Abstract
The detection and quantification of nanoparticles is a complex issue due to the need to combine "classical" identification and quantification of the constituent material, with the accurate determination of the size of submicrometer objects, usually well below the optical diffraction limit. In this work, the authors show that one of the most used analytical methods for silver nanoparticles, asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation, can be strongly influenced by the presence of dissolved organic matter (such as alginate) and lead to potentially misleading results. The authors explain the anomalies in the separation process and show a very general way forward based on the combination of size separation and size measurement techniques. This combination of techniques results in more robust AF4-based methods for the sizing of silver nanoparticles in environmental conditions and could be generally applied to the sizing of nanoparticles in complex matrices.
Highlights
Nanotechnology-based products are increasingly being made available to consumers in different application areas, ranging from paint and inks to cosmetics and medicines
Due to the increased relevance of nanotechnology-based products on the market, the European Commission has proposed a definition of what constitutes a “nanomaterial.” This definition is based on the determination of the number-based particle size distribution (PSD)
The results show that the AF4-dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements can provide the accurate size for silver nanoparticles in complex with alginate without any major optimization in the experimental parameters used for the AF4 separation
Summary
Nanotechnology-based products are increasingly being made available to consumers in different application areas, ranging from paint and inks to cosmetics and medicines. Silver nanoparticles (AgNP) are used in consumer products due to their antimicrobial properties.. Products containing silver nanoparticles have been shown to release AgNP during their normal use and end up in the environment. Due to the increased relevance of nanotechnology-based products on the market, the European Commission has proposed a definition of what constitutes a “nanomaterial.” This definition is based on the determination of the number-based particle size distribution (PSD).. The determination of the particle size distribution of nanometer sized objects is even more difficult when measuring engineered nanoparticles in complex matrices and especially nanoparticles suspended in environmental matrices that may contain several other ingredients such as dissolved organic matter Due to the increased relevance of nanotechnology-based products on the market, the European Commission has proposed a definition of what constitutes a “nanomaterial.” This definition is based on the determination of the number-based particle size distribution (PSD). The determination of the particle size distribution of nanometer sized objects is even more difficult when measuring engineered nanoparticles in complex matrices and especially nanoparticles suspended in environmental matrices that may contain several other ingredients such as dissolved organic matter
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