[Prodeq-divulgacao] Palestra: C. Wandrey - Analytical ultracentrifugation, A powerful tool to characterize and study polymers, biopolymers, polyelectrolytes, nanoparticles, dispersions and other colloidal systems

[Nuno Oliveira]

Palestra: Analytical Ultracentrifugation – a powerful tool to
characterize and study polymers, biopolymers, polyelectrolytes,
nanoparticles, dispersions and other colloidal systems

Orador: Christine Wandrey, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Hora: 	2009-11-16 16:30
Local: 	DEQ/FCTUC - Anfiteatro Nobre

This year, the scientific community has celebrated the 125th birthday of
The (Theodor) Svedberg the “father” and technical designer of the
analytical ultracentrifuge (AUC), who received the Nobel Prize in
Chemistry ”for his work on disperse systems” in 1926. His research
created the basis for our modern analytical ultracentrifugation. AUC is
a primary technique requiring no standards. However, only now, with the
availability of advanced microelectronics and high-performance
computers, we start attaining the ability to use the full potential of
this powerful technique. It is no longer restricted to the initially
intended applications.

After a brief general introduction to the principles and the underlying
theory, selected examples will demonstrate the power of AUC. It is not
limited to the determination of molar masses and molar mass
distributions but also applicable to describe solution state properties,
to identify molecular assemblies, to analyze derivatives of
macromolecules, to study stability and homogeneity of complicated high
molar mass compounds, and even to follow reaction kinetics and structure
formation. The examples will include the characterization of
polyelectrolytes, the study of the solution behavior of poly(vinyl
alcohol) grafted with charged monomers, the characterization of
dextran-protein conjugates, the analysis of associating multi-component
systems of very high molar mass, the pre-association and
temperature-dependent size distribution of temperature-responsive
polymers and the proof of the formation of mixed micelles. All these
experiments have been performed in an AUC ProteomeLab XL-I equipped with
two optical systems, scanning UV/Vis absorbance optics and interference
optics.