LS Instruments

Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS, also known as Photon Correlation Spectroscopy or Quasi-Elastic Light Scattering) is one of the most popular physical characterization methods of nano-scale dispersions because it is quick, easy, non-destructive and has a wide dynamic range of sizing capability from under 1nm to 10 microns, depending on the sample. Typical applications include particle sizing of emulsions, micelles, polymers, proteins, nanoparticles or colloids.

Learn more about the science and principles of DLS here. 

What if your particle size has been wrong all along?

A measurement error you can't detect

In concentrated formulations, photons scatter off multiple particles before reaching the detector. The
measurement looks normal — but the reported size can be dramatically wrong.

Standard backscattering DLS at 173° reduces multiple scattering but cannot eliminate it. The onset is unpredictable, and erroneous results still appear reliable — good signal-to-noise, no warning flags. You trust the wrong number without ever knowing it.

No alarm, no trace

Multiple scattering systematically reduces the apparent particle size. No quality metric will alert you. The data looks clean, the result looks plausible — and it's wrong.

Dilution creates new problems

Diluting the sample to suppress multiple scattering introduces its own uncertainties. For aluminum adjuvants, dilution has been shown to alter the actual particle size.

See it in the data

Measurements on AddaVax™, a commercial squalene-based vaccine adjuvant (~146 nm), reveal dramatic sizing failures in standard backscattering DLS already at low concentrations.

The technology behind error-free sizing

Modulated 3D cross-correlation technology doesn't reduce multiple scattering — it physically filters it out. At any concentration. Without dilution.

Stop guessing. Start measuring.