Several strategies can be employed to prevent or minimize nanoparticle aggregation:
1. Surface Modification: Coating nanoparticles with polymers or surfactants can provide steric stabilization, preventing them from coming too close to each other.
2. Electrostatic Stabilization: Adjusting the surface charge through pH control or by adding stabilizing agents can help maintain repulsive forces between nanoparticles.
3. Use of Capping Agents: Capping agents can bind to the surface of nanoparticles, providing a physical barrier that prevents aggregation.
4. Controlled Synthesis: Techniques like sol-gel methods, microemulsions, and seed-mediated growth can produce nanoparticles with controlled size and shape, reducing the likelihood of aggregation.
