Effect of asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation channel geometry on separation efficiency

The separation efficiencies of three different asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) channel designs were evaluated using polystyrene latex standards. Channel breadth was held constant for one channel (rectangular profile), and was reduced either linearly (trapezoidal profile) or exponentially (exponential profile) along the length for the other two. The effective void volumes of the three channel types were designed to be equivalent. Theoretically, under certain flow conditions, the mean channel flow velocity of the exponential channel could be arranged to remain constant along the channel length, thereby improving separation in AF4. Particle separation obtained with the exponential channel was compared with particle separation obtained with the trapezoidal and rectangular channels. We demonstrated that at a certain flow rate condition (outflow/inflow rate = 0.2), the exponential channel design indeed provided better performance with respect to the separation of polystyrene nanoparticles in terms of reducing band broadening. While the trapezoidal channel exhibited a little poorer performance than the exponential, the strongly decreasing mean flow velocity in the rectangular channel resulted in serious band broadening, a delay in retention time, and even failure of larger particles to elute.     

Laser-induced breakdown detection combined with asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation: application to iron oxi/hydroxide colloid characterization

The combination of asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AsFlFFF) with the laser-induced breakdown detection (LIBD) is presented as a powerful tool for the determination of colloid size distribution at trace particle concentrations. Detection limits (D1) of 1, 4, and 20 microg/L have been determined for a mixture of polystyrene reference particles with 20, 50, and 100 nm in size, respectively. This corresponds to injected masses of 1, 4, and 20 pg, which is lower than found in a previous study with the symmetrical FlFFF (SyFlFFF). The improvement is mainly due to the lower colloid background discharged from the AsFlFFF channel. The combined method of AsFlFFF-LIBD is then applied to the analysis of iron oxi/hydroxide colloids being considered as potential carriers for the radionuclide migration from a nuclear waste repository. Our LIBD arrangement is less sensitive for iron colloid detection as compared to reference polystyrene particles which results in a detection limit of approximately 240 microg/L FeOOH for the AsFlFFF-LIBD analysis. This is superior to the detection via UV-Vis absorbance and comparable to ICP-MS detection. Size information (mean size 11-18 nm) for different iron oxi/hydroxide colloids supplied by the present method is comparable to that obtained by sequential ultrafiltration and dynamic light scattering. A combined on-line ICP-MS detection is used to gain insight into the colloid-borne main and trace elements.     

Comments on the separation efficiency of asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation in channels of constant channel and crossflow velocities leading to constant separation efficiency

It is shown theoretically that a claim in the literature about the overall separation efficiency of asymmetrical flow FFF channels being improved by geometries that permit a uniform channel flow velocity throughout the channel length is untrue.     

A novel approach to improve operation and performance in flow field-flow fractionation

A new system design and setup are proposed for the combined use of asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) and hollow-fiber flow field-flow fractionation (HF5) within the same instrumentation. To this purpose, three innovations are presented: (a) a new flow control scheme where focusing flow rates are measured in real time allowing to adjust the flow rate ratio as desired; (b) a new HF5 channel design consisting of two sets of ferrule, gasket and cap nut used to mount the fiber inside a tube. This design provides a mechanism for effective and straightforward sealing of the fiber; (c) a new AF4 channel design with only two fluid connections on the upper plate. Only one pump is needed to deliver the necessary flow rates. In the focusing/relaxation step the two parts of the focusing flow and a bypass flow flushing the detectors are created with two splits of the flow from the pump. In the elution mode the cross-flow is measured and controlled with a flow controller device. This leads to reduced pressure pulsations in the channel and improves signal to noise ratio in the detectors. Experimental results of the separation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and of a mix of four proteins demonstrate a significant improvement in the HF5 separation performance, in terms of efficiency, resolution, and run-to-run reproducibility compared to what has been reported in the literature. Separation performance in HF5 mode is shown to be comparable to the performance in AF4 mode using a channel with two connections in the upper plate.     

