We want to study the biodistribution of our silica nanoparticles in mice. After injection of Si nanoparticles we have extracted different organs and tissues. Now, we want to quantify the nanoparticles accumulated in each organ. In order to dissolve the organ, we have selected the nitric acid, but it seems that it is not enough to dissolve the nanoparticles. Moreover, we don't want to use HF because of it can produce problems in the equipment. Does anybody know any alternative protocol?
Thank you very much
Thank you very much for your answer, I will try with this mixture.
You have to use HF. Be careful, avoid glass vessels. HF can damage glass containers.
I can use a mixture of HF and HNO3, I have teflon vessels but, after samples digestion, should I remove the HF? ¿which protocol do you follow?
Thank you
Little quantities of SiO2 ought to dissolve in concentrated alkali solutions, but I'm not sure. And I think you may not to dissolve nanoparticles, but inject it to plasma directly as a suspension
You may use HF. But instead of glass, you have to use teflon or platinum vessels.
The silica nanoparticles should certainly dissolve in sodium or kalium hydroxide solution and by boiling it should also dissolve the tissue.
Please also note that the background levels of Si in different tissues and organs vary significantly, so it is generally impossible to get "real" values based on Si-determination by ICP even if controls are used to subtract the inherent tissue Si content (Si content between individual mice may vary within an order of magnitude, if I do remember correctly). I think the Si content of human tissues may fall somewhere within the ranges of 10 to 200 mg/l00 grams dry weight (not sure about mice, but when we tried this once with ICP the inherent Si values were higher than any Si value imparted by the injected nanoparticles, so this method was not feasible to use for determining biodistribution of silica nanoparticles at all) so quite substantial amounts of nanoparticles would probably have to be used to end up with nanoparticle-originating Si values in tissues that could be clearly discerned from the background Si levels?
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