Infrastructure: WAXS/SAXS/USAXS and Light scattering

Welcome to the Uppsala Biomedical Center X-ray and Light scattering infrastructure with instruments for determining the size of particles from nanometer up to a few micrometers. Contact us and we will tell you about what we can do for you.

Available instruments

The infrastructure provides two modern and advanced equipment specially developed for determining the microstructure of complex materials: Wide and small-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS/SAXS) and Combined Dynamic and Static Light Scattering (DLS/SLS). The methods complement each other and are important tools in research where it is of crucial importance to know how drugs and drug formulations are structured on a microscopic level.

The infrastructure instruments are the only ones of their kind at Uppsala University and the only infrastructure in the Nordics with Ultra small angle extension (USAXS) for determining the size of particles up to a few micrometers.

WAXS/SAXS/USAXS: Xeuss 2.0 X-ray system (Xenocs) with high flux GeniX 3D microfocus X-ray source and Pilatus3 R 300 K 2D detector. State-of-the-art multipurpose instrument providing high-resolution scattering data (comparable to synchrotron), large access to length scales (0.2 nm and 300 nm, USAXS 5 µm) and absolute intensity scale measurements. The test environment allows examinations of liquids, ointments, gels and solid materials for examinations in vacuum-sealed sample holders or at atmospheric pressure. Multi user-license for data reduction and analysis software (XSACT software).

DLS/SLS: ALV combined DLS/SLS system with Nd-YAG laser (532 nm) and ALV/CGS-3 4-detector goniometer.

Access of instruments and services that are offered

The infrastructure offers researchers access to the small-angle and ultrasmall-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS/USAXS) and static/dynamic light scattering (SLS/DLS) equipment which makes it possible to

• Determine the microstructure of drug formulations and drug delivery systems, such as nanoparticles, lipid aggregates (liposomes/vesicles), microemulsions, hydrogels, fibers and the phase structure of liquid crystalline phases.
• Determine the size and shape of macromolecular drugs such as proteins, peptides, antibodies, DNA and RNA
• Investigate the aggregation properties of protein and peptide drug molecules and how they form complexes with lipids and other excipients in formulations and biomacromolecules (polysaccharides, collagen, etc.)
• Determine internal specific area, pore size and amorphicity/crystallinity of powders/tablets.

The infrastructure also offers:

• Training of new users in sample preparation, operation of instruments, data handling and data analysis.
• Full investigations of samples of types described above, including data collection and analysis.
• User support and maintenance of the instruments

Workflow at the infrastructure

Interested users contact the management team to describe what the experiments are about and to clarify the type of service and level of support they need. Offers are given based on a scale adapted to their needs:

1. Completely independent user; only support in the form of infrastructure maintenance.
2. User can perform the experiments themselves but need help with analysis/interpretation of data.
3. Collaborative projects: User need help performing the experiments and analysis/interpretation of the data.
4. Consulting assignment: Complete study with results report.

For unexperienced users, we offer full support in the form of an introduction to the techniques, training in sample handling, training in instrument handling, experimental design, measurement techniques and data analysis. Those who have completed our mandatory introductory course and who have been trained to be able to carry out measurements themselves get access to our Google booking calendar, and are invited to a weekly user zoom meeting where we plan and organize the work.

External users are offered access to the equipment at a cost based on time of use (room rent, depreciation cost, material consumption) and the degree of support in connection with the experiments, data management and data analysis.