The release of Izon's Version 2.0 software, currently in beta testing and due for release in the next  few weeks, provides significant advances in automation and simplicity of use for the qNano and qViro.  Our customers have asked for more automation and that is what we have provided – it will save time and simplify the use of the system. Initial testing has also indicated that we can measure particle size more accurately than a standard TEM.

In addition, the release of our range of calibration particles will enable the user to obtain absolute size and concentration information about their samples.

Existing Izon customers will be able to download the new software via the Support Centre on the Izon website once it is available and we will advise them of the availability personally.

We will also be running a series of webinars to show customers through the new software, outline the new functionality, and enable interaction with the Izon development team for questions around how the new functionality can be applied to research projects. Webinar details will be advised on our website and by e-mail to customers.

Professor Frank Caruso and his team at the Melbourne Materials Institute at the University of Melbourne, are investigating Layer-by-Layer (LbL) assembled nanoengineered capsules that have applications as drug delivery vehicles. Izon’s technology is being used by members of the research group
to quantify the capsules as well as to investigate the flexibility of the hollow structures. The capsules are made by adsorbing the layers onto a silica template which is later removed.

Their research requires accurate quantification of the capsules to ensure consistent dosing for in vitro and in vivo experiments. Sarah Dodds, a post-graduate researcher in Professor Caruso’s team, has been using the qNano to accurately measure the concentration of the nano-engineered capsules, which are difficult to quantify any other way due to their small size.

In addition to quantification, Sarah and Dr. Angus Johnston are using the qNano to probe the flexibility of the capsules. This characteristic is of interest as it has implications for the ability of the delivery vehicles to reach their target site in the body. An understanding of deformability is needed to explain the in vivo behaviour of capsules.The tunable nanopore in the qNano allows comparison of LbL systems with and without the silica template used in synthesis.
 

Sarah Dodds received full training in the use of the qNano at the Izon laboratory in Christchurch in August. Sarah is pictured below with Izon staff in Christchurch - from left to right - Rebecca Warr, Sarah Dodds and Robin Williams
 

Researchers at the Biomedical Diagnostics Institute at the National Centre for Sensor Research at Dublin City University have chosen Izon's qNano system to advance their research into functionalised nanoparticles for diagnostic applications. One of the projects is to develop an assay using antibody functionalised nanoparticles to accurately detect and measure antigens of interest. Detailed engineering of the system requires optimisation of many factors including particle size and charge, antibody-particle ratio, checking the rate of the antibody-antigen reactions, and using the kinetics of agglutionation to determine antigen quantity. Accurately quantifying the number of particles and biomolecules being bound is an essential step in the engineering process.

The qNano's single-particle detection approach, and unique resolution capability in both particle size and surface charge, provide valuable insight into the sensitisation process of nanoparticles for bio-diagnostic applications.

Key researcher on the project, Vladimir Gubala, said he is excited about the initial results and sees the qNano being applied across many research projects within the group. "Izon has provided us with so much support on this work and really made it easy for us to push the limits and try new ideas" he said. "We're doing research that is really taking the platform to a new place and showing what it can do, and we're excited to be the ones to do it."