Comparison of Commercial Cosmetic Products
Using NMR Relaxation Measurements
Formulators working in the cosmetics and personal
care industries have numerous delivery vehicles
from which to choose when formulating skin
care products: emulsions, gels, sticks, mousses,
aerosols, and ointments all have specific benefits.
However, the emulsion is by far the most popular
because it offers almost unlimited versatility in
meeting the primary market objectives of efficacy,
aesthetics, and cost parameters.
As we will explore in this Application Note, nuclear
magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation is a technique
that is easy to employ, produces rapid results, and
requires limited input data. Importantly, because it does
not make any assumptions about the composition of the
formulation and requires little, or no, sample preparation
this makes it an ideal technique for measuring finished
commercial products.
Using NMR Relaxation as an Aid in Understanding
Formulation of Pigment Dispersions
In general, the composition of commercial
pigment dispersions – to produce, for
example, paints and inks – is complex and
typically comprises a fluid, a dispersant, a
polymeric resin and the pigment material. In
the preparation of aqueous dispersions, a
wetting agent may additionally be needed if
the pigment materials are hydrophobic.
NMR spectroscopy is one of the most
powerful analytical tools used to probe
details of the structure and dynamics of
molecules. Traditional devices employing
NMR technology require very high magnetic
fields and, hence, very large magnets and
related instrumentation. However, the
advent of small powerful magnets has
allowed instruments – such as the Mageleka
MagnoMeter XRS™ – to be designed that
have small footprints and are suited to
normal, routine laboratory analysis.
Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients in AIDS Drugs: Using NMR
Relaxation to Determine the Wetted Surface Area of Suspensions
Reducing the particle size of materials
possessing poor solubility characteristics
can be an avenue to substantially
increasing the total surface area of the
material. This concept can be illustrated
when formulating drug products that contain
active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).
A larger surface area allows for much
faster dissolution of APIs and, thereby, an
increase in bioavailability, regardless of the
route of administration. This is of obvious
importance in manufacturing because low
active bioavailability of drugs can lead to
inefficient treatment and risk of toxic side
effects. Any increase in efficacy can reduce
the potential toxicity because less drug
substance is needed, which also serves
to reduce costs. There is also a growing
body of evidence that, specifically with
nanoparticulate API materials, it is the
particle surface area and not particle size
that is the defining metric that controls
toxicological interaction. This explains
the recent drive to develop reformulations
based on nanotechnology.
So, what technique can make fast, reliable,
direct measurements of wetted surface
area in any suspension and, particularly,
nanosize API dispersions? Nuclear magnetic
resonance (NMR) relaxation, which is the
basis for Mageleka’s MagnoMeter XRS™,
can directly measure the wetted surface
area of any particulate suspension.
Dispersions of Ink-Jet Pigments: Using NMR Relaxation Measurements
as a Quality Control Too
The application performance of any pigment
is determined by its nature, including how it
was manufactured, and the level of dispersion
achieved in formulation. The most important
physical properties include particle size and
wetted surface area. The finer the particle size,
the more intense will be the color; the greater
the surface area, the greater will be the extent
and uniformity of surface coating. For industries
that must produce products with reliably
consistent colors, measuring particle size and
wetted surface area quickly and easily will aid
in more efficient formulation and help to reduce
production costs.
So, what technique can make fast, reliable,
direct measurements of wetted surface area
in any suspension and, particularly, nanosize
pigment dispersions? Nuclear magnetic
resonance (NMR) relaxation, which is the
basis for Mageleka’s MagnoMeter XRS™, can
directly measure the wetted surface area of any
particulate suspension.
Using NMR Relaxation Measurements for Quality Control
of Incoming Materials used in Formulation of Products
The preparation of any suspension or slurry
comprising a powder material in a liquid, be it
for “blue sky” experimental R&D purposes or
in the pre-formulation of a commercial product,
will always start with a solid and a liquid.
Unfortunately raw materials are never 100%
pure, and this is true even for National Formulary
(pharmaceutical)
grade
material. Indeed,
industrial material can contain as little as 80%
of the active component, as a cursory glance at
the typical Material Safety Data Sheet and the
Technical Data Sheet, always supplied with the
material, will attest to! In all cases, the type and
level of impurities depends on the source of the
material and any subsequent processing.
NMR spectroscopy is one of the most powerful
analytical tools used to probe details of molecular
structure and dynamics. Devices employing NMR
technology require very high magnetic fields and,
hence, very large magnets. However, the advent
of small powerful magnets has allowed low-field
instruments, such as the Mageleka MagnoMeter
XRS™ Relaxometer, to be designed that have
small footprints and so are suited to normal,
routine laboratory analysis.
Finely cut diamond abrasive is utilized in the manufacture of
industrial drills, grinding wheels and discs, dental instruments and
lapidary apparatus. The grinding tools are subsequently
implemented in the production of steels, alloys, ceramics, glass,
granite and other materials. Two sizes, or grits, of abrasive were
examined here. A regular raw image of particles from both samples
is presented below.
