The multi-angle light scattering (MALS) technique has become the standard for determining molecular weight (MW) and size (radius of gyration, Rg) of proteins, biopolymers, synthetic polymers, and polysaccharides. By combining an extreme low angle (low-angle light scattering (LALS) – 10°) and an extreme high angle (high-angle light scattering (HALS) – 170°) with a right angle (right-angle light scattering (RALS) – 90°) to form a three-angle MALS detector, the new LenS₃ detector can determine directly absolute molecular weight and Rg without extrapolation, unlike other detectors already available.

By contrast with conventional flow cells, the new extended “flow chamber” allows maximum interaction of the incident beam with the molecules of interest, resulting
in significantly higher scattering intensity. Coupling this unique design feature with a low laser wavelength of 514 nm (instead of the typical 660-nm wavelength), the LenS₃ detector offers detection sensitivity unmatched by any other instrument. Unlike typical optical flow cells composed of glass-like material, the new flow chamber is made with polyether ether keton (PEEK), a nonrefractive material that substantially reduces the destructive stray-light effect in light-scattering detection. So the quality and stability of signals at extreme angles (LALS and HALS) are improved significantly. Measurement at such angles on the LenS₃ detector allows MW determination as low as 200 Da.

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