Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
the “O”-ring is bedded correctly in its channel in the top plate of the device, lay
top plate on glass element and adjust gently until plate locates, drop in four
screws and tighten. The LM10 unit is ready to inject a sample.
(b)
Injection into the LM unit
Load the sample into the sample chamber using a syringe (without needle).
The Luer fittings are designed to accept standard syringe bodies of all sizes.
Note that high pressures can inadvertently be generated when narrow bore
(e.g., 1-2 ml) syringe bodies are used. To avoid generating pressures which
might result in the sample bypassing the seals in the sample chamber or
damaging the window, care must be taken to introduce the sample slowly.
(c)
Adjusting the microscope
Once the sample is loaded and checked as above, place the LM unit onto the
microscope stage and adjust the position and height of the microscope objec-
tive to be used to obtain a clear image of particles present within the beam. The
laser beam exhibits some divergence as it passes through the chamber.
Accordingly, beam width will vary depending on which part of the beam is
located.
(d)
View or capture images
Once an image can be seen either by viewing via the oculars or by the camera,
a movie can be recorded using suitable camera settings.
(e)
Loading a new sample
To remove a sample, extract using a syringe and rinse the chamber using fresh
particle-free water or solvent prior to loading with a different sample. Between
samples which differ significantly in terms of solvent, particle type or particle
loading, it is advisable to disassemble the top plate and rinse and dry thor-
oughly the optical element and top plate.
(f)
Cleaning
Depending on sample type and length of use, it may prove necessary to clean
the chamber and optical surface of the LM sample unit.
(g)
Storage
Between uses of the NanoSight LM unit, or for longer term storage, the unit
must be cleaned as described above and stored with no fluids in the chamber.
13.4 Applications
There are many applications where NTA is being used routinely. This is evidenced
by the publication of many papers now available in the literature and systems
installed in industrial and academic institutions worldwide science. In this section,
examples of applications will be reported with references to where further examples
may be found. In this section are presented some applications of NTA relevant to
nanoparticle characterization (assessment of NTA, nanoparticle toxicology, virol-
ogy and vaccine production, protein aggregation, nanobubbles, orthopedic
implants, micro biota, virology).
