Analysis of Silver Nanoparticles in Ground Beef by Single Particle Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (SP-ICP-MS)

Response surface methology for enzymatic ultrasound assisted sp-ICP-MS assessment of cuonps in seafood: Occurrence and bioaccumulation

A novel approach for a reliable extraction and analytical characterization of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) at trace levels on seafood samples was tuned up using single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (sp-ICP-MS). Variables for enzymatic extraction of CuONPs were optimised via response surface methodology (RSM) analysis, to maximize both the extracted CuONPs mass and number concentrations without altering their native size and morphology. Analytical performance features of the whole (enzymatic ultrasound-assisted/sp-ICP-MS) approach were thoroughly evaluated. Furthermore, the proposed extraction approach demonstrated higher efficiency compared to an alternative alkaline hydrolysis-based methodology. Finally, nine seafood samples from diverse nature were analysed for CuONPs content and particle size by sp-ICP-MS, revealing significant NPs concentrations in most cases. Attained results enabled the assessment of health risks associated with CuONPs bioaccumulation in seafood organisms.

Using Single-Particle Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry to Determine the Changes of Silver Nanoparticles in Bread Induced via Simulated Digestion

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), widely used in various fields of technology as an antimicrobial agent, represent a new type of environmental pollutant. Through various routes, AgNPs might penetrate into agricultural crops and foodstuffs. It is important to know if AgNPs contained in food persist in digested food and are therefore available for entering the inner organs of the consumer's body. Using the technique of single-particle ICP-MS, we analysed the changes in the number and size distribution of AgNPs added to a sample of bread submitted to in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion. The majority of silver, in terms of mass, was transformed from the state of particles to the dissolved state during bread digestion, but the number of particles was reduced by 25% only. The most abundant particle size was reduced from 60 nm to 49 nm. Hence, a substantial part of transformed nanoparticles is still present in food digestate. This means that AgNPs consumed together with food can theoretically enter the inner cells of human body.

Single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and its variations for the analysis of nanoparticles

Single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (spICPMS) can count and weigh metal-containing nanoparticles (NPs), enabling their sizing if their geometry, density, and composition are known. With a nebulizer and a spray chamber for sample introduction, both the sample uptake rate and the transport efficiency must be determined when calibrating with solutions. In contrast, flow injection (FI) and mono-segmented flow analysis (MSFA) coupled to spICPMS do not need determination of the transport efficiency and sample uptake rate for accurate NP mass measurement. Correcting for the significant settling time on some instruments is also discussed, as well as calibration through signal integration instead of averaging, which eliminates the need to measure the transport efficiency when seeking NP mass. Nitrogen added to the outer plasma gas can reduce the background for the determination of P, S, Ca and Fe. Infrared heating of the sample introduction system provides 100% transport efficiency, enabling accurate particle mass and concentration measurements without measurement of transport efficiency.