DLS and zeta potential – What they are and what they are not?
Abstract
Adequate characterization of NPs (nanoparticles) is of paramount importance to develop well defined nanoformulations of therapeutic relevance. Determination of particle size and surface charge of NPs are indispensable for proper characterization of NPs. DLS (dynamic light scattering) and ZP (zeta potential) measurements have gained popularity as simple, easy and reproducible tools to ascertain particle size and surface charge. Unfortunately, on practical grounds plenty of challenges exist regarding these two techniques including inadequate understanding of the operating principles and dealing with critical issues like sample preparation and interpretation of the data. As both DLS and ZP have emerged from the realms of physical colloid chemistry - it is difficult for researchers engaged in nanomedicine research to master these two techniques. Additionally, there is little literature available in drug delivery research which offers a simple, concise account on these techniques. This review tries to address this issue while providing the fundamental principles of these techniques, summarizing the core mathematical principles and offering practical guidelines on tackling commonly encountered problems while running DLS and ZP measurements. Finally, the review tries to analyze the relevance of these two techniques from translatory perspective.
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The overall calcium binding capabilities of salivary proteins can be investigated by measuring zeta potential, a metric reflecting the surface charge of proteins in water.
“The overall calcium binding capabilities of salivary proteins as a whole could be investigated by studying the electrochemical charge of salivary proteins by gauging the zeta potential, a metric reflecting the surface charge of proteins in water (Bhattacharjee 2016).”
From Dental Calculus Formation Rate: The Role of Salivary Proteome and Metaproteome (2025) · cites this paper as Bhattacharjee 2016
Drug release from light-sensitive micelles can be evaluated via common methods such as dialysis by maintaining the samples under irradiation during the experiment.
“Finally, drug release from light-sensitive micelles can be evaluated via common methods such as the dialysis one by maintaining the samples under irradiation during the experiment [132].”
From Polymeric micelles in drug delivery: An insight of the techniques for their characterization and assessment in biorelevant conditions (2021) · cites this paper as [132]
The use of media enriched with vitamins, lipids, protein or other macromolecules could interfere with DLS measurement making data interpretation difficult.
“Although DLS has demonstrated interesting applications in the field of micelles size, surface charge and stability determination in physiological conditions, the use of media enriched with vitamins, lipids, protein or other macromolecules could interfere with DLS measurement making data interpretation difficult [133].”
From Polymeric micelles in drug delivery: An insight of the techniques for their characterization and assessment in biorelevant conditions (2021) · cites this paper as [133]
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- Authors
- Bhattacharjee, S.
- Affiliations
- University College Dublin (IE)
- Corresponding author
- Bhattacharjee, Sourav
- Venue
- Journal of Controlled Release
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2016-08
- Volume
- 235
- Pages
- 337-351
- ISSN
- 0168-3659 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2414781026
- Cited by
- 4,702
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 838 · 2025: 696 · 2024: 644 · 2023: 508 · 2022: 481 · 2021: 457 · 2020: 443 · 2019: 317 · 2018: 218 · 2017: 78 · 2016: 22
- FWCI
- 11.36
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Controlled Release (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- UCD
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery
- Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Physical and Theoretical Chemistry › Electrostatics and Colloid Interactions
- Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Organic Chemistry › Surfactants and Colloidal Systems
- Keywords
- dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, nanoparticles, particle size measurement, surface charge, sample preparation, data interpretation, nanomedicine, drug delivery, colloid chemistry
- MeSH terms
- Particle Size, Scattering, Radiation, Surface Properties, Nanoparticles
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