BOC Sciences provides custom nanoparticle synthesis services for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, materials science, diagnostics, catalysis, coatings, and personal care research. Our scientists integrate particle design, precursor and excipient selection, synthesis optimization, cargo loading, surface engineering, purification, and physicochemical characterization to produce nanoparticles matched to defined size, morphology, composition, surface chemistry, dispersibility, and application requirements.
Nanoparticle synthesis is the controlled formation of particles with dimensions and interfacial properties that differ from those of bulk materials. Depending on the target system, synthesis may involve nucleation and growth, precipitation, reduction, sol-gel processing, thermal decomposition, emulsification, nanoprecipitation, self-assembly, or microfluidic mixing. Successful development requires simultaneous control of particle size distribution, morphology, crystal phase, surface charge, ligand coverage, cargo loading, and colloidal behavior in the intended medium.
BOC Sciences synthesizes metallic nanoparticles with controlled size, shape, and surface chemistry for plasmonic, catalytic, imaging, and sensing applications.
We prepare metal oxide nanoparticles with tunable crystallinity, porosity, and surface reactivity for catalysis, environmental remediation, and biomedical research.
Our silica nanoparticle synthesis services cover non-porous and mesoporous architectures with high surface area, biocompatibility, and versatile surface chemistry.
BOC Sciences produces magnetic nanoparticles with controlled magnetization, surface functionality, and colloidal stability for separation, imaging, and therapeutic research.
We synthesize quantum dots and semiconductor nanocrystals with precisely tuned emission, narrow size distribution, and high quantum yield for optical and electronic applications.
Our polymeric nanoparticle synthesis services produce biodegradable and non-degradable polymer nanospheres with controlled degradation, release, and mechanical properties.
BOC Sciences fabricates lipid nanoparticles and liposomes with precise lamellarity, size, and lipid composition for nucleic acid delivery, drug encapsulation, and membrane research.
We design multi-component nanoparticles combining two or more functional materials to achieve synergistic optical, magnetic, catalytic, or therapeutic properties.
BOC Sciences helps research teams translate target particle specifications into a practical synthesis strategy covering materials, formulation ratios, mixing conditions, nucleation or self-assembly control, purification, surface modification, and fit-for-purpose characterization.
BOC Sciences provides customized nanoparticle synthesis, material selection, process development, surface engineering, cargo loading, purification, and analytical support for research teams needing functional nanomaterials. Key categories include:
| Development Stage | Service Scope & Key Outputs |
| Target Particle Profile and Feasibility Assessment | Evaluation of target material, size range, shape, surface chemistry, cargo type, application environment, and analytical needs to determine suitable synthesis routes and identify potential technical risks. |
| Material Selection and Design | Selection of core materials (metals, metal oxides, silica, polymers, lipids, quantum dots), architectural design (spheres, rods, core-shell, mesoporous), and compatibility review with cargo and application matrix. |
| Synthesis Process Development | Screening and optimization of wet-chemical, microfluidic, emulsification, self-assembly, or thermal decomposition methods by adjusting reagent ratios, solvent systems, temperature, mixing rate, and reaction time. |
| Surface Functionalization and Coating | Installation of PEG layers, reactive handles, targeting ligands, hydrophobic/hydrophilic coatings, and stealth polymers to tune colloidal stability, biocompatibility, and downstream conjugation capability. |
| Cargo Loading and Encapsulation | Integration of small molecules, proteins, peptides, nucleic acids, dyes, or contrast agents during or post-synthesis with loading efficiency optimization and retention assessment. |
| Purification and Fractionation | Removal of unreacted precursors, free cargo, solvent residues, and byproducts using ultracentrifugation, ultrafiltration, dialysis, SEC, sucrose gradient, or magnetic separation. |
| Particle Characterization | Analytical testing by DLS, TEM, SEM, XRD, XPS, ICP-MS, zeta potential, BET, UV-Vis, fluorescence spectroscopy, and LC-MS to evaluate size, morphology, crystallinity, surface chemistry, and loading. |
| Formulation and Stability Screening | Buffer, solvent, and dispersion medium screening to optimize colloidal stability, storage behavior, aggregation resistance, and application compatibility for biological, cosmetic, or material matrices. |
| In Vitro Performance Evaluation | Research-stage assessment of cellular uptake, cytotoxicity, release kinetics, imaging signal, binding affinity, magnetic response, and functional activity using appropriate in vitro models and assays. |
| Safety and Biocompatibility Assessment | Evaluation of hemocompatibility, immunogenicity, non-specific binding, degradation products, and off-target effects to support nanoparticle optimization and candidate selection for intended applications. |
Share the desired material, particle dimensions, morphology, payload, loading target, surface chemistry, dispersing medium, application, current formulation data, and scale requirement. Our specialists will design a project-specific route covering material selection, reaction or assembly conditions, purification, surface engineering, stability screening, and analytical confirmation.