Abrasive powders are utilized in several commonplace functions. They comprise the particles utilized for polishing
teeth, constitute abrasive polishes to make high end automotive finishes shine, and even form the sandpaper a
carpenter implements on a daily basis. Each of these powders are engineered to remove material, with some more
aggressive in removal than others. Typically, the abrasiveness of particles is known as the “grit” of the powder.
There are numerous types of pollen within a variety of species. Various types of pollen were examined with the use
of Dynamic Image Analysis, to determine whether their morphology (shape properties) could be implemented as a
means of differentiating between the different types, and also to distinguish between entire pollen grains and
fragments or debris. Size-only techniques are sometimes unable to differentiate in this way.
Portland cement is a controlled chemical mixture, comprising calcium, silicon, aluminum, iron and low quantities
of other components. The mixture is combined with gypsum in the final grinding process to modulate the setting
time. Lime and silica constitute around 85% of the mass. Limestone, shells, chalk combined with shale, clay, slate
or blast furnace slag, silica sand, and iron ore are common materials implemented in its production.
Particle Shape Analysis of Toner powder for laser printers
Toner powder used by laser printers and photocopiers is a hybrid of carbon and a polymer. The actual polymer
utilized differs according to producer, while toner formulations differ between producers, and even between
machines. Granule size is a key means of differentiating each formulation.
Particle Shape Analysis of Ocean floor sediments for Marine Research
Marine scientists are engaged with the examination of ocean floor sediments. These are constituted by small
particles of sand, clay, volcanic ash, minerals and organics. This small grain size means analysis is highly challenging.
Two divergent types of sediment were examined for this case study.
This article analyses some large, long glass fibers by applying some of the features and comparisons of the
Pi Sentinel PRO. Running the glass fibers involves 34,000 particles and ends up with 32 different histograms. There
are many different shape parameters of the Pi Sentinel PRO, including circular measures and rectangular measures,
of which not all of them always apply.
This article describes how the Pi Sentinel PRO can be used to analyse a coal sample by looking at all the different shape
measures. It can be used to obtain many histograms of factors like Size, Circularity and Smoothness. The software has
a diagnostic tool that has these shape test images.
Yeast levels in pitch tanks for craft beers are typically in the 1B/ml plus range. Therefore a protocol that minimizes steps, errors introduced during pipette steps and minimizes cost to craft breweries is detailed in this SOP.
Measurement of algal growth parameters
such as cell size, cell number, and growth
rate is important for confirming optimal
growth conditions and culture health. One
of the best ways to simultaneously assess al
gal culture health is to take a series of cell
size and number measurements during their
growth cycle. The simplest method to do this
is to use the Coulter Principle.
The Moxi Z mini automated cell counter
provides a valuable three-parameter cell as
say (count, sizing, health) in just 8–15 sec
onds. Leveraging the single-cell resolution
of the Coulter Principle, this information
is provided with a degree of precision and
accuracy rivaled only by higher-cost count
ing systems. However, the Moxi Z achieves
this performance with enhanced usability,
increased functionality, and a maintenance
free operation.
Scientists expend significant time, labor and resources on
maintaining consistent, healthy cell cultures to support
their research efforts.
In addition to the initial, significant
expenditures for core equipment, there are substantial
recurring costs for materials that ensure optimal culture
environments including sterilized consumables, media, reagents
and growth factors. Beyond material costs, successful cell
culture requires proper training and attention to ensure aseptic
technique and use of cell-specific growth/treatment protocols.
Similar to visual
inspection of morphology and media color/composition,
this test is performed automatically with every Moxi Z cell
count, without the need for additional reagents.
Variations in core blood cell metrics such as white blood cell (WBC) counts and mean corpuscular volum (MCV) can be important idicatoprs of pathologies including infection, anemia, poisoning and disease.
By
applying established preparation protocols to whole blood samples, Moxi Z can generate important metrics from
blood samples for non-clinical analysis including red blood
cell (RBC) counts, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), white
blood cell (WBC) total counts and peripheral blood
mononuclear cell (PBMC) size distributions and counts.
Measuring Reactive Oxygen Species with Orflo’s Moxi GO II
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) are oxygen containing “free radicals”, a group of molecules that are highly reactive due to the unpaired elecytrons they contain.
In this application note we demonstrate how Orflo’s Moxi GO II Flow Cytometer can be applied to a wide range of cellular analysis, including ROS level measurement.
Monitoring Mitochondrial Membrane Potential with Orflo’s Moxi GO II
Mitochondria anre the principle organelles underlying cellular metabolism, servicng as the “energy factories” for the cell.
In this application note we show how Orflo’s Moxi GO II Flow Cytometer can be applied towards the tracking of cellular mitochondrial potential in response to the applications of two pharmacological agents, sodium azide (“azide”) and camptothecin.
