Towards predicting mobility and resolution in polymeric media: some first steps.

Abstract

Particle size-dependent retardation ("molecular sieving") in electrophoresis can be achieved in polymer solutions or gels. In the semidilute concentration range of polymer solutions, mobility of "rigid, spherical" particles can be predicted from their size (in the size range less than 20 nm radius), the screening length specific for the particular polymer and a constant that can be experimentally determined for a polymer. That constant could be universal for all hydrophilic uncharged polymers. Band spreading in polymer solutions is constant over a range of particle sizes and polymer concentrations and increases beyond that range. Presumably, the critical division between the two ranges occurs when the diameter of the particle exceeds the screening length of the polymer network. Resolution, defined as separation divided by the sum of bandwidths, can thus be predicted for a limited particle size and polymer concentration range. In gels, resolution can be estimated from the slopes and free mobility intercepts of the Ferguson plot. However, the previous computation of resolution needs to be revised in view of the fact that band spreading in gels proceeds in proportion to time, presumably through interaction with the polymer, and not as a function of the square root of time as would be the case if band spreading resulted from diffusion.