Gel sieving of synthetic polymers

A porous gel changes the electrophoretic mobility of charged synthetic polymers through confinement, deformation and pore-to-pore dynamics. Free-draining charge and friction can both grow proportionally to chain length, leaving free-solution mobility nearly length independent; matrix obstruction adds size sensitivity. reptation supplies one weak-field long-chain regime, not a universal calibration. Matrix concentration, effective charge, solvent conditions, conformation, topology, adsorption, electro-osmotic drift and heating can all alter migration. Size standards should match the relevant chemistry and operating regime.