Top Applications for the Zetasizer
Where is the Zetasizer used?
For around two decades, the Zetasizer range has been the de facto standard for performing dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements on a wide range of particles and materials. What are these Zetasizer applications?
Today’s launch of the Zetasizer Pro and Zetasizer Ultra – which took place earlier today on May 23rd, 2018 – provides a good reason to summarize the key application areas for light scattering technology: both dynamic and electrophoretic! Where are these Zetasizers used? Where can we find them, in the real world?
Below is a list of key Zetasizer application focus areas:
- Bioscience and biopharmaceuticals: simple purity and stability screening can assist with formulation development. Time, temperature, pH and shear can all impact biological molecules and cause aggregation, which is detected by Zetasizer instruments.
- Pharmaceuticals and drug delivery: effective therapeutics must be delivered safely, with dispersion quality and stability being critical quality attributes (CQAs). Zetasizer systems can help speed up formulation development and final product development by providing insight earlier in the development pipeline.
- Paints, inks, and coatings: the stability of formulated nanoparticle suspensions is important, and both size and zeta potential help optimize product performance. Non-invasive back-scatter analysis can be used over a wide concentration range, with no/minimal dilution, making Zetasizer instruments favored tools for these applications.
- Advanced Nanomaterials: the potential of nanotechnology is in their larger available surface area and surface interactions on a much smaller scale. Materials like graphene, catalysts, and nanotubes all show promise, and their chemical and suspension behavior opens a realm of possibilities. Zetasizer instruments’ high sensitivity and low sample volume requirement can help guide in the early research and development phase of design.
- Food and drink: appearance, stability and flavor emulsions are all influenced by some of the nanoscale properties light scattering can measure – not only particle size but also particle charge, both measured by Zetasizer systems, can influence the final consumable product and help prevent a poor-seller that stays on the shelf.
- Consumer products ranging from detergents to cosmetics. Understanding of colloidal stability and control or adjustment of performance parameters helps guide product development ahead of the competition in high-volume consumer goods, where precise quality control can make all the difference in end-consumer perception.
- All of the above in academia! As an essential analytical instrument in many educational settings and academic research laboratories, tens of thousands of scientific publications attest to the widest range of suitable applications – and the particular ease-of-use and built-in reliability of Zetasizer systems have helped make them the favored ‘go-to’ tools for rapid ensemble average size as well as zeta potential determination.
And the above is just a rough overview of some of the Zetasizer applications. To see where else research and light scattering resutls from DLS have been published take a look at “Can I use DLS for xyz? ” for suggestions on additional Zetasizer applications. Even years ago it was already quite considerable ( over 50,000 Zetasizer references!)
Quite a list! And if you are working in any of the areas above, you may want to take a look at our brand-new Zetasizer Pro and Zetasizer Ultra. We have made it even easier for you to measure and interpret data – without having to rely on guesswork. A combination of our experience , influence from Zetasizer application publications, and a history in developing light scattering characterization systems with the vast knowledge built by actual users has helped us create value for every level: from novice to expert.
Previously:
- How many scientists at Malvern?
- New Nanosizer users – quick guide to perfection
- Some Malvern history, first correlator in 1971!