Nanoparticle corona artefacts derived from specimen preparation of particle suspensions.

ABSTRACT: Progress in the implementation of nanoparticles for therapeutic applications will accelerate with an improved understanding of the interface between nanoparticle surfaces and the media they are dispersed in. We examine this interface by analytical scanning transmission electron microscopy and show that incorrect specimen preparation or analysis can induce an artefactual, nanoscale, calcium phosphate-rich, amorphous coating on nanoparticles dispersed in cell culture media. We report that this ionic coating can be induced on five different types of nanoparticles (Au, BaTiO₃, ZnO, TiO₂ and Fe₂O₃) when specimen preparation causes a significant rise in pH above physiological levels. Such a pH change reduces ionic solubility in the suspending media to

SUBMITTER: Ilett M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7093507 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature