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On the relation between surface area and partitioning of particulates in two‐polymer aqueous phase systems
Author(s) -
Walter Harry,
Fisher Derek,
Tilcock Colin
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(90)81220-i
Subject(s) - surface charge , ethylene glycol , polymer , phase (matter) , aqueous solution , partition coefficient , peg ratio , chemistry , partition (number theory) , macromolecule , aqueous two phase system , chemical engineering , particulates , materials science , chromatography , organic chemistry , biochemistry , mathematics , finance , combinatorics , engineering , economics
Partitioning in dextran‐poly(ethylene glycol) aqueous two‐phase systems is an established method for the separation of biomaterials. Size and surface properties are generally regarded as parameters which contribute to the determination of the materials' partition coefficients, K . While molecular weight or surface area can be one of the determinants of the K value of biomaterials in the size range of macromolecules to very small particulates (e.g. some viruses), partitioning liposomes of identical surface properties and different but distinct sizes indicate that surface areas greater than about 0.2 μm 2 do not affect the K value obtained. Analysis of available partitioning data of much larger particulates (i.e. cells) reveals that surface properties per unit area outweigh surface area per se in determining the K value in non‐charge‐sensitive, charge‐sensitive and biospecific affinity phase systems.