We incorporate a variety of analytical and physical methods to characterize particles and encapsulated ingredients to routinely determine:
- Particle size
- Payload
- Content uniformity and stability
- Active ingredient release profiles and activity
- Colloid stability
- Particle stability
Particles
- Sizing down to 3 nm
- Powders
- Dispersions (aqueous and organics)
- Zeta potential
Particle Morphology
- Atomic force
- SEM/EDX (scanning electron microscope/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy)
- Environmental SEM/STEM [scanning electron microscope (SEM)/scanning-transmission electron microscope (STEM)]
- Optical microscopy
Thermal Analysis
- Differential scanning calorimetry
- Thermal gravimetric analysis
- Dynamic mechanical analysis
Rheology
- Low viscosity fluids, gelation and curing profiles, reinforced solid mechanical properties
- Large dynamic shear range, sub-ambient to >600°C temperature range
- Multiple frequency waveform generation
Payload/Content
- HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography)
- IC, GC (gas chromatography), GC/MS (gas chromatography/mass spectrometry)
- Fluorescent
- Thermal gravimetric analysis
Release
- Dissolution (pH, solvent)
- Thermal
- Pressure
- Simulated body fluids
- Cell culture
- Tissue culture
Stability
- Controlled environment such as:
- Time
- Temperature
- Relative humidity
- Ultraviolet
- Acoustic
- Simulated fluids
- Thermal and pressure
- Byproducts
Specialized
- Biological Safety Laboratory (BSL) 2-4
- Good Laboratory Practices (GLP)