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Updated: Jun 11, 2026
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Asymmetrical Flow Field-Flow Fractionation for Sizing of Gold Nanoparticles in Suspension
Published on: September 11, 2020
Gold nanoparticle flow sensors designed for dynamic X-ray imaging in biofluids
Sungsook Ahn1, Sung Yong Jung, Jin Pyung Lee
1Center for Biofluid and Biomimic Research, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), San 31, Hyoja Dong, Namgu, Pohang 790-784, Korea.
ACS Nano
|July 3, 2010
Summary
This study introduces particle-traced X-ray imaging for dynamic visualization of fluid flow in living organisms. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were used as novel flow-tracing sensors in nontransparent biofluids.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Materials Science
- Plant Biology
Background:
- X-ray imaging offers versatile energy applications and high performance.
- X-ray imaging requires contrast agents for targeted and molecularly specific functions.
- Previous contrast agent studies focused on static accumulation, not dynamic visualization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To achieve dynamic visualization of flow phenomena in living organisms using particle-traced X-ray imaging for the first time.
- To monitor flow across perforated end walls of xylem vessels in rice.
- To utilize gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as flow-tracing sensors in nontransparent biofluids.
Main Methods:
- Surface modification of AuNPs to control hydrodynamic size, zeta-potential, and surface plasmonic properties.
- Utilized Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Nanoscopy (XN), and X-ray Microscopy (XM).
- Correlated interparticle interactions with X-ray absorption ability.
Main Results:
- Successfully demonstrated dynamic visualization of flow in living organisms.
- AuNPs functioned effectively as flow-tracing sensors in nontransparent biofluids.
- Interparticle interactions were modulated to control cluster formation and X-ray contrast ability of AuNPs.
Conclusions:
- Particle-traced X-ray imaging enables novel dynamic visualization of biological processes.
- Surface-modified AuNPs are effective flow-tracing sensors for X-ray imaging.
- Controlling interparticle interactions is key to modulating AuNP performance as contrast agents.
