Species selective preconcentration and quantification of gold nanoparticles using cloud point extraction and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

The determination of metallic nanoparticles in environmental samples requires sample pretreatment that ideally combines pre-concentration and species selectivity. With cloud point extraction (CPE) using the surfactant Triton X-114 we present a simple and cost effective separation technique that meets both criteria. Effective separation of ionic gold species and Au nanoparticles (Au-NPs) is achieved by using sodium thiosulphate as a complexing agent. The extraction efficiency for Au-NP ranged from 1.01 ± 0.06 (particle size 2 nm) to 0.52 ± 0.16 (particle size 150 nm). An enrichment factor of 80 and a low limit of detection of 5 ng L⁻¹ is achieved using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET-AAS) for quantification. TEM measurements showed that the particle size is not affected by the CPE process. Natural organic matter (NOM) is tolerated up to a concentration of 10 mg L⁻¹. The precision of the method expressed as the standard deviation of 12 replicates at an Au-NP concentration of 100 ng L⁻¹ is 9.5%. A relation between particle concentration and the extraction efficiency was not observed. Spiking experiments showed a recovery higher than 91% for environmental water samples.     

Gold nanoparticle/alkanedithiol conductive films self-assembled onto gold electrode: Electrochemistry and electroanalytical application for voltammetric determination of trace amount of catechol

This paper describes novel electrochemical properties of gold nanoparticles/alkanedithiol conductive films and their electroanalytical applications for voltammetric determination of trace amount of one kind of environmental pollutants, catechol. The conductive films are prepared by closely packing 12-nm diameter gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) onto Au electrodes modified with the self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of alkanedithiols (i.e., HS(CH₂)_nSH, n = 3, 6, 9). The assembly of the Au-NPs onto the SAM-modified electrodes essentially restores the heterogeneous electron transfer between Au substrate and redox species in solution phase that is almost totally blocked by the SAMs and, as a result, the prepared Au-NP/SAM-modified electrodes possess a good electrode reactivity without a remarkable barrier toward the heterogeneous electron transfer. Moreover, the prepared Au-NP/SAM-modified electrodes are found to exhibit a largely reduced interfacial capacitance, compared with bare Au electrode. These electrochemical properties of the Au-NP/SAM-modified electrodes essentially make them very useful for electroanalytical applications, which is illustrated by voltammetric determination of trace amount detection of environmental pollutant, catechol.     

Asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation with multi-angle light scattering detection for the analysis of structured nanoparticles

Synthesis and applications of new functional nanoparticles are topics of increasing interest in many fields of nanotechnology. Chemical modifications of inorganic nanoparticles are often necessary to improve their features as spectroscopic tracers or chemical sensors, and to increase water solubility and biocompatibility for applications in nano-biotechnology. Analysis and characterization of structured nanoparticles are then key steps for their synthesis optimization and final quality control. Many properties of structured nanoparticles are size-dependent. Particle size distribution analysis then provides fundamental analytical information. Asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) with multi-angle light scattering (MALS) detection is able to size-separate and to characterize nanosized analytes in dispersion. In this work we focus on the central role of AF4-MALS to analyze and characterize different types of structured nanoparticles that are finding increasing applications in nano-biotechnology and nanomedicine: polymer-coated gold nanoparticles, fluorescent silica nanoparticles, and quantum dots. AF4 not only size-fractionated these nanoparticles and measured their hydrodynamic radius (r_h) distribution but it also separated them from the unbound, relatively low-M_r components of the nanoparticle structures which were still present in the sample solution. On-line MALS detection on real-time gave the gyration radius (r_g) distribution of the fractionated nanoparticles. Additional information on nanoparticle morphology was then obtained from the r_h/r_g index. Stability of the nanoparticle dispersions was finally investigated. Aggregation of the fluorescent silica nanoparticles was found to depend on the concentration at which they were dispersed. Partial release of the polymeric coating from water-soluble QDs was found when shear stress was induced by increasing flowrates during fractionation.     

