Teléfono: +34 976 761 175
Email: maiteam@unizar.es
Dirección: c/Pedro Cerbuna 12, Universidad de Zaragoza, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Química Analítica – Zaragoza (España)
SOBRE MÍ
PUBLICACIONES
2024
Aramendía, Maite; Souza, André L. M.; Nakadi, Flávio V.; Resano, Martín
Boron elemental and isotopic determination via the BF diatomic molecule using high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace molecular absorption spectrometry Artículo de revista
En: J. Anal. At. Spectrom., vol. 39, pp. 767-779, 2024.
@article{D3JA00420A,
title = {Boron elemental and isotopic determination via the BF diatomic molecule using high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace molecular absorption spectrometry},
author = {Maite Aramendía and André L. M. Souza and Flávio V. Nakadi and Martín Resano},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/D3JA00420A},
doi = {10.1039/D3JA00420A},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-01-01},
urldate = {2024-01-01},
journal = {J. Anal. At. Spectrom.},
volume = {39},
pages = {767-779},
publisher = {The Royal Society of Chemistry},
abstract = {Boron trace determination in biological materials is needed in different fields of application. Direct B determination by means of Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (SS-GFAAS) has been used in the past for this purpose, offering good detection limits hardly achievable by other techniques. However, such methods require the use of high atomization temperatures combined with large integration times to promote B atomization, which dramatically reduces the lifetime of the instrument's graphite parts. In this work, a new perspective for B determination by means of Graphite Furnace Molecular Absorption Spectrometry (GFMAS) is proposed. B was detected as the diatomic molecule BF (boron monofluoride), deploying a gas phase reaction with CH3F as fluorinating agent. Based on this strategy, a method for the direct determination of B in two biological certified reference materials (NIST SRM 1570a spinach leaves and NIST SRM 1573a tomato leaves) has been developed, providing similar detection capabilities to the GFAAS method (LOD of 0.24 ng) but requiring much milder furnace conditions. Moreover, the appearance of memory effects, very common in GFAAS methods, is also avoided with this method. Straightforward calibration with aqueous standard solutions was also found to be possible. To this end, a mixture of W (permanent), citric acid, and Ca as chemical modifiers was found to be essential for obtaining a reproducible and sufficiently sensitive signal for boron solutions, comparable to the signals obtained for the solid samples. With this method, accurate results were obtained for the direct analysis of both certified reference materials, provided that spectral interferences from the PO molecule were properly corrected. Precision values in the range of 15% RSD, as typically reported for direct solid sampling GFAAS, were found. Finally, and as an additional advantage of the GFMAS method, a large isotopic shift in the absorbance of the 10BF and 11BF molecules can be accurately monitored at a secondary transition for the BF molecule. This offers novel analytical possibilities for the method, which are also explored in this study. In this regard, control of the B concentration was found to be critical for obtaining accurate and precise isotope ratios for this element.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Boron trace determination in biological materials is needed in different fields of application. Direct B determination by means of Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (SS-GFAAS) has been used in the past for this purpose, offering good detection limits hardly achievable by other techniques. However, such methods require the use of high atomization temperatures combined with large integration times to promote B atomization, which dramatically reduces the lifetime of the instrument's graphite parts. In this work, a new perspective for B determination by means of Graphite Furnace Molecular Absorption Spectrometry (GFMAS) is proposed. B was detected as the diatomic molecule BF (boron monofluoride), deploying a gas phase reaction with CH3F as fluorinating agent. Based on this strategy, a method for the direct determination of B in two biological certified reference materials (NIST SRM 1570a spinach leaves and NIST SRM 1573a tomato leaves) has been developed, providing similar detection capabilities to the GFAAS method (LOD of 0.24 ng) but requiring much milder furnace conditions. Moreover, the appearance of memory effects, very common in GFAAS methods, is also avoided with this method. Straightforward calibration with aqueous standard solutions was also found to be possible. To this end, a mixture of W (permanent), citric acid, and Ca as chemical modifiers was found to be essential for obtaining a reproducible and sufficiently sensitive signal for boron solutions, comparable to the signals obtained for the solid samples. With this method, accurate results were obtained for the direct analysis of both certified reference materials, provided that spectral interferences from the PO molecule were properly corrected. Precision values in the range of 15% RSD, as typically reported for direct solid sampling GFAAS, were found. Finally, and as an additional advantage of the GFMAS method, a large isotopic shift in the absorbance of the 10BF and 11BF molecules can be accurately monitored at a secondary transition for the BF molecule. This offers novel analytical possibilities for the method, which are also explored in this study. In this regard, control of the B concentration was found to be critical for obtaining accurate and precise isotope ratios for this element.
