Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Field-flow fractionation of biological materials

  • Chapter
Research Instrumentation for the 21st Century

Part of the book series: Beltsville Symposia in Agricultural Research ((BSAR,volume 11))

Abstract

Most biological fractionation problems require techniques which perform rapid separations of delicate components without inflicting denaturation or loss of activity. The larger the components, the fewer are the methods available for this task.

Field-Flow Fractionation (FFF) is an analytical technique, which has proven ideally suited for a great number of separation problems involving fragile macromolecules and particles. This review article summarizes existing theoretical models for retention and zone broadening in FFF. Based on these models, equations are developed to optimize the resolution of given pairs of components in time. It is shown that by slightly increasing the selected fields, one can significantly reduce the times required for resolution of given pairs of components.

The performance of several FFF subtechniques is illustrated by examples of biological interest, and qualitative demonstrations of the optimization strategy are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Beckett, R., G. Nicholson, B.T. Hart, M. Hansen and J.C. Giddings, Separation and Size Characterization of Colloidal Particles in River Water by Sedimentation Field-Flow Fractionation, Environ. Sci. Technol. (accepted).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bonner, F.J. 1973. Thermal Diffusion of Dextran and Polystyrene, Chem. Scr. 3: 149–152.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Brimhall, S.L., M.N. Myers, K.D. Caldwell and J.C. Giddings. 1984. Separation of Polymers by Flow Field-Flow Fractionation, J. Polymer Sci.: Polymer Letters Edition 22: 339–345.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Caldwell, K.D., L.F. Kesner, M.N. Myers and J.C. Giddings. 1972. Electrical Field-Flow Fractionation of Proteins, Science 176: 296–298.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Caldwell, K.D., T.T. Nguyen, M.N. Myers and J.C. Giddings. 1979. Observations of Anomalous Retention in Steric Field-Flow Fractionation, Sep. Sci. Technol. 14: 935–946.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Caldwell, K.D., T.T. Nguyen, J.C. Giddings and H.M. Mazzone. 1980. Field-Flow Fractionation of Alkali Liberated Polyhedrosis Virus from Gypsy Moth (Lymantria Dispar, Linnaeus), J. Virol. Methods 1: 241–256.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Caldwell, K.D., G. Karaiskakis and J.C. Giddings. 1981. Characterization of T4D Virus by Sedimentation Field-Flow Fractionation, 215: 323–332.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Caldwell, K.D., G. Karaiskakis, M.N. Myers and J.C. Giddings. 1981a. Characterization of BSA Microspheres by Sedimentation Field-Flow Fractionation, J. Pharmaceutical Sci. 70: 1350–1352.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Caldwell, K.D., G. Karaiskakis, M.N. Myers and J.C. Giddings. 1981b. Characterization of Liposomes by Sedimentation Field-Flow Fractionation, Colloids and Surfaces 3: 233–238.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Caldwell, K.D., B.J. Compton, J.C. Giddings and R.J. Olson. 1984a. Sedimentation Field-Flow Fractionation: A Method for Studying Particulates in Cataractous Lens, Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 25: 153–159.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Caldwell, K.D., Z.-Q. Cheng, P. Hradecky and J.C. Giddings. 1984b. Separation of Human and Animal Cells by Sedimentation Field-Flow Fractionation, Cell Biophysics 6: 233–251.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Caldwell, K.D., S.M. Mozersky, J. Nagahashi and R. Barford. 1986. Sedimentation Field-Flow Fractionation of Corn Root Membranes, in Chemical Separations, Vol. 1, J.D. Navratil and C.J. King, eds., Litarvan, Denver pp. 59–74.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Fox, A., L.E. Schallinger and J.J. Kirkland. 1985. Sedimentation Field-Flow Fractionation of Bacterial Cell Wall Fragments, J. Microbiol. Methods 3: 273–281.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Gao, Y.S., K.D. Caldwell, M.N. Myers and J.C. Giddings. 