# Electrical/Asymmetric Flow Field-Flow Fractionation (EAF4) System with Light Scattering Detection

> **NIH NIH S10** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $324,603

## Abstract

Project Summary
 This proposal seeks funding for the acquisition of an Electrical/Asymmetric Flow Field-Flow
Fractionation (E/AF4) system with static and dynamic light scattering detection. This instrument
provides state-of-the-art capabilities for integrated separation and characterization of wide range of
materials used in modern biomedical research, including proteins and multi-protein complexes,
extracellular vesicles, viruses and vaccines, synthetic nanoparticles, and polymeric nanocarriers. The
system has analytical and preparative capabilities for high-resolution separation of particles 1 nm-1 m
in size and directly and precisely measures
and
 particle size, mass, and zeta potential. Moreover, shape
polydispersity indices can be calculated from the mass and size measurements.
 These capabilities are required by many research projects currently underway at Northwestern
University including, but not limited to, the 14 NIH-funded projects described in detail in this application.
These projects encompass studies addressing various aspects of genomic organization and function,
structure-activity studies to identify and characterize new molecular targets for anti-cancer drugs, and
nanotechnology projects pursuing innovative approaches for targeted therapies.
 A total of 10 prospective major (9 with active NIH funding) and 5 minor (3 with active NIH funding)
users are requesting these capabilities. This type of equipment does not exist at Northwestern
University or in any core facility in the Chicago area. The instrument will be integrated in the Keck
Biophysics Facility, a well-known resource for shared equipment and technical expertise at
Northwestern. The facility has a 24-year track record of keeping a diverse collection of high-end
research instruments operational and accessible and facilitating the production of large amounts of first-
rate science.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10428944
- **Project number:** 1S10OD032342-01
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** ARABELA A GRIGORESCU
- **Activity code:** S10 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $324,603
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-08-01 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10428944

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10428944, Electrical/Asymmetric Flow Field-Flow Fractionation (EAF4) System with Light Scattering Detection (1S10OD032342-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10428944. Licensed CC0.

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