TY - JOUR A1 - Breßler, Ingo A1 - Kohlbrecher, J. A1 - Thünemann, Andreas T1 - SASfit: a tool for small-angle scattering data analysis using a library of analytical expressions N2 - SASfit is one of the mature programs for small-angle scattering data analysis and has been available for many years. This article describes the basic data processing and analysis workflow along with recent developments in the SASfit program package (version 0.94.6). They include (i) advanced algorithms for reduction of oversampled data sets, (ii) improved confidence assessment in the optimized model parameters and (iii) a flexible plug-in system for custom user-provided models. A scattering function of a mass fractal model of branched polymers in solution is provided as an example for implementing a plug-in. The new SASfit release is available for major platforms such as Windows, Linux and MacOS. To facilitate usage, it includes comprehensive indexed documentation as well as a web-based wiki for peer collaboration and online videos demonstrating basic usage. The use of SASfit is illustrated by interpretation of the small-angle X-ray scattering curves of monomodal gold nanoparticles (NIST reference material 8011) and bimodal silica nanoparticles (EU reference material ERM-FD-102). KW - Small-angle X-ray scattering KW - Small-angle neutron scattering KW - Curve fitting KW - Nanotechnology KW - Nanoparticles KW - Polymers KW - SAXS PY - 2015 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-343348 DO - https://doi.org/10.1107/S1600576715016544 SN - 0021-8898 SN - 1600-5767 VL - 48 SP - 1587 EP - 1598 PB - Blackwell CY - Oxford AN - OPUS4-34334 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Breßler, Ingo A1 - Pauw, Brian Richard A1 - Thünemann, Andreas T1 - McSAS: software for the retrieval of model parameter distributions from scattering patterns N2 - A user-friendly open-source Monte Carlo regression package (McSAS) is presented, which structures the analysis of small-angle scattering (SAS) using uncorrelated shape-similar particles (or scattering contributions). The underdetermined problem is solvable, provided that sufficient external information is available. Based on this, the user picks a scatterer contribution model (or 'shape') from a comprehensive library and defines variation intervals of its model parameters. A multitude of scattering contribution models are included, including prolate and oblate nanoparticles, core-shell objects, several polymer models, and a model for densely packed spheres. Most importantly, the form-free Monte Carlo nature of McSAS means it is not necessary to provide further restrictions on the mathematical form of the parameter distribution; without prior knowledge, McSAS is able to extract complex multimodal or odd-shaped parameter distributions from SAS data. When provided with data on an absolute scale with reasonable uncertainty estimates, the software outputs model parameter distributions in absolute volume fraction, and provides the modes of the distribution (e.g. mean, variance etc.). In addition to facilitating the evaluation of (series of) SAS curves, McSAS also helps in assessing the significance of the results through the addition of uncertainty estimates to the result. The McSAS software can be integrated as part of an automated reduction and analysis procedure in laboratory instruments or at synchrotron beamlines. KW - Nanotechnology KW - Nanoparticles KW - Small-angle X-ray scattering KW - SAXS PY - 2015 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-334396 DO - https://doi.org/10.1107/S1600576715007347 SN - 0021-8898 SN - 1600-5767 VL - 48 IS - 3 SP - 962 EP - 969 PB - Blackwell CY - Oxford AN - OPUS4-33439 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Polte, Jörg A1 - Tuaev, X. A1 - Wuithschick, M. A1 - Fischer, A. A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Rademann, K. A1 - Kraehnert, R. A1 - Emmerling, Franziska T1 - Formation mechanism of colloidal silver nanoparticles: analogies and differences to the growth of gold nanoparticles N2 - The formation mechanisms of silver nanoparticles using aqueous silver perchlorate solutions as precursors and sodium borohydride as reducing agent were investigated based on time-resolved in situ experiments. This contribution addresses two important issues in colloidal science: (i) differences and analogies between growth processes of different metals such as gold and silver and (ii) the influence of a steric stabilizing agent on the growth process. The results reveal that a growth due to coalescence is a fundamental growth principle if the monomer-supplying chemical reaction is faster than the actual particle formation. KW - Silver nanoparticle growth KW - Formation mechanisms KW - Nucleation KW - SAXS PY - 2012 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/nn301724z