Immunophenotyping (CD marker labeling) PBMC’s with Orflo’s Moxi GO II
Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell (PBMC) purifications are a critically important cell preparation in a broad range of research and clinical studies including such profound applications such as HIV research, cancer immunotherapy, cord blood banking, regenerative medicine and fundermental studies of cytokine-based immune responses.
In this application nmote we demonstrate how Orfl’s Moxi GO II can be applied towards the characterisation on PBMC preparations.
Monitoring yeast counts, visability and metabolic activity in brewing with Orflo’s Moxi GO II
At the core of the brewing process is the conversion of sugar into alcohol by yeast. Beyond the initial selection of the yeast strain, the understanding of the shifting characteristics of the yeast in the wort, relative to the constant-changing environmental conditions, is critical. At a bare minimum brewqers need to maintain proper concentrations of yeast throughout the process by adding or “pitching”, yeast at various timepoints. The Moxi GO II is ideally and uniquely suited to enabling yeast monitoring in brewing.
GFP Transfection Efficiency Monitoring with Orflo’s Moxi GO II
Cell transfection and transduction refer to an array of techniques used to introduce foreign genetic material, or cloning vectors, into cell genomes.
Orflo’s Moxi GO II is ideally and uniquely suited to fulfilling researchers needs for transfection monitoring
Rapid Apoptosis Monitoring using Annexin V and Orflo’s Moxi GO II
Cellular Aptosis is a sophisticated mechanism employed by cells to carefully control death in response to cell injury. Commonly referred to as “programmed cell death”, apoptosis progresses through a systematic signalling cascade that results in characteristic, directed morphological and biochemical outputs in the cell.
Orflo’s Moxi GO II is ideally and uniquly suited to fulfilling researchers needs for apoptosis monitoring.
The effects of caking on the dynamic flow of cohesive powders
Caking or the bonding of particles due to inter-particle cohesion has a huge effect on the behavior of
powders. Strong bonds between particles can prevent materials from exiting silos and storage
containers. However, under dynamic conditions, caking can actually improve the flow properties of the
material. Caking in powders occurs in two ways. Under static conditions as in storage containers and
silos, caking occurs due to particles being pressed together by the force of gravity acting on a column
of material or by external forces. Generally the stronger the forces acting on the material the stronger
the bonds between cohesive particles. Under dynamic conditions, caking occurs due to particles
smashing together as they flow. This type of caking is also referred to as agglomeration, clumping or
granulation. Dynamic conditions are defined as situations where a powder is moving under the
influence of gravity or by mechanical convection. In industry, powders are typically stored under static
conditions but are used under dynamic conditions. Therefore, the characteristics of the material after
storage under static conditions as well as the stability of the material under dynamic conditions are
critical to the successful use of the material. In this study, the effects of caking under static and
dynamic conditions on the dynamic flow characteristics of powders are analyzed. Powders with
different degrees of inter-particle cohesion are studied using uni-axial compression to simulate static
conditions and a rotating drum to simulate dynamic conditions. The assessment of the inter-particle
cohesion of the material is achieved by measuring the unconfined yield strength of the material after a
consolidating stress has been applied. It is found that caking due to inter-particle cohesion under both
static and dynamic conditions directly affects the dynamic flow characteristics of powders and also can
create instabilities in these characteristics as the materials are subjected to dynamic forces. The
dynamic flow characteristics measured include avalanche energy and dynamic density. It is also found
that the level of caking in a powder can be assessed by measuring the changes in its dynamic flow
characteristics before and after exposure to static and dynamic conditions.
Testing Powders for Additive Manufacturing Applications
The Revolution Powder Analyser has been used extensively to test the flow properties of metal and
polymer powders used for additive manufacturing applications. The tests that have been proven to be
suited to additive manufacturing applications include the flowability test, the packing test, the multi
flow test, caking test,and the electrical charge analysis.
Testing Powders for Additive Manufacturing Applications
The Revolution Powder Analyzer has been used extensively to test the flow properties of metal and
polymer powders used for additive manufacturing applications. The tests that have been proven to be
suited to additive manufacturing applications include the flowability test, the packing test, the multi
flow test, caking test,and the electrical charge analysis.
The Evolution Powder Tester versus traditional yield strength tests
The Evolution Powder Tester is designed to measure the unconfined yield strength of powders and
granular materials quickly, accurately, and repeatably. The heart of the design is the analysis cell
The Evolution Powder Tester compared to Shear Testers
The Evolution Powder Tester is used to compare the behaviour of materials under consolidated load. The
only other instruments available for this type of test are powder shear testers. The Evolution was
designed specifically as an alternative to shear testers for many reasons, download the full paper to the right:
ASTM COMMITTEE
B09 WORKSHOP
ON POWDER
CHARACTERIZATION
New powder characterisation tests such as the rotating drum and the
Freeman FT4 rheometer have been introduced in recent years. These instruments have yet to be standardized for use with metal powders. Greg Martiska,
Mercury Scientific Inc., presented the results of testing with the Revolution
Powder Analyser and Joe Tauber, Kennametal Inc., presented data from testing with a Granudrum. The third workshop participant was Tim Freeman,
Freeman Technology, a Micromeritics company. He presented the test results
obtained using the FT4 rheometer.
