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Quantitative 3D structural analysis of small colloidal assemblies under native conditions by liquid-cell fast electron tomography

Author

Listed:
  • Daniel Arenas Esteban

    (University of Antwerp)

  • Da Wang

    (University of Antwerp
    South China Normal University)

  • Ajinkya Kadu

    (University of Antwerp
    Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI))

  • Noa Olluyn

    (University of Antwerp)

  • Ana Sánchez-Iglesias

    (CIC biomaGUNE
    and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN)
    CSIC-UPV/EHU)

  • Alejandro Gomez-Perez

    (NanoMegas SRPL)

  • Jesús González-Casablanca

    (Rey Juan Carlos University)

  • Stavros Nicolopoulos

    (NanoMegas SRPL)

  • Luis M. Liz-Marzán

    (CIC biomaGUNE
    and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN)
    Basque Foundation for Science
    Universidade de Vigo)

  • Sara Bals

    (University of Antwerp)

Abstract

Electron tomography has become a commonly used tool to investigate the three-dimensional (3D) structure of nanomaterials, including colloidal nanoparticle assemblies. However, electron microscopy is typically done under high-vacuum conditions, requiring sample preparation for assemblies obtained by wet colloid chemistry methods. This involves solvent evaporation and deposition on a solid support, which consistently alters the nanoparticle organization. Here, we suggest using electron tomography to study nanoparticle assemblies in their original colloidal liquid environment. To address the challenges related to electron tomography in liquid, we devise a method that combines fast data acquisition in a commercial liquid-cell with a dedicated alignment and reconstruction workflow. We present the advantages of this methodology in accurately characterizing two different systems. 3D reconstructions of assemblies comprising polystyrene-capped Au nanoparticles encapsulated in polymeric shells reveal less compact and more distorted configurations for experiments performed in a liquid medium compared to their dried counterparts. A similar expansion can be observed in quantitative analysis of the surface-to-surface distances of self-assembled Au nanorods in water rather than in a vacuum, in agreement with bulk measurements. This study, therefore, emphasizes the importance of developing high-resolution characterization tools that preserve the native environment of colloidal nanostructures.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel Arenas Esteban & Da Wang & Ajinkya Kadu & Noa Olluyn & Ana Sánchez-Iglesias & Alejandro Gomez-Perez & Jesús González-Casablanca & Stavros Nicolopoulos & Luis M. Liz-Marzán & Sara Bals, 2024. "Quantitative 3D structural analysis of small colloidal assemblies under native conditions by liquid-cell fast electron tomography," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-50652-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50652-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Da Wang & Ernest B. Wee & Daniele Zanaga & Thomas Altantzis & Yaoting Wu & Tonnishtha Dasgupta & Marjolein Dijkstra & Christopher B. Murray & Sara Bals & Alfons Blaaderen, 2021. "Quantitative 3D real-space analysis of Laves phase supraparticles," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-11, December.
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