A method for assessing nanomaterial dispersion quality based on principal component analysis of particle size distribution data

• PCA was used to assess nanomaterial dispersion quality.
• The quality of dispersions from four different protocols was compared.
• The effects of variables within a protocol were investigated.
• Particle concentration was found to have the most influence on variability.

Seemingly contradictory findings between studies are a major issue in nanoecotoxicological research and have been explained as a result of the lack of comparability between assay methods, with dispersion of nanomaterials being identified as a key factor. Here we show the use of a multivariate method, principal component analysis (PCA), as a tool in protocol development and categorization of dispersion quality. Results show the significance of particle concentration within a protocol, and its effect on repeatability. Our results suggest that future studies should involve the use of PCA as a powerful data exploration tool to facilitate method development, comparability and integration of data across different laboratories.

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