Size characterization of drug-loaded polymeric core/shell nanoparticles using asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation

Asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AsFlFFF) was used to determine the size distribution of drug-loaded core/shell nanoparticles which have a lipid core of lecithin and a polymeric shell of a Pluronic. AsFlFFF provided separation of the drug-loaded core/shell nanoparticles from smaller coreless polymeric micelles, thus allowing accurate size analysis of the drug-loaded nanoparticles without interference by the coreless micelles. It was found from AsFlFFF that the drug-loaded nanoparticles have broad size distributions ranging from 100 to 600 nm in diameter. It was also found that, after the nanoparticles had been stored for 70 days, they disappeared as a result of self-degradation. Being a separation technique, AsFlFFF seems to be more useful than transmission electron microscopy or dynamic light scattering for size analysis of core/shell nanoparticles, which have broad and bimodal size distributions. Figure Separation by AsFlFFF     

Size and concentration determination of (functionalised) fullerenes in surface and sewage water matrices using field flow fractionation coupled to an online accurate mass spectrometer: Method development and validation

In order to assess the environmental risks of a compound it is imperative to have suitable and reliable techniques for its determination in environmental matrices. In this paper, we focused on a method development for the recently introduced online coupling of a field flow fractionation (FFF) system to an Orbitrap-HRMS, that allows the simultaneous size and concentration determination of different aqueous fullerene aggregates and their concentrations in different size fractions. A 0.05% NH₄OH solution in water was identified as the best carrier liquid for the analysis of the three different aqueous fullerene suspensions (C₆₀ [60], [6,6]-phenyl-C₆₁ butyric acid methyl ester ([60]PCBM) and [6,6]-(bis)phenyl-C₆₁ butyric acid methyl ester ([60]bisPCBM)). The multi-angle light scattering (MALS) data received after employing the ammonia solution was consistent with both the theory and calibration using well defined Au and latex particles. The LODs obtained using Orbitrap HRMS detection were 0.1 μg L⁻¹ for an injection volume of 100 μL which are significantly better than the LODs obtained by using UV (20 μg L⁻¹) and MALS detectors (5 μg L⁻¹). However, these LODs can be further improved as in theory there is no limit to the amount of sample that can be injected into the FFF. Environmental samples (river and sewage water) were spiked with fullerenes and the fractograms obtained for these samples revealed that the matrix does affect the size of fullerene aggregates. Information on the size distribution can be useful for the risk assessment of these particles.     

金纳米颗粒的水相法合成及荧光性能

在水溶液中,以PAMAM树形分子为模板,乙醇为还原剂,制备了树形分子包裹的金纳米颗粒,其水溶性好,可以稳定放置1年以上;通过控制Au3+与PAMAM树形分子的摩尔比,可以得到粒径可控的金纳米颗粒,其粒径范围为1～4nm,分别在385和402nm处出现强的共振瑞利光散射峰和荧光峰.室温下,荧光量子产率达到10%以上,比其它文献报道的金纳米颗粒的荧光量子产率高2个数量级以上,这一特性使其在潜指纹识别、光催化等方面具有很大的应用潜力.     

乳液聚合法制备纳米金/聚苯乙烯复合粒子

以氯金酸为前驱体,十二烷基硫醇和硼氢化钠分别作为稳定剂和还原剂,采用相转移法制备了单分散的金纳米粒子.将金纳米粒子通过乳液聚合的方法制备了纳米金/聚苯乙烯复合粒子.通过紫外-可见吸收光谱(UV-Vis)研究了纳米金和纳米金/聚苯乙烯复合粒子的光吸收特性,使用傅立叶变换红外光谱(FT-IR)、X射线衍射(XRD)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)和动态光散射(DLS)对产物的组成、晶体结构、形貌、以及粒径进行了表征.结果表明,复合粒子为粒径分布较窄的球形,其中的金纳米粒子为面心立方结构.热失重分析(TGA)说明制备的纳米金/聚苯乙烯复合粒子具有很好的热稳定性.     

Dielectric relaxations of ionic thiol-coated noble metal nanoparticles in aqueous solutions: electrical characterization of the interface

The radiowave dielectric properties of organothiol monolayer-protected Au and Ag metallic nanoparticles have been investigated in the frequency range of 10 kHz to 2 GHz, where a dielectric relaxation, due to the polarization of the ionic atmosphere at the aqueous interface, occurs. The simultaneous measurement of the particle size, by means of dynamic light scattering technique, and of the particle electrical charge, by means of laser microelectrophoresis technique, allow us to describe the whole dielectric behavior at the light of the standard electrokinetic model for charged colloidal particles. Au and Ag metallic nanoparticles experience a large charge renormalization, in agreement with the counterion condensation effect for charged spherical colloidal particles. The value of the effective valence Z(eff) of each nanoparticle investigated has been evaluated thanks to the dielectric parameters of the observed relaxation process and further confirmed by direct current electrical conductivity measurements. All in all, these results provide support for the characterization of the electrical interfacial properties of metallic nanoparticles by means of dielectric relaxation measurements.     