SN - 1936-0851 VL - 6 IS - 7 SP - 5791 EP - 5802 PB - ACS Publ. CY - Washington, DC, USA AN - OPUS4-26427 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bienert, Ralf A1 - Emmerling, Franziska A1 - Thünemann, Andreas T1 - The size distribution of 'gold standard' nanoparticles N2 - The spherical gold nanoparticle reference materials RM 8011, RM 8012, and RM 8013, with a nominal radius of 5, 15, and 30 nm, respectively, have been available since 2008 from NIST. These materials are recommended as standards for nanoparticle size measurements and for the study of the biological effects of nanoparticles, e.g., in pre-clinical biomedical research. We report on determination of the size distributions of these gold nanoparticles using different small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) instruments. Measurements with a classical Kratky type SAXS instrument are compared with a synchrotron SAXS technique. Samples were investigated in situ, positioned in capillaries and in levitated droplets. The number-weighted size distributions were determined applying model scattering functions based on (a) Gaussian, (b) log-normal, and (c) Schulz distributions. The mean radii are 4.36 ± 0.04 nm (RM 8011), 12.20 ± 0.03 nm (RM 8012), and 25.74 ± 0.27 nm (RM 8013). Low polydispersities, defined as relative width of the distributions, were detected with values of 0.067 ± 0.006 (RM 8011), 0.103 ± 0.003, (RM 8012), and 0.10 ± 0.01 (RM 8013). The results are in agreement with integral values determined from classical evaluation procedures, such as the radius of gyration (Guinier) and particle volume (Kratky). No indications of particle aggregation and particle interactions-repulsive or attractive-were found. We recommend SAXS as a standard method for a fast and precise determination of size distributions of nanoparticles. KW - Small-angle scattering KW - Reference materials KW - Metrology KW - Nanoparticles PY - 2009 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-009-3049-5 SN - 1618-2642 SN - 1618-2650 VL - 395 IS - 6 SP - 1651 EP - 1660 PB - Springer CY - Berlin AN - OPUS4-20473 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Pauw, Brian Richard A1 - Smales, Glen Jacob A1 - Anker, A. S. A1 - Annadurai, V. A1 - Balazs, D. M. A1 - Bienert, Ralf A1 - Bouwman, W. G. A1 - Breßler, Ingo A1 - Breternitz, J. A1 - Brok, E. S. A1 - Bryant, G. A1 - Clulow, A. J. A1 - Crater, E. R. A1 - De Geuser, F. A1 - Del Giudice, A. A1 - Deumer, J. A1 - Disch, S. A1 - Dutt, S. A1 - Frank, K. A1 - Fratini, E. A1 - Garcia, P. R. A. F. A1 - Gilbert, E. P. A1 - Hahn, Marc Benjamin A1 - Hallett, J. A1 - Hohenschutz, M. A1 - Hollamby, M. A1 - Huband, S. A1 - Ilavsky, J. A1 - Jochum, J. K. A1 - Juelsholt, M. A1 - Mansel, B. W. A1 - Penttilä, P. A1 - Pittkowski, R. K. A1 - Portale, G. A1 - Pozzo, L. D. A1 - Rochels, L. A1 - Rosalie, Julian A1 - Saloga, Patrick E. J. A1 - Seibt, S. A1 - Smith, A. J. A1 - Smith, G. N. A1 - Spiering, G. A. A1 - Stawski, Tomasz M. A1 - Taché, O. A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Toth, K. A1 - Whitten, A. E. A1 - Wuttke, J. T1 - The human factor - Results of a small-angle scattering data analysis round robin N2 - A round-robin study has been carried out to estimate the impact of the human element in small-angle scattering data analysis. Four corrected datasets were provided to participants ready for analysis. All datasets were measured on samples containing spherical scatterers, with two datasets in dilute dispersions and two from powders. Most of the 46 participants correctly identified the number of populations in the dilute dispersions, with half of the population mean entries within 1.5% and half of the population width entries within 40%. Due to the added complexity of the structure factor, far fewer people submitted answers on the powder datasets. For those that did, half of the entries for the means and widths were within 44 and 86%, respectively. This round-robin experiment highlights several causes for the discrepancies, for which solutions are proposed. KW - Round Robin KW - Data analysis KW - Small-angle scattering KW - Nanomaterials KW - Interlaboratory comparability KW - Nanostructure quantification KW - Methodology KW - MOUSE PY - 2023 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-587091 DO - https://doi.org/10.1107/S1600576723008324 SN - 1600-5767 VL - 56 IS - 6 SP - 1618 EP - 1629 PB - Wiley-Blackwell CY - Oxford AN - OPUS4-58709 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - INPR A1 - Pauw, Brian Richard A1 - Smales, Glen Jacob A1 - Anker, A. S. A1 - Balazs, D. M. A1 - Beyer, F. L. A1 - Bienert, Ralf A1 - Bouwman, W. G. A1 - Breßler, Ingo A1 - Breternitz, J. A1 - Brok, E. S. A1 - Bryant, G. A1 - Clulow, A. J. A1 - Crater, E. R. A1 - De Geuser, F. A1 - Giudice, A. D. A1 - Deumer, J. A1 - Disch, S. A1 - Dutt, S. A1 - Frank, K. A1 - Fratini, E. A1 - Gilbert, E. P. A1 - Hahn, Marc Benjamin A1 - Hallett, J. A1 - Hohenschutz, Max A1 - Hollamby, M. J. A1 - Huband, S. A1 - Ilavsky, J. A1 - Jochum, J. K. A1 - Juelsholt, M. A1 - Mansel, B. W. A1 - Penttilä, P. A1 - Pittkowski, R. K. A1 - Portale, G. A1 - Pozzo, L. D. A1 - Ricardo de Abreu Furtado Garcia, P. A1 - Rochels, L. A1 - Rosalie, Julian A1 - Saloga, P. E. J. A1 - Seibt, S. A1 - Smith, A. J. A1 - Smith, G. N. A1 - Annadurai, V. A1 - Spiering, G. A. A1 - Stawski, Tomasz A1 - Taché, O. A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Toth, K. A1 - Whitten, A. E. A1 - Wuttke, J. T1 - The human factor - Results of a small-angle scattering data analysis round robin N2 - A Round Robin study has been carried out to estimate the impact of the human element in small-angle scattering data analysis. Four corrected datasets were provided to participants ready for analysis. All datasets were measured on samples containing spherical scatterers, with two datasets in dilute dispersions, and two from powders. Most of the 46 participants correctly identified the number of populations in the dilute dispersions, with half of the population mean entries within 1.5 % and half of the population width entries within 40 %, respectively. Due to the added complexity of the structure factor, much fewer people submitted answers on the powder datasets. For those that did, half of the entries for the means and widths were within 44 % and 86 % respectively. This Round Robin experiment highlights several causes for the discrepancies, for which solutions are proposed. KW - Round robin KW - Sall-angle scattering KW - Nanostructure quantification KW - Nanostructure KW - SAXS KW - MOUSE KW - X-ray scattering KW - Size distribution KW - Nanoparticles PY - 2023 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-571342 DO - https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2303.03772 SP - 1 EP - 23 PB - Cornell University CY - Ithaca, NY AN - OPUS4-57134 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - GEN A1 - Wolf, Jako A1 - Stawski, Tomasz A1 - Smales, Glen Jacob A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Emmerling, Franziska T1 - SI Files for "Towards automation of the polyol process for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles" N2 - The graphml file: reaction_graph_AgNP.graphml is included. It contains topological information (Fig. 1 in the main text) about the reaction setup and metadata with reaction condtions. It used by the Python API used to control the Chemputer. SAXS reports. The complete report sheets generated by McSAS are included. They contain extended information characterising the size distributions and the fitting parameters. NP3_I: saxs_report_NP3_I.pdf NP3_II: saxs_report_NP3_II.pdf NP3_III: saxs_report_NP3_III.pdf NP3_IV: saxs_report_NP3_IV.pdf NP5_I: saxs_report_NP5_I.pdf NP5_II: saxs_report_NP5_II.pdf NP5_III: saxs_report_NP5_III.pdf KW - Automated synthesis KW - Silver KW - Nanoparticles PY - 2022 DO - https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5910614 PB - Zenodo CY - Geneva AN - OPUS4-55197 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Polte, Jörg A1 - Ahner, T. T. A1 - Delißen, Friedmar A1 - Sokolov, S. A1 - Emmerling, Franziska A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Kraehnert, R. T1 - Mechanism of gold nanoparticle formation in the classical citrate synthesis method derived from coupled in situ XANES and SAXS evaluation PY - 2010 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/ja906506j SN - 0002-7863 SN - 1520-5126 VL - 132 IS - 4 SP - 1296 EP - 1301 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington, DC AN - OPUS4-23048 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Kegel, Jenny A1 - Polte, Jörg A1 - Emmerling, Franziska T1 - Superparamagnetic Maghemite Nanorods: Analysis by Coupling Field-Flow Fractionation and Small-Angle X-ray Scattering N2 - We report on the online coupling of asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (A4F) with small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) for the detection of nanoparticles. The A4F was used to fractionate superparamagnetic maghemite nanoparticles, which were prepared continuously with a micromixer. The outlet of the A4F was directly coupled to a flow capillary of a SAXSess instrument (Kratky type of camera). SAXS curves were recorded in a 1 s time interval. This was possible by using intense synchrotron radiation. The radii of gyration of the nanoparticles, as determined from Guinier plots, increased from 2 to 6 nm with increasing fractionation time of the A4F. A more detailed analysis of the scattering curves revealed that the particles were cylindrical in shape (nanorods), which we attributed to the micromixing preparation