Understanding Dynamic Light Scattering: Principles, Applications and Results

What is Dynamic Light Scattering?

Dynamic light scattering (DLS), an ingenious non-invasive scientific method, deploys cutting-edge technology to evaluate the ever-changing intensity of scattered light emanating from a given sample. These intensity fluctuations are known to be intrinsically caused by the incessant Brownian motion of particles, and thus, the scientific technique can enable the analysis of the size and shape of particles within a sample. The fluctuation analysis, therefore, yields valuable information regarding particle distribution, shape, and size. In the realm of science, DLS is widely employed across diverse fields including biology, material science, and chemistry to gain insight into the properties of a myriad of macromolecules, nanoparticles, and colloids.

Principle of Dynamic Light Scattering

The bedrock principle of DLS pivots on the unassailable fact that particles present in a solution invariably exhibit Brownian motion, leading to a frenzied flurry of fluctuations in the intensity of scattered light. Interestingly, these intensity fluctuations are inextricably linked to the size of the particles themselves, wherein larger particles induce more leisurely fluctuations and smaller particles incite nimbler fluctuations. The ever-crafty autocorrelation function comes into play by deftly utilizing the intensity fluctuations to deduce the size distribution of particles nestled within the sample.

Principle of DLS (Babick et al., 2020)

How Does Dynamic Light Scattering Work?

DLS instruments usually consist of a laser, a detector, and a sample holder.

In a DLS experiment, a laser beam is shone on the sample, and the scattered light is collected by a detector. The scattered light then passes through a correlator, which calculates an autocorrelation function for the intensity fluctuations. The autocorrelation function is then analyzed to obtain the particle size distribution in the sample. The whole process is automated and can be completed in a few minutes.

What Can We Learn from Dynamic Light Scattering Results

DLS can provide a wealth of information about the size and distribution of particles in a sample. The most common result obtained from DLS is the size distribution of particles in the sample. This information can be used to determine the size and shape of macromolecules, nanoparticles, and colloids. Additionally, DLS can also provide information about the stability of particles in a solution and the presence of aggregates.

Ambiguity of DLS data regarding the shape of the distribution function; results of a nanosized polystyrene suspension with software settings for general applications and for multimodal materials (Babick et al., 2020)

Difference between Static Light Scattering and Dynamic Light Scattering

Static light scattering (SLS) is another technique used to measure the size and distribution of particles in a sample. The main difference between static and DLS is that static light scattering measures the intensity of scattered light at a fixed angle, whereas DLS measures the intensity fluctuations of scattered light at multiple angles. This difference in measurement leads to a difference in the type of information obtained. While DLS provides information about the size distribution of particles in a sample, static light scattering provides information about the absolute molecular weight and radius of the gyration of macromolecules.

Application of Dynamic Light Scattering

DLS has a wide range of applications in various fields, including:

• Protein and biomolecule characterization: Study of the size and conformation of proteins and other biomolecules as well as the study of protein-protein and protein-ligand interactions.
• Nanoparticle characterization: Analysis of the size and distribution of nanoparticles as well as their stability and aggregation behavior.
• Colloid characterization: Study of the size and distribution of colloidal particles as well as their stability and zeta potential.
• Drug formulation development: Study of the size and stability of drug particles in formulations and optimization of drug delivery systems.
• Materials Science: Study of the size and distribution of particles in a variety of materials, including polymers, ceramics, and metals.

DLS is a powerful analytical technique that can provide valuable information about the size and distribution of particles in a sample. By analyzing the fluctuations in the intensity of scattered light, DLS can provide information about the size, shape, and distribution of particles, as well as their stability and aggregation behavior. This information is invaluable in a wide range of applications, including protein and biomolecule characterization, nanoparticle characterization, colloid characterization, drug formulation development, and material science. As a leading provider of proteomics and other biological services, Creative Proteomics is committed to helping our customers get the most out of their research by providing cutting-edge technologies and expert analysis.

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