Detection and characterization of nanoparticles in dilute solution

What is it about?

This article highlights the detection and structural characterization of nanoparticles of a drug molecules suspended in extremely dilute solution. We discuss the use of x-ray total scattering and pair distribution analysis to obtain information about the sample of interest in situ (actual product conditions) and simultaneously push the limits of detection for this method to analyze ingredients at very low concentrations.

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Why is it important?

The pair distribution function method is rapidly growing as a tool for analyzing and solving structures of nanoparticles. As interest has grown, experiments have also pushed toward in situ and in operando measurements which require high precision and very small limits of detection to observe structures in their native environment, or as they evolve in real time. This study helps to push that limit and show that measurements of lower concentrations and more weakly scattering materials may be possible in many cases previously unexpected.