For inline Dose Monitoring in PowderX
The assessment of dry particles is a significant challenge in toxicology and related fields. Particularly in nanoparticle research, the deposition of dry particles onto surfaces such as quartz crystal sensors (QCM) often results in irregular deposition patterns and poor surface bonding, leading to unreliable data.
The sQCM 12 sensor, developed by VITROCELL®, offers a high-sensitivity platform capable of detecting mass changes in nanogram ranges. However, reliable measurement with a QCM requires a rigid layer of deposited material.
The more or less loose filling of deposited dry particles needs to be transformed into a rigid layer. This transformation is achieved by a stabilizing post-treatment in order to ensure reproducible and consistent results. The new VITROCELL® Dry Powder Kit provides the means to such a stabilization within the PowderX, through an intuitive and user-friendly post-processing procedure. It offers a streamlined and reliable workflow for the exposure and analysis of dry particles.
Following exposure and retake of the cell cultures, the Dry Powder Kit is used to stabilize the sedimented particles on the sQCM 12 quartz crystal surface. It is important to note that this method is unsuitable for powders that form a viscous layer upon contact with liquids, as this can compromise measurement accuracy and reliability. The PowderX control software provides step-by-step guidance for the post-processing procedure, minimizing errors and ensuring ease of use.
Throughout the process, data is recorded and visualized using the VITROCELL® Monitor Software, with all results securely stored for subsequent analysis and reporting. After post-treatment, the once loose filling of particles forms a rigid layer of particle mass. A very good linearity of total particle load, aerosolized by PowderX, to primary response signal of sQCM 12 has been shown. After one-time calibration to a reference method (e.g. gravimetric), this subsequently allows for easy and convenient dosimetry of the deposited powder directly within PowderX.
Four sQCM 12 were loaded in parallel with aerosolized dry powder (TiO2). Five independent experiments using different amounts of material show a very high comparability of the four sQCM 12 readouts and their measurement positions. A clear linear response of the raw sensor signals (“frequency change”) to total aerosolized mass (“load”) has been demonstrated.
We are here to help.
Don't hesitate to contact us on your questions regarding our products and services!