Mercury Scientific has developed testing proceedures to study the flow properties of powders and
granular materials. These proceedures allow users of Mercury Scientific instruments to measure all
aspects of the flow behavior of their materials. The data produced by these tests is useful for
formulating powders, predicting powder behavior and quantifying powder quality.
Unconfined Yield Strength and the Flow of Powders and Granular Material
Powders and granular materials are made up of freely moving particles and air. For powders, the
particles are small, ranging in size from nanometers to microns. For granular materials, the particles are
typically in the millimeter size range. Because they are made up of freely moving particles and air,
powders and granular materials exhibit properties of both solids and liquids. Under certain conditions,
they may behave more like liquids and flow easily. Under other conditions, they may behave more like
solids and not flow at all or even become solid. In order to understand their behaviour, it is necessary to
measure how powders and granular materials behave under different conditions.
Industrial Applications Spreadability of AM Powders
Identifying, quantifying, and determining the root causes of specific spreadability issues with AM
powders
Powders used in the AM industry either they spread well or they do not. Poor powder spreading is due to
specific issues with the powder or printer parameters. Therefore, the specific spreadability issues must be
identified and quantified so that the root cause of the issue can be determined and corrected. Data is
presented in identifying and quantifying various spreadability issues including low layer density, low
layer thickness, non-uniform layer coverage, channeling, and layer waviness. The root causes of these
issues are determined, and corrective actions are presented.
Industrial Applications Caking and Agglomeration Testing
Pressure-Temperature-Humidity-Time
Powders and granular materials are unique in terms of
industrial materials in that they can remember their stress
and environmental history. In other words, a powder can
change depending on how it is handled and stored. For
example, if a powder is stored in an industrial tote
containing a 1 ton mass, the gas in the powder will be
removed (compressibility) and the powder particles may
form large particles (agglomerates) due to the pressure
acting on the particles. If stored long enough in this way,
the powder may actually become a solid (caking). When the
pressure is removed, the powder may or may not go back to
its original condition before storage.
A comparison of the spreadability and flowability of metal powders for AM applications
The ability of a powder to form a consistent layer in an additive manufacturing (AM) machine is critical to producing high quality parts. This ability is referred to as powder spreadability. There are many official and unofficial definitions of powder spreadability but there is no consensus on how to test it. Many machines have various in situ techniques for analyzing powder layer formation, but these techniques are more for process monitoring than predictive testing. Several tests and test devices have been proposed.1-4 These include test beds that automatically spread a test powder, and manual spreading devices. Typically the measurement performed is an optical analysis of the top surface of the powder layer. In some cases, the density of the layer is measured by weighing the powder and calculating the spread layer volume.
Evaluating the spreadability of metal powders for additive manufacturing applications using a
SpreadStation Powder Analyser
The spreadability of several metal powders manufactured for additive manufacturing applications is
measured for a range of layer thicknesses under different application conditions including a range of
spreading speeds, different spreader geometries, a range of powder feeding geometries and spreader
application pressures and different environmental conditions. The powder spreadability analyzer used for
the measurements is a new instrument commercially produced by Mercury Scientific Inc. Data presented
include spreading efficiency, mass per spreader travel and spreading uniformity per spreader travel.
Evaluating the sensitivity of virgin and recycled Additive Manufacturing powders to segregation and humidity
Powders can change their flow properties as they are handled and used. They also can become more
sensitive to segregation on handling and environmental conditions. This means that a powder that has
been used or recycled may change its behaviour due to handling and environmental exposure more than
virgin material. This behaviour is evaluated by testing the flow properties of virgin and used Additive Manufacturing powders
with the Revolution Powder Analyser before and after exposure to segregation pressure and different
environmental conditions.
Revolution measurements for Additive Manufacturing
Rotating drum rheometers have been widely used to study powders for Additive Manufacturing applications for over 15 years and powders in general for roughly 40 years. The concept of studying powder flow behaviour in a
rotating cylinder or “drum” was presented in Kaye et al in 1995. Powder was placed in a clear
cylinder with a light source in front of it. An array of photocells was places behind the cylinder. The
cylinder or drum was rotated, and the sample powder would prevent or allow light from light source to
reach the photocells. In this way, the avalanching behaviour of the powder could be studied. This concept
was commercialised under the name Aero-Flow in 1996 by Amherst Process Instruments. As a result of
this detection method, the Aero-Flow could only measure the time between avalanches.
The best detection method to study powder in a rotating drum is naturally a digital imaging device.
However, in the 1990’s digital imaging devices and processing systems were expensive, and the time
required to analyse a single image was roughly 20 to 30 seconds. This situation changed rapidly at the
end of the 1990’s with increases in computer processing speed and development of inexpensive digital
imaging devices. A commercial instrument using a digital camera to image the powder in the drum was
developed by Mercury Scientific Inc. in 2002 and was commercialised under the name Revolution
Powder Analyser.