1985. Extension of Thermal Field-Flow Fractionation to Ultra High (20 × 10 6 ) Molecular Weight Polystyrenes, Macromolecules 18: 1272–1277.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Giddings, J.C. 1965a. Dynamics of Chromatography, Vol. 1, Dekker, New York, Chapter 2.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Giddings, J.C. 1965b. Dynamics of Chromatography, Vol. 1, Dekker, New York, Chapter 7.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Giddings, J.C. 1968. Nonequilibrium Theory of Field-Flow Fractionation, J. Chem. Phys. 49: 81–85.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Giddings, J.C. 1973a. The Conceptual Basis of Field-Flow Fractionation, J. Chem. Ed. 50: 667–669.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Giddings, J.C. 1973b. Parameters for Optimum Separations in Field-Flow Fractionation, Sep. Sci. 8: 567–575.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Giddings, J.C, F.J.F. Yang and M.N. Myers. 1974. Sedimentation Field-Flow Fractionation, Anal. Chem. 46: 1917–1924.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Giddings, J.C., F.J.F. Yang and M.N. Myers. 1975. Application of Sedimentation Field-Flow Fractionation to Biological Particles: Molecular Weights and Separation, Sep. Sci. 10: 133–149.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Giddings, J.C., Y.H. Yoon and M.N. Myers. 1975. Evaluation and Comparison of Gel Permeation Chromatography and Thermal Field-Flow Fractionation for Polymer Separations, Anal. Chem. 47: 126–131.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Giddings, J.C., Y.H. Yoon, K.D. Caldwell and M.E. Hovingh. 1975. Nonequilibrium Plate Height for Field-Flow Fractionation in Ideal Parallel Plate Columns, Sep. Sci. 10: 447–460.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Giddings, J.C. 1976. Field-Flow Fractionation: Extending the Molecular Weight Range of LC to One Trillion, J. Chromatogr. 125: 3–16.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Giddings, J.C., F.J. Yang and M.N. Myers. 1976. Theoretical and Experimental Characterization of Flow Field-Flow Fractionation, Anal. Chem. 48: 1126–1132.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Giddings, J.C., K.D. Caldwell and M.N. Myers. 1976. Thermal Diffusion of Polystyrene in Eight Solvents by an Improved Thermal Field-Flow Fractionation Methodology, Macromolecules 9: 106–112.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Giddings, J.C., G.C. Lin and M.N. Myers. 1976. Electrical Field-Flow Fractionation in a Rigid Membrane Channel, Sep. Sci. 11: 553–568.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Giddings, J.C., F.J. Yang and M.N. Myers. 1977a. Flow Field-Flow Fractionation as a Methodology for Protein Separation and Characterization, Anal. Biochem. 81: 395–407.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Giddings, J.C., F.J. Yang and M.N. Myers. 1977b. Flow Field-Flow Fractionation: A New Method for Separating, Purifying, and Characterizing the Dijfusivity of Viruses, J. Virol. 21: 131–138.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Giddings, J.C. 1978. Displacement and Dispersion of Particles of Finite Size in Flow Channels with Lateral Forces. Field-Flow Fractionation and Hydrodynamic Chromatography, Sep. Sci. Technol. 13: 241–254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Giddings, J.C. and M.N. Myers. 1978. Steric Field-Flow Fractionation: A New Method for Separating 1–100 µm Particles, Sep. Sci. Technol. 13: 637–645.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Giddings, J.C., G.C. Lin and M.N. Myers. 1978a. Fractionation and Size Distribution of Water Soluble Polymers by Flow Field-Flow Fractionation, J. Liq. Chromatogr. 1: 1–20.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Giddings, J.C., G.C. Lin and M.N. Myers. 1978b. Fractionation and Size Analysis of Colloidal Silica by Flow Field-Flow Fractionation, J. Colloid Interface Sci. 65: 67–78.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Giddings, J.C., M. Martin and M.N. Myers. 1978. High Speed Polymer Separations by Thermal Field-Flow Fractionation, J. Chromatogr. 158: 419–435.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Giddings, J.C., L.K. Smith and M.N. Myers. 1978. Surface Barriers for Retention Enhancement in Field-Flow Fractionation, Sep. Sci. Technol. 13: 367–385.