Analytical characterization of nanoparticles

The hypothesis is that the mere nanometre size of matter, and its associated large surface area, may lead to adverse effects in living organisms including humans. Therefore health risk assessment of nanomaterials is of importance. The specific scope of this project is to develop and apply methodologies for nanoparticle recovery, detection of their chemical composition and determination of their size and surface area. The methods will be applied to particles in suspension or dosed to biological materials such as cell-lines or living animals.

The project will test methods to extract or liberate nanosized matter from food contact materials or from cells. Techniques assisted by ultrasound or by enzymes will be in focus.

Following sample preparation, methods for separation of mixtures of nanoparticles will be tested and compared. The separation techniques will be coupled on-line with detectors including inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for analysis of elemental composition, or with multi angle light scattering (MALS) for surface area measurement. In addition, organic mass spectrometry may become of importance for further characterisation of their exact mass or polymer structure.