Experimental Design for the Acute Toxicology Assessment of Nanoscale Ultrafine Materials Based on Virtual Simulation Experiments and A Diverse Interactive Blended Teaching Approach

Abstract

The escalating production of nanoscale ultrafine materials has led to a greater release of nanoparticles into aquatic environments, raising concerns about their environmental impact and potential health risks. As a cross-disciplinary field, environmental functional material toxicology seeks to blend professional courses and foster innovative talents in environmental health. This study introduces a novel experimental teaching program in nanoscale ultrafine material toxicology, centered on microalgae cultivation. A comprehensive experiment assessing the biological toxicity of ultrafine materials was developed, focusing on their impact on microalgae growth inhibition. By incorporating varied teaching methods like “online virtual simulation experiments with traditional offline teaching, offline experiments, and post-learning reinforcement”, this study advocates for a diverse interactive teaching approach for environmental toxicology experiments. This student-centric teaching model prioritizes interaction through virtual simulations, sustains course relevance, enhances classroom instruction, nurtures student individuality, underscores disciplinary advancements, and cultivates students’ abilities to pose, analyze, and resolve issues within a broad academic framework, thereby fostering innovative thinking capabilities.