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Updated: Feb 3, 2026

Design and Development of Aptamer–Gold Nanoparticle Based Colorimetric Assays for In-the-field Applications
Published on: June 23, 2016
LED based near infrared spectral acquisition for multiwavelength analytical ultracentrifugation: A case study with
Joseph Pearson1, Helmut Cölfen1
1Physical Chemistry, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany.
Abstract:
A pulsed light emitting diode, coupled with a properly configured spectrometer is implemented in open source analytical ultracentrifugation detection hardware, allowing for spectral acquisition spanning the visible to near infrared. Details of the challenges arising with the new hardware are described, along with the necessary solutions to overcome them. The system is successfully tested with polystyrene and gold nanoparticles, demonstrating effectiveness for different material and particle geometries. Sedimentation coefficient distributions and analytically extracted spectra are presented for the multiwavelength datasets extending into the near infrared. Additionally, deconvolution algorithms are applied as a further demonstration of tools applicable to these datasets and the resolving power possible. The results of gold nanoparticle analysis presented here show effective near infrared spectral acquisition is now possible for multiwavelength analytical ultracentrifugation, opening the door for analysis of many important samples with spectral properties in this range, including rich classes of metal and semiconductor nanoparticles.
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