Investigating the Particle Size, Molecular Weight and Thermal Denaturation of Lysozyme
Lysozyme is a commonly used enzyme for lysing Gram-positive bacteria. The comparatively simple structure and low cost make it a popular model in much current biological research.
In this application note, with the BeNano 90 Zeta, the particle size of lysozyme was measured and the molecular weight of lysozyme was calculated through the empirical Mark-Houwink equation. The study on the lysozyme denaturation at high temperature has been successfully carried out, by utilizing the precise temperature-control system of the BeNano 90 Zeta.
Zeta Potential Measurement of Powdered Coffee Creamer Using the BeNano 90 Zeta
Zeta potential is a scientific term for electrokinetic potential in colloidal dispersions. One of the factors to affect the zeta potential values is the chemical composition at the particle surface, and the solution environment in which the particles are dispersed. In this application note, the relation between the zeta potential and pH is investigated by measuring the zeta potentials of a commercially available powdered coffee creamer in different pH environments.
Using the BeNano 90 Zeta to Measure the Zeta Potential of Bovine Serum Albumin
The BeNano 90 Zeta provides accurate and rapid characterization of particle size and zeta potential of Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) in an aqueous solution as will be detailed in this application note. The results show the BeNano 90 Zeta’s capability in low molecular weight proteins particle size and zeta potential measurement, even though the scattering intensity is weak.
Particle Size measurement of High-concentration Pigment Samples with DLS Technology
The particle sizes of high concentration pigments (red and yellow samples) had been characterized successfully by the DLS technology of the BeNano 90 Zeta. Using the capillary sizing cell compatible with the BeNano 90 Zeta, even samples with high concentrations and low transmittance can be analyzed to yield reliable and accurate results.
Measuring the Size of Self-Assembled Surfactant Micelles
at Different Temperatures and Concentrations
In this application note, a non-ionic surfactant micelle Tween 20 and an ionic surfactant micelle SDS were studied by investigating their particle sizes and the effect of temperature on their phase behaviors through dynamic light scattering (DLS) technology.
Investigating Size, Zeta Potential, and Molecular Weight and Evaluating Stability of BSA Solution
Three light scattering technologies, i.e., DLS, ELS, and SLS, are incorporated in the BeNano 90 Zeta to enable the measurements of size, zeta potential, and molecular weight, respectively. In this application note, the sizes of BSA in three dispersants are measured, showing the size trend when using different types of dispersants. Then, the molecular weight Mw of BSA is obtained by the BeNano 90 Zeta and shows excellent agreement with the Mw provided by the GPC system. Finally, by utilizing kD, zeta potential, and A2, the stabilities of BSA protein in different dispersants were successfully evaluated and sorted.
Measuring the Zeta Potential of Highly Concentrated Fat Emulsion
The zeta potentials of lipid emulsion suspensions at different concentrations were successfully characterized by the ELS technology of the BeNano 180 Zeta. The results confirm the capability of the BeNano 180 Zeta in measuring the zeta potential of highly concentrated samples thanks to the innovative optical system and the folded capillary cell with a short light path. It is also concluded that the zeta potential results obtained from highly concentrated samples could not reflect the true potential value of the system. In order to obtain the true zeta potential results, use a proper dilutant to dilute the concentrated sample to an appropriate range. For an unknown aqueous system, it is recommended to perform a concentration titration experiment to determine the optimal concentration range.
Characterising Iron Dextran Preparation with the BeNano 90
In this application note, the BeNano 90 was used to characterize two iron dextran injections, a commercially available one and a R&D stage one. Size differences were successfully distinguished, and the presence of aggregates in the R&D sample was ascertained. With regards to the injection preparations, particular attention needs to be paid to the formation of aggregates, due to their significant effect on the drug stability, efficacy, and immune response. Hence, the BeNano 90 with its excellent sensitivity for aggregates or large particles will be extremely useful and convenient as a research tool for injection preparation.
Determining the Size and Zeta Potential of Alumina Abrasive
The BeNano 90 Zeta was employed successfully to determine the size and zeta potential of nano alumina dispersed in the aqueous environment. The measurement results suggest that the nano alumina is close to monodisperse in size and possesses high stability with the zeta potential amplitude over 30 mV.
Characterising the Size and Size Distribution of Monoclonal Antibody Modified Latex Particles
In the field of immunodiagnostic assay, the BeNano 90 is able to provide highly accurate and reproducible test results, which is a powerful process-monitoring tool for producing and developing such latex-antibody immunological reagents.
In this application note, a thermosensitive PNIPAm sample is characterised by automatic measurements of the particle sizes and zeta potentials under the programmed temperature change process of the BeNano. The PNIPAm measured exhibits similar behaviour with the reported results from most literature. The temperature trend measurement of the BeNano can significantly improve the measurement efficiency and provide a robust and powerful testing tool for such applications.
