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Investigation of nanoparticle dispersibility and stability based on TiO2 analysis by SMLS, DLS, and SEM

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Abstract

Dispersibility and stability of nanoparticles (NPs) in the biological medium are playing a major role on their size, fate, transport, delivered dose to cells, and consequently to their toxicological response in vitro. However, these parameters are frequently confused and therefore very poorly characterized. Here, we critically discuss the definition and characterization of dispersibility and stability of NPs for in vitro studies. We provide a methodology based on static multiple light scattering (SMLS), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurements to characterize the NP dispersibility and stability in complex biological media. This methodology was applied to one pristine and two food-grade TiO2 NPs dispersed in commonly used cell culture media supplemented with various BSA concentrations. Dispersibility was characterized by measuring the NP size and homogeneity after applying an optimized dispersion protocol. Colloidal, gravitational, and macroscopic stabilities were distinguished by measuring the NP zeta potential, settling velocity, and Turbiscan stability index (TSI), respectively. This approach allowed to monitor in real time the NP stability instead of predictions based on initial assays such as size and zeta potential. The results also proved that (i) best NP dispersibility does not ensure the best stability, (ii) NP colloidally stable does not imply their gravitational stability in the biological medium, and (iii) TSI is a more reliable measurand of colloidal stability compared to zeta potential.

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Data Availability

The datasets produced in this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors want to thank R. Ponte for his help to evaluate the potential of the Turbiscan LAB™ on nanomaterials under the internship agreement n° 4082 between ENSICAEN and the CARMEN platform at LNE 2019-2020.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Formulaction, 3-5 Rue Paule Raymondis, 31200, Toulouse, France

    Matthias. P. L. Sentis, Guillaume Lemahieu, Giovanni Brambilla & Gérard Meunier

  2. LNE, Laboratoire National de métrologie et d’Essais – Nanometrology - CARMEN Platform, 29 Avenue Roger Hennequin, 78197, Trappes Cedex, France

    Nicolas Feltin, Nora Lambeng & Carine Chivas-Joly

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  1. Matthias. P. L. Sentis
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  2. Nicolas Feltin
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Correspondence to Carine Chivas-Joly.

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The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: M.PL.S, G.L, and G.B are Formulaction employees. G.M is the C.E.O of Formulaction.

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Highlights

• Dispersibility and stability of NPs are crucial parameters discussed and defined to obtain optimal dimensional properties

• Methodology to characterize the NP dispersibility and stability is provided based on SMLS, DLS, ELS, and SEM measurements

• Dispersibility and stability of one pristine and two food-grade TiO2 NPs dispersed in water, DMEM, and RPMI supplemented with various BSA concentrations are studied

• Long-term stability is not necessarily correlated to the dispersibility of NPs

• An optimal colloid stability does not prevent NPs from gravitational instabilities

• TSI is a more reliable indicator of colloidal and gravitational stability compared to zeta potential in complex media

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Sentis, M.P.L., Feltin, N., Lambeng, N. et al. Investigation of nanoparticle dispersibility and stability based on TiO2 analysis by SMLS, DLS, and SEM. J Nanopart Res 26, 55 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-024-05959-8

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