Quadrupole magnetic field-flow fractionation: A novel technique for the characterization of magnetic nanoparticles

ANYL 285

Francesca Carpino, carpinof@ccf.org1, Maciej Zborowski, zborowm@ccf.org2, and P. Stephen Williams, willias3@ccf.org2. (1) Department of Chemistry, Cleveland State University, 2121 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115, (2) Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195
Quadrupole Magnetic Field-Flow Fractionation is an analytical separation and characterization technique for nano- and micro-size particles. It's an elution technique similar to chromatography in which different components of a polydisperse sample elute from the channel at different times. Whereas chromatography exploits differences in partition between the mobile and stationary phases to separate sample components, Magnetic Field-Flow Fractionation (MgFFF) is achieved within the mobile phase alone. In MgFFF species are separated by the combined action of the carrier flow rate along the channel and an external magnetic field acting perpendicular to the flow. We propose to show the potential and versatility of MgFFF as a method for separation and characterization of magnetic nanospheres. Samples of dextran coated magnetite nanoparticles were submitted to analysis by MgFFF. A broadly polydisperse sample is eluted under different programmed field decay conditions and quantitative sample data are determined from the elution times using a data reduction method.