Can I use DLS for xyz?
How can I use DLS for sample xyz?
What is the best sample concentration / refractive index for reliable DLS size measurements?
Has it been done before?
In Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) we analyze intensity fluctuations in the sample to obtain size information on the sample. The technique is applicable to a wide size range from sub-nanometer up to a few microns. In order to obtain a meaningful result, a minimum scattering signal strength must be present. Malvern’s Zetasizer Nano software contains a calculator to help estimate the required minimum concentration to use DLS.
If anyone else has done DLS on this material then the Zetasizer can measure it. A quick and easy method to check would be google scholar. To find the recommended concentration for the new sample type, there are two tools available in the software.
How to size molecules in solution?
A good starting point for molecules (for example proteins, polymers) with an expected molecular weight is the minimum concentration calculator.
Tools –> Calculators –> Concentration Utilities –> Minimum Concentration Calculator
Enter the molecular weight, for example 80kDa. For nucleotides, use the conversion
- base pair to kilo Dalton: 1 base pair ~ 0.6kDa ,
- 1 base ~ 0.3 kDa,
- 1 amino acid ~ 0.11kDa, or 1 aa~ 110Da .
As in the screenshot example to the right, the required minimum concentration for size measurements in the Zetasizer Nano S would be 0.02 mg/mL, so anything larger than that would be fine. And then we could use DLS.
How to size particles in solution?
A good starting point for particles (for example standards, virus, virus-like particles, emulsions) with an expected size is the Concentration and Scattering calculator.
Tools –> Calculators –> Concentration Utilities –> Concentration and Scattering
and enter the radius, for example 110nm, the instrument model, and attenuator (select 11 to find the highest sensitivity). By varying the sample concentration, the expected count rate is shown in the lower right corner, as long as it is above 200kcps the sample should exhibit enough scattering and this is suitable for a DLS measurement.
In this example shown on the right, at the concentration of 1.0*E-5 % volume fraction (=1E-7 volume fraction) the sample would scatter enough intensity signal to obtain a reliable correlation function.
To find the refractive index of the material, please note that this is irrelevant for intensity based results and only potentially important for volume based results, with a list of some common refractive index values was posted in a prior blog.
Scattering calculator summary
On the left side of the scattering calculator enter the radius, polydispersity, refractive index and absorption of the particles. Then also enter the (initial) concentration, make initial and final the same, and enter the refractive index of the dispersant. Finally select the model name (Zetasizer Nano S for sizing in backscatter, 173°, Zetasizer Nano S90 for sizing at 90°, and Zetasizer Nano Z for zeta at forward angle 13°) and the attenuator (11 = 100% laser power).
The predicted results in this calculator on the right side show the number of particles per microLiter, the average particle spacing in microns, the particle volume fraction, the expected number of particles in the scattering volume, the expected derived countrate, and the expected count rate. Finally, concerning the number of particles, remember 1 particle/µL = 1E3 particles/mL.
Why do I get a size for just clean water?
This may be strange for new users of DLS: Put just clean water or clean buffer in the instrument, and out comes a result. Here are a few suggestions to consider
- Does the Intensity PSD report indicate any comment about the quality report? If so, check what the Size quality report indicates about the measurement [there is also a technical note on the size quality report]. It most likely has several red comments, like “Data quality too poor for cumulants analysis“, “Data quality too poor for distribution analysis“, or “Sample may not be suitable for DLS measurements“
- Are the data repeatable? If you repeat the clean water measurement five times, are all the results nicely overlapping? (They should not be…)
- Is the water really clean? Occasionally dust is present in cuvettes stored in the open (rinse with copious amounts of clean water), filters may be contaminated, the storage container may have some issue (algae growth?) – purchase a bottle of distilled water at the grocery story and try that distilled water for rinsing and filling the cuvette for the measurement. Do not overfill, just to the fill line indicated on the pictogram under the sample holder lid. For a classic Zetasizer Nano ZS, the scattering intensity count rate should be ~40-80kcps (kilo counts per second).
Alternatively, try making single short runs, to see if there is a large variability in subsequent runs indicating the presence of larger scattering objects, i.e. some contamination in the water. To do so, set up the measurement for size for backscatter, manual, single runs of 3 seconds, 20repeats, and allow partial results to be saved (or correlation function data only, even if it is not like a nice correlogram). And feel free to send this to our help desk for interpretation.
Previously
- Concentration requirements for measuring a virus with DLS
- A quick primer on dynamic light scattering
50,00069,100 Zetasizer references