Biophysical analysis of lipidic nanoparticles

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Nanotechnology
• Biophysics

Background:

• Biological nanoparticles, including liposomes and extracellular vesicles, are crucial in biological systems and therapeutics.
• Accurate measurement of nanoparticle size and concentration is vital for research and biopharmaceutical production.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of major lipid-containing nanoparticle types.
• To describe and compare various techniques for nanoparticle characterization.
• To highlight the utility of microfluidic resistive pulse sensing for biological nanoparticle analysis.

Main Methods:

• Electron microscopy (EM)
• Atomic force microscopy (AFM)
• Dynamic light scattering (DLS)
• Nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA)
• Flow cytometry
• Tunable resistive pulse sensing (TRPS)
• Microfluidic resistive pulse sensing (MRPS)

Main Results:

• Each technique (EM, AFM, DLS, NTA, flow cytometry, TRPS, MRPS) has unique advantages and disadvantages for nanoparticle analysis.
• Latest advancements in these characterization methodologies are discussed.
• Microfluidic resistive pulse sensing demonstrates effectiveness in analyzing biological nanoparticles.

Conclusions:

• No single technique is universally optimal for all nanoparticle analyses.
• Understanding the strengths and limitations of each method is crucial for selecting the appropriate analytical approach.
• MRPS offers a valuable tool for the precise characterization of biological nanoparticles.