Award Abstract #0215816
SBIR Phase II: High Rate Synthesis of Highly Reactive Solvated Metal Atom Dispersion Nanoparticles

NSF Org:	IIP Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships
Initial Amendment Date:	July 12, 2002
Latest Amendment Date:	July 12, 2002
Award Number:	0215816
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	Cheryl F. Albus IIP Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships ENG Directorate for Engineering
Start Date:	July 15, 2002
Expires:	June 30, 2004 (Estimated)
Awarded Amount to Date:	$499959
Investigator(s):	Slawomir Winecki slawek@nanmatinc.com (Principal Investigator)
Sponsor:	NANOSCALE MATERIALS INC 1310 RESEARCH PARK DR MANHATTAN, KS 66502 785/537-0179
NSF Program(s):	EXP PROG TO STIM COMP RES, SMALL BUSINESS PHASE II
Field Application(s):	0308000 Industrial Technology
Program Reference Code(s):	AMPP, 9163, 9150, 1415
Program Element Code(s):	9150, 5373

ABSTRACT

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project focuses on the development and implementation of a Solvated Metal Atom Dispersion (SMAD) technique to support high rate production and commercial application of metal nanoparticle materials. Synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticle colloids for commercial use in the health care industry will be pursued as part of the proposed effort; the SMAD synthesis method will be optimized for commercial-scale manufacturing of gold and silver colloids. This approach yields high purity colloids, free of unwanted byproducts and ready for further processing without the cumbersome purification steps characteristic of other synthesis methods. This innovation significantly simplifies the manufacturing process of colloidal products and reduces production cost. The proprietary digestive-ripening step will be scaled up and developed to achieve monodispersion and particle size control of the metal nanoparticles contained in the colloids. Methods for transferring solvent-based colloids into an aqueous environment will be developed. Synthesis steps involved in the manufacturing of colloidal gold and silver will be integrated in a semi-continuous or continuous process.

The commercial potential of this project will be for immunological labeling and DNA detection using the colloidal gold solutions. The project offers an alternative-manufacturing route that significantly lowers the cost. Silver-based colloids have potential applications in burn wound treatment or as effective disinfectants and anti-inflammatory agents. The development of SMAD technology will enable high-volume manufacturing of many nanoparticle materials whose availability is currently limited by production inefficiencies. These nanomaterials will support future technologies in industry and find application in both commercial and academic research, as highly reactive catalytic materials, magnetic information storage media, ferrofluids, and magnetic tracers.

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