Scientists at Lund University, Sweden, rely on the Malvern Instruments' Zetasizer Nano ZS for cost-effective molecular characterisation in routine sample quality control in a wide range of conditions.
The work of Dr Sindra Peterson Arskold, associate professor, and her colleagues at Lund University's proton channel group, focuses on liposomal investigations of viral proteins and anti-viral agents.
The liposomes are used as artificial models of the virion, enabling systematic scrutiny of key membrane-bound drug targets.
Dr Peterson Arskold believes that, because her research depends on accurate, routine sample quality control in a wide range of sample conditions, it would not be feasible without the rapid, reliable, resource-efficient measurement capabilities of the Zetasizer Nano particle characterisation system from Malvern Instruments.
Dr Peterson Arskold said the cost of sample characterisation is critical to her work as a protein scientist: 'Created by sonicating phospholipids in water, the liposomes produced are used to obtain detailed quantitative biophysical data.
'It is therefore of utmost importance that each batch holds the same high quality, in terms of narrow size distribution and unilamellarity, and that their morphology is reproducible and consistent.
'Monitoring these parameters is also pivotal in developing the method of liposome production and optimising it for new protein systems.
'For example, some conditions will result in multilamellar liposomes, which have many layers like an onion.
'This means that every time we produce a new sample we must carry out a quality check to ensure the process is consistent.
'While electron microscopy (EM) provides us with more detailed data, it takes a whole day to obtain the images, making it more costly to use for routine sample testing.
'Dynamic light scattering (DLS) with the Zetasizer Nano is both non-destructive and fast, enabling us to test our samples in a matter of minutes,' said Dr Peterson Arskold.
Part of Malvern Instruments Zetasizer range, the Zetasizer Nano uses light-scattering techniques to measure hydrodynamic size, zeta potential and molecular weight of proteins and nanoparticles.
