Nov. 6, 2006 — NanoSight Ltd. of Salisbury, UK, announced the launch of its NANOSIGHT LM20, a bench-top system for rapid and easy sizing, and counting of individual nanoscale particles in suspension. The new system is intended to build on the success of the NANOSIGHT LM10 and includes precision mechanics and newly developed software that gives the non-microscope user the ability to easily analyze nanoparticles down to 15 nanometers, dependent on the material, in a matter of seconds.

The company says the system offers the ability to obtain higher resolution particle size distribution profiles than other more time-consuming and expensive methods, from samples with minimal sample pre-treatment (that is, dilution with a suitable solvent to an acceptable concentration range.) The NANOSIGHT LM20 uses a patented illumination method using a laser light source to visualize nanoscale particles on an individual basis moving under Brownian motion. The system instantly recognizes and quantifies polydisperse and multimodal samples as well as agglomerates and contaminants.

The company’s NanoSight Tracking Analysis analytical software package can directly and simultaneously measure the dynamic behavior and thus hydrodynamic size of each particle in a suspension and avoids the problems associated with the intensity bias to larger particles inherent in other bulk measurement dynamic light scattering techniques. The software enables real-time dynamic nanoparticle visualization from which independent quantitative estimation of particle size and size distribution can be obtained.

The system has been developed with customers to support research needs across industries. The system enables non-microscope users to quickly and accurately analyze nanoparticles in suspension and complements light scattering techniques such as photon correlation spectroscopy. Nanosight currently claims BASF, ICI, BP, Unilever and Roche as users of its tools.