Malvern Instruments has launched the first system to measure the size of molecules in solution and measure suspensions and emulsions up to 20% by volume in a single unit. The patented technology incorporated in the non-invasive backscatter optics (NIBS^®) enables high sensitivity and high concentration measurements over an exceptionally wide size range.

Malvern acquired the exclusive rights to the NIBS technology from ALV GmbH of Germany last year. The technology enables the reliable measurement of sub-micron particles over a wide range of sample concentrations in a single instrument. It has particular application in the measurement of colloidal systems, proteins and other small, poorly scattering molecules in solution, areas which are of growing importance in biotechnology, drug development and formulation, as well as traditional applications in the chemical industry.

Traditional approaches to the measurement of sub-micron particles require that the instrument is designed to focus on either high concentration or high sensitivity, whereas the NIBS technology can do both. The advantage of a non-invasive system is that the sample is contained in a standard disposable plastic or glass container, so no other material can come into contact with the sample. The back-scatter arrangement of optics allows concentrated samples to be measured as the scattered light travels a very short distance through the sample. The key benefit of the NIBS system is that samples can be measured with little or no dilution, resulting in less risk of the sample changing as it is measured at or close to its original state.

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