Detection of flavonoids and assay for their antioxidant activity based on enlargement of gold nanoparticles

We report our findings that natural flavonoids such as quercetin, daizeol and puerarin can act as reductants for the enlargement of gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs). Consequently, the UV–vis spectra of a solution containing Au-NPs will be gradually changed, and the molecules of the natural herbs can be detected by making use of changes in the UV–visible spectra. Furthermore, we have prepared a self-assembled monolayer modified electrode by modifying cysteamine on a gold substrate electrode, which is further modified by some Au-NP seeds. When the modified electrode is immersed in a solution containing flavonoids and tetrachloroauric acid as a gold source for the growth of the Au-NP seeds, with the increase of the concentration of flavonoids, the Au-NP seeds on the surface of the modified electrode can be enlarged to varying degrees. As a result, the peak currents in the corresponding cyclic voltammograms are inversely decreased, and simultaneously the peak separation is increased. Therefore, an electrochemical method to detect flavonoids is also proposed. Compared with the optical detection method, the electrochemical method has an extraordinarily lower detection limit and a significantly extended detection range. Moreover, the optical and electrochemical experimental results can be also used to assay and compare the relative antioxidant activities of the flavonoids. Figure Enlargement of Au nanoparticles by flavonoids at cysteamine modified electrode     

Resonance Light Scattering Method for Microdetermination of Proteins Based on Aggregation of Au Nanoparticles

By using a resonance light scattering (RLS) technique, a highly sensitive method for protein determination based on the aggregation of Au nanoparticles on protein template is described. For the Au nanoparticles of 15 nm, the detection limit of bovine serum albumin was 5.0 ng/mL and the linear range was 10–300 ng/mL. The experimental results indicated that various metal ions do not interfere with this assay. The proposed RLS assay exhibited lower variation in response signals for the same weight of different proteins and showed satisfactory results when it was used for determination of proteins in human serum.     

Rapid one-step synthesis, characterization and functionalization of silica coated gold nanoparticles

This paper describes a rapid, simple and one-step method for preparing silica coated gold (Au@SiO₂) nanoparticles with fine tunable silica shell thickness and surface functionalization of the prepared particles with different groups. Monodispersed Au nanoparticles with a mean particle size of 16 nm were prepared by citrate reduction method. Silica coating was carried out by mixing the as prepared Au solution, tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and ammonia followed by microwave (MW) irradiation. Although there are several ways of coating Au nanoparticles with silica in the literature, each of these needs pre-coating step as well as long reaction duration. The present method is especially useful for giving the opportunity to cover the colloidal Au particles with uniform silica shell within very short time and forgoes the use of a silane coupling agent or pre-coating step before silica coating. Au@SiO₂ nanoparticles with wide range of silica shell thickness (5-105 nm) were prepared within 5 min of MW irradiation by changing the concentration of TEOS only. The size uniformity and monodispersity were found to be better compared to the particles prepared by conventional methods, which were confirmed by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopic techniques. The prepared Au@SiO₂ nanoparticles were further functionalized with amino, carboxylate, alkyl groups to facilitate the rapid translation of the nanoparticles to a wide range of end applications. The functional groups were identified by XPS, and zeta potential measurements.     

微波法制备3.5 G PAMAM树状大分子保护的金纳米粒子

以3.5 G PAMAM(3.5代聚酰胺-胺型)树状大分子为保护剂,利用微波法还原HAuCl₄溶液制备金纳米粒子.考察了当3.5 G PAMAM与HAuCl₄物质的量的比一定时,微波照射不同时间对金纳米粒子大小及形状的影响;以及同一照射条件下,3.5 G PAMAM与HAuCl₄不同的物质的量比值对金纳米粒子大小及形状的影响.利用紫外可见分光光度计、透射电子显微镜对其进行了表征.结果表明,当3.5 G PAMAM与HAuCl₄物质的量的比值一定时,金纳米粒子的形状和大小受微波照射时间长短的影响不大;适当延长照射时间,制得的金纳米粒子的分散性较好.在相同照射条件下,随着3.5 G PAMAM与HAu-Cl₄物质的量比值的减小,得到的金纳米粒子粒径逐渐变大,且分散性变差.     