technique. The radii of the nanorods increased only slightly from 1.2 to 1.7 nm with increasing fractionation time, while the lengths increased strongly from 7.0 to 30.0 nm. The volume distribution of the nanorods was determined and described by Schultz-Zimm and log-normal distributions. Nanorod volumes increased from 45 to 263 nm³, corresponding to molar masses of 140 × 10³ to 820 × 10³ g mol-1. We propose A4F-SAXS coupling as a new method for analysis of nanoparticles of complex composition in solution. It allows precise online determination of the particle’s shape and size distributions. This method can be applied to mixtures of nanoparticles of arbitrary shapes and sizes (1-100 nm). Moreover, the total time needed for fractionation and online SAXS data recording is usually only 20 min. PY - 2008 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/ac8004814 SN - 0003-2700 SN - 1520-6882 VL - 80 IS - 15 SP - 5905 EP - 5911 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington, DC AN - OPUS4-17813 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Leiterer, Jork A1 - Leitenberger, W. A1 - Emmerling, Franziska A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Panne, Ulrich T1 - The use of an acoustic levitator to follow crystallization in small droplets by energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction N2 - For the investigation of small sample volumes, the use of an acoustic levitator was tested as a `sample holder' for hovering droplets in a synchrotron beam. It might be advantageous to use levitated droplets instead of samples confined in solid holders, especially for the study of crystallization processes where the influence of containing walls has to be minimized. In a first experiment, the crystallization of sodium chloride in a small droplet of aqueous solution has been followed with a time resolution of 30 s. The collected diffraction peaks are compared with data in the ICSD database. KW - EDXD KW - Noncontact measurement technique KW - X-ray-scattering KW - Synchrotron-radiation KW - Acoustic levitation PY - 2006 DO - https://doi.org/10.1107/S0021889806024915 SN - 0021-8898 SN - 1600-5767 VL - 39 IS - 5 SP - 771 EP - 773 PB - Blackwell CY - Oxford AN - OPUS4-13516 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Thünemann, Andreas T1 - Developtment of Nanoplastics Reference Materials at BAM N2 - Engineered particles are essential for sustainable innovation and modern industrial applications, but their reliable, number‑based characterisation remains a major challenge. Regulatory frameworks in healthcare, personal care (EU 745/2017, 749/2017, 1223/2009), and environmental monitoring—such as the EU Drinking Water Directive 21840/2020—demand robust particle measurements across complex matrices. Yet standardised methods currently exist only for simple particle systems, leaving significant gaps for technologically relevant materials and for micro‑ and nanoplastics as emerging pollutants. These challenges are amplified by the lack of well‑defined input parameters, particularly density and refractive index, which are critical for many analytical and modelling approaches. This talk highlights BAM’s work on developing nanoplastics reference materials to support validated, traceable, and harmonised measurement methods. I will outline strategies for producing stable, well‑characterised polymeric nanoparticles, establishing accurate material parameters, and integrating these reference materials into interlaboratory and standardisation activities. These efforts provide the metrological foundation urgently needed for regulatory testing, environmental monitoring, and industry innovation. T2 - ConcenSus Virtual Webinar on Reference Materials supporting characterization of nanomaterials: Current status and future trends CY - Online meeting DA - 17.03.2026 KW - Nanoplastics KW - Nanoparticle PY - 2026 AN - OPUS4-65717 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Leiterer, Jork A1 - Panne, Ulrich A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Weidner, Steffen T1 - Container-less polymerization in acoustically levitated droplets: an analytical study by GPC and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry N2 - Molecular masses and end groups of polystyrene (PS) formed in a novel container-less polymerization strategy, based on levitated droplets in an acoustic trap, were determined by Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) and Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time of Flight Mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). KW - Ultraschallfalle KW - MALDI Massenspektrometrie KW - Polymerisation PY - 2011 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/c0ay00390e SN - 1759-9660 SN - 1759-9679 VL - 3 IS - 1 SP - 70 EP - 73 PB - RSC Publ. CY - Cambridge AN - OPUS4-23655 