Field-Flow Fractionation Techniques for Polymer and Nanoparticle Characterization
Summary
Field-flow fractionation (FFF) encompasses a suite of separation methods in which an external field applied perpendicular to a laminar flow channel drives sample components to different streamlines according to size, density or other properties. Asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) is the most widely used variant, employing a single permeable wall to impose a cross-flow that refines fractionation across a broad size range—from small macromolecules to sub-micrometre particles—without a stationary phase. This open-channel format minimises shear forces and unwanted interactions, preserving labile structures and enabling high yields. By coupling FFF to detectors such as multi-angle light scattering (MALS), dynamic light scattering (DLS), differential refractive index, ultraviolet absorbance or mass spectrometry, researchers obtain concurrent information on size distributions, molecular weight, shape, composition and interaction kinetics. These capabilities have proven critical for polymer science—characterising block copolymers, nanogels and polymeric nanocarriers—and for nanoparticle research, including lipid-based drug delivery systems, virus-like particles and extracellular vesicles. Advances in miniaturisation, electrical FFF modes and hyphenation strategies have extended applicability to complex biological media, facilitating quality control in pharmaceuticals, materials development in nanotechnology and fundamental studies of macromolecular interactions.
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Field-Flow Fractionation Techniques for Polymer and Nanoparticle Characterization publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in field-flow fractionation techniques for polymer and nanoparticle characterization across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Field-flow fractionation (FFF): A family of separation techniques using an external field perpendicular to flow to fractionate particles or macromolecules by size or other properties.
Asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4): A variant of FFF employing a single ultrafiltration membrane wall to apply cross-flow, enabling size-based separation over a wide range with low shear.
Multi-angle light scattering (MALS): A detection method measuring scattered light at multiple angles to determine absolute molecular weight and root-mean-square radius.
Hydrodynamic radius: The effective radius of a particle as it diffuses in a fluid, determined by techniques such as DLS or FFF-based methods.
Polydispersity: A quantitative measure of the breadth of a size distribution within a sample, indicating sample heterogeneity.
References
- The Power of Field-Flow Fractionation in Characterization of Nanoparticles in Drug Delivery. Molecules (2023).
- Field-flow fractionation - an excellent tool for fractionation, isolation and/or purification of biomacromolecules. Journal of Chromatography A (2023).
- Asymmetrical Flow Field-Flow Fractionation on Virus and Virus-Like Particle Applications. Microorganisms (2019).
- Field-flow fractionation for molecular-interaction studies of labile and complex systems: A critical review. Analytica Chimica Acta (2021).
- Asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation as a multifunctional technique for the characterization of polymeric nanocarriers. Drug Delivery and Translational Research (2021).
- Nanoparticle separation with a miniaturized asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation cartridge. Frontiers in Chemistry (2015).
- Fast and Purification-Free Characterization of Bio-Nanoparticles in Biological Media by Electrical Asymmetrical Flow Field-Flow Fractionation Hyphenated with Multi-Angle Light Scattering and Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis Detection. Molecules (2020).
- Insights into the internal structures of nanogels using a versatile asymmetric-flow field-flow fractionation method. Nanoscale Advances (2020).
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