We discuss the application of dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) to the study of colloidal systems composed of spherical particles. We develop a new model based on DPD particles with a central core and consider the effects of various parameters. The model is used to simulate (a) colloidal particle scattering as a means of probing the depletion interaction and (b) bulk dispersion viscosities for comparison with related models and to find evidence for aggregation in these systems. These preliminary simulations form a testing ground for assessing the feasibility of using DPD for studies of the rheology of particle gel structures.