Our Services
We have obtained secure access to the lab and a wide range of facilities, enabling us to provide comprehensive material characterization for various nanoforms. Our services encompass the thorough examination of their physical, chemical, and structural properties, including but not limited to:-
Composition, size/size distribution, shape classification, and aspect ratio.
Thermal and colloidal stability, solubility/dissolution profile, and dissolution rate.
Crystallinity identification and phase quantification.
Structural determination in cases of unknown phases
Porosity, specific surface area, and zeta potential.
Identification and quantification of surface coatings.
Customized services tailored to specific requirements.
Cytotoxicity and ecotoxicity testing for various organisms, such as plants, daphnia, and chlorella.
Nanoparticle Labelling
Nanoparticle design, synthesis and surface modification
hydrophilicity of nanomaterials
Our team possesses extensive hands-on experience with the instruments used for characterization, along with a deep understanding of the physical principles underlying these instruments. Furthermore, we have a solid background in nanomaterials and their applications, enabling us to select the most suitable techniques and provide standardized protocols for nanoform characterization.
Morphology and particle sizing
scanning electron microscope (SEM)
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
Atomic force microscopy (AFM)
Dynamic Light scattering (DLS)
Laser diffraction
nanoparticle tracking analyser (NTA)
X-Ray diffraction (powder or single) XRD
Analytical Ultracentrifuge
Small angle X-way scattering (SAXS)
single particle ICP-MS
NMR disperson analyser
Resistive Pulse sensing
Surface property
Fluorescence Spectrometer
Quatz-Crytsal Microbalance-D (QCM-D)
Gas absorption and pore analyser (BET)
NMR dispersion analyser ( surface area)
Interferometeric microscope
Zeta potential
FTIR
UV-vis spectroscopy
Compositional and structural analysis
Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)
Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC)
Dynamic Thermal Analysis (DTA)
TGA-GCMS-FTIR
Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy
(EDX or EDS)
Elemental Analysis, (C,H,N and S)
Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES or ICP AES)
Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)
Single particle or single cell ICP-MS
X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS)
X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF)
Nanomaterials in complex matrix
Analyzing nanoparticles within complex mixtures or matrices poses considerable challenges compared to examining pure nanomaterial samples. The presence of heterogeneity and the potential for interference from surrounding substances make characterizing nanoparticles vastly more complex and, at times, seemingly insurmountable.
Fortunately, our team has accumulated substantial expertise in the characterization of nanomaterials under such intricate conditions. For instance, we've delved into the study of CuO and Cu(OH)2 nanoparticles in biological samples embedded within resin, though this research remains unpublished. Additionally, our investigation into TiO2 nanoparticles within soil was published in Environmental Science: Nano in 2020, and some of our findings concerning Ag and ZnO nanoparticles in silkworms were shared in Chemosphere in 2020. Furthermore, I've been awarded a grant from Nottingham University due to my proficiency in nanomaterial characterization within complex media, enabling me to develop a protocol for detecting nanoplastics in the environment.
In summary, characterizing nanoparticles within complex media or matrices presents formidable obstacles, but our wealth of experience and successful research endeavors in this area demonstrate our ability to surmount these challenges effectively. This expertise is instrumental in advancing our comprehension of nanoparticle behavior and their impact within real-world contexts, including environmental and biological settings.