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Polte, Jörg A1 - Herder, Martin A1 - Erler, Robert A1 - Rolf, Simone A1 - Fischer, A. A1 - Würth, Christian A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Kraehnert, R. A1 - Emmerling, Franziska T1 - Mechanistic insights into seeded growth processes of gold nanoparticles N2 - A facile approach for the synthesis of monodisperse gold nanoparticles with radii in the range of 7 to 20 nm is presented. Starting from monodisperse seeds with radii of 7 nm, produced in the first step, the addition of a defined amount of additional precursor material permits distinct size regulation and the realization of predicted nanoparticle sizes. These information were derived from ex- and in situ investigations by comprehensive small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and UV-Vis data to obtain information on the physicochemical mechanisms. The obtained mechanisms can be transferred to other seeded growth processes. Compared to similar approaches, the presented synthesis route circumvents the use of different reducing or stabilizing agents. The size of resulting nanoparticles can be varied over a large size range presented for the first time without a measurable change in the shape, polydispersity or surface chemistry. Thus, the resulting nanoparticles are ideal candidates for size dependence investigations. KW - Gold nanoparticles KW - SAXS KW - XANES KW - Growth mechanism PY - 2010 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/c0nr00541j SN - 2040-3364 SN - 2040-3372 VL - 2 IS - 11 SP - 2463 EP - 2469 PB - RSC Publ. CY - Cambridge AN - OPUS4-22346 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Polte, Jörg A1 - Emmerling, Franziska A1 - Radtke, Martin A1 - Reinholz, Uwe A1 - Riesemeier, Heinrich A1 - Thünemann, Andreas T1 - Real-time monitoring of copolymer stabilized growing gold nanoparticles N2 - A great challenge in the production of nanoparticles with defined sizes and properties is to control their growth in situ. We developed a dedicated combined small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) setup to monitor nanoparticle formation in solution. The capabilities of simultaneously deriving particle sizes and oxidation states of atoms/ions are illustrated for the formation of spherical gold nanoparticles by the reduction of hydrogen tetrachloroaureate (HAuCl4). Particles with initial radii of 4.60 ± 0.10 nm and final radii of 5.67 ± 0.10 nm were produced in a levitated droplet with a volume of 4 µL. An ethylene oxide/propylene oxide triblock copolymer PEO-PPO-PEO (Pluronic F-127) functions as reducing agent and colloidal stabilizer. XANES shows in situ how the gold was reduced in the droplet from Au(III) to Au(0), and simultaneously SAXS recorded the size distribution of the formed nanoparticles. It is shown that the final particle number is reached quickly. Thereafter, only the particles’ sizes increase. Comparison of XANES and SAXS shows that the quantity of Au(0) is higher than the quantity of gold located in the nanoparticles while the particles are growing. Finally, all the Au(0) is found in the nanoparticles. We tentatively attribute this finding to the pseudo crown ether effect of the polymer surfactant that kinetically stabilizes gold atoms when formed from gold ions within their protecting cavity. A simple “burst” mechanism for the gold nanoparticle formation is the consequence. The possibility of an inhomogeneous particles structure with an enhanced density near the particle surface is discussed. PY - 2010 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/la903829q SN - 0743-7463 SN - 1520-5827 VL - 26 IS - 8 SP - 5889 EP - 5894 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington, DC AN - OPUS4-21223 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Polte, Jörg A1 - Kraehnert, R. A1 - Radtke, Martin A1 - Reinholz, Uwe A1 - Riesemeier, Heinrich A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Emmerling, Franziska T1 - New insights of the nucleation and growth process of gold nanoparticles via in situ coupling of SAXS and XANES N2 - Although metallic nanoparticles play an important role in the area of nanotechnology, a coherent mechanistic explanation for the evolution of the particles during their chemical synthesis has not yet been provided in many cases. To gain a profound understanding of the growth mechanism of colloidal nanoparticles, new approaches using Small Angle X-Ray Scattering (SAXS) combined with X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) are presented. This combination allows for insights into two prominent syntheses routes of gold nanoparticles (GNP): The 'slow' reaction using sodium citrate (30-90 min) as a reducing agent and the 'fast' reaction employing NaBH4 (within few seconds). In the first case data derived with