BOC Sciences reviews the target material, size range, morphology, surface chemistry, payload, dispersing medium, application, analytical requirements, and scale. We identify critical attributes, likely failure modes, suitable synthesis routes, and a practical screening matrix before experimental work begins.
Our team prepares a structured set of formulations or reaction conditions, then adjusts material ratios, pH, temperature, mixing, addition sequence, flow rate, solvent exchange, surfactant level, and aging conditions according to rapid particle-size, optical, composition, or morphology feedback.
Selected batches are purified and fractionated, followed by coating, ligand exchange, functional-group installation, or cargo loading when required. Orthogonal characterization links core structure, hydrodynamic behavior, surface properties, composition, and application-relevant performance rather than relying on a single size measurement.
BOC Sciences compares candidate batches against the agreed particle profile and supplies the selected nanoparticle material or dispersion with preparation details, analytical results, sample-handling information, and project records. Scale-up or follow-on optimization recommendations are included when supported by the study.
Nanoparticle synthesis often produces broad size distributions when nucleation and growth stages are not cleanly separated, or when mixing is inhomogeneous, temperature fluctuates, or stabilizer concentration is suboptimal. BOC Sciences addresses these issues by screening multiple synthesis protocols (seed-mediated, hot-injection, microfluidic), optimizing stabilizer type and concentration, controlling temperature ramps, and evaluating solvent polarity effects. We use real-time DLS feedback and TEM imaging to guide selection of conditions that yield the narrowest size distribution for each material system.
Active cargoes may leak during synthesis, fail to partition into the particle core, or degrade under reaction conditions due to pH extremes, organic solvents, thermal stress, or inadequate affinity between cargo and carrier matrix. BOC Sciences evaluates pre-loading versus post-loading strategies, adjusts hydrophobicity matching between cargo and carrier, screens surfactant systems, and optimizes solvent exchange protocols. We quantify loading efficiency by HPLC, UV-Vis, or fluorescence assays and correlate results with particle internal structure to improve retention.
Synthesis protocols that work at milliliter scale often fail at larger volumes due to altered heat transfer, mixing inefficiency, reagent depletion gradients, and extended reaction times that promote Ostwald ripening or aggregation. BOC Sciences develops scalable processes using controlled-addition methods, continuous flow systems, and standardized quality control checkpoints. We document critical process parameters and implement in-process DLS and UV-Vis monitoring to ensure batch-to-batch consistency across scale-up transitions.
Nanoparticles may aggregate upon surface modification, lose functional groups during purification, or exhibit non-specific binding that compromises application performance in complex biological or formulation matrices. BOC Sciences screens multiple surface chemistries, ligand densities, and spacer lengths to optimize colloidal stability while preserving reactive handles for downstream conjugation. Zeta potential titrations, salt stability challenges, and storage stability monitoring guide selection of the most robust surface engineering strategy.
Collaborate with BOC Sciences to access custom nanoparticle synthesis, material design, surface functionalization, controlled encapsulation, purification, orthogonal characterization, and application-oriented data packages for research and development programs.
BOC Sciences works across metallic, metal oxide, silica, magnetic, semiconductor, polymeric, lipid-based, core-shell, and hybrid nanoparticles. This breadth allows our scientists to compare alternative carrier and material platforms rather than forcing every project into one standard formulation. It also supports multicomponent systems requiring precursor preparation, polymer or ligand modification, particle formation, and post-synthesis functionalization within a coordinated development plan.
