Wyatt Technology’s Eclipse™ Significantly Improves Resolution for Protein and Particle Separation

Wyatt Technology, the world leader in absolute macromolecular characterization instruments and software, introduces its Eclipse separation system.

Designed for the analysis of protein, biopolymer and colloidal materials, the Eclipse system has been developed as an alternative to conventional column chromatography and is based on asymmetrical Flow Field-Flow Fractionation (AF4). Samples can be separated according to hydrodynamic radius in a selected channel. Wyatt Technology’s new Eclipse channel technology significantly improves resolution whilst increasing peak height in the detector, without compromising resolution or peak shape.

The Eclipse is the only AF4 system that requires only one pump to generate all three flow rates that are required for the analysis. Additionally, the absence of pulsations is even more vital when the channel volume is reduced. Developed for the pharmaceutical industry, the Eclipse is able to characterize antibody preparations with respect to aggregation and allows for Impurities or contaminants, like aggregates, to be identified at a lower detection limit, as well as featuring a reduced dead volume.

Separation is achieved by interacting with a cross-flow permeating through the bottom wall, while the sample is transported by the longitudinal flow towards the channel outlet and the detectors. Endorsed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a necessary check of Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) analysis, there is no stationary phase which would result in the absorption or degradation, thereby enabling the separation of soluble molecules from colloidal constituents.

As well as enhanced resolution and peak height, consumption of eluent and analysis time is also reduced. The smaller channel is easier to handle for membrane replacement and has faster equilibration time, resulting in less down time and increased sample throughput.

Coupled with the new generation of Wyatt Technology’s MALS detectors, the HELEOS and TREOS, characterization of proteins and biopolymers at nano-gram concentration range is feasible.