flowDLS

Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) is a powerful method for characterizing particle sizes in dispersions and polymers. While data analysis can be complex, the measurement process is simple, fast, and non-invasive, applicable to various analyte materials. Recently, lipid nanoparticles, critical for mRNA-based drugs and vaccines, have attracted attention, requiring efficient analysis methods. However, the currently available inline particle measurement devices can only be used to a limited extent, necessitating the development of a new continuous DLS technique that is user-friendly and easy to integrate.

The DLS method analyzes the intensity of scattered light to measure the Brownian motion speed of particles, which correlates with their hydrodynamic size using the Stokes-Einstein equation. The new system from Fraunhofer IMM effectively suppresses flow-dependent movement influences through advanced digital image processing. It can analyze particle sizes at flow rates up to 200 ml/min and is designed for both steady and pulsing laminar flows.

The flowDLS system is compact, cost-effective, and features automated calibration for various particle sizes and flow velocities, requiring no user input during operation. It connects easily to industrial control systems and displays real-time measurements on a touchscreen.

The flowDLS device has been tested in a microreactor setup, successfully monitoring the synthesis of niosomes and silica particles, detecting rapid size changes in response to process adjustments. It enables inline measurements in microfluidic chips for lipid nanoparticles, allowing for quick insights into process dynamics. Overall, the flowDLS system is ideal for online monitoring in production environments, ensuring quality control and efficient process development with minimal sample use.