Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Size-Exclusion Chromatography

Size-Exclusion Chromatography

In size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), also known as molecular-exclusion or gel-permeation chromatography, molecules are separated based on their sizes. This technique is important for separating large molecules such as polymers and biomolecules. The two classes of micron-sized stationary phases encountered in SEC are silica particles and cross-linked polymer resin beads. Both materials are porous, but their pore sizes vary significantly.
Silica particles offer advantages such as rigidity,...

Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers

Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers

Step growth polymerization involves bi or multifunctional monomers. Bifunctional monomers react to form linear step growth polymers, whereas multifunctional monomers react to form non-linear or branched polymers.
As the step-growth polymerization involves step-wise condensation of monomers, the molecular weight also builds up eventually. Consequently, high molecular weight polymers are obtained at the late stages of the polymerization, where 99% of monomers have been consumed.
The extent of the...

Polymers: Molecular Weight Distribution

Polymers: Molecular Weight Distribution

For any given polymer, the weight average molecular weight (Mw) is higher than, if not equal to, the number average molecular weight (Mn). The only situation in which the weight average molecular weight and the number average molecular weight are equal is when a polymer consists only of chains with equal molecular weight. However, this never happens in a synthetic polymer, since it is difficult to control the polymerization process up to a molecular level with accuracy to a hundred percent.

Polymer Classification: Crystallinity

Polymer Classification: Crystallinity

Unlike ionic or small covalent molecules, polymers do not form crystalline solids due to the diffusion limitations of their long-chain structures. However, polymers contain microscopic crystalline domains separated by amorphous domains.
Crystalline domains are the regions where polymer chains are aligned in an orderly manner and held together in proximity by intermolecular forces. For example, chains in the crystalline domains of polyethylene and nylon are bound together by van der Waals...

Comparing Intermolecular Forces: Melting Point, Boiling Point, and Miscibility

Comparing Intermolecular Forces: Melting Point, Boiling Point, and Miscibility

Intermolecular forces are attractive forces that exist between molecules. They dictate several bulk properties, such as melting points, boiling points, and solubilities (miscibilities) of substances. Molar mass, molecular shape, and polarity affect the strength of different intermolecular forces, which influence the magnitude of physical properties across a family of molecules.
Temporary attractive forces like dispersion are present in all molecules, whether they are polar or nonpolar. They...

Factors Affecting Dissolution: Particle Size and Effective Surface Area

Factors Affecting Dissolution: Particle Size and Effective Surface Area

Dissolution kinetics, an essential aspect of oral drug delivery, is significantly influenced by the drug's particle size. According to the Noyes-Whitney dissolution model, the dissolution rate correlates directly with the drug's surface area. The larger the surface area, the higher the drug's solubility in water, leading to a faster drug dissolution rate. Reducing particle size increases the effective surface area, enhancing the dissolution process. Micronization and nanosizing are...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Programming Nonlinear Interfacial Mechanics of Synthetic Cells: Lipid Geometry and DNA Nanostructures.

Small science·2026

Same author

Phospholipase D regulates on-membrane diffusivity of a myristoylated protein and defines the PIP3 patch territory.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026

Same author

Cell-Size Confinement Drives Size-Dependent Scaling of Intracellular Reaction-Diffusion Waves for Robust Patterning.

Small science·2026

Same author

Cation Accumulation Drives the Preferential Partitioning of DNA in an Aqueous Two-Phase System.

ACS macro letters·2026

Same author

Spontaneous Fusion of Aqueous Two-Phase Droplets: Effect of Coexisting Phospholipids on Stability.

Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology·2025

Same author

Real-space observation of salt-dependent aging in LAPONITE® gels.

Soft matter·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 22, 2025

Cell Co-culture Patterning Using Aqueous Two-phase Systems

Cell Co-culture Patterning Using Aqueous Two-phase Systems

Published on: March 26, 2013

Cell-size space effects on phase separation of binary polymer blends.

Miho Yanagisawa^1,2,3

¹Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Komaba Institute for Science, The University of Tokyo, Komaba 3-8-1, Meguro, Tokyo, 153-8902 Japan.

Biophysical Reviews

|November 8, 2022

Summary

Artificial cells mimic cellular environments to study macromolecular crowding. The cell-size space effect (CSE) in these artificial cells can initiate polymer blend phase separation, unlike nano-sized spaces.

Keywords:

Confinement LLPS Membrane Phase transition Wetting

More Related Videos

Confocal Imaging of Confined Quiescent and Flowing Colloid-polymer Mixtures

Confocal Imaging of Confined Quiescent and Flowing Colloid-polymer Mixtures

Published on: May 20, 2014

Controlled Synthesis and Fluorescence Tracking of Highly Uniform PolyN-isopropylacrylamide Microgels

Controlled Synthesis and Fluorescence Tracking of Highly Uniform PolyN-isopropylacrylamide Microgels

Published on: September 8, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Aug 22, 2025

Cell Co-culture Patterning Using Aqueous Two-phase Systems

Cell Co-culture Patterning Using Aqueous Two-phase Systems

Published on: March 26, 2013

Confocal Imaging of Confined Quiescent and Flowing Colloid-polymer Mixtures

Confocal Imaging of Confined Quiescent and Flowing Colloid-polymer Mixtures

Published on: May 20, 2014

Controlled Synthesis and Fluorescence Tracking of Highly Uniform PolyN-isopropylacrylamide Microgels

Controlled Synthesis and Fluorescence Tracking of Highly Uniform PolyN-isopropylacrylamide Microgels

Published on: September 8, 2016

Area of Science:

Biophysics
Cell Biology
Polymer Science

Background:

Living cells contain high concentrations of biomolecules, creating a crowded environment.
Macromolecular crowding influences molecular behavior, which can differ from behavior in dilute solutions.
Artificial cells are used to replicate cellular conditions and study these effects.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the biophysics of the cell-size space effect (CSE) on phase separation of binary polymer blends.
To understand how microscale geometries in artificial cells influence macromolecular crowding effects.
To explore the role of artificial cell dimensions and membrane properties in regulating intracellular phase separation.

Main Methods:

Review of biophysical principles governing macromolecular crowding.
Analysis of phase separation in binary polymer blends within artificial cell models.
Comparison of effects in microscale geometries versus bulk solutions and nano-sized spaces.

Main Results:

The cell-size space effect (CSE) can initiate phase separation in polymer blends.
Microscale geometries in artificial cells alter molecular behaviors compared to bulk solutions.
Artificial cell dimensions and membrane characteristics significantly impact phase separation dynamics and composition.

Conclusions:

CSE is a key factor in understanding molecular behavior within confined cellular spaces.
Artificial cells provide a model to study how cell size and membrane properties regulate intracellular phase separation.
Findings contribute to clarifying the functional roles of cellular compartments in regulating biomolecular organization.