Studies of instrumental spreading in gel permeation chromatography by coupling with a two-angle laser light scattering detector

The instrumental spreading of a high temperature gel permeation chromatograph (GPC) was evaluated by coupling with a two-angle laser light scattering (TALLS) detector, using narrow polystyrene, polyethylene, and syndiotactic polypropylene samples. The determined spreading factor increased with increasing molecular weight of polymers, and no maximum for spreading 174 tor was observed in the studied retention volume, while the spreading factors for single low molecular weight alkanes are independent of their molecular weight. Neglecting of the spreading effect for GPC would not introduce much error in molecular weight calculation when high quality high performance columns were used, especially when equipped with a laser light scattering detector. The scaling relationship between radius of gyration and molecular weight of polymer, determined by GPC with a TALLS detector, was independent of the instrumental spreading.

Determination of molecular weight and molecular sizes of polymers by high temperature gel permeation chromatography with a static and dynamic laser light scattering detector

Flow-mode static and dynamic laser light scattering (SLS/DLS) studies of polymers, including polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene and poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), in 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (TCB) at 150 degreesC were performed on a high temperature gel permeation chromatography (GPC) coupled with a SLS/DLS detector. Both absolute molecular weight (M) and molecular sizes (radius of gyration, R-g and hydrodynamic radius, R-h) of polymers eluting from the GPC columns were obtained simultaneously. The conformation of different polymers in TCB at 150 degreesC were discussed according to the scaling relationships between R-g, R-h and M and the rho-ratio (p = R-g/R-h). Flow-mode DLS results of PDMS were verified by batch-mode DLS study of the same sample. The presented technique was proved to be a convenient and quick method to study the shape and conformation of polymers in solution at high temperature. However, the flow-mode DLS was only applicable for high molecular weight polymers with a higher refractive index increment such as PDMS.

A novel laser light-scattering study of enzymatic biodegradation of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) nanoparticles

A successful micronization of water-insoluble poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) into narrowly distributed nanoparticles stable in water has not only enabled us to study the enzymatic biodegradation of PCL in water at 25 degrees C by a combination of static and dynamic laser light scattering (LLS), but also to shorten the biodegradation time by a factor of more than 10(3) compared with using a thin PCL film, i.e. a 1 week conventional experiment becomes a 4 min one. The time-average scattering intensity decreased linearly. It was interesting to find that the decrease of the scattering intensity was not accompanied by a decrease of the average size of the PCL nanoparticles, indicating that the enzyme, Lipase Pseudomonas (PS), ''eats'' the PCL nanoparticles one-by-one, so that the biodegradation rate is determined mainly by the: enzyme concentration. Moreover, we found that using anionic sodium lauryl sulphate instead of cationic hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide as surfactant in the micronization can prevent the biodegradation, suggesting that the biodegradation involves two essential steps: the adsorption of slightly negatively charged Lipase PS onto the PCL nanoparticles and the interaction between Lipase PS and PCL. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Laser light scattering of the molecular weight distribution of unfractionated phenolphthalein poly(aryl ether sulfone)

Two unfractionated samples of phenolphthalein poly( aryl ether sulfone) (PES-C) were characterized in CHCl3 at 25 degrees C by applying a recently developed laser light-scattering (LLS) procedure. The Laplace inversion of precisely measured intensity-intensity time correlation function lead us first to an estimate of the characteristic line-width distribution G(Gamma) and then to the translational diffusion coefficient distribution G(D). A combination of static and dynamic LLS results enabled us to determine D = (2.69 x 10(-4))M(-0.553), which agrees with the calibration of D = (2.45 x 10(-4))M(-0.55) previously established by a set of narrowly distributed PES-C samples. Using this newly obtained scaling between D and M, we were able to convert G(D) into a differential weight distribution f(w)(M) for the two PES-C samples. The weight-average molecular weights calculated from f(w)(M) are comparable to that obtained directly from static LLS. Our results showed that using two broadly distributed samples instead of a set of narrowly distributed samples have provided not only similar final results, but also a more practical method for the PES-C characterization. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Laser light scattering studies of soluble high-performance polyimides: Solution properties and molar mass distributions

