Insights from industry

Advancements in Multi-Detector GPC/SEC

AZoM talks to Mark Pothecary, Product Manager for size exclusion chromatography products at Malvern Panalytical, about the new OMNISEC gel permeation/size exclusion chromatography (GPC/SEC) platform.

Could you please introduce OMNISEC and explain the separate modules of the system?

OMNISEC is our latest integrated and complete size exclusion chromatography or gel permeation chromatography system for the analysis of synthetic polymers, natural polymers, polysaccharides, and proteins.

OMNISEC is a system in two parts; two modules. With OMNISEC RESOLVE, we have separated and integrated all the chromatography equipment (the pump, degasser, autosampler, and column oven) altogether to consolidate the separation side of the process.

In the second module, OMNISEC REVEAL, all the detectors are integrated into a single unit because it brings technical benefits to the chromatography performance, and in the result quality and accuracy overall.

Within OMNISEC REVEAL are the four detectors that we typically use for what we would call advanced size exclusion chromatography. There are two concentration detectors: the refractive index detector and the UV/Vis absorbance photodiode array.

There is also a light scattering detector for the measurement of molecular weight, and an intrinsic viscosity detector or viscometer, which allows measurement of molecular density and molecular structure.

OMNISEC: The world’s most advanced multi-detector GPC/SEC system

What inspired the development of OMNISEC?

We really looked at the challenges that we face making size exclusion chromatography measurements, and also those of our customers as well.

One of the key drivers for the development of OMNISEC was feedback from our customers, both in terms of the challenges they face with their own samples and also the challenges they face in terms of making size exclusion chromatography measurements.

We wanted to develop a system that was a step ahead of the current generation of units, both in terms of sensitivity and accuracy, and also in terms of usability, performance and robustness.

Could you give an example of a challenge that is often faced?

There are many polymers that have a low dn/dc or are only available in small amounts at very low concentrations. So being able to measure as small a mass as possible and at the maximum sensitivity is really important.

Likewise with proteins, many proteins have only been purified in very small amounts, and so customers are really looking for the ultimate sensitivity that they can achieve, and to use as little of their sample as possible.

How was the user experience taken into consideration?

With regards to the user experience, we've really worked in two areas. One is the usability - we've developed a whole new software platform, with a workflow based design going through system setup, data acquisition, and data analysis to give the user a more intuitive process and experience.

The other side of that is robustness. We really addressed that, particularly in the viscometer, where we've redesigned the viscometer with a self-balancing mechanism and user replaceable capillary bridge.

OmniSEC advanced multi-detector GPC/SEC system

How is OMNISEC unique compared to other instruments in this area?

Temperature control is very important, and within OMNISEC the autosampler, column oven, and detector module are all independently temperature-controlled.

With the autosampler, for instance, this allows you to cool down protein samples to preserve them from aggregation.

In the column oven, it improves the quality of the overall chromatography, and in the detector module, the temperature control covers not just the detectors themselves, but also the inter-detector tubing to really maximize the baseline stability and the result quality.

What are the key application areas of OMNISEC?

We divide what we consider our market into about three different areas: synthetic polymers, natural polymers/polysaccharides, and proteins.

Synthetic polymers tend to come out of the more industrial space, so anything from bottles to car bumpers as well as tablet coatings. In general, any polymer that's used where the molecular weight and intrinsic viscosity or molecular structure of the molecules really affects the bulk performance of that polymer – for example, making it stronger, more flexible or degrade at a defined rate, for instance.

In terms of natural polymers and polysaccharides, these mainly come under pharmaceuticals, so skincare products, eyedrops and tablet excipients. In pharmaceuticals, it could be how quickly a drug is released in the stomach, for instance, or at what point through the digestive tract it is released. Polysaccharides are also widely used in the food industry as thickening agents and gelling agents.

The protein field comes into either university research, where people are trying to investigate novel proteins as they purify, or in the biopharmaceutical world, where people are using monoclonal antibodies as anti-cancer and other drugs. Here, people are interested in the molecular weight - they want to see that they've got the right protein and it has the right oligomeric state. People are also interested in studying and, indeed, eliminating aggregates from their samples.

