Analytical instruments maker Malvern Instruments Ltd. said it has extended its products into the nanoscale by acquiring nanoparticle characterization company NanoSight Ltd. The purchase closed on Friday, Sept. 27; the price was not disclosed. Malvern Instruments’ systems measure particle size, particle shape, zeta potential, protein charge, molecular weight, mass, size and conformation. They can also characterize rheological properties and identify chemicals, advancing the understanding of dispersed systems across various industries and applications. CEOs Paul Walker of Malvern and Jeremy Warren of NanoSight with the NS500 NTA system. NanoSight has developed and commercialized the patented technology Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA). The company's instrumentation and software enable the rapid and simultaneous multiparameter analysis and characterization of many different types of nanoscale particles in liquids down to 10 nm. Malvern said that Nanosight's ability to analyze particle size, concentration, zeta potential and aggregation is closely aligned with its Zetasizer range and extends its product offerings into the nanoscale. Currently, the largest application area for NTA is in the life sciences, measuring biological nanoparticles such as exosomes. NanoSight technology provides quantitative detection and characterization capabilities to make exosomes a viable proposition as biomarkers for drug discovery, disease prognosis, diagnosis and monitoring as well as personalized medicine, the companies said. “NanoSight has grown every year since it was established in 2002 and has ambitious plans for the future. We will be providing the investment and support needed to continue this drive forward and are absolutely committed to developing the NanoSight brand within the Malvern portfolio,” said Paul Walker, managing director of Malvern Instruments. NanoSight employs approximately 50 people and will continue to operate from its current facilities in Amesbury under the existing management team, Malvern said. Malvern's direct sales operations in key geographies and its wider global presence will make NanoSight instruments and after-sales support even more accessible to a wider market. For more information, visit: www.malvern.com or www.nanosight.com