Measurement of lipoprotein particle sizes using dynamic light scattering

Background: A simple method for the measurement of LDL particle sizes is needed in clinical laboratories because a predominance of small, dense LDL (sd LDL) has been associated with coronary heart disease. We applied dynamic light scattering (DLS) to measure lipoprotein particle sizes, with special reference to sd LDL. Methods: Human serum lipoproteins isolated by a combination of ultracentrifugation and gel chromatography, or by sequential ultracentrifugation, were measured for particle size using DLS. Results: The sizes of polystyrene beads, with diameters of 21 and 28 nm according to the manufacturer, were determined by DLS as 19.3 +/- 1.0 nm (mean +/- SD, n = 11) and 25.5 +/- 1.0 nm, respectively. The coefficients of variation for the 21 and 28 nm beads were 5.1% and 3.8% (within-run, n = 11), and 2.9% and 6.2% (between-run, n = 3), respectively. The lipoprotein sizes determined by DLS for lipoprotein fractions isolated by chromatography were consistent with the elution profile. Whole serum, four isolated lipoprotein fractions (CM + VLDL + IDL, large LDL, sd LDL and HDL) and a non-lipoprotein fraction isolated by sequential ultracentrifugation were determined by DLS to be 13.1 +/- 7.5, 37.0 +/- 5.2, 21.5 +/- 0.8, 20.3 +/- 1.1, 8.6 +/- 1.5 and 8.8 +/- 2.0 nm, respectively. Conclusions: The proposed DLS method can differentiate the sizes of isolated lipoprotein particles, including large LDL and sd LDL, and might be used in clinical laboratories in combination with convenient lipoprotein separation.