My MAGICaL Journey!
(Sofia Sassone & Namrata GR Raut)
My name is Sofia Sassone. I’m a rising senior in Miami, Florida and proud MAGIC mentee.
I’ve always been fascinated by the sciences. My love for science first blossomed when my parents gifted me a small chemistry set for my 9th birthday. What started as a passion has become my purpose. I now conduct medicinal chemistry research at University of Miami, where I investigate compounds that have proved to be toxic to glioblastoma stem cells.
I also completed an internship at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), where I researched methods used to match meteorites to their parent bodies/locations within the Solar System using isotopic analysis.
My interest in STEM is matched by my love for the humanities. I have spent countless hours poring over ancient Greek textbooks and binging the latest art history news. When I visited a local museum, I found artifacts from 17th and 18th century Europe suffering the effects of dirt, dust, and water damage. This experience piqued my interest. I became intrigued with the intersection between historical conservation and a burgeoning field within scientific research. This left an impact on my brain to learn more about how to preserve these artifacts.
A school counselor took note of my love for science, and introduced me to MAGIC. MAGIC is a platform that guides young girls who want to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). A mentee is matched with a mentor, and they have 10–14 weeks for summer and 4–5 months for a school-year session to complete a project of interest and present their work. I applied and was selected as a Summer MAGIC Mentee. After a brief chat with my mentor, Namrata GR Raut, on anticancer drugs, women in STEM, and nanoparticles and arts, we settled on the topic of nanoparticles used for the preservation of historical artifacts for my project. I was thrilled to find a project that married my interest in science with my personal appreciation for historical artifacts. During my time at MAGIC, my mentor and I read articles, conducted surveys, and prepared slides for a final presentation.
Hence, I want to share about my project on nanoparticles.
What are nanomaterials/nanoparticles?
Nanomaterials are substances that have at least one dimension that measures less than approximately 100 nanometers(10–9m), made up of carbon(organic), any other metal (inorganic) or hybrid. And nanoparticles are nano-objects with three external nanoscale dimensions (Jeevanandam J. et. al 2018).
The most common nanoparticles include carbon nanotubes, composed of several layers of carbon in a graphitic structure wrapped in a tubular formation, and carbon dots, which are semiconductor crystals that can transport electrons.
How are nanoparticles used?
Nanoparticles have established their role in medicine, biomedical research, electronics, and preservation of historical artifacts.
We already have a branch of science that comprises science and technology along with nanoparticles, known as nanotechnology.
What about nanomaterials in historical conservation?
Over time, ancient artifacts in museums suffer damage from chemical and biological processes. Nanomaterials can be used to mitigate the effects of these occurrences.
Artifacts made of paper are often derived from plants and are mostly cellulose or glucose that could be broken by acidic reaction over time. Reactions with water further hydrolyze these acids and lead to the production of even more acids, causing rapid yellowing and deterioration (The Deterioration and Preservation of Paper: Some Essential Facts).
However, nanoparticles made up of magnesium oxide (MgO), an alkaline/basic substance, have proved to be largely effective in neutralizing these acids and preventing cellulose degradation, maintaining treated samples for posterity (Castillo et al.2019).
Wood, another widely used organic material in historical artifacts, can suffer from extreme temperatures, insect and fungal damage, and water damage. Nanoparticles made up of titanium dioxide (TiO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO) are used to preserve artifacts of wood.
A thin layer of TiO2 nanoparticles can penetrate the cellulitic pores in wood that break down otherwise harmful organic compounds into benign inorganic ones photocatalytically (using light) (De Filpo et al. 2016). This prevents susceptibility to fungal and water damage, as well as providing additional strength via a sol-gel matrix (David et al. 2020). Also, ZnO nanoparticles being cytotoxic to eukaryotic cells will kill any fungal growth and reduces the destruction of wooden samples to less than 4% of their mass from eastern subterranean termites, increasing their mortality up to 94% (Clausen et al. 2011).
Stone, used for millennia, gets damaged by weathering and erosion, moisture, ultraviolet light, and human activity. Hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanopolymers, a calcium mineral, and a solution of a phosphate salt are greatly effective in hardening carbonate stones by creating calcium phosphates in situ, or directly in the treated site (Sassoni, 2018).
While the conservation of metallic artifacts has not been extensively researched enough to produce significant results, the properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) show promise for their eventual use. CNT coatings have shown effects such as ultra-hydrophobicity and anti-icing, elastic, and mechanical fortifications being resistant to force, and self-clean (David et al. 2020).
