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Detection, separation, and quantification of unlabeled silica nanoparticles in biological media using sedimentation field-flow fractionation

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Abstract

A rapid, high-resolution methodology for characterization, separation, and quantification of unlabeled inorganic nanoparticles extracted from biological media, based on sedimentation field-flow fractionation and light scattering detection is presented. Silica nanoparticles were added to either human endothelial cell lysate or rat lung tissue homogenate and incubated. The nanoparticles were extracted by acid digestion and then separated and characterized by sedimentation field-flow fractionation. Fractions collected at the peak maxima were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to verify the size and shape of the isolated nanoparticles. Using the linear relationship between the particle number and the area under the fractogram, the recoveries of particles from the tissue homogenate and cell lysate were calculated as 25% and 79%, respectively. The presented methodology facilitates detection, separation, size characterization, and quantification of inorganic nanoparticles in biological samples, within one experimental run.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Professor Marcus N. Myers for very helpful comments on the draft and Ms. Nancy Chandler at the HSC Core Research Facilities, University of Utah, for help with TEM images of the isolated nanoparticles. The authors are also grateful to Ms. Dorrie Spurlock for proofreading the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Postnova Analytics USA, 230 South 500 East, Suite 120, Salt Lake City, UT, 84102, USA

    Soheyl Tadjiki

  2. Department of Metallurgical Engineering, College of Mines and Earth Sciences, University of Utah, 135 South 1460 East, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA

    Shoeleh Assemi & Jan D. Miller

  3. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Utah, 30 South 2000 East, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA

    Cassandra E. Deering & John M. Veranth

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  1. Soheyl Tadjiki
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  2. Shoeleh Assemi
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  3. Cassandra E. Deering
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  4. John M. Veranth
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  5. Jan D. Miller
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Correspondence to Shoeleh Assemi.

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Tadjiki, S., Assemi, S., Deering, C.E. et al. Detection, separation, and quantification of unlabeled silica nanoparticles in biological media using sedimentation field-flow fractionation. J Nanopart Res 11, 981–988 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-008-9560-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-008-9560-3

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