Separation of carbon nanotubes by frit inlet asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation

Flow field-flow fractionation (flow FFF), a separation technique for particles and macromolecules, has been used to separate carbon nanotubes (CNT). The carbon nanotube ropes that were purified from a raw carbon nanotube mixture by acidic reflux followed by cross-flow filtration using a hollow fiber module were cut into shorter lengths by sonication under a concentrated acid mixture. The cut carbon nanotubes were separated by using a modified flow FFF channel system, frit inlet asymmetrical flow FFF (FI AFIFFF) channel, which was useful in the continuous flow operation during injection and separation. Carbon nanotubes, before and after the cutting process, were clearly distinguished by their retention profiles. The narrow volume fractions of CNT collected during flow FFF runs were confirmed by field emission scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Experimentally, it was found that retention of carbon nanotubes in flow FFF was dependent on the use of surfactant for CNT dispersion and for the carrier solution in flow FFF. In this work, the use of flow FFF for the size differentiation of carbon nanotubes in the process of preparation or purification was demonstrated.     

非对称场流分离技术在蛋黄浆质低密度脂蛋白粒径表征中的应用

通过自组装的非对称场流分离系统(AF4)与紫外可见光检测器联用分离表征了笼养鸡蛋、柴鸡蛋、鹌鹑蛋和鸭蛋蛋黄浆质中的低密度脂蛋白(LDL)。在近似蛋黄浆质生理条件下,研究了进样量、交叉流流速、膜的类型对AF4蛋黄浆质中LDL分离表征的影响;考察了该方法的精密度。在优化的AF4分析条件下,检测出了笼养鸡蛋、柴鸡蛋、鹌鹑蛋和鸭蛋蛋黄浆质中LDL的水力学粒径分布。LDL的AF4洗脱峰高和峰面积的日内精密度分别为1.3%和1.9%(n=7),日间精密度分别为2.4%和2.3%(n=7)。研究结果表明,该方法可用于分离禽类蛋黄浆质中的LDL,同时能够得到LDL水力学粒径分布。     

Practical experience with organic solvent flow field-flow fractionation

Summary Several types of membrane have been tested for use in organic solvent flow field-flow fractionation in an asymmetric channel. The practical problems most commonly encountered were leakage of air and solvent through the support layer on which the membranes are cast, and unequal swelling of the membrane and the support layer in the organic solvent, leading to ridging of the membrane in the channel. Three types of membrane were found suitable for the separation of polystyrene standards with tetrahydrofuran as solvent. The best results were obtained with a fluoropolymer membrane. Fair agreement was found between theory and practice for the dependence of retention times on the relative molecular mass of the standards and on the flow regime. Use of scanning electron microscopy revealed that for a number of the membrane materials some pores were much larger than expected on the basis of the indicated molecular weight cut-off. Whereas these materials could not be used for the fractionation of soluble polymers, they could be applied with some success to the separation of solid latex and silica particles. A PTFE membrane could be used for the separation of latexes and silica particles suspended in acetonitrile as carrier liquid. In general, however, the retention times of these particles were shorter than theoretically predicted.     

非对称流场流分离技术的现状及发展趋势

场流分离是生物分析领域一项成熟的技术,将流体与外场联合作用于待分离物质,利用分析物某些理化参数上的差异进行分离。非对称流场流是其重要的分支之一,所施加的外力场为垂直方向的液流,分离过程于开放型的通道中在某种组成的载液迁移推动下进行,主要根据分析物与垂直施加的第二维液流之间的相互作用完成分离。非对称流场流在蛋白质、蛋白质复合物、衍生纳米级/微米级粒子、亚细胞单元和聚合物等分离中的应用日益广泛,主要归功于其直接应用于生物样品时可进行无损分离,因此生物分析物如蛋白质可以在生物友好型的环境中完成分离而不改变其构型,也无需使用降解载液。分离设备便于保持无菌状态,分析物可在生物友好的环境中维持其自然状态。该文简要描述了场流分离原理并罗列出其在生物分析领域一些卓越的发展和应用。     

Thermal aggregation of bovine serum albumin studied by asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation

