Eclipse™ Flow Field-Flow Fractionation System

The Eclipse^™ solves many difficult separation, fractionation and sizing tasks for macromolecules, nanoparticles and colloids by field-flow fractionation (FFF). Combined with Wyatt’s DAWN^® or miniDAWN^® multi-angle light scattering (MALS) detector and Optilab^® refractive index detector, the Eclipse offers a uniquely versatile FFF-MALS solution providing characterization of absolute molar mass, size, particle concentration, conformation and encapsulation.

Features

Robust separation of macromolecules and nanoparticles from 1 nm - 1000 nm with excellent resolution. Typical analysis times are 20 - 60 minutes

Characterize proteins, polymers, viruses and viral vectors, exosomes, drug- and gene-delivery nanoparticles, environmental tracers and nano-emulsions

No stationary phase: open-channel separation with minimal shear and surface interactions

Versatile choice of separation channels, permitting sample loads from nanograms to milligrams, including semi-preparative FFF

Separation methods to enhance resolution or size range are optimized simply by adjusting flow ratios. VISION^™ software provides computer-aided method development to save time and boost productivity.

The system makes use of the highest quality pumps, autosamplers, UV detectors and fraction collectors from Agilent, all orchestrated by VISION software. Optional automated switching between FFF channel and size-exclusion column.

Fractions can be collected and used for off-line analysis (with electron microscopy, mass spectrometry, etc.), or couple to ICP-MS for elemental analysis. Optional Dilution Control Module enriches fractions.

Intelligent user interface and software eliminate the need for expert operators

Wyatt provides extensive options for training and support.

Applications

High-resolution molar mass and size distributions of proteins, soluble and insoluble aggregates, natural and synthetic polymers, polymersomes, exosomes, liposomes, viruses, virus-like particles, metallic nanoparticles, quantum dots, drug-delivery and diagnostic nanoparticles, emulsions and many more

Analysis of fragile macromolecules or particles that are sheared on a size-exclusion column, sticky proteins that adhere to the stationary phase, or large, heavily-branched polymers that elute abnormally from GPC columns

Separation and characterization of trace nanoparticles from environmental matrices such as soil or seawater

Detailed size-zeta potential distributions of nanoparticles

Semi-preparative separations

AF4 is recognized by the FDA and other regulatory agencies as an orthogonal technique to size-exclusion chromatography for analysis of biopharmaceutical aggregation.