Can I ask how do I handle carbon dots powder? Is there a protocol like certain centrifugal force for resuspension or dispersion? Or is it that I just simply dump it into my desired solvent? Will PBS or cell culture medium interact with the process of its resuspension?
Hi, dry nanomaterials get aggregated, usually losing their interesting nano-related properties. Resuspending them in a solvent is usually insufficient to break the tightly bonded aggregates. The standard procedure is using a high-power ultrasonication tip. Centrifuging is useless since it does not disperse the particles but makes them aggregate. Once dispersed, they may re-aggregate, though. One way of stabilizing a good dispersion is through electrostatic repulsion. The required zeta potential for stable dispersion is at least +/- 10 mV. Another way of stabilizing the dispersion is through polymer adsorption, so yes, PBS might interact with the process. The polymer adsorption is controlled, among others, by the mutual affinity of the particle/polymer/solvent. You may refer to our publications for further details:
Article Phase diagram of bare particles in polymer nanocomposites: U...
Article Thermodynamic Parameters Controlling Nanoparticle Spatial Pa...
Article Bulk Polymer Nanocomposites with Preparation Protocol Govern...
Centrifugation after re-suspension can help you get that fraction, which you want. In smaller amount of course.
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