Faculty Advisor
Anthony McGoron
Author Biographical Statement
Erika Noel is pursuing a degree in Biomedical Engineering at Florida International University. With a deep passion for tissue engineering and biomedical imaging, she has participated in advanced research projects at prestigious institutions like Stanford and the University of Michigan. Erika has earned accolades for her leadership and dedication, including a Presentation Award at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS). Beyond academia, she is actively involved in student organizations, having served as President of the Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society, and has also held the title of Miss Fort Lauderdale, showcasing her versatility and drive.
Abstract
Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems hold promise for improving therapeutic efficacy and targeting precision. However, a critical challenge in their development is ensuring size stability, as particle size directly influences biodistribution, cellular uptake, and drug release profiles. This study establishes a streamlined methodology to assess nanoparticle size consistency by comparing three widely used characterization techniques: Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA). Two types of nanoparticles were analyzed: 100 nm diameter Gold Nanoparticles (GNP) suspended in a stabilized sodium citrate buffer and Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles (MSN), both diluted in deionized water. DLS provides particle size distribution based on light scattering intensity, TEM offers high-resolution imaging for precise structural measurements, and NTA tracks individual particles to assess size and concentration through Brownian motion. Our findings highlight the complementary strengths of each technique, with NTA emerging as the most versatile method for rapid size assessment due to its broad size range and concentration capabilities. This research establishes a reliable, reproducible protocol for nanoparticle sizing, which can be integrated into computational models to predict drug release kinetics. These results contribute to the optimization of nanoparticle formulations for enhanced drug delivery applications.
DOI
10.25148/FIUURJ.3.1.5
Recommended Citation
Noel, Erika; Mattana, Giulia; and McGoron, Anthony
(2025)
"A Comparative Analysis of Nanoparticle Sizing Techniques for Enhanced Drug Delivery Applications,"
FIU Undergraduate Research Journal: Vol. 3:
Iss.
1, Article 5.
DOI: 10.25148/FIUURJ.3.1.5
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/undergraduate-journal/vol3/iss1/5