Using the BAT-1 autotitrator to measure the zeta potentials of TiO2 at different pH
This study shows the measurement of zeta potentials of titanium dioxide (TiO2) at different pH levels using the BAT-1 autotitrator. Zeta potential, which depends on the chemical composition and environment, can vary with pH. The TiO2 powder was dispersed in water and subjected to automatic titration with HCl from pH 5.4 to 2 using the BAT-1 autotitrator. Results showed that the zeta potential of TiO2 was positive at low pH, approached zero at pH 3.5 (isoelectric point), and gradually became negative with increasing pH. The BeNano with PALS technique provided accurate and repeatable zeta potential measurements, simplifying the process and improving efficiency.
Using the BAT-1 autotitrator to measure the zeta potentials of Al2O3 at different pH
The use of alumina (Al2O3) as a versatile material has prompted research on its stability under different surface modifications. Zeta potential, which depends on the chemical composition and pH of the medium, is an important parameter to assess stability. The BAT-1 autotitrator and BeNano analyzer were employed to measure the zeta potential of Al2O3 particles at different pH levels. The results indicated that the isoelectric point of the Al2O3 system was at pH 6.8, with lower zeta potential magnitudes suggesting instability near this point. Higher pH levels (10-12) exhibited higher zeta potential magnitudes and greater system stability due to stronger electrostatic forces.
Measuring the Thermal Sensitive Rheological Behavior of BSA Solution with the BeNano 180 Zeta
This application presents the use of Dynamic Light Scattering Microrheology (DLS Microrheology) to measure the thermal-sensitive rheological behavior of a BSA (bovine serum albumin) solution using the BeNano 180 Zeta. DLS Microrheology utilizes tracer particles to measure the mean square displacements (MSD) and obtain rheological information of solutions. The study reveals that at higher temperatures, aggregation of BSA leads to an increase in viscoelasticity. The DLS microrheological technique provides a powerful and efficient means to characterize the rheological properties of liquids.
Characterising the size and size distribution of monosaccharide molecules
This application note discusses the characterization of the size and size distribution of monosaccharide molecules, specifically glucose. The BeNano, equipped with a high-speed correlator, was used to measure glucose, which has a molecular weight of 180 Da. Viscosity correction was performed using polystyrene spheres, and measurements were conducted at different concentrations. The results showed distinct correlation functions and size distributions for sucrose and glucose samples, highlighting the presence of monosaccharides and polysaccharides. The BeNano system demonstrated reliable detection capabilities for small particles like glucose.
Determining the Average Zeta Potential and Distribution of Battery Electrode Slurry
This application note presents a study on determining the zeta potential of battery electrode slurry dispersed in NMP solvent. The experiment utilized the BeNano to measure the zeta potential of four different samples. The results showed that all samples had negative zeta potentials, indicating the presence of negative charges in the electrode materials. The zeta potential amplitudes were around 50 mV, indicating high stability. The study highlights the importance of understanding zeta potential for optimizing battery electrode production and emphasizes the reliability of the measurements.
Manufacturing Processes for Engineered T-Cell Therapy – CAR-T
Why T-cells are important
They recognise host vs. non-host cells to initiate an immune response
They’re the primary immune system agents that attack diseased cells or infection
They’re used in several cell-based therapies:
Transplantation of donor T-cells – a bone marrow
transplant, in which a matched donor’s cells are used
to replace the patient’s cells, is the most widely used
approach—typically for diseases that originate in the
immune system (e.g., leukemia)
Isolation and enrichment of a patient’s T-cells – an
approach considered the safest because it enhances
a patient’s own immune response to disease
CAR-T therapy – a more recent approach in which
T-cells are removed, genetically engineered to express
a synthetic receptor against specific cancer cells, then
infused back into the patient’s bloodstream; this therapy
is effective because many cancer cells “hide” from the
immune system by appearing to be normal cells, thereby
triggering no immune response
Water-based and solvent coatings have significant various
rheological behavior and the analysis of their flow curve in
function of shear rate variation enables to perfectly adjust their
formulation in order that user has the same easy of use
and also to limit the flowing too.
Gel power measurement by compression test or Bloom
value enables to quantify strength of gels, simply with a
perfectly defined method, according European
pharmacopeia.
The disc plunger performs a compression test which
extrudes the product up and around the edge of the disc.
This test measures the consistency of viscous products,
like shampoo.
Elasticity, consistency and stickiness of different hair
styling gel from the same manufacturer.
Compression-relaxation-traction test also known as
CRT test is used to determine the elasticity, the
consistency and the stickiness of soft sample.
Knowing theses parameters, it becomes possible to
determine the firmness, the cohesion and the
threading nature of the products.
Actuation force determination for different medical syringes
The compression test used allows us to assess the
actuation force needed to push liquid outside the
syringe. Thanks to the adjustable workbench, it can
be used for syringes with a diameter between
0.9cm and 2.9cm in diameter.
