title: Enhanced detection of gold nanoparticles in agarose gel electrophoresis.
abstract: Gel electrophoresis is a powerful tool in gold nanoparticle (AuNP) research. While the technique is sensitive to the size, charge, and shape of particles, its optimal performance requires a relatively large amount of AuNP in the loading wells for visible detection of bands. We here describe a novel and more sensitive method for detecting AuNPs in agarose gels that involves staining the gel with the common organic fluorophore fluorescein, to produce AuNP band intensities that are linear with nanoparticle concentration and almost an order of magnitude larger than those obtained without staining the gel.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, USA.
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hasenoehrl
authors.forename: Colleen M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: Nicholas N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Azzarelli
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Dabrowiak
mesh_terms: D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel / Q000379:methods*; D019793:Fluorescein / Q000737:chemistry; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry; D006046:Gold / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D010316:Particle Size; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006046:Gold; D019793:Fluorescein