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The potential use of doped nanoparticles from hydrothermal synthesis in cell signalling

Ed Lester 1Stephen Briddon Helen Hobbs 

1. University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom

Abstract
Whilst the chemistry of supercritical water (scW) synthesis is relatively simple, the 'engineering' of these continuous reactions is much more difficult. The development of the nozzle reactor at Nottingham has overcome the problem of poor mixing with additional benefits as well: the ability to make nanoparticles continuously, doped and undoped; continuous online capping, post production; the ability to alter particle size and morphology by altering the operating parameters of temperature, flow rate and metal salt concentration; the ability to produce stable suspensions of nanoparticles in water. In contrast to other methods particle production in supercritical water is a relatively simple one stage route, chemically more benign, and produces product dispersed in water. The ability to create suspensions of particles in water, of controlled size and chemistry, using 'biologically benign' precursors such as iron nitrate or silver acetate has presented a new and exciting opportunity for biological applications.

The paper will describe how the nozzle was developed and how it can be used as a rapid prototyping system for a range of different doped nanoparticles for medical applications, particularly in the field of cellular imaging.

 

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Presentation: Oral at E-MRS Fall Meeting 2006, Symposium C, by Ed Lester
See On-line Journal of E-MRS Fall Meeting 2006

Submitted: 2006-06-12 08:25
Revised:   2009-06-07 00:44