Fig. 6

Verification of the 3DSDD model by element analysis in cryosections from cell culture medium. (a) Principle of the analysis. Nanoparticle dispersions in cell culture medium were incubated under cell culture conditions for 0 h, 24 h and 1 week in vessels with approximately the same size as 96-well plate cavities. After incubation, suspensions were snap-frozen at − 80 °C. Samples were then chilled to − 20 °C and cut into horizontal sections. The amount of silver in every section was analyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) after acidic digestion. (b) Comparison of the silver concentration profiles predicted by the 3DSDD model with the experimentally determined values for AgPAA and AgPURE in serum-containing cell culture medium and AgPURE in serum-free medium. The latter conditions in serum-free medium were chosen as an example of instable nanoparticle dispersion. The initial concentration was set to 100%