The use of asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AsFlFFF) in the study of heat-induced aggregation of proteins is demonstrated with bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model analyte. The hydrodynamic diameter (d_h), the molar mass of heat-induced aggregates, and the radius of gyration (R_g) were calculated in order to get more detailed understanding of the conformational changes of BSA upon heating. The hydrodynamic diameter of native BSA at ambient temperature was ∼7 nm. The particle size was relatively stable up to 60 °C; above 63 °C, however, BSA underwent aggregation (growth of hydrodynamic diameter). The hydrodynamic diameters of the aggregated particles, heated to 80 °C, ranged from 15 to 149 nm depending on the BSA concentration, duration of incubation, and the ionic strength of the solvent. Heating of BSA in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (1.7 or 17 mM) did not lead to aggregation. The heat-induced aggregates were characterized in terms of their molar mass and particle size together with their respective distributions with a hyphenated technique consisting of an asymmetrical field-flow fractionation device and a multi-angle light scattering detector and a UV-detector. The carrier solution comprised 8.5 mM phosphate and 150 mM sodium chloride at pH 7.4. The weight-average molar mass (M_w) of native BSA at ambient temperature is 6.6 × 10⁴ g mol⁻¹. Incubation of solutions with BSA concentrations of 1.0 and 2.5 mg mL⁻¹ at 80 °C for 1 h resulted in aggregates with M_w 1.2 × 10⁶ and 1.9 × 10⁶ g mol⁻¹, respectively. The average radius of gyration and the average hydrodynamic radius of the heat-induced aggregate samples were calculated and compared to the values obtained from the size distributions measured by AsFlFFF. For comparison static light scattering measurements were carried out and the corresponding average molar mass distributions of solutions with BSA concentrations of 1.0 and 2.5 mg mL⁻¹ at 80 °C for 1 h gave aggregates with M_w 1.7 × 10⁶ and 3.5 × 10⁶ g mol⁻¹, respectively.     

Size characterization of drug-loaded polymeric core/shell nanoparticles using asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation

Asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AsFlFFF) was used to determine the size distribution of drug-loaded core/shell nanoparticles which have a lipid core of lecithin and a polymeric shell of a Pluronic. AsFlFFF provided separation of the drug-loaded core/shell nanoparticles from smaller coreless polymeric micelles, thus allowing accurate size analysis of the drug-loaded nanoparticles without interference by the coreless micelles. It was found from AsFlFFF that the drug-loaded nanoparticles have broad size distributions ranging from 100 to 600 nm in diameter. It was also found that, after the nanoparticles had been stored for 70 days, they disappeared as a result of self-degradation. Being a separation technique, AsFlFFF seems to be more useful than transmission electron microscopy or dynamic light scattering for size analysis of core/shell nanoparticles, which have broad and bimodal size distributions. Figure Separation by AsFlFFF     

基于非对称场流分离技术分离表征小米淀粉

基于非对称场流分离技术耦合多角度激光光散射检测器和示差折光检测器,建立了分离表征小米淀粉的方法。研究了进样量、交叉流流速、半衰期（t_1/2）、载液离子强度和pH值对小米淀粉分离效果的影响;考察了该方法的重现性;探究了小米淀粉分子结构。结果表明,在进样体积为50 μL、进样质量浓度为0.50 g/L、交叉流流速为1.2 mL/min、t_1/2=3 min、载液为10 mmol/L pH 7.00 NaNO₃（含3 mmol/L NaN₃）的条件下,小米淀粉分离效果最佳。该方法具有良好的重现性,得到的小米淀粉的回转半径相对标准偏差为3.4%、摩尔质量相对标准偏差为7.0%。     

Coupling gravitational and flow field-flow fractionation, and size-distribution analysis of whole yeast cells

This work continues the project on field-flow fractionation characterisation of whole wine-making yeast cells reported in previous papers. When yeast cells are fractionated by gravitational field-flow fractionation and cell sizing of the collected fractions is achieved by the electrosensing zone technique (Coulter counter), it is shown that yeast cell retention depends on differences between physical indexes of yeast cells other than size. Scanning electron microscopy on collected fractions actually shows co-elution of yeast cells of different size and shape. Otherwise, the observed agreement between the particle size distribution analysis obtained by means of the Coulter counter and by flow field-flow fractionation, which employs a second mobile phase flow as applied field instead of Earths gravity, indicates that yeast cell density can play a major role in the gravitational field-flow fractionation retention mechanism of yeast cells, in which flow field-flow fractionation retention is independent of particle density. Flow field-flow fractionation is then coupled off-line to gravitational field-flow fractionation for more accurate characterisation of the doubly-fractionated cells. Coupling gravitational and flow field-flow fractionation eventually furnishes more information on the multipolydispersity indexes of yeast cells, in particular on their shape and density polydispersity.     

