Characterization of single-chain polymer folding using size exclusion chromatography with multiple modes of detection

We highlight here recent work from our laboratory on the subject of fabricating nanostructures from single polymer chains. These so-called single-chain nanoparticles are synthesized by inducing intra-molecular cross-linking on discrete macromolecules in dilute solution. Among the biggest challenges in this rapidly expanding area of research is reliable and accurate means to characterize this process. In this paper, we review our preferred method of characterization: size exclusion chromatography featuring multiple modes of detection. Multi-angle light scattering in conjunction with a concentration detector can provide absolute molecular weight data; viscometric detection can provide information about solution size and conformation. Correlation of these data provides a simple and robust way to quantify the process by which we fold single polymer coils into architecturally defined unimolecular nanostructures