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Dynamic light scattering (DLS), particle tracking analysis (PTA), cryo\u2010transmission electron microscopy (cryo\u2010TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and differential centrifugal sedimentation (DCS) are applied to commercial and laboratory\u2010scale PNCs to assess the effect of UV\u2010mediated crosslinking, as well as the impact of active substances (ASs) and commercial dispersants on size distribution. Polydispersity and low refractive index make DLS unreliable. PTA does not detect PNCs &lt;50\u2009nm and requires adapting concentrations to each PNC, challenging comparisons. DCS captures polydispersity but could not detect PNCs &lt;50\u2009nm either. Importantly, DLS, PTA, and DCS assume spherical geometry, but commercial PNCs are unlikely to be spherical, thus seriously challenging data interpretation. Cryo\u2010TEM detects PNCs &lt;50\u2009nm and delivers the most reliable size distribution. Large differences among the PNCs tested warn against the use of model PNCs and read across when conducting risk assessment. Our results confirm the challenges and inadequacies in existing approaches and call for more research to develop multimethod approaches and adaptation of OECD guidelines to characterize PNCs, which are increasingly used across various sectors.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1002\/smsc.70415","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,5]],"date-time":"2026-10-05T08:45:08Z","timestamp":1791189908000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Particle Size Measurement of Organic Nanocarriers: A Case Study Using Polyacrylate\u2010Based Polymer Nanocarriers"],"prefix":"10.1002","volume":"6","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-9657-9986","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Dona","family":"Manayath","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Chemical Sciences University of Auckland  Auckland New Zealand"},{"name":"The MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology  Wellington New Zealand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6374-6745","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Monica","family":"Granetto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Environmental, Land and Infrastructure Engineering (DIATI) Politecnico di Torino  Turin Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9881-1589","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tiziana","family":"Tosco","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Environmental, Land and Infrastructure Engineering (DIATI) Politecnico di Torino  Turin Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1205-3770","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jadranka","family":"Travas\u2010Sejdic","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Chemical Sciences University of Auckland  Auckland New Zealand"},{"name":"The MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology  Wellington New Zealand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3738-0425","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Erin M.","family":"Leitao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Chemical Sciences University of Auckland  Auckland New Zealand"},{"name":"The MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology  Wellington New Zealand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8705-9229","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Melanie","family":"Kah","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Environment University of Auckland  Auckland New Zealand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,5]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_9_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2903\/j.efsa.2021.6768"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41565\u2010023\u201001578\u2010x"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1039\/D4EN01033G"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_5_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.msec.2017.06.004"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1021\/es301167x"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_7_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.oneear.2023.06.011"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_8_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41565\u2010019\u20100439\u20105"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_9_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cocis.2010.12.005"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_10_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/pharmaceutics10020057"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_11_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s42452\u2010025\u201006877\u20107"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_12_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/nnano.2013.78"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_13_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/nbt.3330"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_14_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cis.2014.02.012"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_15_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1039\/C8PY00829A"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_16_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biomaterials.2010.01.065"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_17_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-319-41421-8","volume-title":"Polymer Nanoparticles for Nanomedicines: A Guide for Their Design, Preparation and Development","author":"Vauthier C.","year":"2016"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_18_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2903\/j.efsa.2021.6769"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_19_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envpol.2018.03.041"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_20_1","unstructured":"OECD Test No. 412: Subacute Inhalation Toxicity: 28\u2010Day Study; 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