Characterization of nanoparticles using coupled gel immobilization and label-free optical imaging.

Accurate quantification of number concentration of nanoparticles (NPs) is critical for their biomedical and catalytic applications. We developed a novel NP analysis platform based on coupled gel immobilization and a three-dimensional (3D) scattered light imaging (SLI) platform. This imaging-based technique enables high-throughput analysis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) at single-particle level without the need for particle labeling or modification. This is a well-established quantitative characterization technique that can simultaneously measure the number concentration and size distribution of AgNPs. It also demonstrates the visualization and quantification of the size and 3D morphology of AgNP agglomerates in solution.