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 permit precipitation of calcium phosphate. Finally, we demonstrate that there is no indication of a calcium-phosphorus-rich coating on BaTiO3 nanoparticles suspended in culture media when prepared without alteration of the pH of the suspending media and imaged by cryo-STEM. Therefore we recommend that future reports utilising nanoparticles dispersed in cell culture media monitor and report the pH of suspensions during sample preparation.

Details

Title
Nanoparticle corona artefacts derived from specimen preparation of particle suspensions
Author
Ilett, Martha 1 ; Matar, Omar 1 ; Bamiduro Faith 1 ; Sanchez-Segado, Sergio 2 ; Brydson Rik 1 ; Brown, Andy 1 ; Hondow Nicole 1 

 School of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK (GRID:grid.9909.9) (ISNI:0000 0004 1936 8403) 
 Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Cartagena, Campus Muralla del Mar C/Doctor Fleming s/n, Cartagena, Murcia, Spain (GRID:grid.218430.c) (ISNI:0000 0001 2153 2602) 
Publication year
2020
Publication date
2020
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
e-ISSN
20452322
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2382600584
Copyright
This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.