Malvern Panalytical Zetasizer and NanoSight for drug delivery

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The success of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) in drug delivery — especially in the development of mRNA vaccines — relies on precise and reproducible characterisation. As the race to develop next-generation therapeutics intensifies, precision tools like the Malvern NanoSight Pro and Malvern Zetasizer Advance are proving pivotal. These technologies enable detailed measurement of critical parameters like particle size, polydispersity, concentration and zeta potential — all factors that can directly influence stability, consistency and efficacy of nanoparticle formulations.

While both systems analyse particle size, they do so using complementary methods that provide different insights. The Zetasizer is based on dynamic light scattering (DLS), which delivers rapid, intensity-weighted size measurements. Zetasizer Ultra enhances this with Multi-Angle Dynamic Light Scattering (MADLS), providing higher resolution of multimodal samples, enhanced repeatability and calibration-free particle concentration analysis. Its Adaptive Correlation technology uses statistical analysis to identify data points that are not representative of the main particle population, which should result in more trustworthy measurements particularly in the presence of aggregates.

In contrast, NanoSight Pro uses nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) to track individual particles in real time, yielding more accurate size distributions in polydisperse samples. Its intelligent software, AI-driven autofocus and video-based tracking make it faster, easier to use and more consistent across users. Beyond sizing, the product also measures particle concentration, enabling verification of LNP formation — an essential aspect of formulation development and quality control. With built-in fluorescence capability, NanoSight Pro allows selective tracking of labelled nanoparticles in complex biological media — suitable for exosome, virus and drug delivery research — to distinguish target particles from background noise, assess surface modifications, confirm payloads or evaluate the success of purification methods.

Together, these systems offer a novel cross-validation capability and high data confidence. By validating results across two orthogonal technologies, scientists reinforce particle size as a Critical Quality Attribute (CQA), influencing everything from in vitro performance to manufacturing outcomes.

Contact ATA Scientific to book a free trial of the NanoSight Pro or Zetasizer Advance and discover how these technologies can enhance nanoparticle research. For more information: https://www.atascientific.com.au/products/zetasizer-ultra/.