Optimisation and application of an analytical approach for the characterisation of TiO2 nanoparticles in food additives and pharmaceuticals by single particle inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

• Published in: Talanta (Oxford) Vol. 224; p. 121873
• Main Authors: Givelet, Lucas, Truffier-Boutry, Delphine, Noël, Laurent, Damlencourt, Jean-François, Jitaru, Petru, Guérin, Thierry
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.03.2021; Elsevier
• Subjects: Chemical Sciences; Data processing; E171; Food & pharmaceutical; spICP-MS; Threshold; TiO2 nanoparticle; Data processing; spICP-MS; Food & pharmaceutical; E171; TiO2 nanoparticle; Threshold
• ISSN: 0039-9140; 1873-3573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2020.121873

This study was designed to optimise an analytical method for characterising TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) in food additives and pharmaceuticals by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry in single particle mode (spICP-MS). Several parameters, including transport efficiency (TE), were assessed and optimised using the NM-100 reference material. We found that self-aspiration for sample intake and use of the concentration-based method for TE was optimal for characterising TiO2 NPs. No spectral interference was observed with either 49Ti or 48Ti isotopes. The optimised Excel spreadsheet developed for this study not only provided additional parameters but gave results closer to the NM-100 reference value than the ICP-MS software. The method was then applied to the analysis of a selection of food samples and pharmaceuticals. The average diameter of TiO2 particles ranged from 86 to 179 nm in the food samples and from 131 to 197 nm in the pharmaceuticals, while the nanoparticular fraction was between 19 and 68% in food, and between 13 and 45% in pharmaceuticals. [Display omitted] •A spICP-MS method was optimised to characterise TiO2 NPs in food and drug samples.•Monitoring with the 48Ti isotope achieved a better limit of detection.•The nanoparticular fraction in analysed food samples was between 19 and 68%.•An optimised Excel spreadsheet gave results close to the NM-100 reference value.•The presence of TiO2 nanoparticles was confirmed in four pharmaceuticals.