Frequently Asked Questions

Capability, sourcing, characterization, and citation guidance for researchers working with Lab261 polymer micro- and nanoparticles. If your question isn't answered here, contact our team.

Products & capability

What polymer materials and particle sizes are available?#

Lab261 manufactures particles from approximately 15 nm to over 750 µm across polystyrene (PS), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), Nylon (polyamide), polycarbonate (PC), polyurethane (PU), and PTFE. Standard sizes are stocked across most polymer systems; intermediate sizes and additional polymers are available through custom development.

What particle morphologies do you offer?#

Standard products are spherical and monodisperse. For environmental and microplastics research, we also produce irregular, fragmented, and non-spherical particles with controlled and reproducible size distributions, including multi-modal distributions with defined peaks. Real environmental microplastics aren't spherical, so realistic morphologies matter for environmental fate, weathering, and human exposure studies.

What surface functionalizations are available?#

Standard surface chemistries include plain (no functionalization), carboxyl (–COOH), amine (–NH₂), and epoxy. Custom functional groups are developed on request. Functionalized particles are commonly used for protein conjugation, biological-interaction studies, and selective surface chemistry in microfluidics and diagnostics.

What labeling and encapsulation options are available?#

Lab261 particles are available with visible and near-infrared (690–900 nm) fluorescent dyes, color dyes, and multi-modal labeling combinations. Encapsulation options include metal and lanthanide doping (e.g., Gd³⁺) for MRI-relevant and upconversion applications, and fluorescent dye doping for stable internal labeling.

Surfactant-free systems

What are surfactant-free nanoparticles?#

Surfactant-free nanoparticles are polymer particles produced and supplied without stabilizing agents such as Tween 20, SDS, or similar surfactants. Most commercial particle suspensions rely on these surfactants to keep particles dispersed and prevent aggregation, but the surfactants themselves can interfere with downstream biological and analytical workflows.

Lab261 offers a graduated surfactant-control ladder: standard products with conventional surfactant levels, ultra-low residual systems with less than 1 ppb residual surfactant, and true surfactant-free systems with no added stabilizers. Available in aqueous suspension or dry powder formats.

Why does surfactant content matter for biological and analytical work?#

Surfactants like Tween 20 and SDS interfere with several research workflows: cell culture viability and biological response, protein binding and immunogenicity assays, mass spectrometry, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), liquid chromatography, and in vivo biodistribution and toxicology studies. For experiments where data integrity depends on the absence of confounding chemistry, surfactant-free particles produce cleaner, more interpretable results.

Which polymer systems are available as surfactant-free?#

SF-MNP variants are available across our full polymer range — polystyrene, PMMA, polyethylene, polypropylene, PET, PVC, Nylon, polycarbonate, and polyurethane — at both ultra-low residual (<1 ppb) and true surfactant-free levels. Contact us with your specifications to confirm availability and lead time for your polymer and size combination.

Characterization & quality control

How tight are your size distributions?#

Standard products are monodisperse with polydispersity index (PDI) values below 0.1 achievable on most polymer systems. Custom heterogeneous distributions and multi-modal distributions are available for applications that require them, with controlled and reproducible distribution shapes.

What characterization data is provided?#

Standard characterization includes dynamic light scattering (DLS), particle size distribution measurements, and microscopy. Each batch ships with a Certificate of Analysis documenting nominal size, polymer composition, surfactant content, and lot information. Additional characterization (zeta potential, microscopy images, FTIR, etc.) is available on request.

Are size standards NIST-traceable?#

Selected polystyrene and PMMA size-standard SKUs are available with NIST-traceable certificates for instrument calibration. Contact us for a current list of NIST-traceable products and to confirm availability for your required size.

Can you provide a Certificate of Analysis?#

Yes. A CoA is provided with every order of standard products, documenting nominal size, polymer composition, surfactant content, and lot information. Request a sample CoA before ordering if you need to validate it for your study's reporting requirements or for institutional review.

Applications

What polymers are available for microplastics research?#

Lab261 supplies the major environmental microplastic polymers — polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), and Nylon (polyamide) — as additive-free, 100% pure polymer particles. Polycarbonate (PC), polyurethane (PU), and PTFE are also available. Spherical, irregular, and fragmented morphologies are available depending on whether the study models reference materials or real-world environmental microplastics.

Can Lab261 particles be used in vivo?#

Researchers have used Lab261 particles in published in vivo and biodistribution studies, including studies of nanoplastic uptake by primary astrocytes (Adamiak et al., Scientific Reports, 2025). Biocompatibility, sterility, and endotoxin requirements vary by study design and regulatory context. Contact our team with your protocol so we can confirm whether a stocked product or a custom formulation is the right fit for your specific in vivo or preclinical study.

What research domains does Lab261 support?#

Published research using Lab261 particles spans environmental science (microplastic degradation, fate, transport), analytical method development (ICP-MS calibration, ultrasound-based detection, Raman spectroscopy), neurotoxicology (nanoplastic uptake by brain cells), microfluidics, drug delivery, and imaging applications. See the publications page for a curated list with specific examples of polymer types and sizes used.

Custom development

Do you offer custom sizes, polymers, or surface chemistry?#

Yes. Custom development is a core part of our work. We routinely develop particle systems with tailored size, polymer composition, morphology (spherical, irregular, fragmented, multi-modal), surface chemistry (–NH₂, –COOH, epoxy, custom groups), labeling (visible and NIR fluorescent dyes, color dyes, lanthanide doping), and surfactant level. Tell us your specifications — typical lead times are 4–8 weeks depending on complexity.

What does a custom development project look like?#

Custom projects typically begin with a technical consultation to define the polymer system, size, morphology, surface chemistry, and any application-specific constraints. We then produce a small batch for evaluation, iterate on specifications based on your feedback, and scale to your production order. Each custom batch ships with full characterization data documenting how the particles meet your specifications.

Is there a minimum order size for custom particles?#

Minimum order quantities depend on the polymer system, size, and complexity of the surface chemistry or labeling. Contact us with your requirements for a quote and minimum order quantity.

Ordering & shipping

How do I place an order?#

Standard products can be ordered directly through the website. For custom development, bulk orders, institutional purchase orders, or quotes for non-standard configurations, contact our team. Detailed ordering information is available on our ordering information page.

Where do you ship?#

Lab261 ships domestically within the United States and internationally. We are a U.S. manufacturer based in Palo Alto, California. International export documentation is available where required.

How should I store Lab261 particles?#

Storage recommendations vary by polymer, size, and surface chemistry. Aqueous suspensions are typically stored refrigerated at 2–8°C, protected from light for fluorescent products. Specific storage conditions, shelf life, and handling guidance are included on each product's technical data sheet and Certificate of Analysis. Browse technical data sheets.

Citation & publishing

How should I cite Lab261 in my publication?#

The standard citation format for the Materials & Methods section is “Lab261 (Palo Alto, CA, USA)” with the polymer type, nominal size, surface chemistry, and concentration as supplied on the Certificate of Analysis. Example: “Polystyrene nanoparticles (25 nm, amine-functionalized) were purchased from Lab261 (Palo Alto, CA, USA) as a 10 mg/mL stock suspension.”

My paper cites Lab261. Can it be added to your publications page?#

Yes — please send us the citation. We add new peer-reviewed publications to our publications page as we become aware of them. Contact us with the DOI or full citation and we'll review and add it to the page.

Can Lab261 share characterization data for use in my publication?#

Yes. Characterization data from your specific lot — including size distribution, microscopy images where available, and surfactant residual measurements — can be shared for inclusion in supplementary information or method documentation. Contact us with your study details.