Dynamic Light-Scattering System Provides Microrheology Capabilities

A new dynamic light scattering system is bringing unique protein measurement and microrheology capabilities to the market.

Malvern Instruments (Malvern, UK) conducted the global launch of an addition to its Zetasizer family, bringing unique protein measurement and novel microrheology capabilities to this range of dynamic light scattering (DLS) systems. The new high specification Zetasizer Nano ZSP provides enhanced sensitivity and comes with sophisticated software that drives the two new measurement types.


Similar other systems in the range, the Zetasizer Nano ZSP is a single, compact unit. Where the Zetasizer Nano ZSP, however, is unique with performance specifications for both size and zeta potential measurement. One of the most significant applications being the measurement of the zeta potential, or electrophoretic mobility, of proteins. This process is additionally simplified by the inclusion of a new protein mobility measurement type in the software that controls data acquisition, guiding the user through the measurement and evaluates and reports on data quality. The protein mobility measurement package is included with the Zetasizer Nano ZSP instrument as standard.

As well as a range of new protein-specific features, the new version of Zetasizer software, launched together with the Zetasizer Nano ZSP, enables a new type of measurement on the instrument--microrheology. This DLS-based optical technique allows rheologic characterization of weakly-structured and very strain-sensitive materials using only microliter sample volumes. Among its applications are measuring the viscosity of polymer and protein solutions and determining the onset of protein aggregation.

Malvern’s Zetasizer family now includes a full Zetasizer Nano range of systems for characterizing size, molecular weight, and zeta potential measurement; the Zetasizer APS for automated protein size measurements in multiwell plates; and the Zetasizer µV designed for protein size and molecular weight measurements in both cuvette and chromatography modes.

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