Flow field-flow fractionation: a versatile approach for size characterization of alpha-tocopherol-induced enlargement of gold nanoparticles.

Flow field-flow fractionation (FlFFF) was used for size characterization of gold nanoparticles. The measured particle sizes obtained from FlFFF for the commercial 10 nm gold nanoparticle standard and the gold nanoparticles synthesized in the laboratory were in good agreement with those measured by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Further, the capability of alpha-tocopherol to induce enlargement of gold nanoparticles by catalysis of the reduction of AuCl(4)(-) by citrate was observed by monitoring the changes in particle size of gold nanoparticles using FlFFF. The effects of alpha-tocopherol and incubation time on enlargement of the gold nanoparticles were examined. Higher concentrations of alpha-tocopherol resulted in larger nanoparticles. At fixed alpha-tocopherol concentration, larger nanoparticles were formed at longer incubation times.