Enabling quantitative research in nanotechnology with a NanoSight NS300 Particle Characterization Analyzer.

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Nanotechnology offers many promising solutions for technologies of the future, but also raises concerns about potential health and environmental impacts. Considering the global importance of this field, an unprecedented research initiative is currently underway to identify new properties for nanomaterials, tune functionality, and better understand nanomaterial-biomolecular interactions. Because the properties of nanomaterials are typically mediated by their outer surface that interfaces with the external environment, their surface chemistry, size, surface area, and hence the absolute concentration of nanoparticles are expected to directly impact performance. Unfortunately, available data does not consistently relate performance (etc.) to size or absolute nanoparticle concentration. As such, it is difficult to draw meaningful conclusions regarding performance/’toxicity’ within a given class of nanomaterial or across different classes. Such an understanding would not only pave the way for better framing potential biological concerns (therapeutic/environmental applications) but also leads to new opportunities for synergy between nanomaterials and chemical/physical processes.