Improving reproducibility between batches of silver nanoparticles using an experimental design approach

NÚÑEZ, RODRIGO NICOLÁS; VEGLIA, ALICIA VIVIANA; PACIONI, NATALIA LORENA

MICROCHEMICAL JOURNAL

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Año: 2018 vol. 141 p. 110 - 117

0026-265X

An optimized method for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNP)using gallic acid asreductant was achieved using design of experiment strategies based onresponse surface methodologies.Fractional factorial design was used in the screening stage, theBox-Behnken method was employed tomodel the target responses and finally, the optimization step was doneusing Desirability function. Theobtained AgNP presented improved repetitivity and reproducibility ofphotophysical properties betweenbatches compared to the synthesis method reported in literature.Intra-assays, intermediate precision andreproducibility tests were performed and proved the different AgNPbatches presented equal opticalresponses, average size and size distribution at a 95% confidence level.In addition, a test on shelf lifeestimated the optimized AgNP preserve their properties at least for 38days and especially, zeta potentialmeasurements indicated their low tendency to flocculation as long as 120days. Furthermore, aremarkable improvement in obtaining reproducible Stern-Volmer constantsin fluorescence quenchingexperiments using Carbazole as fluorophore was observed compared tonanoparticles synthesized by anon-optimal method.