Benchmarking the ACEnano Toolbox for Characterisation of Nanoparticle Size and Concentration by Interlaboratory Comparisons

Abstract

ACEnano is an EU-funded project which aims at developing, optimising and validating methods for the detection and characterisation of nanomaterials (NMs) in increasingly complex matrices to improve confidence in the results and support their use in regulation. Within this project, several interlaboratory comparisons (ILCs) for the determination of particle size and concentration have been organised to benchmark existing analytical methods. In this paper the results of a number of these ILCs for the characterisation of NMs are presented and discussed. The results of the analyses of pristine well-defined particles such as 60 nm Au NMs in a simple aqueous suspension showed that laboratories are well capable of determining the sizes of these particles. The analysis of particles in complex matrices or formulations such as consumer products resulted in larger variations in particle sizes within technologies and clear differences in capability between techniques. Sunscreen lotion sample analysis by laboratories using spICP-MS and TEM/SEM identified and confirmed the TiO2 particles as being nanoscale and compliant with the EU definition of an NM for regulatory purposes. In a toothpaste sample orthogonal results by PTA, spICP-MS and TEM/SEM agreed and stated the TiO2 particles as not fitting the EU definition of an NM. In general, from the results of these ILCs we conclude that laboratories are well capable of determining particle sizes of NM, even in fairly complex formulations.

Direct analysis of nanoparticles in organic solvents by ICPMS with microdroplet injection

“…Finally, the PNC data were also compared to an aqueous suspensions, prepared according to a protocol described previously. 31 Here, only sunscreen “B” was analysed after dilution by ∼10 5 (water), ∼5.5 × 10 6 (mesitylene), ∼3.5 × 10 6 (toluene). Fig.…”

“…In order to compare size and particle number concentration of sunscreen lotion, sunscreen sample was directly diluted into water, following the evaluated sample preparation procedure used for interlaboratory comparisons. 31…”

Correction: Peters et al. Benchmarking the ACEnano Toolbox for Characterisation of Nanoparticle Size and Concentration by Interlaboratory Comparison. Molecules 2021, 26, 5315

“…Due to miscommunication a number of potential co-authors were not listed in the original publication [ 1 ]. The actual list of authors should be as follows:…”