interferometric Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis

iNTApharma is Bruker’s interferometric Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis system for biological nanoparticle characterization.

It provides the core information researchers expect from NTA: particle-by-particle size measurement and particle concentration. But iNTApharma goes further by adding interferometric optical contrast for each tracked particle, creating a richer 2D view of nanoparticle samples. Instead of reporting size and total concentration alone, iNTApharma helps users inspect particle populations by size and optical contrast.

Label-free, particle by particle, iNTApharma supports Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis for biological nanoparticles including extracellular vesicles, exosomes, lipid nanoparticles, and viral vectors. In addition to particle size and concentration, iNTA adds optical contrast information for each tracked particle, supporting label-free, particle-by-particle analysis of complex and polydisperse samples.

EV preparations can contain co-isolated particles such as lipoproteins, protein aggregates, or other nanoparticle populations that may overlap with EVs by size. By adding the dimension of optical contrast, we can better understand these complex samples:

• Label-free sample insights: Distinguish EV-related particle populations from co-isolates label-free using size and interferometric optical contrast.
• Performance on a new level: Obtain unprecedented resolution for your EV size distributions on par with electron microscopy methods.
• Saves you time and sample: iNTA supports repeated EV sample measurements with low sample volume, plate-based handling, and an automated 18-well workflow.

For EV researchers, iNTApharma extends counting and sizing with label-free particle population analysis and helps to answer which particle populations contribute to the measurement.

Community insights: iNTA discussed in EVClub

The EVClub is a venue for discussing research and published articles related to extracellular vesicles (EVs), often including discussions with the authors themselves. It serves as a platform for sharing ideas within a wider community of EV researchers. In this context, Jan Van Deun and Vahid Sandoghdar talked about this new technology in the 177th edition. 

Employing high‑resolution interferometric Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis to investigate how freezing‑induced accelerated ageing enhances the homogeneity, stability, and reproducibility of red blood cell‑derived extracellular vesicles for biomaterial applications.

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Red blood cell‑derived extracellular vesicles as biomaterials: the opportunity of freezing‑induced accelerated aging

Paolini, L., Romano, M., Mangolini, V., Tassoni, S., Jiang, S., Mazzoldi, E. L., Musicò, A., Zendrini, A., Kashkanova, A., Sandoghdar, V., Berardi, A. C., Giliani, S. C., Bergese, P., Radeghieri, A.

Biomaterials Science, 14, 122–139, 2026

Applying interferometric Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis for label‑free differentiation and accurate quantification of extracellular vesicles in complex biological samples containing large lipoproteins.

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Label‑free discrimination of extracellular vesicles from large lipoproteins

Kashkanova, A. D., Blessing, M., Reischke, M., Baur, J.-O., Baur, A. S., Sandoghdar, V., Van Deun, J.

Journal of Extracellular Vesicles, 12(8), 2023

Label-Free Discrimination of Extracellular Vesicles (EV)

This application note highlights how interferometric Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (iNTA) achieves label-free discrimination of extracellular vesicles (EVs) from co-isolates like lipoproteins in complex biological fluids. It is a vital read for researchers seeking to bypass the limitations of traditional size-based separation and fluorescence labeling.

Quality Assessment of Adenoviral Vectors

This application note details how interferometric Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (iNTA) provides high-resolution, label-free quality control for adenoviral vectors (AdV). It is essential for researchers needing to distinguish intact viruses from contaminants or empty capsids, a task challenging for conventional methods like DLS or NTA.

Employing interferometric Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (iNTA) to enable high‑precision, non‑invasive measurement of size and refractive index distributions in weakly scattering nanoparticles within complex and polydisperse liquid samples.

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Precision size and refractive index analysis of weakly scattering nanoparticles in polydispersions

Kashkanova, A. D., Blessing, M., Gemeinhardt, A., Soulat, D., Sandoghdar, V.

Nature Methods, 19(5), 586–593, 2022

Employing interferometric Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (iNTA) to enable quantitative, calibration‑free measurements of nanoparticle concentrations in complex and polydisperse liquid mixtures.

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Measuring Concentration of Nanoparticles in Polydisperse Mixtures Using iNTA

Kashkanova, A. D., Albrecht, D., Küppers, M., Blessing, M., Sandoghdar, V.

ACS Nano, published online July 9, 2024

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