the coupled XANES and SAXS suggests a four-step particle formation mechanism. For the second system a time resolution in the order of 100-200 ms was achieved by coupling a common laboratory SAXS instrument with a microstructured mixer, which allows data acquisition in a continuous-flow mode. The results indicate a coalescence driven growth process. Based on the capabilities to deduce the size, number and polydispersity of the particles, the results of both methods enable the development of mechanistic schemes explaining the different phases of particle formation and growth, thus providing a basis for improved control over the synthesis processes. KW - SAXS KW - XANES KW - Nanoparticle formation PY - 2010 DO - https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/247/1/012051 SN - 1742-6588 SN - 1742-6596 VL - 247 IS - 1 SP - 012051-1 - 012051-10 PB - IOP Publ. CY - Bristol, UK AN - OPUS4-22684 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Polte, Jörg A1 - Erler, Robert A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Emmerling, Franziska A1 - Kraehnert, R. T1 - SAXS in combination with a free liquid jet for improved time-resolved in situ studies of the nucleation and growth of nanoparticles PY - 2010 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/c0cc03238g SN - 0022-4936 SN - 0009-241x SN - 1359-7345 SN - 1364-548x VL - 46 IS - 48 SP - 9209 EP - 9211 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry CY - Cambridge AN - OPUS4-23049 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Sieg, Holger A1 - Heilscher, Jasmin A1 - Ott, Franziska A1 - Böhmert, Linda A1 - Drusch, Stephan A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Rohn, Sascha A1 - Braeuning, Albert A1 - Kieserling, Helena T1 - Direct Interactions of Micro- and Nanoplastics with Proteins – A Key to Mechanistic Understanding? N2 - Micro-/Nanoplastics (MNP) have gained widespread scientific and public attention within the last two decades. While knowledge about measuring techniques, occurrence and exposure was improved substantially, questions on toxicological impact of MNP remained unclear. A major reason for that are the continued remaining knowledge gaps with regard to mechanistical understanding of MNP effects. Our work aimed at investigating MNP properties, protein interactions, and cellular effects in combination. Therefore, we characterized MNP-protein- adsorption, changes in protein structure, cellular uptake and cellular modes of action. In a first study, we studied the molecular interactions of β-lactoglobulin, a serum and storage protein, with different MNP materials1. We identified structural changes, depending on physicochemical MNP properties, using FTIR- and fluorescence spectroscopy. Furthermore, we investigated cellular uptake of MNP individually and as a complex with β-lactoglobulin and studied the effects on cell growth and viability, using colorimetric MTT testing, flow cytometry, and cell impedance measurements. MNP material properties, especially hydrophobicity, had an impact on protein folding and consequently also on cellular interactions. In a second study, we applied α-amylase, an extracellular digestive protein with enzymatic activity. Here, in addition, we investigated the influence of MNP binding on enzyme activity, using a colorimetric starch degradation assay. We observed for the most MNP, that adsorption processes resulted in a decrease of enzyme activity. Furthermore, we used Alexa633 staining to visualize MNP uptake with and without the presence of α-amylase. Taken together, this work aims to close data gaps regarding mechanistical effects of MNP on cells by investigating direct MNP-protein-interactions. Mechanistic knowledge is crucial for understanding toxicological effects of MNP, and therefore, also for the risk assessment of possible hazards on human health. T2 - 92. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Experimentelle und Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie (DGPT) CY - Düsseldorf, Germany DA - 17.03.2026 KW - Microplastics KW - Nanoplastics PY - 2026 AN - OPUS4-65667 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Knappe, Patrick A1 - Bienert, Ralf A1 - Weidner, Steffen T1 - Online coupling of field-flow fractionation with SAXS and DLS for polymer analysis N2 - We report on a hyphenated polymer analysis method consisting of asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (A4F) coupled online with small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). A mixture of six poly(styrene sulfonate)s with molar masses in the range of 6.5 × 103 to 1.0 × 106 g mol-1 was used as a model system for polyelectrolytes in aqueous solutions with a broad molar mass distribution. A complete polymer separation and analysis was performed in 60 min. Detailed information for all polymer fractions