Aqueous polystyrene–fluor nanosuspensions for quantifying α and β⁻radiation

Abstract

Fluor-containing nanoparticle suspensions prepared from styrene-in-water microemulsions were used to quantify 14C in various sample matrices by aqueous liquid scintillation counting. These suspensions exhibited greater quench resistance than a conventional organic cocktail and were very efficient at detecting higher energy β− emitters and α emitters. A polymerizable scintillant was prepared to prevent leaching of fluors. The relationship between particle size, kinetic energy of β− particles and counting efficiency was simulated by a theoretical model.

Hybrid Nanoparticle Platform for Nanoscale Scintillation Proximity Assay

“…3× greater absolute scintillation response (Figure S3, Supporting Information), the net enhancement, determined from the ratio of proximity-derived signal to nonproximity-derived signal, is equivalent, if not better, for nanoSPA compared to microSPA at 0.5 μCi/mL (Figure S3, Supporting Information). Though, on a per decay event basis, larger particles are expected to give a larger absolute signal due to the closer match to the β-particle path length and greater absorption of energy, nanoSPA provides similar enhancements, likely due to higher surface area available for binding and better dispersion of nanoSPA. − …”