Two soluble high-performance polyimides, poly(BCPOBDA/DMMDA) and poly(ODPA/DMMDA), in CHCl3 at 25 degrees C have been studied using laser light scattering. We found that the z-average radius of gyration ([R(g)]) can be scaled to the weight-average molecular weight (M(w)) as [R(g)] (nm) = 4.95 x 10(-2)M(w)(0.52) and [R(g)] (nm) = 1.25 x 10(-2)M(w)(0.66) respectively for poly(BCPOBDA/DMMDA) and poly(ODPA/DMMDA), indicating that poly(ODPA/DMMDA) in CHCl3 at 25 degrees C has a more extended chain conformation than poly(BCPOBDA/DMMDA). Using the wormlike chain model approach, we found that the Flory characteristic ratios (C*) of poly(BCPOBDA/DMMDA) and poly(ODPA/DMMDA) are similar to 20 and similar to 31, respectively, indicating that both of them have a slightly extended chain conformation in comparison with typical flexible polymer chains, such as polystyrene, whose C-infinity is similar to 10. A combination of the weight-average molar mass (M(w)) with the translational diffusion coefficient distributions (G(D)) has led to D (cm(2)/s) = 3.53 x 10(-4)M(-0.579) and D (cm(2)/s) = 4.30 x 10(-4)M(-0.613) respectively for two soluble high-performance polyimides, poly(BCPOBDA/DMMDA) and poly(ODPA/DMMTA), in CHCl3 at 25 degrees C. Using these two calibrations, we have successfully characterized the molar mass distributions of the two polyimides from their corresponding G(D)s. The exponents of these two calibrations further confirm that both of the polyimides have a slightly extended coil chain conformation in CHCl3. The chain flexibility difference between these two polyimides has also been discussed.

Dynamic light-scattering characterization of the molecular weight distribution of a broadly distributed phenolphthalein poly(aryl ether ketone)

Using a recently developed laser light-scattering (LLS) procedure, we accomplished the characterization of a broadly distributed unfractionated phenolphthalein poly(aryl ether ketone) (PEK-C) in CHCl3 at 25 degrees C. The laplace inversion of precisely measured intensity-intensity time correlation function from dynamic LLS leads us first to an estimate of the characteristic line-width distribution G(Gamma) and then to the translational diffusion coefficient distribution G(D). By using a previously established calibration of D (cm(2)/s) = 2.37 X 10(-4)M(-0.57), were able to convert G(D) into a differential weight distribution f(w)(M). The weight-average molecular weight M(w) calculated from f(w)(M) agrees well with that directly measured in static LLS. Our results indicate that both the calibration and LLS procedure used in this study are ready to be applied as a routine method for the characterization of the molecular weight distribution of PEK-C. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Laser light-scattering study of novel thermoplastics .2. Phenolphthalein poly(ether sulfone) (PES-C)

Five narrowly distributed fractions of phenolphthalein poly(ether sulfone) (PES-C) were studied in CHCl3 by both static and dynamic laser light scattering (LLS) at 25 degrees C. The dynamic LLS showed that the PES-C samples contain some large polymer clusters as in previously studied phenolphthalein poly(ether ketone)(PEK-C). These large clusters can be removed by a 0.1-mu m filter. Our results showed that [R(g)(2)](1/2)(z) = (3.35 +/- 0.13) x 10(-2) M(w)((0.52 +/- 0.03)) and [D] = (2.26 +/- 0.02) x 10(-4)M(w)-((0.54) +/- 0.03)) with [R(g)(2)](1/2)(z), M(w) and [D] being the z-average radius of gyration, the weight-average molecular weight, and the z-average translational diffusion coefficient, respectively. A combination of static and dynamic LLS results enabled us to determine D = (2.45 +/- 0.04) x 10(-4)M-((0.55 +/- 0.05)), where D and M correspond to monodisperse species. Using this scaling relationship, we have successfully converted the translational diffusion coefficient distribution into the molecular weight distribution for each of the five PES-C fractional The weight-average molecular weights obtained from dynamic light scattering have a good agreement with that obtained from static laser light-scattering measurements.

Laser light-scattering study of novel thermoplastics .1. Phenolphthalein poly(aryl ether ketone)

Five different molecular weight phenolphthalein poly(aryl ether ketone) (PEK-C) fractions in CHCl3 were studied by static and dynamic laser light scattering(LLS). The dynamic LLS revealed that the PEK-C samples contain some large polymer clusters. These large clusters can be removed by filtering the solution with a 0.1-mu m filter. We found that the persistence length of PEK-C in CHCl3 at 25 degrees C is similar to 2 nm and the Flory characteristic ratio, C-infinity is similar to 25. Our results showed that [R(g)(2)](1/2)(z) = (3.50+/-0.20) x 10(-2)M(w)(0.54+/-0.01) and [D] = (2.37+/-0.05) x 10(-4)M(w)(-0.55+/-0.01), with [R(g)(2)](1/2)(z), M(w), and [D] being the z-average radius of gyration, the weight-average molecular weight, and the z-average translational diffusion coefficient, respectively. A combination of static and dynamic LLS results enabled us to determine D = (2.20+/-0.10) x 10(-4)M(-0.555+/-0.015), where D and M correspond to monodisperse species. Using this calibration between D and M,we have determined molecular weight distributions of five PEK-C fractions from their corresponding translational diffusion coefficient distribution.

