Paula Maldonado Ortiz

Ms. Paula Maldonado Ortiz


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

1Year (2026-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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30 October 2026 in Nanomaterials
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Jonathan Marcelo Suazo-HernándezJonathan Marcelo Suazo-Hernández
Jonathan Marcelo Suazo-Hernández
POPaula Maldonado Ortiz
Paula Maldonado Ortiz
EZErick Zagal
Erick Zagal
MSMaría de los Ángeles Sepúlveda
María de los Ángeles Sepúlveda
ARAntonieta Ruiz
Antonieta Ruiz
PATRICIA POBLETE-GRANTPATRICIA POBLETE-GRANT
PATRICIA POBLETE-GRANT
Excessive release of engineered nanoparticles (NPs) into the environment can affect the biological and chemical properties of soils. This study evaluated the effects of two commercial metallic copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs 25 nm; CuNPs/25, and Cu-NPs 40–60 nm; CuNPs/40–60) on enzymatic activity and nutrient bioavailability in an agricultural soil. An incubation experiment was conducted using Ultisol soil treated with 500 mg kg−1 CuNPs/25 or CuNPs/40–60, simulating a high-exposure scenario, in the presence and absence of 200 mg kg−1 P (K2HPO4). Acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, and β-glucosidase enzymatic activities along with P bioavailability were measured at 0.14, 1, 3, 5, and 8 weeks. The results showed that in most instances, 500 mg kg−1 CuNPs/25 or CuNPs/40–60 significantly decreased the activities of acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, and β-glucosidase. The P bioavailability in soil was lower in the presence of CuNPs/25 than Cu-NPs/40–60. In addition, the Cu2+ concentrations in the water-extractable fraction were higher than in the CaCl2 fraction, and the increase in water-extractable Cu2+ concentrations in the soil solution was correlated with a decrease in enzyme activities. Eight weeks of exposure to NPs did not cause any marked changes in organic matter content or electrical conductivity. However, the Cu2+-(DTPA) bioavailability in soil treated with 500 mg kg−1 CuNPs/25 and CuNPs/40–60 for 8 weeks increased over 90 times, regardless of the presence or absence of P. However, these findings should be interpreted in the context of a high-exposure scenario for CuNPs and should not be directly extrapolated to environmentally realistic exposure levels.