Imaging and quantifying the morphology of an organic-inorganic nanoparticle at the sub-nanometre level.
The development of hybrid organic-inorganic nanoparticles is of interest for applications such as drug delivery, DNA and protein recognition, and medical diagnostics. However, the characterization of such nanoparticles remains a significant challenge due to the heterogeneous nature of these particles. Here, we report the direct visualization and quantification of the organic and inorganic components of a lipid-coated silica particle that contains a smaller semiconductor quantum dot. High-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy combined with electron energy loss spectroscopy was used to determine the thickness and chemical signature of molecular coating layers, the element atomic ratios, and the exact positions of different elements in single nanoparticles. Moreover, the lipid ratio and lipid phase segregation were also quantified.
van Schooneveld
Matti M
MM
Inorganic Chemistry & Catalysis, Debye Institute, Utrecht University, Sorbonnelaan 16, 3584 CA, The Netherlands. M.M.vanSchooneveld@uu.nl
Gloter
Alexandre
A
Stephan
Odile
O
Zagonel
Luiz F
LF
Koole
Rolf
R
Meijerink
Andries
A
Mulder
Willem J M
WJ
de Groot
Frank M F
FM
D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000737:chemistry; D017348:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning Transmission; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D045663:Quantum Dots; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry; D046590:Spectroscopy, Electron Energy-Loss
C519184:1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol 2000); D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D002244:Carbon; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D005682:Gadolinium; D012825:Silicon