Freire, Bruna Moreira; Rua-Ibarz, Ana; Nakadi, Flávio Venâncio; Bolea-Fernandez, Eduardo; Barriuso-Vargas, Juan J.; Lange, Camila Neves; Aramendía, Maite; Batista, Bruno Lemos; Resano, Martín
Tracing isotopically labeled selenium nanoparticles in plants via single-particle ICP-mass spectrometry Artículo de revista
En: Talanta, vol. 277, pp. 126417, 2024, ISSN: 0039-9140.
@article{FREIRE2024126417,
title = {Tracing isotopically labeled selenium nanoparticles in plants via single-particle ICP-mass spectrometry},
author = {Bruna Moreira Freire and Ana Rua-Ibarz and Flávio Venâncio Nakadi and Eduardo Bolea-Fernandez and Juan J. Barriuso-Vargas and Camila Neves Lange and Maite Aramendía and Bruno Lemos Batista and Martín Resano},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0039914024007963},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2024.126417},
issn = {0039-9140},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-01-01},
journal = {Talanta},
volume = {277},
pages = {126417},
abstract = {Abstract
Agronomic biofortification using selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) shows potential for addressing selenium deficiency but further research on SeNPs-plants interaction is required before it can be effectively used to improve nutritional quality. In this work, single-particle inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-MS) was used for tracing isotopically labeled SeNPs (82SeNPs) in Oryza sativa L. tissues. For this purpose, SeNPs with natural isotopic abundance and 82SeNPs were synthesized by a chemical method. The NPs characterization by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed that enriched NPs maintained the basic properties of unlabeled NPs, showing spherical shape, monodispersity, and sizes in the nano-range (82.8 ± 6.6 nm and 73.2 ± 4.4 nm for SeNPs and 82SeNPs, respectively). The use of 82SeNPs resulted in an 11-fold enhancement in the detection power for ICP-MS analysis, accompanied by an improvement in the signal-to-background ratio and a reduction of the size limits of detection from 89.9 to 39.9 nm in SP-ICP-MS analysis. This enabled 82SeNPs to be tracked in O. sativa L. plants cultivated under foliar application of 82SeNPs. Tracing studies combining SP-ICP-MS and TEM-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy data confirmed the uptake of intact 82SeNPs by rice leaves, with most NPs remaining in the leaves and very few particles translocated to shoots and roots. Translocation of Se from leaves to roots and shoots was found to be lower when applied as NPs compared to selenite application. From the size distributions, as obtained by SP-ICP-MS, it can be concluded that a fraction of the 82SeNPs remained within the same size range as that of the applied NP suspension, while other fraction underwent an agglomeration process in the leaves, as confirmed by TEM images. This illustrates the potential of SP-ICP-MS analysis of isotopically enriched 82SeNPs for tracing NPs in the presence of background elements within complex plant matrices, providing important information about the uptake, accumulation, and biotransformation of SeNPs in rice plants.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Abstract
Agronomic biofortification using selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) shows potential for addressing selenium deficiency but further research on SeNPs-plants interaction is required before it can be effectively used to improve nutritional quality. In this work, single-particle inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-MS) was used for tracing isotopically labeled SeNPs (82SeNPs) in Oryza sativa L. tissues. For this purpose, SeNPs with natural isotopic abundance and 82SeNPs were synthesized by a chemical method. The NPs characterization by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed that enriched NPs maintained the basic properties of unlabeled NPs, showing spherical shape, monodispersity, and sizes in the nano-range (82.8 ± 6.6 nm and 73.2 ± 4.4 nm for SeNPs and 82SeNPs, respectively). The use of 82SeNPs resulted in an 11-fold enhancement in the detection power for ICP-MS analysis, accompanied by an improvement in the signal-to-background ratio and a reduction of the size limits of detection from 89.9 to 39.9 nm in SP-ICP-MS analysis. This enabled 82SeNPs to be tracked in O. sativa L. plants cultivated under foliar application of 82SeNPs. Tracing studies combining SP-ICP-MS and TEM-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy data confirmed the uptake of intact 82SeNPs by rice leaves, with most NPs remaining in the leaves and very few particles translocated to shoots and roots. Translocation of Se from leaves to roots and shoots was found to be lower when applied as NPs compared to selenite application. From the size distributions, as obtained by SP-ICP-MS, it can be concluded that a fraction of the 82SeNPs remained within the same size range as that of the applied NP suspension, while other fraction underwent an agglomeration process in the leaves, as confirmed by TEM images. This illustrates the potential of SP-ICP-MS analysis of isotopically enriched 82SeNPs for tracing NPs in the presence of background elements within complex plant matrices, providing important information about the uptake, accumulation, and biotransformation of SeNPs in rice plants.
