During this highly successful Phase I STTR program, Electronic BioSciences (EBS), in collaboration with Professor Henry White from the University of Utah, developed a fully-functional, alpha-prototype multiplass sensing (MPS) system (and the associated analysis methodology) for rapid, high-resolution, comprehensive nanoparticle characterization (i.e., the ability to assess particle size/volume, charge, and sample concentration on a single platform) in solution, at the single-molecule level. Furthermore, the utility of the developed system was validated via a characterization of various nanoparticle samples types that cannot otherwise be performed. This MPS system will have broad applicability within the nanoparticle field as the developed system not only improves solution-based nanoparticle characterization, it streamlines characterization processes and provide new insights regarding sample characterization, optimization, and utilization to improve nanoparticle products that will be delivered to the public. As particle properties are better characterized and understood, fabrication processes and product performance will improve as well, yielding more efficient and safer products for the public.

Nanoparticles are small objects that are approximately 1-100 nanometers in at least one dimension, which is more than 1,000-fold smaller than the diameter of a human hair. Based on their size, nanoparticles have unique properties that large particles do not. These enabling properties include the ability to go places large particles cannot, increased reactivity, unique optical properties, biocompatibility, and stability, to name a few. Because of these enhanced and/or unique features, nanoparticles are increasingly used in a variety of industrial areas, including food processing, pharmaceuticals, healthcare and medicine (where they are used for drug delivery; as  drugs, therapies, and vaccines themselves; and as nanoparticle-based imaging and diagnostics agents), cosmetics, agriculture (as fertilizers), environmental cleanup (where they are used to absorb contaminants), electronics, materials manufacturing (as protective or specialized coatings), energy (as fuel cell electrodes and matrices), along with a myriad of other applications. The increasing applications for nanoparticles means that nanoparticles are appearing more frequently in commercial products (e.g., sunblock, toothpaste, gum, cosmetics, drugs/therapies, etc.) on an increasingly regular basis and in most cases, consumers are not even aware of their presence. However, before nanoparticles appear in these products, they are rigorously characterized, which is required for their development, manufacturing, and use. The physical properties of the nanoparticle (e.g., its size, surface charge, and concentration) influence the particle’s interaction with its environment and/or other particles, and determine its function/application, efficacy, stability, and toxicity. Thus, the accurate characterization of these nanoparticle properties is of the utmost importance to ensure that the nanoparticles have the intended features. The importance of nanoparticle characterization cannot be overstated; undetected particle variations can not only cause the nanoparticles to fail to perform their intended function, but in some cases, can ruin the product or pose a danger to the consumer. As such, numerous nanoparticle characterization techniques have been developed over the years. However, despite this progress, there remains a significant technological gap regarding the capabilities of currently available nanoparticle characterization technology/instrumentation, which is presently a ~$7B market: there is no technology available to date that is capable of high-resolution particle characterization (i.e., the ability to resolve/differentiate slight differences between similarly sized/charged nanoparticles) in solution, which represents a substantial unmet need. Furthermore, the increasing use of nanoparticles has prompted a demand for improved commercial characterization technology that is inexpensive, easy-to-use, and capable of providing improved resolution for in situ, solution-based characterization, as well as the ability to assess multiple particle characteristics on a single platform.

The developed alpha-prototype MPS system, and the associated data analysis strategy, solve these present and pressing needs in the nanoparticle community, and provide new insights into nanoparticle characterization with state-of-the-art accuracy, precision, and resolution. The detailed and precise nanoparticle characterization that is enabled with the developed MPS system is not possible with other available techniques, and it provides nanoparticle sample assessments that are critical to advancing nanoparticle developments.

Last Modified: 12/22/2017
Modified by: Anna Schibel