Application of validated protocols to characterize size and zeta potential of dispersed materials using light scattering methods

Abstract The development of dispersed material of small size in various fields is conditioned by their quality control. Size and surface properties such as zeta potential of dispersed materials employed in nanomedecine have been identified as key physico-chemical parameters as they may influence their in vivo fate. These physico-chemical parameters can be determined using appropriate methods described in the ISO standards including dynamic light scattering and electrophoretic light scattering for evaluation of size and zeta potential respectively. Accurate measurements are paramount to ensure reliable results for material characterization. Reliability of measurements was ensured by a series of handling precautions and quality criteria for good measurements to be applied for the validation of the protocols. The present work was aimed to evaluate the application of validated protocols to characterize dispersed materials based on the analysis of quality criteria. The size measurement protocol was applied to evaluate size of a wide range of dispersed materials including polymer nanoparticles. However, this protocol was unsuitable for size evaluation of particles characterized by a high density and magnetic particles with size in the upper limit of the instrument. The validated protocol for zeta potential evaluation was suitable to evaluate zeta potential of polymer nanoparticles but not for the evaluation of zeta potential of dense nanoparticles.