1. Elastic phase response of silica nanoparticles buried in soft matter
- Author
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Thomas Thundat, Gajendra S. Shekhawat, Ali Passian, Rachel M Lynch, Laurene Tetard, Vinayak P. Dravid, and Brynn H. Voy
- Subjects
Silica nanoparticles ,Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous) ,Chemistry ,Phase response ,Nanoparticle ,Nanotechnology ,Ultrasonic sensor ,Soft matter ,Elasticity (economics) ,Potential toxicity ,Nanomaterials - Abstract
Tracking the uptake of nanomaterials by living cells is an important component in assessing both potential toxicity and in designing future materials for use in vivo. We show that the difference in the local elasticity at the site of silica (SiO2) nanoparticles confined within a macrophage enables functional ultrasonic interactions. By elastically exciting the cell, a phase perturbation caused by the buried SiO2 nanoparticles was detected and used to map the subsurface populations of nanoparticles. Localization and mapping of stiff chemically synthesized silica nanoparticles within the cellular structures of a macrophage are important in basic as well as applied studies.
- Published
- 2008