Helen Hobbs, Paul Blood, Steve Briddon and Ed Lester

1
The Potential Use of Fluorescent Nanoparticles,
from Hydrothermal Synthesis, in Cell Imaging

• Helen Hobbs, Paul Blood, Steve Briddon and Ed
  Lester
• University of Nottingham

2
Introduction

• Nanoparticles are increasingly used for novel
  applications due to their unique properties
• Established methods for nanoparticle synthesis
  can involve
• Relatively noxious chemicals
• Complex, time-consuming sequence of stages
• Expensive precursors

3
Introduction

• Use of supercritical water provides many
  advantages including
• Green synthesis
• Stable suspension of nanoparticles in water
• Control of particle size
• Biologically benign metal salt precursors
• Nanoparticles have useful properties for
  biomedical applications e.g. magnetic, structural
  and fluorescent properties

4
Micro Reactor Design

• Nozzle reactor
• Instantaneous mixing
• Short residence time
• Minimal heating of metal salt solution until the
  reactor
• No particle accumulation in reactor

5
Products e.g. hydroxyapatite

• 50 150 nm (temperature control)
• Also
• Hematite
• Magnetite
• YAG
• Silver
• Lanthanum oxide
• Indium oxide

6
Fluorescent Nanoparticles

• Nanoparticles doped with rare earth metals e.g.
  zirconia 5 europium

7
Summary

• Continuous hydrothermal synthesis of
  nanoparticles is presented
• A range of products have been synthesised and
  characterised with a variety of applications
• Fluorescent nanoparticles can be used for cell
  imaging
• With thanks to the MRC for funding