Block copolymers in the synthesis of gold nanoparticles. Two new approaches: Copolymer aggregates as reductants and stabilizers and simultaneous formation of copolymer aggregates and gold nanoparticles

In this article, innovative applications of amphiphilic triblock and pentablock copolymers in the synthesis of gold nanoparticles are reported. The synthesis of gold nanoparticles is performed using two methods. In the first method, micellar aggregates of block copolymers and AuCl₄^? ions directly react in water; the nanoparticles obtained by this method are variable in size and are associated with copolymer aggregates. In the second method, two processes take place simultaneously: the aggregation of block copolymers and the reduction of Au (III) by the copolymers to form nanoparticles. In contrast with the first method, in this case, the nanoparticles obtained are located inside the copolymer aggregates. In both methods of synthesis, the block copolymers act simultaneously as reducing and stabilizing agents. To understand the role of copolymer aggregates in the synthesis of nanoparticles, molecular simulation methods are used. The gold nanoparticles, copolymer aggregates, and nanocomposite systems are characterized using transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 3069–3079     

Flow field-flow fractionation for the analysis and characterization of natural colloids and manufactured nanoparticles in environmental systems: a critical review

The use of flow field flow fractionation (FlFFF) for the separation and characterization of natural colloids and nanoparticles has increased in the last few decades. More recently, it has become a popular method for the characterization of manufactured nanoparticles. Unlike conventional filtration methods, FlFFF provides a continuous and high-resolution separation of nanoparticles as a function of their diffusion coefficient, hence the interest for use in determining particle size distribution. Moreover, when coupled to other detectors such as inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy, light scattering, UV-absorbance, fluorescence, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy, FlFFF provides a wealth of information on particle properties including, size, shape, structural parameters, chemical composition and particle-contaminant association. This paper will critically review the application of FlFFF for the characterization of natural colloids and natural and manufactured nanoparticles. Emphasis will be given to the detection systems that can be used to characterize the nanoparticles eluted from the FlFFF system, the obtained information and advantages and limitation of FlFFF compared to other fractionation and particle sizing techniques. This review will help users understand (i) the theoretical principles and experimental consideration of the FlFFF, (ii) the range of analytical tools that can be used to further characterize the nanoparticles after fractionation by FlFFF, (iii) how FlFFF results are compared to other analytical techniques and (iv) the range of applications of FlFFF for natural and manufactured NPs.     

AuNPs/PNIPAM复合颗粒的制备及其温敏性质

将金纳米颗粒(AuNPs)组装到聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺(PNIPAM)水凝胶微球表面制备出AuNPs/PNIPAM复合颗粒. 将PNIPAM 凝胶的温敏特性与AuNPs的光学性质结合, 通过改变温度调节AuNPs的局部表面等离子共振(LSPR)吸收峰位置. 研究结果表明, 温度升高使AuNPs的LSPR吸收峰发生红移, 并且这种效应是可逆的. 同时发现, AuNPs的光学性质还可以作为表征PNIPAM水凝胶微球温敏行为的一种手段. 利用透射电镜、紫外-可见光谱仪及动态光散射仪对AuNPs/PNIPAM复合颗粒的形貌、光学性质、粒径变化等进行了分析.     

Differentiation and characterization of isotopically modified silver nanoparticles in aqueous media using asymmetric-flow field flow fractionation coupled to optical detection and mass spectrometry

The principal objective of this work was to develop and demonstrate a new methodology for silver nanoparticle (AgNP) detection and characterization based on asymmetric-flow field flow fractionation (A4F) coupled on-line to multiple detectors and using stable isotopes of Ag. This analytical approach opens the door to address many relevant scientific challenges concerning the transport and fate of nanomaterials in natural systems. We show that A4F must be optimized in order to effectively fractionate AgNPs and larger colloidal Ag particles. With the optimized method one can accurately determine the size, stability and optical properties of AgNPs and their agglomerates under variable conditions. In this investigation, we couple A4F to optical absorbance (UV–vis spectrometer) and scattering detectors (static and dynamic) and to an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. With this combination of detection modes it is possible to determine the mass isotopic signature of AgNPs as a function of their size and optical properties, providing specificity necessary for tracing and differentiating labeled AgNPs from their naturally occurring or anthropogenic analogs. The methodology was then applied to standard estuarine sediment by doping the suspension with a known quantity of isotopically enriched ¹⁰⁹AgNPs stabilized by natural organic matter (standard humic and fulvic acids). The mass signature of the isotopically enriched AgNPs was recorded as a function of the measured particle size. We observed that AgNPs interact with different particulate components of the sediment, and also self-associate to form agglomerates in this model estuarine system. This work should have substantial ramifications for research concerning the environmental and biological fate of AgNPs.     

