Nanomaterial metrology is fundamental to understanding the physical properties of nanomaterials
and their environmental interactions. Particles, in the nano and sub-micrometer regimes, are
attractive materials for use in biomedical applications such as drug delivery and medical imaging.
In order to address concerns regarding their potential for cytotoxicity, particle characterisation
before and after exposure to biologically relevant media is critical.
Size is one of many particle properties that can influence their behaviour in biomedical applications,
including their cellular uptake and circulation lifetime. Therefore, the sizing capabilities
of three established (transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning mobility particle sizing
(SMPS) and dynamic light scattering (DLS)) and three emerging particle sizing techniques
(scanning ion occlusion sensing (SIOS), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and differential centrifugal sedimentation (DCS)) with Stober silica particles, 100 - 400 nm in diameter, as the
test material, were evaluated.
When exposed to biological media particles will spontaneously be coated with a film of
biomolecules, predominantly proteins, which will subsequently define their biological identities.
Being able to quantify and evaluate the composition of these so called "protein coronas" is
key to understanding the bio-nano interface. In this study, the amount of immunoglobulin G
(IgG) adsorbed onto gold particles, as a function of particle size and protein concentration,
was measured, using a combination of techniques including DLS (and [Symbol appears here. To view, please open pdf attachment] -potential), NTA, DCS,
and UV-Visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) plasmonic sensing. [Symbol appears here. To view, please open pdf attachment] -potential was a good indicator of
protein corona integrity, and deviations in the protein corona thicknesses measured by NTA and
DCS at low protein coverage were observed.
Finally, the surface chemistry of an electrospun polymer fibre scaffold was characterised using
time of flight-secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). The concentration of a cell adhesion
enhancing peptide was measured to be linearly related to that in the bulk and its co-localisation
with the polymers proven through imaging.