Real-time observation of fibrous zeolites reactivity in contact with simulated lung fluids (SLFs) obtained by Atomic Force Microscope (AFM)

Giordani, Matteo; Cametti, Georgia; Di Lorenzo, Fulvio; Churakov, Sergey V. (2019). Real-time observation of fibrous zeolites reactivity in contact with simulated lung fluids (SLFs) obtained by Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). Minerals, 9(2), p. 83. MDPI 10.3390/min9020083

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Environmental exposure of erionite fibres to humans has been linked to malignant mesothelioma and at present is classified as the most carcinogenic mineral. In opposite, there are no studies regarding a potential hazard of offretite fibres, closely related to erionite both structurally and chemically. In this paper, the interactions of erionite and offretite surfaces with SLFs were investigated by means of in situ AFM. To simulate different environments in the lungs, Artificial Lysosomal Fluid (ALF) and Gamble’s solution were used. In ALF (4.15 < pH < 4.31) the dissolution of erionite and offretite surfaces was detected, as well as an evident removal of particles (mainly attributed to impurities) from the crystal faces. Instead, the growing of a layer of an unknown phase on the surface of both zeolites, was observed during the interaction with Gamble’s solution (7.4 < pH < 8.48). The thickness of this layer reached few tens on nanometers and covered all the observed areas. The understanding of the observed processes is of paramount importance, since they could be potentially involved in the mechanisms triggering the toxicological effects of erionite fibres.

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