Zetasizer Ultra

Overview

The Zetasizer Ultra is the world’s most capable combined DLS and ELS system, incorporating Non-Invasive Back Scatter (NIBS) and, uniquely, Multi-Angle Dynamic Light Scattering (MADLS) technology for the measurement of particle and molecular size.

NIBS provides the versatility and sensitivity to measure over a wide concentration range, while MADLS permits a higher resolution view into your sample’s size distribution for those critical measurements.

A unique capability of the Zetasizer Ultra Red Label allows the measurement of particle concentration - suitable for a wide range of materials, requires no or little dilution, and is quick to use – ideal as a screening technique. This can even be applied to samples such as viruses and virus-like particles (VLPs), previously very challenging to measure.

A range of disposable and reusable cells are available to optimize the measurement in terms of sample volume and concentration, including the new low-volume disposable sizing cell kit. This offers the dual benefits of size measurements in as little as 3 µL, and extension to the upper size range of DLS measurements, due to the suppression of convection currents.

Works with OmniTrust: Malvern Panalytical's compliance solution for the regulated environment

M3-PALS with Constant Current Mode for zeta potential and electrophoretic mobility measurements
Adaptive Correlation for faster, more reproducible sizing measurements with less sample preparation
ZS Xplorer software suite for simple and flexible method set-up and data analysis
The optional MPT-3 Autotitrator enables study of the effect of changes in pH
Deep Learning empowered data quality system for assessment of any size data quality issues, with clear advice on how to improve results
New Sample Assistant accessory reduces time manually changing samples, without compromising data quality
Optical filter wheel with fluorescence filter to allow measurement of fluorescent samples without impairing overall system sensitivity. Also includes polarization filters for DDLS measurements
Disposable capillary sizing cell provides the ultimate in non-destructive, low volume (down to 3 µL) analysis, with an upper size range that extends to 10 μm

Measurement capabilities

Key measurement capabilities include:

Multi-Angle Dynamic Light Scattering (MADLS) for absolute confidence in particle and molecular size distribution analysis
Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) measures particle and molecule size, from below 1 nm to 10 µm
Electrophoretic Light Scattering (ELS) measures the zeta potential of particles and molecules, indicating sample stability and/or propensity to aggregate
Non-Invasive Back Scatter (NIBS) optics for versatile, high-sensitivity, particle and molecular size measurements
Simple, per-peak concentration/titer measurements (Red Label only)

Which Zetasizer is right for me?

	Zetasizer Ultra	Zetasizer Pro	Zetasizer Lab
Size Measurement Principle	Non-Invasive Back Scatter (NIBS) Dynamic Light Scattering Dynamic Light Scattering (90° and 13°) Multi-Angle Dynamic Light Scattering (MADLS^®)	Non-Invasive Back Scatter (NIBS) Dynamic Light Scattering	Classical 90° Dynamic Light Scattering
Zeta Measurement Principle	ELS with M3-PALS and Constant Current Zeta Mode	ELS with M3-PALS and Constant Current Zeta Mode	ELS with M3-PALS and Constant Current Zeta Mode
Molecular Weight and B22	Static Light Scattering (90° and 173°)	Static Light Scattering (173°)	Static Light Scattering (90°)
Optical Filter Wheel (Fluorescence/DDLS)	Yes	Yes	No
Low Volume Disposable Sizing Cell with Extended Size Analysis Support	Yes	No	Yes
MADLS® (High Resolution DLS)	Yes	No	No
MADLS® - Particle Concentration/Titer	Yes²	No	No
21 CFR Part 11 compliant software	Optional via Omnitrust	Optional via Omnitrust	Optional via Omnitrust
Size
Range²	0.3 nm to 10 μm	0.3 nm to 10 μm	0.3 nm to 10 μm
Minimum Volume	3 μL	12 μL	3 μL
Zeta potential
Size Range	3.8 nm to 100 μm	3.8 nm to 100 μm	3.8 nm to 100 μm
Minimum Volume³	20 μL	20 μL	20 μL

¹ Red Label only
² 10 um by default. Option to extend for Zetasizer Lab and Zetasizer Ultra coming soon
³ Patented Diffusion Barrier method in capillary cell

Key applications

The Zetasizer Advance Range is suitable for a wide range of applications, including:

Colloidal Silica: Sizing of colloidal silica is a critical requirement. This is easily and reproducibly measured using the Zetasizer Lab Blue Label.

Titanium Dioxide: Titanium dioxide use is wide-ranging. When used in paints or inks, agglomerate or aggregate formation can diminish product performance. The Zetasizer Pro Blue Label, used alongside the MPT‑3 Autotitrator, characterizes the impact of salt concentration on the stability of TiO₂ and identifies the most stable pH region.

Ceramics: The strength of ceramics is linked to particle size, and the Zetasizer Ultra Blue Label is ideally placed to measure this. Al₂O₃ samples are often made of differently-sized particles which can easily be identified using MADLS. In this 0.1% w/v sample, the two particle size populations would not be distinguishable with a single angle DLS measurement.

Proteins: For protein researchers, early access to characterization data can be a challenge, due to low sample volumes. This is easily overcome using the Zetasizer Lab Red Label with the capillary cell to confirm that samples meet quality requirements and that production and purification processes are optimized.

Carbon Dots (C-dots): Photoluminescent C-dots are considered safer alternatives to quantum dots. Measuring fluorescent samples by DLS can be challenging due to additional photons emitted by the fluorophore. Available with NIBS on Zetasizer Pro Red Label, a filter removes this interference to provide accurate and reliable data.

Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV): Monitoring viral concentration is important during development and production optimization. By using the Multi-Angle DLS (MADLS) based particle concentration measurement in the Zetasizer Ultra Red Label, both the size distribution and titer of the virus can be measured within a few minutes.

Industry applications

The Zetasizer Advance Range is used in many industries, including:

Academia: The Zetasizer Lab is an essential analytical tool for many academic laboratories worldwide, finding use in all applications where particle or molecular size and zeta potential analysis is required. The breadth of applications covered by Zetasizer systems, coupled with tens of thousands of scientific citations, have earned these instruments a central space in many scientific faculties.

Bioscience: Variations in molecule concentration, external temperature, level of agitation and time all impact the stability of biological molecules. Instabilities mainly result in denaturation and aggregation of the molecule through which they can lose their biological function , elicit an immune response and consequently limit its therapeutic viability. Factors affecting therapeutic efficacy and immunogenicity therefore need to be monitored throughout the development pipeline especially at early stages to de-risk the biological drug molecule and limit late-stage failures. The Zetasizer range provides high quality, stability indicating data for biological drug molecules in a short time frame, enabling this measurement to be implemented throughout the development pipeline.

Food and drink: Zetasizer systems are used to analyze particle size and zeta potential to improve the appearance and taste of foods, drinks and flavorings, and optimize dispersion and emulsion stability to extend product shelf life and improve product performance.

Nanomaterials: Zetasizer measurements of nanoparticle size distribution, dispersion properties, stability and propensity to aggregate are crucial to the design of new nanomaterials. The very large surface area of such materials may result in novel physical and chemical properties, such as increased catalytic activity, improved solubility or unexpected optical or toxicological behavior.

Paints, inks and coatings: Paint, ink and coating formulations must be stable to keep them in an optimum state over time without change or aggregation. Particle size and zeta potential, measured by the Zetasizer instruments, play important roles in determining a product’s properties, such as dispersibility, color, strength, finish, durability and shelf life.

Pharmaceuticals: The correct particle size and zeta potential can help ensure the production of effective therapeutics, delivered safely. Zetasizer systems are used to characterize the stability and quality of dispersions, emulsions and creams, reducing formulation time and speeding new products to market.

Excellent system for characterizing nanoparticles in terms of their Physicochemical properties (size, concentration, polydispersity, and zeta potential). I like the system because it consumes only a few microliters of precious samples to determine and analyze all the properties mentioned above. I highly recommend this system for particle analysis."

Ashwini Mishra — AAVinue Inc.

Specification

Particle size and molecular size

Measurement principle	Non-Invasive Back Scatter (NIBS) Dynamic Light Scattering Dynamic Light Scattering (90° and 13°) Multi-Angle Dynamic Light Scattering (MADLS)
Measurement angle	173°, 13°, 90°
Measurement range	0.3 nm - 15 μm ²
Minimum sample volume	3 μL
Concentration range	Minimum sample concentration: Blue Label: 0.2 mg/mL 15 kDa Protein Red Label: 0.1 mg/mL 15 kDa Protein MADLS: 0.1 mg/ml 15 kDa Protein MADLS Particle Concentration Enabled? Blue Label: No Red Label: Yes Maximum sample concentration⁽³⁾: 40% w/v

Zeta potential

Measurement principle	Mixed-Mode Measurement phase analysis light scattering (M3-PALS)
Size range	3.8 nm – 100 μm
Minimum sample volume	20 μL ⁴
Concentration range	Red Label: 1 mg/mL ⁵ to 40% w/v ⁶ Blue Label: 10 mg/mL ⁵to 40% w/v ⁶
Sample conductivity range	Maximum: 260 mS/cm

Static Light Scattering (molecular weight)

Molecular weight range	300 Da – 20 mDa
Measurement principle	Static Light Scattering with Debye Plot
Accuracy	+/- 10%

Particle concentration

Measurement principle	Blue Label: N/A Red Label: MADLS - Particle Concentration (Mie)
Concentration range	Blue Label: N/A Red Label: 1x10⁸ to 1x10¹² particles/mL
Calibration type	Blue Label: N/A Red Label: Single point system calibration only

System

Detector	Avalanche Photodiode
Laser safety	He-Ne (633 nm) Blue label: 4 mW Max Red label: 10 mW Max
Temperature control range	0 °C - 120 °C ⁷
Dimensions (W, D, H)	322 mm x 565 mm x 245 mm
Weight	19 kg
Power	AC 100-240 V, 50-60 Hz, 4.0 A
Power consumption	Max 100 W, Typical 45 W
Ambient conditions	+10°C to +35°C, 35 to 80% RH (Non-condensing)
Interface	USB 2.0 or higher

Notes

Notes	1 - Water as dispersant 2 - Indicative data available for particle sizes greater than 10 μm when using Extended Size Range analysis and low volume disposable sizing cell accessory. 3 - Sample dependent 4 - Using patented diffusion barrier technique 5 - Measured using 15 kDa protein 6 - Measured using bile acid 7 - Dry nitrogen cell purge required for temperatures below dewpoint 8 - Accuracy 0.1°C at 25°C, 0.2°C at 0°C, 0.5°C at 90°C 9 - Recommended upper size range for MADLS is 500nm diameter

1 - Water as dispersant

2 - Indicative data available for particle sizes greater than 10 μm when using Extended Size Range analysis and low volume disposable sizing cell accessory.

3 - Sample dependent

4 - Using patented diffusion barrier technique

5 - Measured using 15 kDa protein

6 - Measured using bile acid

7 - Dry nitrogen cell purge required for temperatures below dewpoint

8 - Accuracy 0.1°C at 25°C, 0.2°C at 0°C, 0.5°C at 90°C

9 - Recommended upper size range for MADLS is 500nm diameter