NanoParticle Tracking Analysis; The Halo System
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0952-F02-04
NanoParticle Tracking Analysis; The Halo System Andrew Malloy, Patrick Hole, and Bob Carr NanoSight, Salisbury, SP2 9NT, United Kingdom
ABSTRACT A new technique for nanoparticle sizing that allows visualisation of nanoscale particles in liquids on an individual basis is described. The technology comprises a metallised optical element illuminated by laser beam at the surface of which nanoscale particles in suspension can be directly visualised, sized and counted in real time using only a conventional optical microscope fitted with a low cost camera and a dedicated analytical software package. INTRODUCTION The analysis of nanoparticles is a ubiquitous requirement in a broad range of industry sectors. Product performance and stability frequently depends on the ability to manufacture particle suspensions to fine tolerances without the presence of contaminants or aggregates. Foremost in such analyses is particle size and size distribution measurement for which a number of techniques are well established and commonly employed in routine quality control as well as in a research and development environment. Depending on the nature of the product and the particle characteristics sought, one or more analytical methodologies are routinely employed which include electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, Fraunhofer scattering, single particle detection techniques, optical microscopy, etc. [1]. For particles in the nanoscale, however, only the first two of these examples are used frequently. Both have drawbacks including capital and running costs, analysis turnaround time, and limited ability to resolve particle size distribution profiles. In this report, we describe a new technique that allows the real time visualisation of nanoparticles in liquids using only a conventional optical microscope. The device described, with its analytical software [2], is currently available as a complete microscope based system. EXPERIMENTAL METHODS The Class 1 laser device (NANOSIGHT LM10™) comprises a small Al metal housing (92x66x47mm) containing a solid-state, single-mode laser diode (2:1), will PCS be able to produce accurate bimodal distributions. Due to the unique ability to see and subsequently ascribe particle
size on an individual particle basis, the NanoSight system does not suffer from these limitations. PCS. Figure 3. Particle size distributions obtained from a video (a) of a suspension of 100nm particles containing a low number of 200nm particles when analysed by b) the NANOSIGHT Single Particle Tracking system and by c) PCS.
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Figure 4. Particle size distributions obtained from a video (a) of a suspension of 200nm particles containing several larger 400nm particles when analysed by b) the NANOSIGHT Single Particle Tracking system and by c) PCS
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Examples of sample types measured Notwithstanding the limitations outlined above, the NANOSIGHT system can be usefully applied across a wide range of sample types and examples of materials analysed by this method include; viruses (adenovirus, herpes, la
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