Agronomic biofortification using selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) shows potential for addressing selenium deficiency but further research on SeNPs-plants interaction is required before it can be effectively used to improve nutritional quality. In this work, single-particle inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-MS) was used for tracing isotopically labeled SeNPs (82SeNPs) in Oryza sativa L. tissues. For this purpose, SeNPs with natural isotopic abundance and 82SeNPs were synthesized by a chemical method. The NPs characterization by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed that enriched NPs maintained the basic properties of unlabeled NPs, showing spherical shape, monodispersity, and sizes in the nano-range (82.8 ± 6.6 nm and 73.2 ± 4.4 nm for SeNPs and 82SeNPs, respectively). The use of 82SeNPs resulted in an 11-fold enhancement in the detection power for ICP-MS analysis, accompanied by an improvement in the signal-to-background ratio and a reduction of the size limits of detection from 89.9 to 39.9 nm in SP-ICP-MS analysis. This enabled 82SeNPs to be tracked in O. sativa L. plants cultivated under foliar application of 82SeNPs. Tracing studies combining SP-ICP-MS and TEM-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy data confirmed the uptake of intact 82SeNPs by rice leaves, with most NPs remaining in the leaves and very few particles translocated to shoots and roots. Translocation of Se from leaves to roots and shoots was found to be lower when applied as NPs compared to selenite application. From the size distributions, as obtained by SP-ICP-MS, it can be concluded that a fraction of the 82SeNPs remained within the same size range as that of the applied NP suspension, while other fraction underwent an agglomeration process in the leaves, as confirmed by TEM images. This illustrates the potential of SP-ICP-MS analysis of isotopically enriched 82SeNPs for tracing NPs in the presence of background elements within complex plant matrices, providing important information about the uptake, accumulation, and biotransformation of SeNPs in rice plants.
Bazo, Antonio; Bolea-Fernandez, Eduardo; Rua-Ibarz, Ana; Aramendía, Maite; Resano, Martín
Intensity- and time-based strategies for micro/nano-sizing via single-particle ICP-mass spectrometry: A comparative assessment using Au and SiO2 as model particles Artículo de revista
En: Analytica Chimica Acta, vol. 1331, pp. 343305, 2024, ISSN: 0003-2670.
@article{BAZO2024343305,
title = {Intensity- and time-based strategies for micro/nano-sizing via single-particle ICP-mass spectrometry: A comparative assessment using Au and SiO2 as model particles},
author = {Antonio Bazo and Eduardo Bolea-Fernandez and Ana Rua-Ibarz and Maite Aramendía and Martín Resano},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003267024011061},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2024.343305},
issn = {0003-2670},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-01-01},
journal = {Analytica Chimica Acta},
volume = {1331},
pages = {343305},
abstract = {Background
Single-particle ICP-mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-MS) is a powerful method for micro/nano-particle (MNP) sizing. Despite the outstanding evolution of the technique in the last decade, most studies still rely on traditional approaches based on (1) the use of integrated intensity as the analytical signal and (2) the calculation of the transport efficiency (TE). However, the increasing availability of MNP standards and advancements in hardware and software have unveiled new venues for MNP sizing, including TE-independent and time-based approaches. This work systematically examines these different methodologies to identify and summarize their strengths and weaknesses, thus helping to determine their preferred application areas.
