Polyvinylidene difluoride or PVDF syringe filters are polymer syringe filters with the below characteristics:

 

hydrophilic membrane

heat tolerance

broad chemical compatibility

low protein binder

offer high protein recovery


Because of these characteristics they are used widely in biological sample filtration, HPLC sample filtration and in protein sequence analysis.

Let us learn more about these applications below:

What is biological sample filtration?

Biological samples can be tissues of various kinds of plant, animal or microbial organisms. They can be cells, bones, internal organs, veins, or even fluids. They can be comprised of living organisms such as insects, plants, small animals or even from fossils These samples are used in research, life sciences, medical, archaeological, pharmaceutical and many other fields.



PVDF sterile syringe filters are used in clarification, particle extraction, filtration of  these biological samples.

What is HPLC sample filtration?

Chromatography is a mass transfer process involving adsorption. High-performance liquid chromatography or HPLC uses pumps to pass a pressurized liquid or sample mixture - typically a mixture of solvents - through an adsorbent filter, leading to separation of the sample’s components. The adsorbent, is usually made of silica, polymers etc.

This separation happens because the sample’s components interact differently with the adsorbent particles. The adsorbent filter’s material composition and even temperature plays a major role in the separation process. These interactions between adsorbent filter and sample components are physical in nature, such as hydrophobic, dipole–dipole or ionic -  most often a combination of all these.

What is protein sequence analysis?

Protein sequencing is the process of determining the amino acid sequence of a protein or part of it (or a peptide). Typically, partial sequencing of a protein provides enough information to identify it with the help of existing databases of known protein sequences.

Amino acid analysis involved the following steps:

Hydrolyzing a known quantity of protein into constituent amino acids:

A sample of the protein is heated in the presence of a catalyst or reagents that help prevent or reduce degradation.

Separating and quantifying the amino acids:

The amino acids are separated by ion-exchange chromatography. PVDF syringe filters can be used separating the amino acids in this step. The acids are then derivatized in order to be detected. More commonly, the amino acids are derivatized then resolved by reversed phase HPLC. The amino acids are then detected using an ultra violet or fluorescence detector; and the peak areas are compared with the existing database in order to identify and quantify every amino acid in the sample.

Polyvinylidene difluoride sterile and disposable syringe filters are available in a range of diameters and pore sizes. For any of the above purposes you can make use of these filters.