AF4-to-SAXS: expanded characterization of nanoparticles and proteins at the P12 BioSAXS beamline

Biological small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is a versatile and powerful technique for investigating the structural and biophysical properties of biologically and pharmaceutically relevant macromolecules and nanoparticles. SAXS offers detailed insights into macromolecular composition, size, shape...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Stefano Da Vela, Kim Bartels, Daniel Franke, Dymtro Soloviov, Tobias Gräwert, Dmitry Molodenskiy, Bastian Kolb, Christoph Wilhelmy, Roland Drexel, Florian Meier, Heinrich Haas, Peter Langguth, Melissa A. Graewert
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: International Union of Crystallography 2025-07-01
Series:Journal of Synchrotron Radiation
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.iucr.org/paper?S1600577525003959
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849416354805841920
author Stefano Da Vela
Kim Bartels
Daniel Franke
Dymtro Soloviov
Tobias Gräwert
Dmitry Molodenskiy
Bastian Kolb
Christoph Wilhelmy
Roland Drexel
Florian Meier
Heinrich Haas
Peter Langguth
Melissa A. Graewert
author_facet Stefano Da Vela
Kim Bartels
Daniel Franke
Dymtro Soloviov
Tobias Gräwert
Dmitry Molodenskiy
Bastian Kolb
Christoph Wilhelmy
Roland Drexel
Florian Meier
Heinrich Haas
Peter Langguth
Melissa A. Graewert
author_sort Stefano Da Vela
collection DOAJ
description Biological small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is a versatile and powerful technique for investigating the structural and biophysical properties of biologically and pharmaceutically relevant macromolecules and nanoparticles. SAXS offers detailed insights into macromolecular composition, size, shape and internal structure, while addressing key aspects such as oligomeric state, stability, molecular interactions, and conformational flexibility. Recently, asymmetrical-flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) was successfully coupled to SAXS, enabling online size-based fractionation and analysis of polydisperse samples. This approach allows precise, size-dependent characterization, offering significant advancements in the study of polydisperse systems. We have integrated an AF4 device at the P12 beamline at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory and implemented technical adaptations allowing full automation to make the system suitable for routine user access. We provide streamlined workflows and troubleshooting resources for both novice and advanced SAXS users thereby equipping them with clear guidance on performing AF4–SAXS measurements. The general principles of our set-up are easily adaptable to other beamlines which have integrated (or are planning to integrate) a similar system.
format Article
id doaj-art-b5ebd5bd5ba345d986a70a104e0c462d
institution Kabale University
issn 1600-5775
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher International Union of Crystallography
record_format Article
series Journal of Synchrotron Radiation
spelling doaj-art-b5ebd5bd5ba345d986a70a104e0c462d2025-08-20T03:33:13ZengInternational Union of CrystallographyJournal of Synchrotron Radiation1600-57752025-07-0132497198510.1107/S1600577525003959ju5081AF4-to-SAXS: expanded characterization of nanoparticles and proteins at the P12 BioSAXS beamlineStefano Da Vela0Kim Bartels1Daniel Franke2Dymtro Soloviov3Tobias Gräwert4Dmitry Molodenskiy5Bastian Kolb6Christoph Wilhelmy7Roland Drexel8Florian Meier9Heinrich Haas10Peter Langguth11Melissa A. Graewert12European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg Unit, Hamburg, GermanyDepartment of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, GermanyBIOSAXS GmbH, Hamburg, GermanyEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg Unit, Hamburg, GermanyBIOSAXS GmbH, Hamburg, GermanyEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg Unit, Hamburg, GermanyDepartment of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, GermanyDepartment of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, GermanyPostnova Analytics GmbH, Landsberg am Lech, GermanyPostnova Analytics GmbH, Landsberg am Lech, GermanyDepartment