Results
Different SP-ICP-MS methods for MNP sizing were assessed using AuNPs (20–70 nm) and SiO2MNPs (100–1000 nm). Among TE-dependent approaches, the particle frequency method was characterized by larger uncertainties than the particle size method. The results of the latter were dependent on the appropriate selection of the reference MNP, making the use of multiple reference MNPs recommended. TE-independent methods were based on external (linear and polynomial) calibrations and a relative approach. These methods exhibited the lowest uncertainties of all the strategies evaluated. External calibrations benefited from simpler calculations, but their application could be hindered by a lack of reference MNPs within the desired size range or by the need for interpolations outside the calibration range. Finally, transit time signals are directly proportional to the MNP size rather than its mass. The time-based method demonstrated adequate performance for sizing AuNPs but failed when sizing the largest SiO2MNPs (1000 nm).
Significance and novelty
This work provides further insights into the application of different SP-ICP-MS methodologies for MNP sizing. Both TE-independent approaches and the monitoring of the transit time as the analytical signal are underused strategies; in this context, a Python script was developed for accurate transit time measurement. After 20 years of development, a quantitative comparison of the different methodologies, including the most novel approaches, is deemed necessary for further growth on solid theoretical ground.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Background
Single-particle ICP-mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-MS) is a powerful method for micro/nano-particle (MNP) sizing. Despite the outstanding evolution of the technique in the last decade, most studies still rely on traditional approaches based on (1) the use of integrated intensity as the analytical signal and (2) the calculation of the transport efficiency (TE). However, the increasing availability of MNP standards and advancements in hardware and software have unveiled new venues for MNP sizing, including TE-independent and time-based approaches. This work systematically examines these different methodologies to identify and summarize their strengths and weaknesses, thus helping to determine their preferred application areas.
Results
Different SP-ICP-MS methods for MNP sizing were assessed using AuNPs (20–70 nm) and SiO2MNPs (100–1000 nm). Among TE-dependent approaches, the particle frequency method was characterized by larger uncertainties than the particle size method. The results of the latter were dependent on the appropriate selection of the reference MNP, making the use of multiple reference MNPs recommended. TE-independent methods were based on external (linear and polynomial) calibrations and a relative approach. These methods exhibited the lowest uncertainties of all the strategies evaluated. External calibrations benefited from simpler calculations, but their application could be hindered by a lack of reference MNPs within the desired size range or by the need for interpolations outside the calibration range. Finally, transit time signals are directly proportional to the MNP size rather than its mass. The time-based method demonstrated adequate performance for sizing AuNPs but failed when sizing the largest SiO2MNPs (1000 nm).
Significance and novelty
This work provides further insights into the application of different SP-ICP-MS methodologies for MNP sizing. Both TE-independent approaches and the monitoring of the transit time as the analytical signal are underused strategies; in this context, a Python script was developed for accurate transit time measurement. After 20 years of development, a quantitative comparison of the different methodologies, including the most novel approaches, is deemed necessary for further growth on solid theoretical ground.
Single-particle ICP-mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-MS) is a powerful method for micro/nano-particle (MNP) sizing. Despite the outstanding evolution of the technique in the last decade, most studies still rely on traditional approaches based on (1) the use of integrated intensity as the analytical signal and (2) the calculation of the transport efficiency (TE). However, the increasing availability of MNP standards and advancements in hardware and software have unveiled new venues for MNP sizing, including TE-independent and time-based approaches. This work systematically examines these different methodologies to identify and summarize their strengths and weaknesses, thus helping to determine their preferred application areas.
