| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 671850 | Particuology | 2015 | 9 Pages |
•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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