Calibration and numerical simulation of Nanoparticle Surface Area Monitor (TSI Model 3550 NSAM)

TSI Nanoparticle Surface Area Monitor (NSAM) Model 3550 has been developed to measure the nanoparticle surface area deposited in different regions of the human lung. It makes use of an adjustable ion trap voltage to match the total surface area of particles, which are below 100 nm, deposited in tracheobronchial (TB) or alveolar (A) regions of the human lung. In this paper, calibration factors of NSAM were experimentally determined for particles of different materials. Tests were performed using monodisperse (Ag agglomerates and NaCl, 7–100 nm) and polydisperse particles (Ag agglomerates, number count mean diameter below 50 nm). Experimental data show that the currents in NSAM have a linear relation with a function of the total deposited nanoparticle surface area for the different compartments of the lung. No significant dependency of the calibration factors on particle materials and morphology was observed. Monodisperse nanoparticles in the size range where the response function is in the desirable range can be used for calibration. Calibration factors of monodisperse and polydisperse Ag particle agglomerates are in good agreement with each other, which indicates that polydisperse nanoparticles can be used to determine calibration factors. Using a CFD computer code (Fluent) numerical simulations of fluid flow and particle trajectories inside NSAM were performed to estimate response function of NSAM for different ion trap voltages. The numerical simulation results agreed well with experimental results.