Fabrication of metal nanoparticle monolayers on amphiphilic poly(amido amine) dendrimer Langmuir films

A newly designed 1.5th generation poly(amido amine) dendrimer with an azacrown core, hexylene spacers, and octyl terminals was spread on gold nanoparticle (Au-NP) suspension. The surface pressure-area isothermal curves indicated that the molecular area of dendrimer on Au-NP suspension was significantly smaller than that on water, indicating the formation of dendrimer/Au-NP composites. The dendrimer Langmuir films on the Au-NP suspension were transferred to copper grids at various surface pressures and observed by transmission electron microscopy. The transferred films consisted of a fractal-like network of nanoparticles at low surface pressure and of a defect-rich monolayer of nanoparticles at high surface pressure. From these results, it was suggested that the dendrimers bind Au-NPs, and dendrimer/Au-NP composites formed networks or monolayers at the interface. From the intensity decrease of the Au plasmon band of Au-NP suspension after the formation of composite, it was estimated that some (approximately 14) dendrimer molecules bind to one Au-NP. Furthermore, neutron reflectivity at the air/suspension interface and X-ray reflectivity of the film transferred on a silicon substrate revealed that the dendrimer molecules are localized on the upper-half surface of Au-NP. Metal affinity of azacrown, flexibility of hexylene spacer, and amphiphilicity of dendrimer with octyl terminals played important roles for the formation of dendrimer/Au-NP hybrid films. The present investigation proposed a new method to fabricate the self-assembled functional polymer/nanoparticle hybrid film.     

Preparation, characterization, and controlled release of novel nanoparticles based on MMA/beta-CD copolymers

A series of random copolymers with different beta-cyclodextrin contents were synthesized by radical copolymerization of MMA with a monovinyl beta-CD monomer. The copolymers were characterized with IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, DSC, and TGA. Based on these copolymers, their nanoparticles were prepared by using DMF, water, and acetone as solvents. Aqueous dispersions of the nanoparticles were further obtained by dialysis against water. Zetasizer Nano-ZS dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy were employed to characterize the nanoparticles. Using camptothecin as a model drug molecule, the encapsulation efficiency and release behavior of the nanoparticles were investigated.     

Anionic polymerization of cyclic ester and amide in miniemulsion: Synthesis and characterization of poly(ε‐caprolactone) and poly(ε‐caprolactone‐co‐ε‐caprolactam) nanoparticles

For the first time, poly(ε‐caprolactone) and poly(ε‐caprolactone‐co‐ε‐caprolactam) nanoparticles were successfully obtained by anionic polymerization of ε‐caprolactone and anionic copolymerization of ε‐caprolactone with ε‐caprolactam, respectively, in heterophase by the miniemulsion technique. After polymerization the resulting dispersions are stable for hours in case of the pure polyester and days for the copolymer. The syntheses were carried out with different continuous phases, amounts of surfactant, initiator, and monomers. The influence of the reaction parameters on the molecular weight of the polymers and on colloidal characteristics like size and morphology of the nanoparticles were studied by dynamic light scattering, gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, nuclear magnetic resonance, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Preparation and Characterization of Heparin‐Stabilized Gold Nanoparticles

A simple method for preparing gold nanoparticles in aqueous solution has been developed by using glycosaminoglycan‐heparin as reducing and stabilizing agent and HAuCl₄ as precursor. The obtained gold nanoparticles were characterized by UV‐vis spectroscopy, resonance light scattering spectroscopy (RLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electrophoresis technology. The influence of reactant concentration for the preparation of gold nanoparticles was investigated. The results indicated that the gold nanoparticles carried negative charges in the aqueous solution and the size and shape of the gold nanoparticles could be controlled by changing the concentration of the heparin. Moreover, the gold nanoparticles obtained with relatively high concentration of heparin were very stable and had relative narrow size distribution.