The Zetasizer Nano is a particle characterisation system from Malvern Instruments. It is said to be an ideal tool for advanced healthcare applications such as gene therapy and selective-target carrier molecules.
US researchers at the University of Washington say that accurate zeta potential and particle size measurements enabled their successful development of fluorescent, tumour-targeting iron oxide nanoparticles.
The nanoparticles are able to safely cross the blood-brain barrier and selectively illuminate brain cancer cells during a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. The researchers claim that these innovative molecules are set to make brain cancer imaging much safer.
“Safe molecular penetration of the blood-brain barrier depends on a particle’s size, fat content and electric charge," said Professor Miqin Zhang from the University of Washington. "It wasn’t until we obtained the Zetasizer Nano in 2006 that we were able to efficiently measure, monitor and optimise these properties and develop nanoparticles that deliver the desired half-life in blood but remain stable long enough to support imaging.”
The blood-brain barrier protects the brain from infection. Current imaging techniques require the injection of both dyes and a drug to forcefully open the barrier.
Professor Zhang and her team have formulated particles approximately 33 nanometres in diameter. Three times smaller in wet conditions than anything previously formulated in the lab, these particles can naturally penetrate the blood-brain barrier without exposing the patient to the risk of infection, and represent a highly significant advance in brain cancer imaging.
ATA Scientific is the Australian distributor for particle characterisation systems from Malvern Instruments.