Results
Different SP-ICP-MS methods for MNP sizing were assessed using AuNPs (20–70 nm) and SiO2MNPs (100–1000 nm). Among TE-dependent approaches, the particle frequency method was characterized by larger uncertainties than the particle size method. The results of the latter were dependent on the appropriate selection of the reference MNP, making the use of multiple reference MNPs recommended. TE-independent methods were based on external (linear and polynomial) calibrations and a relative approach. These methods exhibited the lowest uncertainties of all the strategies evaluated. External calibrations benefited from simpler calculations, but their application could be hindered by a lack of reference MNPs within the desired size range or by the need for interpolations outside the calibration range. Finally, transit time signals are directly proportional to the MNP size rather than its mass. The time-based method demonstrated adequate performance for sizing AuNPs but failed when sizing the largest SiO2MNPs (1000 nm).
Significance and novelty
This work provides further insights into the application of different SP-ICP-MS methodologies for MNP sizing. Both TE-independent approaches and the monitoring of the transit time as the analytical signal are underused strategies; in this context, a Python script was developed for accurate transit time measurement. After 20 years of development, a quantitative comparison of the different methodologies, including the most novel approaches, is deemed necessary for further growth on solid theoretical ground.
2023
Aramendía, Maite; Leite, Diego; Resano, Javier; Resano, Martín; Billimoria, Kharmen; Goenaga-Infante, Heidi
En: Nanomaterials, vol. 13, iss. 17, pp. 2392, 2023.
@article{nokey,
title = {Isotope Dilution Analysis for Particle Mass Determination Using Single-Particle Inductively Coupled Plasma Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry: Application to Size Determination of Silver Nanoparticles},
author = {Maite Aramendía and Diego Leite and Javier Resano and Martín Resano and Kharmen Billimoria and Heidi Goenaga-Infante},
doi = {10.3390/nano13172392},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-08-22},
urldate = {2023-08-22},
journal = {Nanomaterials},
volume = {13},
issue = {17},
pages = {2392},
abstract = {This paper describes methodology based on the application of isotope dilution (ID) in
single-particle inductively coupled plasma time-of-flight mass spectrometry (spICP-ToFMS) mode
for the mass determination (and sizing) of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). For this purpose, and
considering that the analytical signal in spICP-MS shows a transient nature, an isotope dilution
equation used for online work was adapted and used for the mass determination of individual NPs.
The method proposed measures NP isotope ratios in a particle-to-particle approach, which allows for
the characterization of NP mass (and size) distributions and not only the mean size of the distribution.
For the best results to be obtained, our method development (undertaken through the analysis of
the reference material NIST RM 8017) included the optimization of the working conditions for the
best precision and accuracy in isotope ratios of individual NPs, which had been only reported to
date with multicollector instruments. It is shown that the precision of the measurement of these
ratios is limited by the magnitude of the signals obtained for each NP in the mass analyzer (counting
statistics). However, the uncertainty obtained for the sizing of NPs in this approach can be improved
by careful method optimization, where the most important parameters are shown to be the selection
of the spike isotopic composition and concentration. Although only AgNPs were targeted in this
study, the method presented, with the corresponding adaptations, could be applied to NPs of any
other composition that include an element with different naturally available isotopes.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
This paper describes methodology based on the application of isotope dilution (ID) in
single-particle inductively coupled plasma time-of-flight mass spectrometry (spICP-ToFMS) mode
for the mass determination (and sizing) of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). For this purpose, and
considering that the analytical signal in spICP-MS shows a transient nature, an isotope dilution
equation used for online work was adapted and used for the mass determination of individual NPs.
The method proposed measures NP isotope ratios in a particle-to-particle approach, which allows for
the characterization of NP mass (and size) distributions and not only the mean size of the distribution.
For the best results to be obtained, our method development (undertaken through the analysis of
the reference material NIST RM 8017) included the optimization of the working conditions for the
best precision and accuracy in isotope ratios of individual NPs, which had been only reported to
date with multicollector instruments. It is shown that the precision of the measurement of these
ratios is limited by the magnitude of the signals obtained for each NP in the mass analyzer (counting
statistics). However, the uncertainty obtained for the sizing of NPs in this approach can be improved
by careful method optimization, where the most important parameters are shown to be the selection
of the spike isotopic composition and concentration. Although only AgNPs were targeted in this
study, the method presented, with the corresponding adaptations, could be applied to NPs of any
other composition that include an element with different naturally available isotopes.
single-particle inductively coupled plasma time-of-flight mass spectrometry (spICP-ToFMS) mode
for the mass determination (and sizing) of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). For this purpose, and
considering that the analytical signal in spICP-MS shows a transient nature, an isotope dilution
equation used for online work was adapted and used for the mass determination of individual NPs.
