Personal nanoparticle respiratory depositions sampler and methods of using the same

A nanoparticle respiratory deposition sampler comprising:

• a. a particle size separator;
• b. a impactor stage configured to be coupled to the particle size separator;
• and
• c. a diffusion stage configured to be coupled to the impactor stage opposite the particle size separator, wherein the impactor stage and the diffusion stage are further configured to collect nanoparticles based upon a sampling criterion.

A nanoparticle respiratory deposition sampler comprising:

• a. a particle size separator comprising a respirable cyclone comprising:
• i. an air inlet;
• and
• ii. a cyclone with a first air tight fastening means;
• b. a impactor stage configured to be coupled to the particle size separator, the impactor stage comprising:
• i. an impactor comprising:
• A. a housing configured to couple to the cyclone through the first air tight fastening means, the housing comprising a second air tight fastening means;
• and
• B. a number (n) of accelerator nozzles within the housing, wherein each of the number (n) of accelerator nozzles has a throat length (LT) and a nozzle width (W);
• ii. an impactor substrate comprising an impaction plate, wherein the impaction plate is oriented above the number (n) of acceleration nozzles at a distance (S);
• and
• iii. a spacer configured to couple to the housing of the impactor through the second air tight fastening means to retain the impactor substrate above the impactor and within the spacer;
• and
• c. a diffusion stage configured to be coupled to the impactor stage opposite the particle size separator, wherein the diffusion stage comprises:
• i. a diffusion section comprising at least one diffusion screen;
• and
• ii. a cap configured to be coupled to a pump that pulls air through the nanoparticle respiratory deposition sampler by pulling in air through the air inlet of the particle size separator to the cyclone, from the cyclone through the number (n) of acceleration nozzles such that the air bends at 90 degrees and around the impaction plate, and through the at least one diffusion screen, wherein the number (n) of accelerator nozzles, the throat length (LT), the nozzle width (W), and the distance (S) are configured to have the impactor stage and diffuser stage operate at the 50%-cut-off diameter of approximately 300 nm and a sharpness (σ) of approximately 1.53, wherein the number (n) of acceleration nozzles produce a Reynolds number between 500<Re<3000, and wherein the diffusion stage is configured to operate at a nanoparticulate matter sampling criterion that matches the deposition of particles in a respiratory tract of a subject.