Analytical methods for identification, characterization, and quantification of metal-containing nanoparticles in biological and biomedical samples, food and personal care products
Dominik Blaimer, Kerstin Leopold
Abstract
Analytical methods for the identification, characterization, and quantification of metal-containing nanoparticles (MNPs) are required for quality control and toxicological assessment in a variety of complex sample matrices. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the available methods for the speciation, sizing, and quantification of MNPs in biological and biomedical samples, food and personal care products. Sample preparation, separation and fractionation approaches combined or directly coupled to different detection techniques are discussed in detail, along with their main analytical figures of merit. A detailed table summarizes the analytical approaches in this field reported over the past five years, listing the analytical steps and techniques, as well as their reported detection and quantification limits in terms of size and concentration of MNPs. A broad spectrum of analytical approaches and performance levels is observed. New developments that offer promising solutions to previously unsolved problems are also discussed. • Most approaches require particle extraction and/or partial matrix degradation • GFAAS enables direct sizing and speciation in solid samples • spICP-TOF-MS allows the analysis of multi-element nanoparticles • CE-spICP-MS simultaneously determines composition, mass and hydrodynamic diameter • Within the wide range of analytical approaches, no universally optimal method can be defined