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Giddings, J.C. 1979. Field-Flow Fractionation of Polymers: One-Phase Chromatography, Pure & Appl. Chem. 51: 1459–1471.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Giddings, J.C., M.N. Myers, K.D. Caldwell and J.W. Pav. 1979. Steric FFF as a Tool for the Size Characterization of Chromatographic Supports, J. Chromatogr. 185: 261–271.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Giddings, J.C., M.N. Myers, K.D. Caldwell and S.R. Fisher. 1980. Analysis of Biological Macromolecules and Particles by Field-Flow Fractionation, in Methods of Biochemical Analysis, Vol. 26, D. Glick, ed., Wiley, New York, pp. 79–136.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Giddings, J.C., G. Karaiskakis and K.D. Caldwell. 1981. Density and Particle Size of Colloidal Materials Measured by Carrier Density Variations in Sedimentation Field-Flow Fractionation, Sep. Sci. Technol. 16: 607–618.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Giddings, J.C., G. Karaiskakis, K.D. Caldwell and M.N. Myers. 1983. Colloid Characterization by Sedimentation Field-Flow Fractionation. I. Monodisperse Populations, J. Colloid Interface Sci. 92: 66–80.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Giddings, J.C 1985. Optimized Field-Flow Fractionation System Based on Dual Stream Splitters, Anal. Chem. 57: 945–947.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Giddings, J.C. and M.R. Schure. 1987. Theoretical Analysis of Edge Effects in Field-Flow Fractionation, Chem. Eng. Sci. (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  43. Giddings, J.C., K.D. Caldwell and H.K. Jones. 1987. Particle Size Distribution of Simple and Complex Colloids by Sedimentation Field-Flow Fractionation, in Particle Size Distribution: Assessment and Characterization, ACS Symposium Series No. 332, T. Provder, ed., (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  44. Giddings, J.C. and K.D. Caldwell. 1987. Field-Flow Fractionation, in Physical Methods of Chemistry, Vol. IIIB, B.W. Rossiter, ed., Wiley, New York (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  45. Gunderson J.J. and J.C. Giddings. 1987. Comparison of Polymer Resolution in Thermal Field-Flow Fractionation and Size Exclusion Chromatography, Anal. Chim. Acta, (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  46. Karaiskakis, G., M.N. Myers, K.D. Caldwell and J.C. Giddings. 1981. Verification of Retention and Zone Spreading Equations in Sedimentation Field-Flow Fractionation, Anal. Chem. 53: 1314–1317.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Karaiskakis, G., K.A. Graff, K.D. Caldwell and J.C. Giddings. 1982. Sedimentation Field-Flow Fractionation of Colloidal Particles in River Water, Intern. J. Environ. Anal. Chem. 12: 1–15.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Kesner, L.F., K.D. Caldwell, M.N. Myers and J.C. Giddings. 1976. Performance Characteristics of Electrical Field-Flow Fractionation in a Flexible Membrane Channel, Anal. Chem. 48: 1834–1839.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Kirkland J.J., W.W. Yau, W.A. Doerner and J.W. Grant. 1980. Sedimentation Field-Flow Fractionation of Macromolecules and Colloids, Anal. Chem. 52: 1944–1954.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Kirkland, J.J., S.W. Rementer and W.W. Yau. 1981. Time-Delayed Exponential Field-Programmed Sedimentation Field-Flow Fractionation for Particle Size Distribution Analyses, Anal. Chem. 53: 1730–1736.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Kirkland, J.J., W.W. Yau and F.C. Szoka. 1982. Sedimentation Field-Flow Fractionation of Liposomes, Science 215: 296–298.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Kirkland, J.J., C.H. Dilks and W.W. Yau. 1983. Sedimentation Field-Flow Fractionation at High Force Fields, J. Chromatogr. 255: 255–265.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Kirkland J.J. and W.W. Yau. 1986. Thermal Field-Flow Fractionation of Water Soluble Macro-molecules, J. Chromatogr. 353: 95–107.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Koch, T. and J.C. Giddings. 1986. High-Speed Separation of Large (> 1 µm) Particles by Steric Field-Flow Fractionation, Anal. Chem. 58: 994–997.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Koch, T. 1987. Steric Field-Flow Fractionation, Ph.D. Thesis, Univ. of Utah.

