Single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry is an emergent ICPMS method for dete... more Single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry is an emergent ICPMS method for detecting, characterizing, and quantifying nanoparticles. Although the number of applications reported to date is limited, the relatively simple instrumental requirements, the low number concentration detection levels attainable, and the possibility to detect both the presence of dissolved and particulate forms of an element make this methodology very promising in the nanoscience related areas.
Current approaches provide a view of natural nanomaterials while emerging technologies open the d... more Current approaches provide a view of natural nanomaterials while emerging technologies open the door to further studies of nanogeoscience.
The detection and characterisation of engineered nanomaterials in the environment is essential fo... more The detection and characterisation of engineered nanomaterials in the environment is essential for exposure and risk assessment for this emerging class of materials. However, the ubiquitous presence of naturally occurring nanomaterials presents a unique challenge for the accurate determination of engineered nanomaterials in environmental matrices. New techniques and methodologies are being developed to overcome some of these issues by taking advantage of subtle differences in the elemental and isotopic ratios within these nanomaterials.
Currently there are few ideal methods for the characterization of nanoparticles in complex, envir... more Currently there are few ideal methods for the characterization of nanoparticles in complex, environmental samples, leading to significant gaps in toxicity and exposure assessments of nanomaterials. Single particle-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (spICP-MS) is an emerging technique that can both size and count metal-containing nanoparticles. A major benefit of the spICP-MS method is its ability to characterize nanoparticles at concentrations relevant to the environment. This paper presents a practical guide on how to count and size nanoparticles using spICP-MS. Different methods are investigated for measuring transport efficiency (i.e. nebulization efficiency), an important term in the spICP-MS calculations. In addition, an alternative protocol is provided for determining particle size that broadens the applicability of the technique to all types of inorganic nanoparticles. Initial comparison, using well-characterized, monodisperse silver nanoparticles, showed the importance of having an accurate transport efficiency value when determining particle number concentration and, if using the newly presented protocol, particle size. Ultimately, the goal of this paper is to provide improvements to nanometrology by further developing this technique for the characterization of metal-containing nanoparticles.
Nanomaterials are critical components in the Earth system’s past, present, and future characteris... more Nanomaterials are critical components in the Earth system’s past, present, and future characteristics and behavior. They have been present since Earth’s origin in great abundance. Life, from the earliest cells to modern humans, has evolved in intimate association with naturally occurring nanomaterials. This synergy began to shift considerably with human industrialization. Particularly since the Industrial Revolution some two-and-a-half centuries ago, incidental nanomaterials (produced unintentionally by human activity) have been continuously produced and distributed worldwide. In some areas, they now rival the amount of naturally occurring nanomaterials. In the past half-century, engineered nanomaterials have been produced in very small amounts relative to the other two types of nanomaterials, but still in large enough quantities to make them a consequential component of the planet. All nanomaterials, regardless of their origin, have distinct chemical and physical properties through...
Calculating nanosilver dissolution rates by measuring reduction in nanoparticle mass is more dire... more Calculating nanosilver dissolution rates by measuring reduction in nanoparticle mass is more direct than measuring release of ionic silver alone.
The environmental prevalence of engineered nanomaterials, particularly nanoparticulate silver (Ag... more The environmental prevalence of engineered nanomaterials, particularly nanoparticulate silver (AgNP), is expected to increase substantially. The ubiquitous use of commercial products containing AgNP may result in their release to the environment, and the potential for ecological effects is unknown. Detecting engineered nanomaterials is one of the greatest challenges in quantifying their risks. Thus, it is imperative to develop techniques capable of measuring and characterizing exposures, while dealing with the innate difficulties of nanomaterial detection in environmental samples, such as low-engineered nanomaterial concentrations, aggregation, and complex matrices. Here the authors demonstrate the use of inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, operated in a single-particle counting mode (SP-ICP-MS), to detect and quantify AgNP. In the present study, two AgNP products were measured by SP-ICP-MS, including one of precisely manufactured size and shape, as well as a commercial AgNP-containing health food product. Serial dilutions, filtration, and acidification were applied to confirm that the method detected particles. Differentiation of dissolved and particulate silver (Ag) is a feature of the technique. Analysis of two wastewater samples demonstrated the applicability of SP-ICP-MS at nanograms per liter Ag concentrations. In this pilot study, AgNP was found at 100 to 200 ng/L in the presence of 50 to 500 ng/L dissolved Ag. The method provides the analytical capability to monitor Ag and other metal and metal oxide nanoparticles in fate, transport, stability, and toxicity studies using a commonly available laboratory instrument. Rapid throughput and element specificity are additional benefits of SP-ICP-MS as a measurement tool for metal and metal oxide engineered nanoparticles. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012;31:115-121. # 2011 SETAC Keywords-Nanoparticle Quantification Wastewater Silver 116 Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 31, 2012 D.M. Mitrano et al.
