Power of TWO to simplify complexity

A bit of history

We all met a few years ago in pre-COVID world, in one of the Horizon 2020 project meetings. The ACEnano project, with 26 partners scattered across the globe, aims to introduce confidence, adaptability and clarity into nanomaterial risk assessment. 5 years later, we are here at the end of 2020, proudly sailing to the shore with a hidden treasure on our ship.

Believe, Prototype, Demonstrate

Initially, a very skeptical idea of combing FFF with NTA techniques was parked in the corner of project activities. An early prototype solution had been already presented by a few, but with technologies evolving all the time, could we do better and move beyond a prototype? The passion and determination of two teams from the independent companies of Postnova and Malvern Panalytical were needed for the new solution to shine. Linked with ACEnano promises and cheered by partners, we were motivated to work together to take on the challenge. Prototyping and experimenting by Florian Meier and his research team from Postnova deserves a special distinction in the world of COVID-19 restrictions. Thank you Florian! In a couple of months the solution was ready!

Complexity simplified

Both techniques EAF4 and NTA have been widely adopted in biological sample separation and characterization. The challenge remains for analysis of these samples in condition mimicking in vivo conditions.  Finding the particles of interest in such a complex system is like looking for a needle in the haystack – nearly impossible and for sure not simple!

Hyphenation of two powerful techniques: Postnova FFF and Malvern Panalytical NTA, makes the impossible – possible by simplifying the complexity!

Using Electrical Asymmetrical Flow Field-Flow Fractionation (EAF4) with detectors including Multi-Angle Light Scattering (MALS) and adding Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA) allows effective separation of matrix particles along with the high-resolution size and number concentration information on the particles of interest.  The coupling of the two systems was realized using a flow splitter to deliver the sample at an appropriate flow speed for the NTA measurement.

Would you like to learn more?

Simple, robust and elegant on-line solution for investigating the complex systems from Postnova and Malvern Panalytical – what do you think? If you would like to learn more please read our joint publication. Here we describe EAF4-MALS hyphenated with NTA as a powerful analytical platform for comprehensive physicochemical characterization of challenging sample like exosomes and drug delivery particles in complexed matrices.

We will be exhibiting at CLINAM with a presentation by Florian on Wednesday the 28th of October.