Dr Carlos Rega from Malvern Instruments, will present a talk at the 6th International Symposium on Food Rheology and Structure (ISFRS, Zurich 10-13 Apr, 2012) in which he assesses the benefits of optical microrheology for characterising protein solutions.
Dr Rega's presentation, 'Characterisation of viscoelasticity and dynamics in polymers and proteins using DLS microrheology' is based on a published paper which describes the use of a dynamic light scattering-based optical tracer microrheology method using the Malvern Zetasizer Nano system. Dr Rega and co-authors demonstrate that the elastic modulus G' emerges as a key parameter in understanding the nature of evolving microstructure during the onset of protein aggregation. Requiring only small volumes of dilute sample, this novel method provides a quick measurement technique for viscosity in protein solutions over an industrially relevant concentration range, and overcomes some inherent measurement limitations of mechanical rheometry for such sample types.
Malvern is also exhibiting at the meeting. Visitors to the company's stand can investigate both the Zetasizer Nano dynamic light scattering (DLS) system and the Kinexus rotational rheometer and discuss both optical and mechanical rheological methods directly with Dr Rega and other Malvern specialists.
The ISPRS symposium is held every three years and addresses the studies of rheology of food and related systems, food structure and structure analysis, and the complex relationships between food processing, structure, rheology and resulting food quality.
For additional information please visit: http://www.isfrs.ethz.ch/