Computer simulation of particle separation based on non-equilibrium swelling

• Published in: JOURNAL OF CHROMATOGRAPHY A 1999-01, Vol.831 (1), p.51-62
• Main Authors: Tong, Xiaomi, Caldwell, Karin D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analytical biochemistry: general aspects, technics, instrumentation; Analytical chemistry; Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Membrane Permeability - genetics; Cell Separation - methods; Cell Size; Chemical Phenomena; Chemistry; Chemistry, Physical; CHO Cells; Chromatographic methods and physical methods associated with chromatography; Computer Simulation; Cricetinae; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Kinetics; Microspheres; Mutation; Osmolar Concentration; Other chromatographic methods; Particle Size; Water - metabolism
• ISSN: 0021-9673
• DOI: 10.1016/S0021-9673(98)00715-8

Steric/hyperlayer field-flow fractionation (FFF) is an established analytical technique for separating and characterizing particles in the 1–100 μm diameter range. The separation can be based on differences in size, density, shape and mechanical properties of the particles. In the course of an analysis of the water transporter system of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and one of their high permeability mutants, the first successful attempt was made to use the steric/hyperlayer FFF system for the purpose of separating particles based on a time-dependent property, namely, the differential swelling of the two cell types. The present study was undertaken to simulate numerically the separation in a steric/hyperlayer FFF system of particles with different swelling kinetics. Its purpose was to optimize the separation and suggest selection of operating conditions to minimize repetitive experiments. The computer simulation was developed using Maple V, a symbolic computing environment. It is shown that the model is able to predict an optimal velocity of carrier buffer that maximizes resolution. Predicted velocity/resolution pairs are in good agreement with available experimental data. Empirical models for the lift forces encountered in such FFF experiments, and for the zone broadening observed in work with cell sized particles, form the basis for this model.