Conformation Parameters of Linear Macromolecules from Velocity Sedimentation and other Hydrodynamic Methods
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Pavlov, George M.; Perevyazko, Igor; Okatova, Olga V.; Schubert, Ulrich S.
- Abstract:
- Linear macromolecules constitute a broad class of synthetic and natural polymers which are highly useful
in various technologies and represent the key molecular systems in living nature. The study of the molecular
characteristics of these polymers represents an important problem in fundamental and applied science.
The methods of molecular hydrodynamics have been and remain an important way of studying the
molar mass, molar mass distribution, size and conformation of linear polymers. This paper discusses the
approaches to the problems of hydrodynamic methods, in particular analytical velocity ultracentrifugation,
in the study of various types of linear macromolecule. The velocity sedimentation data were processed
with three different methods: Sedanal and Sedfit software, and the classical approach of
evaluating the rate at which the sedimentation boundary moves. The Sedfit program also allows an evaluation
of the frictional ratio values, i.e., the coefficient of translational diffusion. It will be discussed for
which systems the estimation of the frictional ratio obtained by Sedfit is adequate and for which it is not.
The applications of other hydrodynamic methods (intrinsic viscosity, translational diffusion) are also discussed
with a view to obtaining the conformational characteristics of linear macromolecules.
- Year:
- 2011
- Type of Publication:
- Article
- Journal:
- Methods
- Volume:
- -
- Pages:
- In Press