title: Characterization and quantification of silver nanoparticles in nutraceuticals and beverages by asymmetric flow field flow fractionation coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
abstract: This study evaluated the feasibility of asymmetric flow field flow fractionation coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (AF4-ICP-MS) for separation, characterization and quantification of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in complex nutraceutical and beverage samples. For improved determination, different analysis conditions were proposed depending on the NP size, i.e. below 20 nm and in the 20-60 nm range. After optimization of the different experimental parameters affecting the AF4 separation process and the analyte detection, the proposed methods showed a wide dynamic linear range (i.e., in the 10-1000 μg L(-1)) and limits of detection below 28 ng L(-1). A previous probe ultrasonication for 90 s (corresponding to 45 pulses of 2 s) of the tested samples resulted in complete AgNPs disaggregation. As a result, a fast accurate determination was achieved (complete analysis was done in ca. 37 min). The practicality of the proposed methodology for the intended determination was demonstrated by successful determination of the AgNPs present in a variety of nutraceuticals and a beverage at concentration levels in the 0.7-29.5×10(3) μg L(-1) range. A good agreement was observed among these concentration data and those determined by more conventional sample preparation techniques, such as ultracentrifugation and acid digestion. Also, the estimated NP sizes using AF4 compared satisfactorily with those determined by image techniques, i.e. transmission electron microscopy (TEM). All together demonstrated the utility of this novel analytical methodology for the analysis of AgNPs of different size in complex matrices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avenida Complutense s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: kramos@ucm.es.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.affiliation: Department of Instrumental Analysis and Environmental Chemistry, IQOG-CISC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: l.ramos@iqog.csic.es.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avenida Complutense s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: ccamara@ucm.es.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cámara
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avenida Complutense s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: mmgomez@ucm.es.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Gómez-Gómez
mesh_terms: D001628:Beverages / Q000032:analysis*; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis*; D031521:Fractionation, Field Flow / Q000379:methods*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010316:Particle Size; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012834:Silver
keywords: Asymmetric flow field flow fractionation; Beverages; Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry; Nutraceuticals; Silver nanoparticles