Liposomal Particle Size Measurement

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Particle size is important to be considered before preparing liposomes, especially for lipid nanoparticles. Our experienced scientists have created a comprehensive liposome characterization platform that can help you measure different liposome product sizes.

Why Analyze the Size?

The particle size not only affects in vitro characteristics, such as drug loading, aggregation, and sedimentation, it is generally believed that the particle size and the pharmacokinetic behavior and biodistribution of liposomes are closely related. Therefore, controlling particle size becomes a key issue during liposome preparation and a key parameter in product specifications.

Detection Method

Methods for characterizing liposome products must be meaningful, repeatable, and fast.

Microscopy (e.g. optical microscope, negative staining electron microscope, cryo-transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscope, confocal microscopy and scanning probe microscope)
Laser light scattering and photon correlation spectroscopy
Hydrodynamics (field flow fractionation, gel permeation chromatography, ultracentrifugation, and centrifugation)

What We Do？

Based on our advanced technology and rich experience in liposome research, we can help customers complete the size analysis of liposome products to better understand the characteristics of the liposome products.

Figure 1: schematic representation of typical particle size graphs indicating a polydisperse sample (M. Danaei. 2018).

How We Do?

Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS)

Liposome particle sizes can be quickly determined using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). Brownian motion of liposomes in suspension causes scattered laser light to fluctuate in intensity over time. The smaller the particle, the faster the diffusion, and the fluctuation rate of the scattered light intensity will change accordingly.

Flow cytometry (FCM)

Flow cytometry (FCM) is an established method for assessing the diameter and size distribution of individual nanocarriers. FCM has been applied to the analysis of multilayer and large monolayer vesicles (MLV and LUV). It uses light scattering to measure particles and vesicles in a continuous flow system.

The sample must be fluorescently labeled to distinguish it from impurities and noise signals. FCM is a very fast, reliable, and reproducible method.

If you have any question or requests, please feel free to contact us.

Reference

M. Danaei. et al. Impact of Particle Size and Polydispersity Index on the Clinical Applications of Lipidic Nanocarrier Systems. Pharmaceutics. 2018 Jun; 10(2):57.