Direct Optical Particle Tracking - a technique for size distribution assessment

Abstract

Nanotechnology, an emerging discipline within material science, has ushered in a new era of engineering by creating nanostructured materials with distinctive properties suitable for a wide range of bioengineering applications. The shape and size of these materials constitute critical variables, determined by the chosen synthesis method and chemical precursors. Silver nanoparticles, synthesized through chemical processes, exhibit antibacterial properties when their size falls within a specific range. However, measuring the size of such nanoparticles, typically in the nanometer to tens of nanometers range, necessitates specialized techniques like Dynamic Light Scattering and Transmission Electron Microscopy. These methods are often limited by assumptions, high costs and longer measurement times. This paper introduces a novel approach utilizing Direct Particle Tracking for assessing particle size distribution in the early stages of nanoparticle synthesis. The study used realistic computer simulations of nanoparticle diffusion, employing the CHODIN code and a specific code for Direct Particle Tracking written for this purpose. The Brownian motion of each particle is recorded, the mean square displacement is computed and the diffusion coefficient, as well. The diameter of each particle is assessed and here from the particle distribution. The results on simulated particle diffusion demonstrate the feasibility of using Direct Particle Tracking as an effective method for size distribution assessment in the initial phases of nanoparticle synthesis. This innovation opens the door to real-time monitoring and control of nanoparticle size in bioengineering applications, promising significant advancements in the field of nanotechnology.