We define process decisions around critical attributes such as particle diameter, PDI, morphology, crystal phase, porosity, shell thickness, surface charge, ligand density, cargo content, and release behavior. Structured screening and rapid analytical feedback help identify which variables genuinely control the target profile. When required, analytical method optimization is used to improve measurement relevance for complex dispersions.
A single technique cannot fully describe a nanoparticle system. Our scientists combine hydrodynamic sizing, microscopy, zeta potential, elemental analysis, diffraction, spectroscopy, chromatography, and thermal measurements according to material type. Available support includes UV-Vis testing, Raman testing, TGA testing, and DSC testing.
Project scale is selected according to material cost, synthesis mechanism, equipment compatibility, purification load, solids concentration, and the client's research objective. BOC Sciences can begin with milligram-scale feasibility work, progress through gram-scale optimization, and assess larger preparation scales for suitable processes. Translation decisions are supported by mass balance, particle recovery, process robustness, and chemical engineering technology rather than by simple proportional enlargement.
Client Needs: A pharmaceutical development group needed PLGA nanoparticles loaded with a hydrophobic small molecule (logP 4.2) for sustained-release studies. Their initial attempts produced particles over 300 nm with drug loading below 3% and substantial burst release within 24 hours.
Challenges: The hydrophobic drug aggregated during nanoprecipitation, and rapid solvent diffusion created a porous surface that facilitated premature release. The team's single-factor approach failed to identify the interplay between polymer molecular weight, solvent ratio, and aqueous phase surfactant concentration.
Solution: We screened three PLGA molecular weights (10K, 40K, 75K Da), two organic solvents (acetone and ethyl acetate), and four surfactant systems across 24 formulation batches. DLS and TEM guided particle size optimization, while HPLC quantified drug loading and release kinetics. The selected formulation used 40K Da PLGA with ethyl acetate and PVA stabilizer, producing 145 nm particles with 8.5% drug loading and sustained release over 14 days.
Outcome: The client received a well-characterized nanoparticle suspension with improved loading, controlled release profile, and complete analytical data package supporting their formulation development program.
Client Needs: A materials science team required gold-silica core-shell nanoparticles with defined plasmonic cores (40 nm Au) and thin silica shells (5-10 nm) for integration into wearable sensor electrode coatings. Commercial sources offered only thicker shells that dampened the plasmonic response.
Challenges: Controlling silica shell thickness below 10 nm without creating pinholes or patchy coverage proved difficult. The silane precursor concentration and reaction time window for thin, uniform shells was narrow, and excess precursor caused secondary nucleation of free silica particles that contaminated the product.
Solution: We synthesized citrate-stabilized 40 nm gold cores by seed-mediated growth and optimized a modified Stober process with precisely controlled TEOS concentration, ammonia catalyst level, and ethanol-to-water ratio across 18 shell-growth reactions. TEM imaging and UV-Vis plasmonic peak tracking guided condition selection, while centrifugation removed free silica contaminants.
Outcome: The client obtained core-shell nanoparticles with an average 7 nm silica shell, preserved plasmonic peak intensity, and minimal free silica contamination suitable for their sensor electrode fabrication process.
Client Needs: A personal care company sought mesoporous silica nanoparticles encapsulating a fragrance molecule for slow-release application in body lotion formulations. The fragrance was volatile (boiling point 195 degrees C) and degraded under alkaline conditions common in silica synthesis.
Challenges: Standard sol-gel synthesis at high pH caused fragrance degradation, while post-synthesis loading gave low capacity and rapid release. The particles also needed to be dispersible in oil-in-water emulsion bases without aggregation or pore collapse.
Solution: We developed a neutral-pH organosilica co-condensation approach using mild conditions that preserved fragrance integrity, then optimized pore size via templating agent selection to match the molecular dimensions of the fragrance. Surface modification with hydrophobic silanes improved compatibility with the emulsion base. Sixteen synthesis conditions were screened with TEM pore imaging, BET analysis, and release profiling guiding optimization.
