title: Characterisation and determination of fullerenes: A critical review.
abstract: A prominent sector of nanotechnology is occupied by a class of carbon-based nanoparticles known as fullerenes. Fullerene particle size and shape impact in how easily these particles are transported into and throughout the environment and living tissues. Currently, there is a lack of adequate methodology for their size and shape characterisation, identification and quantitative detection in environmental and biological samples. The most commonly used methods for their size measurements (aggregation, size distribution, shape, etc.), the effect of sampling and sample treatment on these characteristics and the analytical methods proposed for their determination in complex matrices are discussed in this review. For the characterisation and analysis of fullerenes in real samples, different analytical techniques including microscopy, spectroscopy, flow field-flow fractionation, electrophoresis, light scattering, liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry have been reported. The existing limitations and knowledge gaps in the use of these techniques are discussed and the necessity to hyphenate complementary ones for the accurate characterisation, identification and quantitation of these nanoparticles is highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Barcelona, Martí i Franquès 1-11, E08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Astefanei
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Barcelona, Martí i Franquès 1-11, E08028 Barcelona, Spain; Serra Hunter Fellow, Generalitat de Catalunya, Spain.
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Núñez
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Barcelona, Martí i Franquès 1-11, E08028 Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: mtgalceran@ub.edu.
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Galceran
keywords: Aggregates; Complex matrices; Detection and quantitation; Fullerenes; Identification; Particle size and shape analysis