Enzymatic determination of cholesterol and triglycerides in serum lipoprotein profiles by asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation with on-line, dual detection

Alterations of lipoproteins (LPs) and related lipid levels in blood serum are correlated to the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). Fast, possibly automated methods to obtain complete, multi-parametric LP profiles are therefore welcome to be developed for routine, clinical analysis practice. In this work, asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) with on-line, dual post-fractionation reaction detection (PFRD) is applied to develop a method for single-run, simultaneous quantification of cholesterol (CHOL) and triglycerides (TGs) in each fractionated LP class. The enzymatic reagents used for the post-fractionation reaction are available as commercial kits for certified, standard clinical protocols for the analysis of CHOL and TGs in serum. Using CHOL and glycerol as reference standards, a new procedure is applied to optimize the experimental conditions for PFRD-based, quantitative analysis. Upon optimized PFRD and AF4 conditions, results obtained for the determination of total CHOL (TC), TGs, HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) in a set of serum samples from healthy donors are found in agreement with the values provided by a clinical laboratory. The intra-day and inter-day precisions of the method were found always lower than 10% (CV). When the method was applied to serum samples from patients affected by sepsis, differences in CHOL and TG profiles between patients and healthy donors were observed.     

Temporal variability of colloidal material in agricultural storm runoff from managed grassland using flow field-flow fractionation

This paper reports the use of flow field-flow fractionation (FlFFF) to determine the temporal variability of colloidal (<1 μm) particle size distributions in agricultural runoff waters in a small managed catchment in SW England during storm events. Three storm events of varying intensity were captured and the colloidal material in the runoff analysed by FlFFF. The technique had sufficient sensitivity to determine directly the changing colloidal profile over the 0.08–1.0 μm size range in the runoff waters during these storm events. Rainfall, total phosphorus and suspended solids in the bulk runoff samples were also determined throughout one storm and showed significant correlation (P < 0.01) with the amount of colloidal material. Whilst there are some uncertainties in the resolution and absolute calibration of the FlFFF profiles, the technique has considerable potential for the quantification of colloidal material in storm runoff waters.     

Characterization of humic materials by flow field-flow fractionation

Several humic materials are characterized by flow field-flow fractionation, including humic acids, a fulvic acid, and aqueous leachates from compost. Hydrophilic and hydrophobic fractions of a compost leachate were also examined. After characterizing molecular weight distributions, the effect of pH and salt concentration on hydrodynamic size is studied. In general, the hydrodynamic size decreases as the pH is lowered. However, humic acids form large aggregates below pH 5. Small amounts of sodium chloride have little effect on the size distributions. In contrast, a little calcium chloride reduces the hydrodynamic size of individual molecules while inducing the formation of oligomers, although severe aggregation is absent. With further additions of calcium chloride, the decrease in hydrodynamic size continues but oligomer formation subsides. Precise characterization of the unaggregated material is hindered by sample penetration through the channel membrane.     

Miniaturized asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation: application to biological vesicles

Asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AFlFFF) has been carried out in a miniaturized channel by reducing the channel dimensions. Performance of the miniaturized AFlFFF (mAFlFFF) channel was evaluated with standard proteins and polystyrene latex spheres from nanometer to micrometer size. By reducing the channel dimension, proteins or particulate materials can be separated within a few minutes without a significant loss in resolution. The mAFlFFF channel was applied for the separation of exosomes harvested from immortalized human mesenchymal stem cell line. It shows a potential to fractionate exosome vesicles according to sizes which can be useful for proteomic studies in relation to immunotherapeutic applications.     