Andean Ceramics, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Buenos Aires
Gates of Ishtar, Pergamon Museum, Berlin
Are there other uses for nanoparticles?
Apart from all the above-mentioned nanoparticles, nanofilters can be used to remove pollutants already existing in airspace. Nanocatalysts with large surface areas and active sites can also be used to rapidly convert harmful pollutants into harmless compounds, such as in the reduction of heavy metal ions (Ningthoujam et al. 2016).
Survey Results
After gathering information on nanoparticles by reading journal articles, I conducted an informal, anonymous survey amongst high school students to collect data on general awareness about nanomaterials.
80% of surveyed students responded they are unaware of nanomaterials.
Nanomaterials are becoming increasingly relevant in the scientific community, and awareness of use of nanoparticles other than biomedical research would be beneficial.
70% of surveyed students responded they do not attend museums at all or very often.
Visiting museums is paramount in fostering diverse communities and expanding perspectives on culture and science. Promoting museum visits among younger populations via school outreach activities and making more museums accessible may aid in lowering this reported statistic.
My MAGICal Experience
Being able to collaborate with Namrata GR Raut, a research expert, was an incredible experience. I loved meeting with my mentor and acquiring unique perspectives on nanomaterials/nanoparticles that I would not have been able to reach otherwise. While understanding some scientific jargon in scholarly articles was a bit difficult, continuing to expand my knowledge allowed my readings to continue smoothly. I will forever cherish the one-of-a-kind introduction I received into the world of nanomaterials. It broadened my knowledge of STEM, empowering myself as a woman who aims to pursue a career in this field. I want to thank everyone at MAGIC who helped me to complete my project whenever I needed any help.
I would like to thank Hollis Roberts, Dr. Pi-Chaun Chang, Dr. Ira Pramanick and Aline Garcia for their contributions to this article.
Works Cited
Clausen, Carol A, et al. “The Role of Particle Size of Particulate Nano-Zinc Oxide Wood Preservatives on Termite Mortality and Leach Resistance.” Nanoscale Research Letters, vol. 6, no. 1, 2011, https://doi.org/10.1186/1556-276x-6-427
David, Madalina Elena, et al. “Nanomaterials Used in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage: An up-to-Date Overview.” Materials, vol. 13, no. 9, 2020, p. 2064, https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13092064
De Filpo, Giovanni, et al. “Preventing Fungal Growth in Wood by Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles.” International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, vol. 85, 2013, pp. 217–222, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2013.07.007
“The Deterioration and Preservation of Paper: Some Essential Facts.” The Deterioration and Preservation of Paper: Some Essential Facts — Collections Care — Resources (Preservation, Library of Congress), www.loc.gov/preservation/care/deterioratebrochure.html. Accessed 5 Aug. 2023.
“Different Types of Nanomaterials: Anton Paar Wiki.” Anton Paar, wiki.anton-paar.com/en/different-types-of-nanomaterials/. Accessed 13 Aug. 2023.
Franco Castillo, Isabel, et al. “Preventing Fungal Growth on Heritage Paper with Antifungal and Cellulase Inhibiting Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles.” Journal of Materials Chemistry B, vol. 7, no. 41, 2019, pp. 6412–6419, https://doi.org/10.1039/c9tb00992b
“Nanomaterials.” Nanotechnologies: 1. What Are Nanomaterials?, ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/opinions_layman/nanomaterials/en/l-2/1.htm#:~:text=Nanomaterials%20are%20usually%20considered%20to,%2C%20tubes%2C%20rods%20or%20fibres. Accessed 13 Aug. 2023.
Ningthoujam, Rina, et al. “Nanocatalyst in Remediating Environmental Pollutants.” Chemical Physics Impact, vol. 4, 2022, p. 100064, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chphi.2022.100064.
Jeevanandam J, Barhoum A, Chan YS, Dufresne A, Danquah MK. Review on nanoparticles and nanostructured materials: history, sources, toxicity and regulations. Beilstein J Nanotechnol. 2018 Apr 3;9:1050–1074. https://doi:.org/10.3762/bjnano.9.98
Sassoni, Enrico. “Hydroxyapatite and Other Calcium Phosphates for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage: A Review.” Materials, vol. 11, no. 4, 2018, p. 557, https://doi.org/10.3390/ma11040557
