title: An improved methodology of asymmetric flow field flow fractionation hyphenated with inductively coupled mass spectrometry for the determination of size distribution of gold nanoparticles in dietary supplements.
abstract: Engineered nanoparticles are available in large numbers of commercial products claiming various health benefits. Nanoparticle absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity in a biological system are dependent on particle size, thus the determination of size and size distribution is essential for full characterization. Number based average size and size distribution is a major parameter for full characterization of the nanoparticle. In the case of polydispersed samples, large numbers of particles are needed to obtain accurate size distribution data. Herein, we report a rapid methodology, demonstrating improved nanoparticle recovery and excellent size resolution, for the characterization of gold nanoparticles in dietary supplements using asymmetric flow field flow fractionation coupled with visible absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. A linear relationship between gold nanoparticle size and retention times was observed, and used for characterization of unknown samples. The particle size results from unknown samples were compared to results from traditional size analysis by transmission electron microscopy, and found to have less than a 5% deviation in size for unknown product over the size range from 7 to 30 nm.
authors.affiliation: Office of Regulatory Affairs, Arkansas Regional Laboratory, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR 72079, United States. Electronic address: Thilak.Mudalige@fda.hhs.gov.
authors.forename: Thilak K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Mudalige
authors.affiliation: Office of Regulatory Affairs, Arkansas Regional Laboratory, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR 72079, United States.
authors.forename: Haiou
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.affiliation: Office of Regulatory Affairs, Arkansas Regional Laboratory, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR 72079, United States. Electronic address: Sean.Linder@fda.hhs.gov.
authors.forename: Sean W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Linder
mesh_terms: D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis*; D031521:Fractionation, Field Flow / Q000379:methods*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000379:methods; D010316:Particle Size
chemical_list: D006046:Gold
keywords: Asymmetric flow field flow fractionation; Dietary supplements; Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry; Nanoparticles; Size distribution