Asymmetrical field-flow fractionation (AFFF) system for the analysis of polymeric (bio)materials and nano- to micro-sized supramolecular soft assemblies

在胶体和聚合物科学、细胞生物学和成像、结构生物学和再生医学的研究项目过程中，来自蒙特利尔四个学术机构的六名研究人员迫切需要一种能够处理大(微米)和小(纳米)组分的样品混合物的分析分离系统，在适合软材料的温和条件下。这种不对称场流分馏分离系统(AFFF)的应用是对具有这种能力的系统的协同搜索的结果。AFFF是一种创新的分离方法，它基于胶体在没有任何固定相的开放流道中的尺寸相关扩散系数。因此，它提供了一种独特的手段，以快速和温和的方式分离和表征聚合物(蛋白质、多肽、多糖)。从1 KDa到1,000,000 KDa，以及从1 nm到500微米(~5个数量级)的颗粒在水或有机介质中。预计使用AFFF将解决申请者研究小组目前面临的几个严重技术问题，并极大地加快他们的研究计划的进展。

In the course of their research projects in colloid and polymer science, cell biology and imaging, structural biology and regenerative medicine, six researchers from four Montreal academic institutions urgently require access to an analytical separation system that is capable of handling sample mixtures with large (micron-size) and small (nm size) components, under gentle conditions appropriate for soft materials.  This application for an asymmetric field flow fractionation  (AFFF) system is the outcome of a concerted search for a system with this capability.  AFFF is an innovative separation method based on the size-dependent diffusion coefficient of colloids in an open flow channel without any stationary phase.  It therefore provides a unique means to separate and characterize in a fast and gentle fashion polymers (proteins, peptides, polysaccharides..) from 1 KDa to 1,000,000 KDa and particles from 1 nm to 500 µm ( ~ 5 orders of magnitude) in aqueous or organic media. Access to an AFFF is expected to solve several current accute technical problems in the applicants research groups and to greatly accelerate progress in their research programs.