Application of an asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation channel to the separation and characterization of proteins, plasmids, plasmid fragments, polysaccharides and unicellular algae.

The asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation channel has been improved by introduction of a different sample loading method, downstream central injection, which reduces sample relaxation and focusing time considerably and allows the concentrations of material in the channel, thereby enabling the loading of very large sample volumes. The performance of the channel was demonstrated by the separation of a protein from its dimer, retention of nucleic acids, i.e., plasmids and enzymatically cleaved plasmids, hyaluronate and unicellular algae.