The method proposed measures NP isotope ratios in a particle-to-particle approach, which allows for
the characterization of NP mass (and size) distributions and not only the mean size of the distribution.
For the best results to be obtained, our method development (undertaken through the analysis of
the reference material NIST RM 8017) included the optimization of the working conditions for the
best precision and accuracy in isotope ratios of individual NPs, which had been only reported to
date with multicollector instruments. It is shown that the precision of the measurement of these
ratios is limited by the magnitude of the signals obtained for each NP in the mass analyzer (counting
statistics). However, the uncertainty obtained for the sizing of NPs in this approach can be improved
by careful method optimization, where the most important parameters are shown to be the selection
of the spike isotopic composition and concentration. Although only AgNPs were targeted in this
study, the method presented, with the corresponding adaptations, could be applied to NPs of any
other composition that include an element with different naturally available isotopes.
Bazo, Antonio; Aramendía, Maite; Nakadi, Flávio V.; Resano, Martín
An Approach Based on an Increased Bandpass for Enabling the Use of Internal Standards in Single Particle ICP-MS: Application to AuNPs Characterization Artículo de revista
En: Nanomaterials, vol. 13, no 12, 2023, ISSN: 2079-4991.
@article{nano13121838,
title = {An Approach Based on an Increased Bandpass for Enabling the Use of Internal Standards in Single Particle ICP-MS: Application to AuNPs Characterization},
author = {Antonio Bazo and Maite Aramendía and Flávio V. Nakadi and Martín Resano},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/12/1838},
doi = {10.3390/nano13121838},
issn = {2079-4991},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-01-01},
urldate = {2023-01-01},
journal = {Nanomaterials},
volume = {13},
number = {12},
abstract = {This paper proposes a novel approach to implement an internal standard (IS) correction in single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SP ICP-MS), as exemplified for the characterization of Au nanoparticles (NPs) in complex matrices. This approach is based on the use of the mass spectrometer (quadrupole) in bandpass mode, enhancing the sensitivity for the monitoring of AuNPs while also allowing for the detection of PtNPs in the same measurement run, such that they can serve as an internal standard. The performance of the method developed was proved for three different matrices: pure water, a 5 g L−1 NaCl water solution, and another water solution containing 2.5% (m/v) tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH)/0.1% Triton X-100. It was observed that matrix-effects impacted both the sensitivity of the NPs and their transport efficiencies. To circumvent this problem, two methods were used to determine the TE: the particle size method for sizing and the dynamic mass flow method for the determination of the particle number concentration (PNC). This fact, together with the use of the IS, enabled us to attain accurate results in all cases, both for sizing and for the PNC determination. Additionally, the use of the bandpass mode provides additional flexibility for this characterization, as it is possible to easily tune the sensitivity achieved for each NP type to ensure that their distributions are sufficiently resolved.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
This paper proposes a novel approach to implement an internal standard (IS) correction in single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SP ICP-MS), as exemplified for the characterization of Au nanoparticles (NPs) in complex matrices. This approach is based on the use of the mass spectrometer (quadrupole) in bandpass mode, enhancing the sensitivity for the monitoring of AuNPs while also allowing for the detection of PtNPs in the same measurement run, such that they can serve as an internal standard. The performance of the method developed was proved for three different matrices: pure water, a 5 g L−1 NaCl water solution, and another water solution containing 2.5% (m/v) tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH)/0.1% Triton X-100. It was observed that matrix-effects impacted both the sensitivity of the NPs and their transport efficiencies. To circumvent this problem, two methods were used to determine the TE: the particle size method for sizing and the dynamic mass flow method for the determination of the particle number concentration (PNC). This fact, together with the use of the IS, enabled us to attain accurate results in all cases, both for sizing and for the PNC determination. Additionally, the use of the bandpass mode provides additional flexibility for this characterization, as it is possible to easily tune the sensitivity achieved for each NP type to ensure that their distributions are sufficiently resolved.