Tosoh Bioscience has produced an application note demonstrating how GPC was applied to analyse and differentiate the molar mass averages and distributions of four block copolymers intended to be used in a polymer-based therapeutic.
Introduction
Increased synthesis control of polymer properties has permitted the production of polymer assemblies for targeted and controlled drug delivery. The growing use of synthetic polymers in therapeutics increases the need for a method to characterize their molar mass averages and distributions as variations in molar mass averages and distributions can affect aspects of the therapeutic such as in vitro binding activity and biodegradation. The molar mass averages and molar mass distributions of a polymer are commonly characterized using gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Here we report on the use of an all-in-one GPC system, the EcoSEC GPC System, for the analysis and differentiation of the molar mass averages and distributions of four block copolymers intended to be used in a polymer-based therapeutic.
Experimental
Sample analysis was performed on a system consisting of an EcoSEC GPC System equipped with a RI detector. Further conditions can be found in the application note.
Results and Discussion
The ability to characterize the molar mass averages and distributions of a polymer being used in therapeutics is critical as the molar mass averages and distributions can affect the biocompatibility, mechanical properties, and bioavaiability properties of the therapeutic. An EcoSEC GPC System encompassing a dual flow RI detector was used to perform GPC analysis on four block copolymer samples intended to be used in a polymer-based therapeutic that have the same chemical composition but different molar masses.
Conclusion
The polystyrene relative molar mass averages for the four block copolymers differed by no more than 25% between the highest and lowest molar mass block copolymers. Overall, the use of the EcoSEC GPC System allowed for the determination of the molar mass averages and distributions as well as a comparison of relative polymeric size, based on GPC elution order, of four block copolymers.