Outcome: The client received surface-modified mesoporous silica particles with high fragrance loading capacity, sustained release over 8 hours in lotion matrix, and excellent colloidal stability in their formulation prototype.
BOC Sciences synthesizes nanoparticles across a broad size spectrum from approximately 5 nanometers to 500 nanometers depending on the material system. Metallic nanoparticles such as gold and silver are typically produced in the 5-100 nm range with tight size distributions. Polymeric nanoparticles including PLGA and lipid-based systems generally fall within 50-300 nm, suitable for drug delivery and cellular uptake studies. Silica and mesoporous silica particles can be engineered from 20 nm to over 500 nm with controlled porosity. Magnetic nanoparticles are commonly synthesized at 10-200 nm with options for superparamagnetic behavior. We confirm target size feasibility during the initial project consultation based on material chemistry and application requirements.
BOC Sciences offers an extensive portfolio of nanoparticle materials specifically developed for drug delivery applications. Lipid nanoparticles including ionizable LNPs and conventional liposomes support nucleic acid delivery such as mRNA, siRNA, and pDNA with high encapsulation efficiency. Polymeric systems based on PLGA, PLA, PCL, and their PEGylated variants enable controlled release of small molecules, proteins, and peptides through biodegradable matrix erosion. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles provide high surface area and tunable pore structures for guest molecule loading. We also develop hybrid lipid-polymer systems that combine the biocompatibility of lipids with the mechanical stability of polymers for advanced delivery formulations.
BOC Sciences ensures batch-to-batch reproducibility through rigorous process parameter control and in-process monitoring throughout the synthesis workflow. Critical parameters including reagent concentration, addition rate, temperature profile, mixing speed, pH, and reaction time are documented and maintained within narrow ranges for each validated protocol. Our team implements real-time analytical checkpoints using DLS and UV-Vis spectroscopy during synthesis to detect deviations before they affect final product quality. For scaled-up batches, we validate heat transfer and mixing equivalence across vessel sizes. Every batch is accompanied by comprehensive characterization data including size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, and morphology for direct comparison with previous productions.
BOC Sciences provides diverse surface functionalization capabilities to tailor nanoparticles for specific applications. PEGylation with varying chain lengths improves colloidal stability and reduces non-specific interactions in biological environments. Reactive functional groups including amine, carboxyl, thiol, azide, and alkyne handles enable subsequent bioconjugation through standard coupling chemistry. Active targeting ligands such as antibodies, peptides, folate, and transferrin can be installed for receptor-mediated delivery or detection. Hydrophobic or hydrophilic surface coatings adjust particle dispersibility in organic or aqueous matrices. Our specialists evaluate surface chemistry options based on the intended application environment, target specificity requirements, and compatibility with downstream processing steps.
BOC Sciences delivers comprehensive orthogonal characterization packages that fully define nanoparticle identity and quality. Size and dispersity are determined by dynamic light scattering and nanoparticle tracking analysis, with morphology confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Surface charge is measured by zeta potential titration across relevant pH ranges. Crystalline structure is assessed by X-ray diffraction, while surface chemistry is analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Elemental composition is quantified through ICP-MS or ICP-OES. For drug-loaded particles, encapsulation efficiency and release kinetics are measured by HPLC or UV-Vis methods. Thermal stability and surface area are evaluated by TGA and BET analysis respectively.
The team translated our target size and shell-thickness requirements into a focused experimental plan. The microscopy and dispersion data made it clear why the selected synthesis condition performed better than our original route.
— Doyle, Senior Materials Scientist
BOC Sciences helped us compare several surface ligands based on anchoring chemistry, charge, steric stabilization, and downstream coupling needs. Their recommendations resolved the aggregation problem we observed after buffer transfer.
— Jensen, Principal Research Scientist
The report connected DLS, microscopy, zeta potential, composition, and cargo analysis instead of presenting isolated numbers. That interpretation allowed our formulation group to select the most suitable batch with confidence.
— Thornton, Formulation Development Manager
The project progressed logically from feasibility screening to confirmation batches and a larger preparation. Clear operating ranges and transparent batch comparisons made the process easier for our internal engineering team to adopt.
— Costa, Research and Development Director
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