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Laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry analysis of monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles

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Abstract

Monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) feature unique surface properties that enable numerous applications. Thus, there is a need for simple, rapid, and accurate methods to confirm the surface structures of these materials. Here, we describe how laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS) can be used to characterize AuNPs with neutral, positively, and negatively charged surface functional groups. LDI readily desorbs and ionizes the gold-bound ligands to produce both free thiols and disulfide ions in pure and complex samples. We also find that LDI-MS can provide a semi-quantitative measure of the ligand composition of mixed-monolayer AuNPs by monitoring mixed disulfide ions that are formed. Overall, the LDI-MS approach requires very little sample, provides an accurate measure of the surface ligands, and can be used to monitor AuNPs in complex mixtures.

LDI-MS analysis of ligand percentage on mixed monolayer AuNPs.

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Acknowledgment

We thank the Office of Naval Research (N000140510501), the NIH (GM077173), and the NSF Center for Hierarchical Manufacturing (DMI-0531171) for support of this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA

    Bo Yan, Zheng-Jiang Zhu, Oscar R. Miranda, Apiwat Chompoosor, Vincent M. Rotello & Richard W. Vachet

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  1. Bo Yan
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  2. Zheng-Jiang Zhu
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  3. Oscar R. Miranda
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  4. Apiwat Chompoosor
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  5. Vincent M. Rotello
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  6. Richard W. Vachet
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Vincent M. Rotello or Richard W. Vachet.

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Yan, B., Zhu, ZJ., Miranda, O.R. et al. Laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry analysis of monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles. Anal Bioanal Chem 396, 1025–1035 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-009-3250-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-009-3250-6

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