Single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry is an emergent ICPMS method for dete... more Single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry is an emergent ICPMS method for detecting, characterizing, and quantifying nanoparticles. Although the number of applications reported to date is limited, the relatively simple instrumental requirements, the low number concentration detection levels attainable, and the possibility to detect both the presence of dissolved and particulate forms of an element make this methodology very promising in the nanoscience related areas.
Current approaches provide a view of natural nanomaterials while emerging technologies open the d... more Current approaches provide a view of natural nanomaterials while emerging technologies open the door to further studies of nanogeoscience.
The detection and characterisation of engineered nanomaterials in the environment is essential fo... more The detection and characterisation of engineered nanomaterials in the environment is essential for exposure and risk assessment for this emerging class of materials. However, the ubiquitous presence of naturally occurring nanomaterials presents a unique challenge for the accurate determination of engineered nanomaterials in environmental matrices. New techniques and methodologies are being developed to overcome some of these issues by taking advantage of subtle differences in the elemental and isotopic ratios within these nanomaterials.
Currently there are few ideal methods for the characterization of nanoparticles in complex, envir... more Currently there are few ideal methods for the characterization of nanoparticles in complex, environmental samples, leading to significant gaps in toxicity and exposure assessments of nanomaterials. Single particle-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (spICP-MS) is an emerging technique that can both size and count metal-containing nanoparticles. A major benefit of the spICP-MS method is its ability to characterize nanoparticles at concentrations relevant to the environment. This paper presents a practical guide on how to count and size nanoparticles using spICP-MS. Different methods are investigated for measuring transport efficiency (i.e. nebulization efficiency), an important term in the spICP-MS calculations. In addition, an alternative protocol is provided for determining particle size that broadens the applicability of the technique to all types of inorganic nanoparticles. Initial comparison, using well-characterized, monodisperse silver nanoparticles, showed the importance of having an accurate transport efficiency value when determining particle number concentration and, if using the newly presented protocol, particle size. Ultimately, the goal of this paper is to provide improvements to nanometrology by further developing this technique for the characterization of metal-containing nanoparticles.
Nanomaterials are critical components in the Earth system’s past, present, and future characteris... more Nanomaterials are critical components in the Earth system’s past, present, and future characteristics and behavior. They have been present since Earth’s origin in great abundance. Life, from the earliest cells to modern humans, has evolved in intimate association with naturally occurring nanomaterials. This synergy began to shift considerably with human industrialization. Particularly since the Industrial Revolution some two-and-a-half centuries ago, incidental nanomaterials (produced unintentionally by human activity) have been continuously produced and distributed worldwide. In some areas, they now rival the amount of naturally occurring nanomaterials. In the past half-century, engineered nanomaterials have been produced in very small amounts relative to the other two types of nanomaterials, but still in large enough quantities to make them a consequential component of the planet. All nanomaterials, regardless of their origin, have distinct chemical and physical properties through...
Calculating nanosilver dissolution rates by measuring reduction in nanoparticle mass is more dire... more Calculating nanosilver dissolution rates by measuring reduction in nanoparticle mass is more direct than measuring release of ionic silver alone.
The environmental prevalence of engineered nanomaterials, particularly nanoparticulate silver (Ag... more The environmental prevalence of engineered nanomaterials, particularly nanoparticulate silver (AgNP), is expected to increase substantially. The ubiquitous use of commercial products containing AgNP may result in their release to the environment, and the potential for ecological effects is unknown. Detecting engineered nanomaterials is one of the greatest challenges in quantifying their risks. Thus, it is imperative to develop techniques capable of measuring and characterizing exposures, while dealing with the innate difficulties of nanomaterial detection in environmental samples, such as low-engineered nanomaterial concentrations, aggregation, and complex matrices. Here the authors demonstrate the use of inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, operated in a single-particle counting mode (SP-ICP-MS), to detect and quantify AgNP. In the present study, two AgNP products were measured by SP-ICP-MS, including one of precisely manufactured size and shape, as well as a commercial AgNP-containing health food product. Serial dilutions, filtration, and acidification were applied to confirm that the method detected particles. Differentiation of dissolved and particulate silver (Ag) is a feature of the technique. Analysis of two wastewater samples demonstrated the applicability of SP-ICP-MS at nanograms per liter Ag concentrations. In this pilot study, AgNP was found at 100 to 200 ng/L in the presence of 50 to 500 ng/L dissolved Ag. The method provides the analytical capability to monitor Ag and other metal and metal oxide nanoparticles in fate, transport, stability, and toxicity studies using a commonly available laboratory instrument. Rapid throughput and element specificity are additional benefits of SP-ICP-MS as a measurement tool for metal and metal oxide engineered nanoparticles. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012;31:115-121. # 2011 SETAC Keywords-Nanoparticle Quantification Wastewater Silver 116 Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 31, 2012 D.M. Mitrano et al.
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Papers by James Ranville