    Google Scholar 

  56. Martin, M., M.N. Myers and J.C. Giddings. 1979. Nonequilibrium and Polydispersity Peak Broadening in Thermal Field-Flow Fractionation, J. Liq. Chromatogr. 2: 147–164.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Myers, M.N. and J.C. Giddings. 1982. Properties of the Transition from Normal to Steric Field-Flow Fractionation, Anal. Chem. 54: 2284–2289.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Schallinger, L.E., W.W. Yau and J.J. Kirkland. 1984. Sedimentation Field-Flow Fractionation of DNA, Science 225: 434–436.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Schallinger, L.E., J.E. Gray, L.W. Wagner, S. Knowlton and J.J. Kirkland. 1985. Preparative Isolation of Plasmid DNA with Sedimentation Field-Flow Fractionation, J. Chromatogr. 342: 67–77.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Scheffel, U., B.A. Rhodes, T.K. Natarjan and H.N. Wagner. 1972. Albumin Microspheres for the Study of the Reticuloendothelial System, J. Nucl. Med. 13: 498–503.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Smith, L.K., M.N. Myers and J.C. Giddings. 1977. Peak Broadening Factors in Thermal Field-Flow Fractionation, Anal. Chem. 49: 1750–1756.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Summers, M.D. and L.E. Volkman. 1976. Comparison of Biophysical and Morphological Properties of Occluded and Extracellular Nonoccluded Baculovirusfrom In Vivo and In Vitro Host Systems, J. Virol. 17: 962–972.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. Tanford, C. 1961. Physical Chemistry of Macromolecules, Wiley, New York, Chapter 6.

    Google Scholar 

  64. Thompson, G.H., M.N. Myers and J.C. Giddings. 1967. An Observation of a Field-Flow Fractionation Effect with Polystyrene Samples, Sep. Sci. 2: 797–800.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. Thompson, G.H., M.N. Myers and J.C. Giddings. 1969. Thermal Field-Flow Fractionation of Polystyrene Samples, Anal. Chem. 41: 1219–1222.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Wahlund, K.-G., H.S. Winegarner, K.D. Caldwell and J.C. Giddings. 1986. Improved Flow Field-Flow Fractionation System Applied to Water-Soluble Polymers, Anal. Chem. 58: 573–578.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. Wahlund, K.-G. and J.C. Giddings. 1987. Properties of an Asymmetric Flow Field-Flow Fractionation Channel Having one Permeable Wall, Anal. Chem. (submitted).

    Google Scholar 

  68. Yang, F.-S., K.D. Caldwell and J.C. Giddings. 1983. Colloid Characterization by Sedimentation Field-Flow Fractionation II. Particle Size Distribution, J. Colloid Interface Sci. 92: 81–91.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  69. Yang, F.-S., K.D. Caldwell, M.N. Myers and J.C. Giddings. 1983. Colloid Characterization by Sedimentation Field-Flow Fractionation. III. Emulsions, J. Colloid Interface Sci. 93: 115–125.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  70. Yang, F.-S., K.D. Caldwell, J.C. Giddings and L. Astle. 1984. Stability of Perfluorocarbon Blood Substitutes Determined by Sedimentation Field-Flow Fractionation, Anal. Biochem. 138: 488–494.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  71. Yonker, C.R., K.D. Caldwell, J.C. Giddings and J.L. van Etten. 1985. Physical Characterization of PBCV Virus by Sedimentation FFF, J. Virol. Methods 11: 145–160.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bioengineering, and Center for Biopolymers at Interfaces, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA

    Karin D. Caldwell

Authors
  1. Karin D. Caldwell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Gary R. Beecher

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1988 Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Caldwell, K.D. (1988). Field-flow fractionation of biological materials. In: Beecher, G.R. (eds) Research Instrumentation for the 21st Century. Beltsville Symposia in Agricultural Research, vol 11. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2748-3_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2748-3_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7734-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-2748-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation