Sandra Whaley Bishnoi, Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the Illinois Institute
of Technology, has selected the Zetasizer Nano ZS from Malvern
Instruments to meet the specific particle sizing and zeta potential measurement
needs of her research team. Dr Whaley Bishnoi and her team specialise in tunable
nanoparticle sensors that look at local pH on an intercellular level. They use
the Zetasizer Nano to measure the hydrodynamic diameter and zeta potential of
these plasmonic nanoparticles.
As experts in surface chemistry they rely on being able to collect robust measurements
of critical parameters quickly and easily. By freeing the user from requiring
specialist knowledge of the dynamic light scattering measurement technique itself,
the Zetasizer Nano enables the Illinois team to continue breaking ground in
research that may ultimately facilitate fast screening and early diagnosis of
breast cancer.
“Particle size and surface charge are critical to the tunability of the
plasmonic nanoshells we work with,” explains Dr Whaley Bishnoi. “We
want to create tools that function at the bionanotechnology interface. By tailoring
the surface chemistry of gold-silica nanoparticles with a pH sensitive molecule
and a targeting molecule, we can deliver functionalised nanoshells that will
selectively bind with human cancer cells. These can then be tracked in vitro
using surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS).”
“Unlike other instruments that just sit on people’s shelves and
don’t get used, Malvern’s Zetasizer Nano is so useable that colleagues
come from other universities to make measurements with it.”
“A laboratory instrument should be a tool to understand the science you
want to do, it should not be about understanding the measuring technique. We
do not want to produce DLS experts; we want to carry out measurements relevant
to our speciality – surface chemistry,” said Dr Whaley Bishnoi.
“Whenever I have a question about light scattering or zeta potential testing
Malvern always has the answer and the information is highly accessible. From
a customer service point of view Malvern goes way beyond other companies.”
In her latest publication; “Rapid Raman imaging of stable, functionalized
nanoshells in mammalian cell cultures”, Nanoletters, Vol. 9, No. 8, authored
jointly with Ms Y Huang and Mr V Swarup, Dr Whaley Bishnoi describes a complete
strategy for tracking the uptake of plasmonic nanoparticles.