Waters Corporation today announced the launch of the Waters omniDAWN™ multi-angle light scattering (MALS) photometer, part of the Wyatt Technology portfolio. With 18 detection angles, the omniDAWN photometer is the first extended range MALS detector for ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) workflows, delivering absolute molar mass and size measurements without compromising resolution or throughput.
Image credit: Waters Corporation
The omniDAWN MALS photometer extends UPLC-compatible sizing by a factor of 10, enabling reliable characterization of more complex analytes including large molecules and advanced materials.
The omniDAWN MALS photometer extends UPLC-compatible sizing by a factor of 10 from approximately 50 to 500 nm radius, enabling reliable characterization of larger and more complex analytes such as protein aggregates, viral vectors, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), and advanced materials. The omniDAWN photometer provides absolute molar mass and size, reducing dependence on column calibration standards and supporting faster results and more reliable comparisons, streamlining work across biosimilarity studies, antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) characterization, and viral vector analysis. As these and other advanced therapies move into later stages of development and quality control, laboratories are increasingly relying on UHPLC and UPLC systems to meet increasing throughput and resolution requirements.
Advances in UHPLC and UPLC separations for complex biologics and new modalities have outpaced detector technology, but until now omniDAWN MALS photometers have brought wide-ranging, multi-angle light scattering to modern separations. This means our customers can move faster while maintaining the resolution, robustness, and characterization depth needed to accelerate the discovery, development, and quality control of next-generation therapies. ”
Rob Carpio, Senior Vice President, Analytical Sciences, Waters Corporation
Seamlessly integrated with Waters UPLC systems and columns, omniDAWN photometers eliminate traditional trade-offs between dispersion, robustness, and analytical performance, providing a complete solution for multi-attribute characterization with improved ease of use compared to microvolume MALS approaches. When combined with a UHPLC or UPLC system, the omniDAWN photometer supports up to 4x faster run times than traditional HPLC workflows, reduces sample consumption by 30-50%, and reduces solvent usage by approximately 40%. Low-dispersion design provides high-quality data across complex samples while maintaining resolution and sensitivity. Sharper separation enhances detection of low-level species, allowing scientists to more clearly distinguish between monomers, aggregates, and fragments, supporting informed decision-making across discovery, development, and quality workflows.
“Extending the capabilities of multi-angle light scattering to UHPLC and UPLC analysis enables absolute molar mass measurements, which can be combined with faster and more flexible separations. This represents a significant advance in MALS-based analysis and will enable a deeper understanding of the structure of complex materials across drug delivery and environmental nanotechnology applications, ultimately supporting improved health outcomes.” “This is an exciting time for us,” said Stacey Lui, associate professor in the University of Houston’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
The omniDAWN photometer is powered by ASTRA™ software, built on over 40 years of light scattering innovation. By integrating MALS with ultraviolet (UV) and refractive index (RI) detection, ASTRA software enables comprehensive analysis of size, composition, and heterogeneity in a single run using dedicated workflows for ADCs, LNPs, and viral vectors. The platform is 21 CFR Part 11 and EU Annex 11 compliant and will be compatible with Waters Empower™ software later this year.
Waters’ omniDAWN MALS photometer is scheduled to be available worldwide in summer 2026.
