Finding dimensions
New analytical method makes nanoparticle research faster and more reliable
Chemist Joshka Verduin has developed a new analytical method that allows both the size and content of nanoparticles to be determined simultaneously. This innovation can significantly improve research into and the use of nanoparticles in areas such as medicine, coatings, and environmental studies.
Nanoparticles are extremely small, yet within chemistry they are relatively large structures. As a result, it is difficult to fully analyze them using existing techniques. Until now, researchers often had to perform multiple separate measurements to map various properties, such as size and composition. Verduin therefore developed a new 2D LC platform that breaks through this limitation.
The method combines various analytical techniques and automates the process, allowing the size of nanoparticles to be determined accurately while simultaneously opening the particles to analyze their contents. This allows both properties to be directly correlated. Verduin successfully tested the approach on two key types of nanoparticles: polymers and lipids. In both cases, it proved possible to quickly and reliably measure both the structure and the content. Measuring multiple properties simultaneously
The new method offers significant benefits for both science and society. Because multiple properties are measured simultaneously, analyses are faster, simpler, and less prone to errors. Moreover, less sample preparation is required, saving time and costs. This has direct applications in various sectors.
In medicine, for example, nanoparticles play a key role in modern vaccines. With this method, it is possible to verify in a single analysis whether the particles are the correct size and contain sufficient active substance, which accelerates quality control and production. In industry, too, for instance in coatings and other materials, better insight into nanoparticles leads to more efficient and safer products. Additionally, the technique can contribute to environmental research, such as the detection and analysis of nanoplastics, a growing problem. By better understanding how nanoparticles are structured and function, researchers and companies can ultimately develop safer and more effective applications.
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