Reference materials are critical for checking the quality and metrological traceability of products, validating analytical measurement methods, and for instrument calibration. One challenge of nanoparticle reference materials is that the particle’s small size can lead to changes in the material properties over time. Nanoparticles also have different characteristics when compared to larger bulk materials or chemicals that must be fully quantified and monitored.
The composition, size, shape, charge and surface chemistry of nanoparticles are critical properties that need to be tightly controlled and measured during fabrication for any nanoparticle reference material. To ensure colloidal stability, the degree of particle aggregation and corresponding hydrodynamic size needs to be known and tracked with time. The concentration of all elements – both from the constituent materials of the nanoparticle and any residual chemicals in solution – must be quantified. In addition, measurement of the optical properties, surface area, solution pH, and endotoxin levels are also important for many reference materials.
NanoComposix has a long history of providing reference materials to the nanoparticle community. We supplied the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) with silver nanoparticles for a multi-country study on the potential toxicity of nanoparticles, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) with silver particles for a large intralaboratory study, and provided materials to hundreds of nanotoxicology researchers to perform in-vitro and in-vivo experiments. In addition, we manufactured the 75 nm silver reference material (RM8017) for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and are actively working with Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology and other standards agencies to develop new nanoparticle standards. Our Ultra Uniform line of gold nanoparticles is being used for single particle ICP-MS calibration and also as a TEM calibration standard.
Product Line | Description | Available Materials | Available Surfaces | CV | Concentration | Available Dried | Buy | nanoComposix University |
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Guaranteed low endotoxin | Gold, silver, platinum, magnetite | Multiple | < 18% | 1 mg/mL | No | See products | Learn more | |
For bioconjugation (lateral flow assays, etc.) | Gold | Multiple | < 15% | Varies; usually 20 OD | Yes | See products | Learn more | |
Widest combination of materials and surfaces | Gold, silver, silica, platinum, magnetite | Multiple | Varies; usually < 15% | Varies | Yes | See products | Learn more | |
Most monodisperse | Gold | PEG-carboxyl | < 5% | 0.05 mg/mL | No | See products | Learn more | |
Do none of these work for you? Request a Custom Nanomaterial | ||||||||
We also offer a variety of nanoparticle characterization services |
Surface | Charge | Characteristics | Available Materials | Buy | NCX University |
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Bare (Citrate) | Easiest standard surface to displace with other molecules. | Gold, silver, platinum | See products | Learn more | |
Aminated (BPEI) | Covalently bound. Conjugatable surface. | Gold, silver | See products | Learn more | |
Carbonate | For biocojugation. Smaller, less complex molecule with a lower affinity to gold nanoparticle surface than citrate. | Gold | See products | Learn more | |
Carboxyl/Lipoic Acid | Covalently bound. Conjugatable surface. | Gold, silver | See products | Learn more | |
Dodecanethiol | Redispersible and stable in non-polar organic solvents. | Gold, silver | See products | Learn more | |
NHS | For quick and easy bioconjugation – no EDC/NHS activation required. | Gold | See products | ||
PEG | Highest stability in aqueous buffers and polar organic solvents. | Gold, silver | See products | Learn more | |
Polystyrene | Hydrophobic surface that allows for dispersion in a wide range of polar organic solvents. | Gold | See products | Learn more | |
PVP | Large polymer surface. Stable in a wide variety of solvents. | Gold, silver, magnetite | See products | Learn more | |
Silica Shell | Greatest solvent compatibility. Preserves plasmonic properties upon deposition. | Gold, silver, silica | See products | Learn more | |
Silica Shell (Aminated) | Conjugatable surface. Greatest solvent compatibility. Preserves plasmonic properties upon deposition. | Gold, silver, silica | See products | Learn more | |
Streptavidin | For convenient bioconjugation of any biotinylated antibody, protein, or oligonucleotide. | Gold | See products | ||
Tannic Acid | Less easily displaced than citrate but stable in more buffers. | Gold | See products | Learn more | |
Do none of these work for you? Request a Custom Surface |
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