Diffusion of macromolecules in hyaluronate gels. I. Development of methods and preliminary results

A technique for measuring the diffusion coefficients of high molecular weight solutes in biological polymers, which requires only small quantities of tracer and substrate is described. The influences on the distribution of the tracer of non-ideal injections, of tracer contamination and degradation, and of various interactions between tracer and substrate are analysed theoretically in order that they may be recognised, and in some cases corrected for, in the experimental data. The experimental technique is tested by measurements of the diffusion coefficient of albumin in hyaluronate gels of 0.5%-2.5% (w/v) concentrations and preliminary data are presented on the diffusion of rabbit lipoproteins in similar gels.