Wyatt Technology DynaPro ZetaStar nanoparticle analysis instrument

Waters Corporation has introduced the DynaPro ZetaStar instrument, from its Wyatt Technology portfolio, for nanoparticle analysis. The product simultaneously enables dynamic, static and electrophoretic light scattering (DLS/SLS/ELS) measurements, all in one device. By combining multiple light scattering techniques and automatically assessing data quality and performing adaptive data capture, the instrument is designed to deliver both high sensitivity and fast measurements to aid the precise development of complex biologics, using ultralow sample volumes.

The flow cell design allows the product to be configured with an autosampler, increasing laboratory efficiency and productivity with dozens of unattended measurements that can be run for several hours or even overnight. The instrument’s ability to measure simultaneous DLS and ELS, along with the adaptive data collection functionality, is said to improve the speed of traditional ELS measurements by up to 10x.

The simple product design features a walk-up touchscreen interface that allows scientists to collect five critical parameters in a single workflow — size, polydispersity, particle concentration, zeta potential and turbidity — thus allowing ultralow sample volumes (down to 2 µL). These parameters are important for characterising the size and charge (zeta potential) of particles and macromolecules in a solution.

The instrument implements a novel algorithm that removes potential user error and bias, leading to simple implementation and fast time to results. System uptime can also be improved with features that prevent the instrument from falling out of alignment, leading to a more efficient lab.

Designed to support the expanding needs of biopharma formulation and development laboratories, the device helps scientists working in gene therapy, vaccines, mRNA and proteins develop more stable therapies. It can also benefit R&D laboratories in material science investigating the colloidal stability of novel molecules like quantum dots or other metal nanoparticles used in semiconductor applications.