Hydroxyethylstarches (HES)

Hydroxyethylstarches (HES) are used increasingly as plasma expanders in medical applications. The HES circulation time in the blood depends strongly on its molar mass distributions. Historically, polysaccharide characterization by Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) has been problematic, especially if high molar mass components are present. Due to its superior separation capability, especially on molecules exceeding 50 kDa, Flow Field-Flow Fractionation (Flow-FFF) is an excellent separation alternative. By coupling this technology to a Multi Angle Light Scattering (MALS) detector, such as a DAWN^® or miniDAWN^®, absolute values can be determined without making any assumptions.