Table 2.

Comparison of the principal sizing techniques used for the characterization of polymeric nanocarriers

Technique	Size range	Information retrieved	Pros	Cons
DLS	d: ~ 10–1000 nm	Hydrodynamic radius Polydispersity index	Fast. Large size range	Highly size-biased
NTA	d: ~ 50–1000 nm	Hydrodynamic radius Polydispersity index Particle number	Particle counting. Less size-biased than batch DLS	Higher low-size limit than DLS. Difficult to couple to fractionation techniques
MALS	rg: ~ 10–500 nm Mass: 1–106 kDa (with Rayleigh-Gans approximation)	Gyration radius. Molecular mass	Only technique that can assess mass and geometric radius	Requires monodisperse samples (must be coupled to SEC or AF4)
SEC	d: ~ 0.1 to  ~ 50 nm	Hydrodynamic radius	Sample fractionation. Can handle small molecules	Limited size range. Non-specific interactions with the resin
AF4	d: ~ 1–1000 nm	Hydrodynamic radius	Sample fractionation. Wide size range. Free eluent	Higher low-size limit than SEC. Non-specific interactions with the membrane