Mission Administration Events News Publications Seminar Series Training & Employment
Biomolecular Devices Cell-Surface Interactions Nanoscale Cell Biology
Academia Industry Government Sciencenter
Nanobiotechnology Course K-12 Undergraduates Graduates
Cornell University Princeton University Wadsworth Center Oregon Health Sciences U. Clark Atlanta University Howard University
NBTC
nbtc logo  Program  †  Research Areas     Partners     Education     Members     Facilities 

Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) - Malvern Zetasizer Nano-ZS


 Tool Manager: Teresa Porri

The Zetasizer Nano-ZS instrument provides the ability to measure three important characteristics of particles or molecules (polymers, proteins etc.) over a wide range of concentrations in a liquid medium, using Dynamic Light Scattering:
Particle size, Zeta potential and Molecular weight.

The instrument also enables determination of the protein melting point and the ability to perform trend measurements (size vs time, size vs. temp etc.)

Detailed information of the measurement techniques can be found in the sections below.

Manuals
NBTC Zetasizer User Instructions

Chapter 4 from manual - How to make a measurement
Chapter 5 from manual - Presentation of the results
Chapter 6 from manual - Considerations for sample preparation

Download full version of manual (288 pages, 8.8Mb)

Educational resources
Manual chapter 14 - DLS size theory
Manual chapter 15 - DLS molecular weight theory
Manual chapter 16 - DLS zetapotential theory

Application note - Basic principles of particle size analysis (representation of size averages etc.)
Application note - The importance of sample viscosity for DLS measurements
Application note - Molecular weight measurements with the zetasizer nano-zs
Protocol - Download Molecular weight measurement procedure
Application note - Zeta potential - an introduction in 30 min

For more application notes and educational resources goto:
Malvern Education Center

Useful links

Data on solvent viscosity and refractive index etc:
Knovel Critical Tables - "Basic Physical Properties of Common Solvents"

Calculate the protein concentration required to measure the size/zetapotential of a generic protein by DLS:
Malvern protein concentration and hydrodynamic radius calculator

Technical Specifications
Size measurements:
Particle size range* 0.6 nm – 6 μm
Typical sample volume ~1 ml
Minimum sample volume 12 μl
Sample concentration range* 0.01 – 40 % w/v

Zeta potential meaurements :
Particle size range*  3 nm - 10 µm
Minimum sample volume  0.75 ml

Molecular weight measurements:
Molecular weight range* 1x103 Da - 2x107 Da
Minimum sample volume   20 μl
* = Sample dependent

General info:
Temperature range 2 - 90 C
Laser 4 mW He-Ne, 633nm
Laser attenuation Automatic, transmission 100% to 0.0003%
Detector Avalanche photodiode, Q.E >50% @ 633nm
Trend measurements Size & Zeta-potential vs. Time/Temp
Refractive index compensation
for zeta potential dispersants		 1.2-1.65
Additional product info: Malvern Nano-ZS
This material is based upon work supported in part by the STC Program of the National Science Foundation under Agreement No. ECS-9876771. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
Any opininons, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the New York State Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research.


 Home    Program    Research Areas    Partners    Education    Members    Facilities