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Nanomaterials are known to cause interference with several standard toxicological assays. As part of an in vivo study of PEG-coated gold nanorods in mice, nanorods were added to reference serum, and results for standard clinical chemistry parameters were compared with serum analyzed without nanorods. PEG-coated gold nanorods produced several concentration-dependent interferences. Comparisons were then made with PEG-coated gold and silica nanospheres. Interferences were observed for both materials that differed from gold nanorods. Removal of the particles from serum by centrifugation prior to analysis resolved most, but not all of the interferences. Additional clinical chemistry analyzers were used to further investigate trends in assay interference. We conclude that PEG-coated gold and silica nanoparticles can interfere with standard clinical chemistry tests in ways that vary depending upon material, shape, and specific assay methodology employed. Assay interferences by nanomaterials cannot always be predicted, underscoring the need to verify that nanomaterials under study do not interfere with methods used to evaluate potential biological effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molybdenum-doped cordierite ceramics have been fabricated through facile combined techniques, coprecipitation followed by solid state. XRD results revealed that α-cordierite phase is predominated with increasing Mo6+ ion content. The density measurements showed that the bulk density reduced to the minimum value of 0.61 g/cm3, which corresponds to the maximum porosity of about 76.8% at 5% Mo6+ ion. The dielectric permittivity (ε) of pure cordierite is decreased with increasing Mo6+ ion content. The minimum dielectric loss of Mo-doped cordierite at 1 MHz was equal 0.008 with 10% Mo6+, while at 1 GHz was equal 0.03 with 5% Mo6+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scientific community, regulatory agencies, environmentalists, and most industry representatives all agree that more effort is required to ensure the responsible and safe development of new nanotechnologies. Characterizing nanomaterials is a key aspect in this effort. There is no universally agreed upon minimum set of characteristics although certain common properties are included in most recommendations. Therefore, characterization becomes more like a puzzle put together with various measurements rather than a single straightforward analytical measurement. In this chapter, we emphasize and illustrate the important elements of nanoparticle characterization with a systematic approach to physicochemical characterization. We start with an overview describing the properties that are most significant to toxicological testing along with suggested methods for characterizing an as-received nanomaterial and then specifically address the measurement of size, surface properties, and imaging.

Nanotechnology is actively being used to develop promising diagnostics and therapeutics tools for the treatment of cancer and many other diseases. The unique properties of nanomaterials offer an exciting frontier of possibilities for biomedical researchers and scientists. Because existing knowledge of macroscopic materials does not always allow for adequate prediction of the characteristics and behaviors of nanoscale materials in controlled environments, much less in biological systems, careful nanoparticle characterization should accompany biomedical applications of these materials. Informed correlations between adequately characterized nanomaterial properties and reliable biological endpoints are essential for guiding present and future researchers toward clinical nanotechnology-based solutions for cancer. Biological environments are notoriously dynamic; hence, nanoparticulate interactions within these environments will likely be comparatively diverse. For this reason, we recommend that an interactive and systematic approach to material characterization be taken when attempting to elucidate or measure biological interactions with nanoscale materials. We intend for this chapter to be a practical guide that could be used by researchers to identify key nanomaterial characteristics that require measurement for their systems and the appropriate techniques to perform those measurements. Each section includes a basic overview of each measurement and notes on how to address some of the common difficulties associated with nanomaterial characterization.