Stability of phospholipid vesicles studied by asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation and capillary electrophoresis

The stability of zwitterionic phosphatidylcholine vesicles in the presence of 20 mol% phosphatidyl serine (PS), phosphatidic acid (PA), phosphatidyl inositol (PI), and diacylphosphatidyl glycerol (PG) phospholipid vesicles, and cholesterol or calcium chloride was investigated by asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AsFlFFF). Large unilamellar vesicles (LUV, diameter 100 nm) prepared by extrusion at 25 °C were used. Phospholipid vesicles (liposomes) were stored at +4 and −18 °C over an extended period of time. Extruded egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (EPC) particle diameters at peak maximum and mean measured by AsFlFFF were 101 ± 3 nm and 122 ± 5 nm, respectively. No significant change in diameter was observed after storage at +4 °C for about 5 months. When the storage period was extended to about 8 months (250 days) larger destabilized aggregates were formed (172 and 215 nm at peak maximum and mean diameters, respectively). When EPC was stored at −18 °C, large particles with diameters of 700–800 nm were formed as a result of dehydration, aggregation, and fusion processes. In the presence of calcium chloride, EPC alone did not form large aggregates. Addition of 20 mol% of negatively charged phospholipids (PS, PA, PI, or PG) to 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (POPC) vesicles increased the electrostatic interactions between calcium ion and the vesicles and large aggregates were formed. In the presence of cholesterol, large aggregates of about 250–350 nm appeared during storage at +4 and −18 °C for more than 1 day.

The effect of liposome storage temperature on phospholipid coatings applied in capillary electrophoresis (CE) was studied by measuring the electroosmotic flow (EOF). EPC coatings with and without cholesterol, PS, or calcium chloride, prepared from liposomes stored at +25, +4, and −18 °C, were studied at 25 °C. The performances of the coatings were further evaluated with three uncharged compounds. Only minor differences were observed between the same phospholipid coatings, showing that phospholipid coatings in CE are relatively insensitive to storage at +25, +4 °C or −18 °C.     

非对称场流分离系统的构建及其在淀粉颗粒粒径表征中的应用

淀粉颗粒粒径与分子尺寸分别在1～100μm和20～250 nm之间,是影响淀粉功能特性的重要因素之一.非对称场流分离(AF4)是一种基于样品与外力场相互作用机制的分离技术,已应用于表征淀粉分子尺寸分布.商品化的AF4系统的粒径检测范围为1 nm～10μm,对于淀粉颗粒粒径表征具有一定的局限性.该文研制了AF4分离系统;...     

Carboxymethylation of corn starch and characterization using asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation coupled with multiangle light scattering

Asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AsFlFFF) was coupled online with multiangle light scattering (MALS) to study the changes in the molecular weight and the size distribution of the corn starch during carboxymethylation. A corn starch was derivatized with sodium chloroacetate in alcoholic medium under alkaline condition to produce carboxymethyl starches (CMS) having various degrees of substitution (DS). The change in thermal characteristics and granule structure of the native corn starch and CMS were compared using Thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscope. The ionic strength of the carrier liquid (water with 0.02% NaN₃) was optimized by adding 50 mM NaNO₃ to minimize the interactions among the starch molecules and between the starch molecules and the AsFlFFF membrane. A field-programmed AsFlFFF allowed determination of the molecular weight distribution (MWD) of starches within about 25 min. It was found that carboxymethylation of starch results in reduction in the molecular weight due to molecular degradation by the alkaline treatment. The weight-average molecular weight (M_w) was reduced down to about 4.4 × 10⁵ from about 7.2 × 10⁶ when DS was 0.14. It seems AsFlFFF coupled with MALS (AsFlFFF/MALS) is a useful tool for monitoring the changes taking place in the molecular weight and the size of starch during derivatization.     

Asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation technique for separation and characterization of biopolymers and bioparticles

Field-flow fractionation (FFF) is one of the most versatile separation techniques in the field of analytical separation sciences, capable of separating macromolecules in the range 10³–10¹⁵ g mol⁻¹ and/or particles with 1 nm–100 μm in diameter. The most universal and most frequently used FFF technique, flow FFF, includes three types of techniques, namely symmetrical flow FFF, hollow fiber flow FFF, and asymmetrical flow FFF which is most established variant among them. This review provides a brief look at the theoretical background of analyte retention and separation efficiency in FFF, followed by a comprehensive overview of the current status of asymmetrical flow FFF with selected applications in the field of biopolymers and bioparticles.