Separation of Silver Nanoparticles with Different Coatings by Capillary Electrophoresis Coupled to ICP-MS in Single Particle Mode

The possibility of separating mixtures of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) with similar sizes but different surface coatings using capillary electrophoresis coupled to single particle inductively coupled mass-spectrometry (CE-SP-ICP-MS) was investigated. In two-component mixtures, it was possible to separate 40 nm sized polyvinylpirrolidone (PVP)- and citrate-coated NPs, 40 nm sized polyethylene glycol (PEG)- and citrate-coated NPs, and 60 nm sized PVP- and citrate-coated NPs. The separation of a more complex mixture containing NPs with the different coatings and sizes was successful, and each component, namely, 20, 40, and 60 nm sized citrate coated and 40 and 60 nm sized PVP-coated NPs, could be distinguished. The theoretically expected migration order was confirmed by experimental results with selected Ag NPs. On the basis of the experimental observations, a separation mechanism that considers the effect of stable vs displaceable coatings during NP migration in CE is suggested. The ICP-MS was equipped with a prototype data acquisition system (mu sDAQ) that provided 5 mu s time resolution.