Cosmetic products have different rheological behaviours
depending on how they were formulated and on their use.
A comparison of two different shampoos, i.e. Baby and Adult as
in this example, is characteristic of this
Gel power measurement by compression test or Bloom
value enables to quantify strength of gels, simply with a
perfectly defined method, according European
pharmacopeia.
Measuring the viscosity of wall filler is often difficult: either
the filler is too viscous for the instrument being used, or the
geometry compounds the product during measurement. We
have introduced a simple and effective technical solution for this
application
Elasticity, consistency and adhesion of mayonnaise (low-fat vs full-fat)
Two similar products such as low-fat and full-fat
mayonnaise should have similar texture. That’s why the
determination of elasticity, consistency and adhesion is
primordial.
Softness and elasticity measurement of marshmallow
The Ottawa piston can be used to perform compression
(or compression-relaxation) on large sample. A
compression-relaxation test is used to determine the
softness and elasticity in different soft candy.
Kramer cell is used for the analysis of multi-particle
products such as corn, olives or peas. During the test,
thanks to the design of the cell, there is a combination of
compression, shearing and extrusion.
Freshness of different fresh products such as apples
Cylindrical probes are used to make penetration test.
Those tests allow us to determine the freshness of the
products by linking firmness to freshness.
Texture analysis of two types of raspberry (thawed vs fresh)
Kramer cell is used for the analysis of multi-particle
products such as raspberry, corn, olives or peas. During
the test, thanks to the design of the cell, there is a
combination of compression, shearing and extrusion.
Consistency of two types of yogurts (0% vs normal)
Mesh probe is used here to measure the consistency of
2 different kinds of fruits yogurts. Using a compression
test, it can quantify the consistency of products but also
the presence of fruits inside.
Gel power measurement by compression test or Bloom
value enables to quantify strength of gels, simply with a
perfectly defined method, according European
pharmacopeia.
Crispness measurement in different types of cat snacks
The usage of a knife probe allows us to cut through hard
samples such as cat snacks. The required cutting force
is one of the main parameters in preparation of dry food.
Sausages firmness determination using Warner-Bratzler cell
Sausages are placed on the Warner-Bratzler base plate.
The cut inside it allows the blade to cut through samples
without trouble. Three different types of sausage are
used: pork, chicken and vegetable (wheat and peas). A
21mm compression test allows the blade to cut the
entire sausages.
Stem cells are interesting because they are undifferentiated, and eventually they differentiate into particular cell
types. There is a large amount of research going into stem cells and how they can help with therapeutics.
Analysing them using Pi Sentinel PRO can aid this.
The Pi Sentinel PRO is an instrument that determines particle size and shape. It can be used to analyse stem cell
information by generating histograms for all the measured particles.
Importance of Particle Size and Shape in Dissolution of Multi-
Component Drug Delivery Systems
The particle size and particle shape of multi-component controlled release drugs must be considered during their
dissolution of as a function of time. Though the size and shape of the particles are well known when the capsules are
filled, oftentimes, little is known about the changes in size, shape, and morphology during dissolution. Particles that
start as spheres or granules will eventually take new shapes as they break down. Particle Shape analysis is used to
show that the multiple components of the drug are similar in size but have distinct shapes as well as to demonstrate
that particle shapes change as they dissolve.
Uniformity of Particle Shape for Chromatography Packing Materials
used in HPLC.
High Performance Liquid Chromatography (or High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography) is a separation technique used
in many areas of analytical chemistry to separate, identify, and qualify various compounds in a specific solution. HPLC
utilizes a column that holds chromatographic packing material that retains molecules as they are pumped through the
column, the retention time being dependent on the packing material, the carrier liquid (solvent), and the specific type
molecule. Each chemical species in the injected sample is most identified by UV and Mass Spec detection. Most
traditional analytical HPLC packing materials have an average diameter of approximately 2 to 30 microns and are
typically a silica-based or alumina-based material. The particle size of the packing material is usually measured using
methods that assume all particles are uniformly spherical. This may not be the case, as in manufacture of the silica
and bonding, fines and irregular shaped particles can be a percentage of the final product. As particle size decreases,
the effect of fines and irregular shaped particles demands a greater degree of control on incoming quality of the silica
material. Variation in particle shape can directly affect reproducible performance.
Dynamic Image Analysis of suspended liquid particles.
In various industries, it is important to measure the size of liquid particles in a suspension. These could be as simple
as oil droplets suspended in water or water droplets suspended in oil. There are other instances in pharmaceutical
applications where liquid dosages may be encapsulated inside a harder outer shell. In many of these cases, the end
user may have a need to determine the size of these globules, the shape, and possibly the concentration. However,
the challenge is using an automated technique that can differentiate between a water droplet and an oil droplet as
well as to differentiate these particles of interest from other debris as to not impact the concentration measurements.