are available on i) the radii of gyration, which were determined from the SAXS data interpretation in terms of the Debye model (Gaussian chains), and ii) the diffusion coefficients (from DLS). We recommend using the A4F-SAXS-DLS coupling as a possible new reference method for the detailed analysis of complex polymer mixtures. Advantages of the use of SAXS are seen in comparison to static light scattering for polymers with radii of gyration smaller then 15 nm, for which only SAXS produces precise analytical results on the size of the polymers in solution. PY - 2009 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/b9ay00107g SN - 1759-9660 SN - 1759-9679 VL - 1 SP - 177 EP - 182 PB - RSC Publ. CY - Cambridge AN - OPUS4-20567 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Fandrich, Nick A1 - Falkenhagen, Jana A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Staal, B. A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Laschewsky, A. T1 - Characterization of new amphiphilic block copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and vinyl acetate, 2 - chromatographic separation and analysis by MALDI-TOF and FT-IR coupling N2 - PVP-block-PVAc block copolymers were synthesized by controlled radical polymerization applying a RAFT/MADIX system and were investigated by HPLC and by coupling of chromatography to FT-IR spectroscopy and MALDI-TOF MS. Chromatographic methods (LACCC and gradient techniques) were developed that allowed a separation of block copolymers according to their repeating units. The results of the spectroscopic and spectrometric analysis clearly showed transfer between radicals and process solvent. With the use of hyphenated techniques differences between main and side products were detected. In agreement with previously published results, obtained by NMR, SEC, static light scattering and MALDI-TOF MS, our data proved a non-ideal RAFT polymerization. KW - Amphiphiles KW - Block copolymers KW - Liquid chromatography KW - MALDI KW - Reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) KW - Liquid adsorption chromatography at critical conditions KW - Gradient chromatography KW - MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry KW - Hyphenated techniques KW - Mechanism of polymerization PY - 2010 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.201000044 SN - 1022-1352 SN - 1521-3935 VL - 211 IS - 15 SP - 1678 EP - 1688 PB - Wiley-VCH Verl. CY - Weinheim AN - OPUS4-22012 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Böhmert, L. A1 - Girod, Matthias A1 - Hansen, Ulf A1 - Maul, Ronald A1 - Knappe, Patrick A1 - Niemann, B. A1 - Weidner, Steffen A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Lampen, A. T1 - Analytically monitored digestion of silver nanoparticles and their toxicity on human intestinal cells N2 - Orally ingested nanoparticles may overcome the gastrointestinal barrier, reach the circulatory system, be distributed in the organism and cause adverse health effects. However, ingested nanoparticles have to pass through different physicochemical environments, which may alter their properties before they reach the intestinal cells. In this study, silver nanoparticles are characterised physicochemically during the course of artificial digestion to simulate the biochemical processes occurring during digestion. Their cytotoxicity on intestinal cells was investigated using the Caco-2 cell model. Using field-flow fractionation combined with dynamic light scattering and small-angle X-ray scattering, the authors found that particles only partially aggregate as a result of the digestive process. Cell viabilities were determined by means of CellTiter-Blue® assay, 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole-staining and real-time impedance. These measurements reveal small differences between digested and undigested particles (1–100 µg/ml or 1–69 particles/cell). The findings suggest that silver nanoparticles may indeed overcome the gastrointestinal juices in their particulate form without forming large quantities of aggregates. Consequently, the authors presume that the particles can reach the intestinal epithelial cells after ingestion with only a slight reduction in their cytotoxic potential. The study indicates that it is important to determine the impact of body fluids on the nanoparticles of interest to provide a reliable interpretation of their nano-specific cytotoxicity testing in vivo and in vitro. KW - Silver nanoparticles KW - In vitro digestion KW - Field-flow fractionation KW - Small-angle X-ray scattering KW - Dynamic light scattering KW - Caco-2 cells PY - 2014 DO - https://doi.org/10.3109/17435390.2013.815284 SN - 1743-5390 SN - 1743-5404 VL - 8 IS - 6 SP - 631 EP - 642 PB - Informa Healthcare CY - London AN - OPUS4-29926 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -