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Aggregate size and structure determination of nanomaterials in physiological media: importance of dynamic evolution

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An Erratum to this article was published on 27 May 2015

Abstract

Most in vitro nanotoxicological assays are performed after 24 h exposure. However, in determining size and shape effect of nanoparticles in toxicity assays, initial characterization data are generally used to describe experimental outcome. The dynamic size and structure of aggregates are typically ignored in these studies. This brief communication reports dynamic evolution of aggregation characteristics of gold nanoparticles. The study finds that gradual increase in aggregate size of gold nanospheres (AuNS) occurs up to 6 h duration; beyond this time period, the aggregation process deviates from gradual to a more abrupt behavior as large networks are formed. Results of the study also show that aggregated clusters possess unique structural conformation depending on nominal diameter of the nanoparticles. The differences in fractal dimensions of the AuNS samples likely occurred due to geometric differences, causing larger packing propensities for smaller sized particles. Both such observations can have profound influence on dosimetry for in vitro nanotoxicity analyses.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by the US Air Force Research Lab (Award# FA 8650-10-2-6062). We are grateful to Dr. Haijun Qian of Clemson Microscopy Center for his kind assistance in TEM imaging.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, The University of Texas, Austin, TX, 78712, USA

    A. R. M. Nabiul Afrooz & Navid B. Saleh

  2. Human Effectiveness Directorate, 711th Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, OH, 45433, USA

    Saber M. Hussain

Authors
  1. A. R. M. Nabiul Afrooz
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  2. Saber M. Hussain
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  3. Navid B. Saleh
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Navid B. Saleh.

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Afrooz, A.R.M.N., Hussain, S.M. & Saleh, N.B. Aggregate size and structure determination of nanomaterials in physiological media: importance of dynamic evolution. J Nanopart Res 16, 2771 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-014-2771-x

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