OmniSEC advanced multi-detector for Protein Applications

What are the main benefits of OMNISEC in these key areas?

OMNISEC will have benefits for a whole range of customers and markets. That starts for us in universities, where different departments (including chemistry, polymer chemistry, materials characterization, biology, and biochemistry) will all see improvements in sensitivity and usability, improving their research and their output.

Within industry, it will be used in research departments where people are developing novel polymers or even just characterizing their current products to a higher level. This allows them to push their product further, create better products or reduce quality issues that they might be suffering from.

Within the pharmaceutical industry, that also includes the biopharmaceutical side where protein drugs are being produced and also need higher and higher levels of characterization to meet their standards. Again, this information is being used to help product higher quality products or understand and reduce the numbers of quality issues they face.

In terms of parameters, first and foremost, our customers are getting the most accurate molecular weight and molecular weight distributions that you can achieve with size exclusion chromatography.

Beyond that, the addition of a viscometer gives us this value of intrinsic viscosity, which is a measure of molecular density, and the combination of this with the molecular weight results from the light scattering detector gives us molecular structure, and allows us to characterize molecules such as branch polymers.

The use of two concentration detectors, including the RI detector and the photodiode array, allows you to get compositional information for samples as well. That's particularly useful in applications such as coat polymers or conjugated proteins.

OmniSEC advanced multi-detector for Polymer Applications

Where can people find more information about OMNISEC?

Further information about the system, along with relevant application notes, can be found on our website: http://www.malvern.com/en/products/product-range/omnisec/default.aspx

Information regarding the live launch can be found at the following link: http://www.malvern.com/en/support/events-and-training/webinars/W150127-omnisec-launch.aspx  

About Mark Pothecary

Mark Pothecary

Mark studied biochemistry while an undergraduate at the University of Bath before moving to London to obtain his Masters and PhD at the academic lab in the William Harvey Research Institute, part of the Queen Mary University between 2002-2006. There he studied the biochemical effects of red wine polyphenols on the production of nitric oxide in blood vessels and the subsequent control of blood pressure.

Following this he continued for another year in the same lab using chromatography to study the uptake of these same compounds into the blood, by extracting and measuring them.

Mark joined Malvern Panalytical in 2008 as a product technical specialist for the Zetasizer Nano and Viscotek products concentrating on bioscience SEC applications. In 2010, he took the role of Product Manager for Zetasizer and Viscotek products where he acts as the 'Voice of the Customer' for new products and on quality issues and recently moved to our Houston office to engage more closely with product developments there.

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily represent the views of AZoM.com Limited (T/A) AZoNetwork, the owner and operator of this website. This disclaimer forms part of the Terms and Conditions of use of this website.

G.P. Thomas

Written by

G.P. Thomas

Gary graduated from the University of Manchester with a first-class honours degree in Geochemistry and a Masters in Earth Sciences. After working in the Australian mining industry, Gary decided to hang up his geology boots and turn his hand to writing. When he isn't developing topical and informative content, Gary can usually be found playing his beloved guitar, or watching Aston Villa FC snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

  • APA

    Malvern Panalytical. (2019, March 22). Advancements in Multi-Detector GPC/SEC. AZoM. Retrieved on December 06, 2024 from https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=11907.

  • MLA

    Malvern Panalytical. "Advancements in Multi-Detector GPC/SEC". AZoM. 06 December 2024. <https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=11907>.

  • Chicago

    Malvern Panalytical. "Advancements in Multi-Detector GPC/SEC". AZoM. https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=11907. (accessed December 06, 2024).

  • Harvard

    Malvern Panalytical. 2019. Advancements in Multi-Detector GPC/SEC. AZoM, viewed 06 December 2024, https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=11907.

Ask A Question

Do you have a question you'd like to ask regarding this article?

Leave your feedback
Your comment type
Submit

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.