Nanoparticle measuring system for coronavirus vaccine research

Nanoparticles are real allrounders. In the field of medicine, for example, one interesting application involves using nanoparticles to deliver drugs deep into the body to precisely where they are needed. For such purposes, it is essential to acquire the most accurate information possible on the concentration of these minute particles. However, nanoparticles place great demands on the measuring technology required in the areas of product development, product quality control and, not least, product risk assessment. With this aim in mind, PTB and the Berlin-based instruments manufacturer LUM GmbH have collaboratively developed a novel type of high-accuracy analytical measuring system. A global pharmaceuticals company was among the first to take delivery of one of these instruments for use in developing a coronavirus vaccine. A major German research institution has also acquired this new system. These two examples demonstrate how developments from joint pre-competitive research can be successfully transferred to current applications.

This new measuring system was developed within the scope of a technology transfer project supported by the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi). Its measurement principle is that of a singleparticle light scattering photometer, i.e., it measures the light scattered by each single nanoparticle in various directions. It works very quickly, and with a particle size range stretching from nanoparticles of approximately 40 nm to microparticles of around 10 μm can be used in a very wide range of applications.