THE CHAIN STRUCTURE AND LIGHT-SCATTERING-STUDIES FOR ACRYLAMIDE-SODIUM ACRYLIC-ACID (AM-AA) COPOLYMERS

A set of AM-AA copolymer samples with the same comonomer content and different average molecular weight have been characterized by C-13 NMB and light scattering methods in this paper. The chemical composition (comonomer AA, mole content 16.9 +/- 1.1%) of these samples is uniform. the sequence of AA in the macromolecular chain is of alone and random distribution and the light scattering theory from polyelectrolyte in added-salt solutions is suitable for the AM-AA copolymers-0.12 mol/L NaCl water systems. The actual values of M(w), the second Virial coefficient A(2) and the mean square radius of gyration (R(2)), for the studied samples have been obtained. The relationships between the molecular parameters are as follows: A(2)=0.0619 ($) over bar M(w)(-0.24), < R(2) >(1/2)(t)= 0.0210 ($) over bar M(w)(0.54).

A DYNAMIC LASER LIGHT-SCATTERING STUDY OF CHITOSAN IN AQUEOUS-SOLUTION

The solution behavior of four chitosans (91% deacetylated chitin) with different molecular weights in 0.2M CH3COOH/0.1M CH3COONa aqueous solution was investigated at 25 degrees C by dynamic laser light scattering (LLS). The Laplace inversion of the precisely measured intensity-intensity time correlation function leads us to an estimate of the line-width distribution G(Gamma), which could be further reduced to a translational diffusion coefficient distribution G(D). By using a combination of static and dynamic LLS results, i.e. Mw and G(D), we were able to establish a calibration of D = k(D)M(-alpha D) with k(D) = (3.14 +/- 0.20) X 10(-4) and alpha(D) = 0.655 +/- 0.015. By using this calibration, we successfully converted G(D) into a molecular weight distribution f(w)(M). The larger alpha(D) value confirms that the chitosan chain is slightly extended in aqueous solution even in the presence of salts. This is mainly due to its backbone and polyelectrolytes nature. As a very sensitive technique, our dynamic LLS results also revealed that even in dilute solution chitosan still forms a small amount of larger sized aggregates that have ben overlooked in previous studies. The calibration obtained in this study will provide another way to characterize the molecular weight distribution of chitosan in aqueous solution at room temperature. (C) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Measuring morphological features using light-scattering spectroscopy and Fourier-domain low-coherence interferometry.

We present measurements of morphological features in a thick turbid sample using light-scattering spectroscopy (LSS) and Fourier-domain low-coherence interferometry (fLCI) by processing with the dual-window (DW) method. A parallel frequency domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) system with a white-light source is used to image a two-layer phantom containing polystyrene beads of diameters 4.00 and 6.98 mum on the top and bottom layers, respectively. The DW method decomposes each OCT A-scan into a time-frequency distribution with simultaneously high spectral and spatial resolution. The spectral information from localized regions in the sample is used to determine scatterer structure. The results show that the two scatterer populations can be differentiated using LSS and fLCI.

Inversion of light scattering data by singular system analysis

We consider the problem of inverting experimental data obtained in light scattering experiments described by linear theories. We discuss applications to particle sizing and we describe fast and easy-to-implement algorithms which permit the extraction, from noisy measurements, of reliable information about the particle size distribution. © 1987, SPIE.

Resonant Rayleigh light scattering response of individual Au nanoparticles to antigen--antibody interaction

A proof-of-concept study was reported on analysis of antigen–antibody recognition based on resonant Rayleigh scattering response of single Au nanoparticles in an imaging chamber. As benefited by a traditional dark-field microscope and a spectrograph, individual Au nanoparticles (30 nm) were observed with high signal-to-noise ratio and they were effectively utilized to monitor changes in refractive index induced by specific binding of the adsorbates. Using PSA antigen as a model, a LSPR ?max shift of about 2.85 nm was recorded for a molecular binding corresponding to 0.1 pg ml-1 of the protein biomarker. This result successfully demonstrates a non-labeling detection system for proteins as well as thousands of different chemical or biological species, and it possesses a great potential as a sensitive, on-chip and multiplexing detection.