Chapter 5
Microrheology
Page 5-6
MAN 0487
Sample preparation advice
Correct preparation of the tracer and sample elements is important in ensuring the
reliability and repeatability of the results. The concentration of tracer samples
depends to a great extent on the concentration of your sample in the dispersant.
The optimization steps for
Tracer Compatibility
and
Tracer Concentration
are useful tools for assessing whether the tracer chemistry is likely to be suitable for
a particular sample, and if so the minimum tracer concentration that can be used.
Note
If this information is already known then the user can proceed straight to
the
microrheology measurement
.
Following are some important considerations for the preparation.
Tracer compatibility
For the initial tracer compatibility tests (zeta potential), the following starting
concentrations are suggested.
Tracer particles in dispersant
- 5
μ
l neat tracer particle suspension to 10ml
dispersant (solvent) (0.5
μ
l/ml).
Tracer particles in presence of sample
- add one drop of the dispersed
(diluted) sample (approx. 0.05ml) to approximately 5ml of the previously
prepared tracer dispersion allowing sufficient mixing and equilibration time
prior to measurement.
Acceptable Zeta Difference
Testing the difference in the zeta potential between the tracer and measurement
sample is important because large changes would indicate that the tracer particle
and the sample are interacting. With proteins, that could mean that the proteins are
adhering to the tracer's surface and therefore not only changing the tracer's zeta
potential but also the size of the tracer. The tracer then becomes part of the system
and directly influences the rheology.
Therefore to avoid this interaction the amount of sample added with respect to the
tracer must be controlled. This is done by measuring the
sample
zeta potential
measurement against the
tracer
zeta potential. The resultant measurement and
comparison must show that the
sample
measurement is within a set tolerance of
tracer
measurement.
This comparison is termed the
Acceptable Zeta Difference
.