The study of protein aggregation encompasses a broad range of interactions and mechanisms. Many studies into this subject area investigate the aggregation of misfolded proteins, which is thought to be responsible for many degenerative diseases. Since aggregation typically leads to a physical change in protein size, particle size analysis has proven to be a useful experimental technique in this field. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) is now widely used to study protein aggregation as described in this application note.

Application Note AN178 on Monitoring Protein Aggregation Using Dynamic Light Scattering (You need to be logged in).

Please join us for our web-based seminar (or Webinar) Monday May 4 at 1 PM EDT (10 AM PDT) on the importance and determination of refractive index (RI) when using laser diffraction. This is Part III of our Boot Camp Webinar series based on the popular customer training courses of the same name. Topics covered include:

• Defining refractive index (RI)
• The effect RI has on results
• Options for determining RI
• How to deal with the imaginary component

Attending the Webinar is easy and free of charge. We will be glad to help you understand how to attend.

Invitation to the Webinar on Refractive Index.

Please join us for our web-based seminar (or Webinar) Tuesday May 19 at 1 PM EDT (10 AM PDT) on Setting Particle Size Specifications. This is an updated lecture first presented at the 2005 AAPS meeting, now including additional data and suggestions. Measuring particle size in a production and QC environment can be a monstrous task if the specifications are poorly set. This webinar aims to provide best practice guidelines using, as an example, an active pharmaceutical ingredient. Topics covered include:

• When are specifications required
• FDA and USP regulatory issues
• Dissolution and content uniformity modeling
• Method development and validation
• System verification
• Example and suggested specifications

Attending the Webinar is easy and free of charge. We will be glad to help you understand how to attend.

Invitation to the Webinar on Setting Particle Size Specifications.

We continually receive used equipment through trade-ins and turn over of demo systems. In order to facilitate the sale of these used systems we currently have the following instruments advertised on LabX:  LA-910, LA-920, and LB-500. Visit www.labx.com and search for “HORIBA particle size” to find these ads.

The 2009 Masao Horiba Award Committe is now accepting applications for consideration.  This year's theme for selection is "Ultrasensitive and Nondestructive Detection of Surface Contamination on Semiconductor and related Materials."