I have centrifuged to pellet down the nanoparticles. Now, how can I disaggregate them into individual particles? I have tried flushing with a pastuer pippet, injection syringe and sonication (not a probe sonicator). None of these have worked, any suggestions?
If Raquel is right, you should avoid centrigugation. If it is a purification or separation procedure, you can try with dialysis of filtering with a suitable cutoff.
It depends on the type of nanoparticles. If the attractive interactions among them are strong, you should use sonication in solution of some surfactant or adsorbing polymer to help stabilization.
I agree with Franco, if the NPs are clumping in an aqueous solution because of their hydrophobic nature, then you should either sonicate them into a detergent solution or a solvent like ethanol.
You could sonicate them in the right solvent and/or surfactant solution.
I suppose that the nanoparticles are not hydrophobic, but the aggregates are produced by the centrifugation itself. In my experience, once the sample of nanoparticles loses stability is very difficult to get it back again. If you are using nanoparticles for biomedical purposes is better not add detergents or other solvents. I'd try sonicating and filtering, but keep in mind that the concentration of nanoparticles after filtering will be less than the initial one, since some of them will be retained in the filter.
If Raquel is right, you should avoid centrigugation. If it is a purification or separation procedure, you can try with dialysis of filtering with a suitable cutoff.
Well the particles are having a low zeta value (+25) and are as such forming agglomerates. Next these agglomerates are thightly packed after centrifugation . Thank you very much ......ill try these methods and get back to you with my results.
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