of nanocomposites. The application of second derivatives of C 1s of X-ray absorption spectra allowed to confirm AA stacking of carbon layers for highly oriented pyrolytic graphite. The low-energy features in C 1s XAS spectra of Ni@C and carbon-shell samples are found to be of a different nature. Most likely, the low-energy C 1s XAS feature of the carbon-shell sample is formed due to hydrogenation of carbon atom.

http://scipeople.ru/publication/118623/; Toxicity of Gold Nanoparticles for Plants in Experimental Aquatic System S. A. Ostroumov, V. A. Poklonov, S. V. Kotelevtsev, and S. N. Orlov Department of Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia email: ostroumov@mail.bio.msu.ru Received April 10, 2013 Abstract: Increased production and use of nanomaterials can lead to new types of pollution of the environment, including aquatic ecosystems. Pollution of the aqueous environment with nanoparticles can be a new type of pollution of the environment. This requires a more detailed study of the biological effects during exposure of nanoparticles on aquatic organisms. The interactions of gold nanoparticles (Au) with aquatic macrophytes Ceratophyllum demersum have been studied. Aquatic microcosms with these plants were used. Gold nanoparticles (Au) were added to the aqueous medium of C. demersum macrophyte containing microcosms. The state of the plants was then analyzed. Phytotoxicity of Au nanoparticles for aquatic macrophytes was shown for the first time. A new method of phytotoxicity detection was suggested and successfully approved. Phytotoxicity at a concentration of Au (in the form of nanoparticles) of 6 . 10–6 M–1.8 . 10–5 M was shown. Original Russian Text © S.A. Ostroumov, V.A. Poklonov, S.V. Kotelevtsev, S.N. Orlov, 2014, published in Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Biologiya, 2014, No. 3, pp. 19–23. Keywords: hydrobionts, aquatic, microcosms, macrophytes, nanoparticles, Au, Ceratophyllum demersum, gold, toxicity, phytotest, phytotoxicity, nanomaterials, nanotoxicity, nanotechnology DOI: 10.3103/S0096392514030080
ISSN 0096-3925, Moscow University Biological Sciences Bulletin, 2014, Vol. 69, No. 3, pp. 108–112. © Allerton Press, Inc., 2014.

Silaffins are involved in the formation of the cell walls of diatoms. It is known that silaffins can precipitate silica in vitro, forming nano- and micro-particles in the shape of spheres and plates containing many pores. It is important to note that the deposition of silica and the particle morphology in the presence of silaffins affects chemical and physical agents (e.g., peptides, polyamines, phosphate, nitrogen, and the mechanical changes of the reaction mixture). It is believed that silaffins act as an organic matrix for silica-genesis and that silica pore size should reflect the pattern of a matrix. Here, biotechnology related to silaffins is discussed in the context of “a hypothesis of silaffin matrix” and “the LCPA-phosphate model”. We discuss the most promising area of silaffin biotechnology—the development of production methods for silicon structures with desired shapes and nanostructural properties that can be used to create biocompatible materials.
Marine Drugs, 2013. Vol. 11(9). P. 3155-3167.

http://scipeople.ru/publication/103833/; http://www.scribd.com/doc/65487558/ Program: 2nd International School «Nanomaterials and Nanotechnologies in Living systems. Safety and Nanomedicine» September 19–24, 2011 / 2-ая Международная Школа. «Наноматериалы и Нанотехнологии в Живых Системах. Безопасность и Наномедицина», 2nd International School «Nanomaterials and Nanotechnologies in Living systems. Safety and Nanomedicine» September 19–24, 2011 / 2-ая Международная Школа.

Ostroumov S.A., Kotelevtsev S.V. Toxicology of nanomaterials and environment. - Ecologica. 2011, vol. 18, issue 61, pp. 3-10. Manufactured nanoparticles demonstrated a variety of biological activities, including toxicity. The goal of this review articles is to summarize some evidence of a variety of toxic effects produced by manufactured nanoparticles, including both the data from literature and the new data of the authors (e.g., [42]). The toxicity of nanomaterials was shown both to prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. As for eukaryotic organisms, toxicity was found in bioassays with both animal and plant test systems. In further studies, it is necessary to continue the studies of various aspects of toxicity of nanoparticles, and to extend the range of organisms and test systems that are being used for assessing the biological effects of nanomaterials. The methods that were previously developed to study phytotoxicity of chemicals [15-28, 48] will be useful to generate new data on toxicology of nanomaterials.
Ecologica. 2011, vol. 18, issue 61, pp. 3-10.