Izon Science is pleased to announce the launch of the world's most comprehensive nanoparticle analysis solution..... in a single instrument.

Our newly developed Variable Pressure Module (VPM), an add on to our existing instrument systems allows virtually all particles, including viruses, nanoparticles, bioparticles such as exosomes and liposomes, to be precisely characterised. Particle size, concentration, electrophoretic mobilty and aggregation can all be analysed for all particles regardless of surface charge. Real-time reaction monitoring is achieved by observing and analysing subtle changes in characteristics of particle sets allowing interactions between particles and particles and biomolecules to be monitored in real time.

Our advanced nanoparticle analysis capability was launched in Europe at the MicroNanoTech tradeshow, a microsystems, nanotechnology and laser technology tradeshow, under the umbrella of world leading industrial showcase Hannover Messe in Germany. A US launch took place at the BIO 2010 tradeshow in Chicago. More ....

Since the initial launch of its full version qNano and qViro products in June 2009, Izon’s technology has now been sold to research organisations around the world and is in use in over a dozen countries including Germany, Denmark, United Kingdom, Singapore, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, and USA.

qNano or qViro used in conjunction with additional pressure control capability using the VPM provides a comprehensive nanoparticle analysis solution for researchers. Contact us for a tailored solution for your research requirements.
 

Sepmag Technologies, a European company based near Barcelona, develops, manufactures and markets precision magnetophoresis systems for the biotechnology industry. It is focused on providing scalable magnetic separation systems with highly reproducible conditions for the capture of biomolecules, microorganisms and cells for different applications.

Izon’s technology is being utilised by Sepmag to study the behaviour of magnetic particle suspensions that have a heterogeneous particle size distribution, providing a better understanding of the operation of the Sepmag systems and facilitating focused product development. Several magnetic particle suspensions analyzed in the Sepmag laboratory present a typical behaviour in which a major fraction of the magnetic particles in the sample are separated within seconds or minutes, while some take several hours to separate.

Using the Izon qNano instrument, particle size distribution in the clarified sample can be easily monitored by collecting samples at different times along the separation process. The results obtained make it possible to correlate separation time with particle size, providing a method to discriminate size fractions by controlling the separation time.
Sepmag is also planning to use the qNano to study possible changes in this magnetophoretical behaviour due to the effect of different variables such as medium conditions or particle morphology. This study will also benefit from applications of the qNano instrument beyond sizing analysis, such as the measurement of particle surface charge.

Coupling the qNano with Sepmag’s system

Since its creation, Sepmag has also been working in collaboration with academic institutions (UAB, ICMAB-CSIC) on research projects focused in elucidating the aggregation phenomena controlling the magnetophoretical process. It has been found that the existence of a field-induced phenomenon of reversible aggregation has an important role on the separation process in low gradient magnetic separation [1]. Recently, researchers have started to devote time to developing models that study the aggregation phenomena observed in magnetic colloids [2], with the consequent need for experimental data to develop and validate the theoretical models.

Coupling of a specifically designed Sepmag system with the Izon qNano instrument (Figure below), will allow researchers at Sepmag to carry out an in-depth study of the aggregation mechanisms of magnetic particles in their systems. This will be achieved by submitting magnetic particle suspensions to the effect of a magnetic field and monitoring the process on-line with the qNano system.

“Izon has been very supportive in assisting us with the familiarisation and use of the qNano and its application to our project. We are very pleased with the results that we are achieving with the qNano and have identified significant future potential uses for the instrumentation.” Anna Montras, R & D Manager, Sepmag Technologies

 

Dr. Darby Kozak, Dr. Seth Roberts and Will Anderson of the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology at the University of Queensland are providing fundamental insight into the qNano’s ability to selectively gate and characterise nanoparticles based on their size.

Their preliminary work, done in collaboration with Dr. Murray Broom and Dr. Robert Vogel of Izon, demonstrates the utility of the qNano’s size-tunable nanopore for improving the instrument resolution for particle size characterisation. They also demonstrated detection and gating of particles by selectively preventing the passage of larger particles through the pore in particle populations with a wide size distribution.

Tuning the size of the nanopore by applying mechanical strain to the elastomeric material in which it is fabricated enabled a given particle size distribution to be studied at a greater signal-to-noise ratio than what is currently possible using a fixed pore size analysis system. The Izon system is also able to be tuned to investigate size ranges far below the existing commercial fixed pore systems. Reducing the pore size was found to increase the blockade magnitude difference and therefore the resolution of a trimodal suspension of 100, 220 and 400 nm carboxylated polystyrene particles. An example of this ability to tune the resolution of a sizing analysis is shown in the Figure below.

This work, along with information on the detection of biologically modified particles, is the focus of an article that has been submitted for publication to ‘Small’ (article entitled “Tunable Nano/Micropores for Particle Detection and Discrimination: Scanning Ion Occlusion Spectroscopy”). Details of the publication will be available on our website once publication is finalised.

Tuning the q-Nano pore size to improve blockade magnitude signal resolution of a trimodal particle suspension. Reducing the pore size increases the particle blockade magnitude (red to the blue histogram) and reduces the number of larger particles that pass through the pore.

We regularly attend international conferences and tradeshow, providing a great opportunity for you to meet us in person and experience our technology first hand...

We are committed to providing as many people as possible with the opportunity to see our instrument systems in action - over the past year we have attended conferences, tradeshows and other events in half a dozen countries including local events in New Zealand and Australia as well as major conferences and tradeshows in the USA, Canada, Germany and Singapore.

Our next presence will be at the ACS Fall 2010 Meeting and Exhibition in Boston, 22 - 26 August 2010 and at Nanovesicles Conference, Magdalen College, Oxford University, 23 -24 September 2010. For more information on these and other upcoming events please see our website.