of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, GermanyDepartment of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, GermanyEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg Unit, Hamburg, GermanyBiological small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is a versatile and powerful technique for investigating the structural and biophysical properties of biologically and pharmaceutically relevant macromolecules and nanoparticles. SAXS offers detailed insights into macromolecular composition, size, shape and internal structure, while addressing key aspects such as oligomeric state, stability, molecular interactions, and conformational flexibility. Recently, asymmetrical-flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) was successfully coupled to SAXS, enabling online size-based fractionation and analysis of polydisperse samples. This approach allows precise, size-dependent characterization, offering significant advancements in the study of polydisperse systems. We have integrated an AF4 device at the P12 beamline at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory and implemented technical adaptations allowing full automation to make the system suitable for routine user access. We provide streamlined workflows and troubleshooting resources for both novice and advanced SAXS users thereby equipping them with clear guidance on performing AF4–SAXS measurements. The general principles of our set-up are easily adaptable to other beamlines which have integrated (or are planning to integrate) a similar system.https://journals.iucr.org/paper?S1600577525003959af4biological saxsp12 beamlineproteinsnanoparticlesfull automationoperator-friendly guidelines
spellingShingle Stefano Da Vela
Kim Bartels
Daniel Franke
Dymtro Soloviov
Tobias Gräwert
Dmitry Molodenskiy
Bastian Kolb
Christoph Wilhelmy
Roland Drexel
Florian Meier
Heinrich Haas
Peter Langguth
Melissa A. Graewert
AF4-to-SAXS: expanded characterization of nanoparticles and proteins at the P12 BioSAXS beamline
Journal of Synchrotron Radiation
af4
biological saxs
p12 beamline
proteins
nanoparticles
full automation
operator-friendly guidelines
title AF4-to-SAXS: expanded characterization of nanoparticles and proteins at the P12 BioSAXS beamline
title_full AF4-to-SAXS: expanded characterization of nanoparticles and proteins at the P12 BioSAXS beamline
title_fullStr AF4-to-SAXS: expanded characterization of nanoparticles and proteins at the P12 BioSAXS beamline
title_full_unstemmed AF4-to-SAXS: expanded characterization of nanoparticles and proteins at the P12 BioSAXS beamline
title_short AF4-to-SAXS: expanded characterization of nanoparticles and proteins at the P12 BioSAXS beamline
title_sort af4 to saxs expanded characterization of nanoparticles and proteins at the p12 biosaxs beamline
topic af4
biological saxs
p12 beamline
proteins
nanoparticles
full automation
operator-friendly guidelines
url https://journals.iucr.org/paper?S1600577525003959
work_keys_str_mv AT stefanodavela af4tosaxsexpandedcharacterizationofnanoparticlesandproteinsatthep12biosaxsbeamline
AT kimbartels af4tosaxsexpandedcharacterizationofnanoparticlesandproteinsatthep12biosaxsbeamline
AT danielfranke af4tosaxsexpandedcharacterizationofnanoparticlesandproteinsatthep12biosaxsbeamline
AT dymtrosoloviov af4tosaxsexpandedcharacterizationofnanoparticlesandproteinsatthep12biosaxsbeamline
AT tobiasgrawert af4tosaxsexpandedcharacterizationofnanoparticlesandproteinsatthep12biosaxsbeamline
AT dmitrymolodenskiy af4tosaxsexpandedcharacterizationofnanoparticlesandproteinsatthep12biosaxsbeamline
AT bastiankolb af4tosaxsexpandedcharacterizationofnanoparticlesandproteinsatthep12biosaxsbeamline
AT christophwilhelmy af4tosaxsexpandedcharacterizationofnanoparticlesandproteinsatthep12biosaxsbeamline
AT rolanddrexel af4tosaxsexpandedcharacterizationofnanoparticlesandproteinsatthep12biosaxsbeamline
AT florianmeier af4tosaxsexpandedcharacterizationofnanoparticlesandproteinsatthep12biosaxsbeamline
AT heinrichhaas af4tosaxsexpandedcharacterizationofnanoparticlesandproteinsatthep12biosaxsbeamline
AT peterlangguth af4tosaxsexpandedcharacterizationofnanoparticlesandproteinsatthep12biosaxsbeamline
AT melissaagraewert af4tosaxsexpandedcharacterizationofnanoparticlesandproteinsatthep12biosaxsbeamline