The most common particle measurement techniques can only differentiate particles based on size. In addition, most
of these common techniques will assume all particles are spherical in shape, which for this globule application is an
accurate assumption unless there are non-spherical particles, such as debris, that could incorrectly be measured as
part of the main population of particles. In addition, some of the more common techniques require supplementary
information about the particles as well as the fluid they are suspended in.
Automated image analysis has been developed to
provide users with a more accurate measurement of
their particles. For many years, particle size analysers
have rendered results with the assumption that all
measured particles are spherical. However, in many
applications, the circularity of particles can affect both
performance and flowability in manufacturing. In some
cases, for example, measuring surface smoothness can
impact how well abrasives perform.
The regulation of lac operon (lacO), a set of
Escherichia Coli genes responsible for the lactose
metabolism in the bacteria, by the lac repressor is a
well-studied system in molecular biology. The lac
repressor, a DNA-binding protein (lacl), is key to
controlling the lac operon. The equilibrium
dissociate constant (KD) of this system is estimated
to be in the nM range.
Energetic materials (commonly known as explosives)
such as 1,3,5-trinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX)
(Figure 1) has been used extensively in the
manufacturing of munitions, and accounts for a
large part of the explosive’s contamination at active
and former military installations in various parts of
the world. 1 Most RDX compounds are not
significantly retained by soils and biodegrade very
slowly. As a result, RDX can easily percolate through
the ground to contaminate ground water which
serves as drinking water for surrounding
populations. RDX is not only classified as potentially
carcinogenic, but it can also damage the nervous
system if inhaled or ingested. Hence, continuous
monitoring of RDX levels in ground water would be
ideal for public safety to reduce RDX exposure to the
population and limit its potentially adverse health
effects.
Understanding the mechanism of action of
transmembrane (TM) proteins
The CD36 (cluster of differentiation 36) is part of
transmembrane proteins with versatile functions.
Encoded by the CD36 gene, the CD36 protein is
found on the surface of many cell types in
vertebrates. It has various roles in lipid uptake, cell
adhesion and pathogen sensing. As a result, several
diseases related to arterial hypertension, diabetes,
cardiomyopathy are associated with mutation or
misregulation of these transmembrane proteins.
Understanding the factors affecting sensing efficiency in SPR
biosensing
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a disease where
immature white blood cells originated from the bone
marrow become cancerous, inducing proliferation in
the blood flow and subsequently to organs in addition
to prevent the proper function of other blood cells. One
of the main chemotherapeutic agents proven for its
efficacy for ALL is the E. coli L-asparaginase (EcAII) as a
biological therapeutic agent. The challenge with
undergoing such treatment is that the patient can
potentially develop silent inactivation of the biological
chemotherapeutic agent by generating antibodies to
neutralize EcAII and therefore reducing treatment
efficiency.
Biological Applications Quality Control of Antibodies
Rapid quality control of antibodies using Affinité’s simple
P4SPRTM
The quality control of biopharmaceuticals such as
antibodies must be performed to ensure quality and
safety. For instance, the quality of antibodies is affected
by process parameters such as pH, temperature, CO2,
and cell culture metabolites [1]. Not only should these
biopharmaceuticals be characterized by standard
physicochemical methods such as mass spectrometry,
but their biological activities must also be investigated
as well. This has traditionally been done using endpoint
assays such as Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays
(ELISA). However, these assays do not provide
kinetic and affinity data. An alternative method is
Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR). SPR is a powerful
technique to characterize proteins because it is a label
free technique that enables real-time assessment of
protein interactions, and it does not require much
sample preparation.
The central dogma of molecular biology stipulates
that DNA is transcribed to RNA, and RNA is
subsequently translated into protein [1] . While the
central dogma adequately encapsulates the field of
molecular biology, protein-protein interactions are
at the heart of virtually every biological process.
While many are familiar with the term genome, the
comprehensive genes of organism, or the term
proteome, the comprehensive proteins expressed
in an organism, fewer are familiar with an
organism’s interactome. In short, the interactome
typically refers to the entire set of protein-protein
interactions (PPIs) in an organism. The importance
of protein-protein interactions, and its central
nature in biological processes, is highlighted by its
role in human diseases.
Drug discovery application: Determination of dissociation
constant (KD) between a fragment and a protein
Drug discovery is a long and rigorous process, and
there are many approaches from different branches
of science to find ideal drug candidates. Fragment
based drug discovery has been established as a
strategy to identify small compounds that can be
further developed into leads and clinical candidates
(1, 2). Fragment compounds are typically < 300 Da in
size (3), and they are typically screened against a
target protein.
Detection of hemagglutinin using Affinité’s P4SPRTM as a
potential platform to monitor production of influenza
vaccine
The influenza vaccine is manufactured each year to
protect people against serious illness that require
hospitalization and reduce the number of
mortalities associated with influenza. Therefore, the
timely production and validation of influenza
vaccine lots are of utmost importance. Each vaccine
lot must be evaluated for potency, which is based on
the amount of the hemagglutinin (HA) content
found on influenza viruses in the vaccine.
