TY - JOUR
T1 - Imaging and quantifying the morphology of an organic–inorganic nanoparticle at the sub-nanometre level
AU - van Schooneveld, M.M.
AU - Gloter, A.
AU - Stephan, O.
AU - Zagonel, L.F.
AU - Koole, R.
AU - Meijerink, A.
AU - Mulder, W.J.M.
AU - de Groot, F.M.F.
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - The development of hybrid organic–inorganic nanoparticles is of interest for applications such as drug delivery, DNA and protein recognition, and medical diagnostics. However, the characterization of such nanoparticles remains a significant challenge due to the heterogeneous nature of these particles. Here, we report the direct visualization and quantification of the organic and inorganic components of a lipid-coated silica particle that contains a smaller semiconductor quantum dot. High-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy combined with electron energy loss spectroscopy was used to determine the thickness and chemical signature of molecular coating layers, the element atomic ratios, and the exact positions of different elements in single nanoparticles. Moreover, the lipid ratio and lipid phase segregation were also quantified
AB - The development of hybrid organic–inorganic nanoparticles is of interest for applications such as drug delivery, DNA and protein recognition, and medical diagnostics. However, the characterization of such nanoparticles remains a significant challenge due to the heterogeneous nature of these particles. Here, we report the direct visualization and quantification of the organic and inorganic components of a lipid-coated silica particle that contains a smaller semiconductor quantum dot. High-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy combined with electron energy loss spectroscopy was used to determine the thickness and chemical signature of molecular coating layers, the element atomic ratios, and the exact positions of different elements in single nanoparticles. Moreover, the lipid ratio and lipid phase segregation were also quantified
U2 - 10.1038/NNANO.2010.105
DO - 10.1038/NNANO.2010.105
M3 - Article
SN - 1748-3387
VL - 5
SP - 538
EP - 544
JO - Nature Nanotechnology
JF - Nature Nanotechnology
ER -