Why Angle Matters: Structural Insight into High-Molar-Mass Macromolecules by Multi-Angle Light Scattering
Hyaluronic acid is widely used in cosmetic formulations for its exceptional water-binding capacity and rheological effects, both of which arise from its high molar mass and extended polyelectrolyte structure in solution.
At sufficiently high molar mass, hyaluronic acid exhibits pronounced angular dependence in static light scattering, providing a clear demonstration of the limitations of low-angle Zimm-plot analysis. This presentation shows how increased angular resolution using a 20-angle multi-angle light scattering detector, combined with practical data evaluation and workflow considerations, enables more reliable determination of molar mass and size for non-ideal polymer systems.
Key learning objectives
- Why hyaluronic acid molar mass matters in cosmetic formulations.
- How increased angular resolution in a 20-angle MALS detector improves molar mass and size determination for extended polyelectrolytes.
- How to process and interpret HA MALS data in practice, from angle selection to Zimm-plot evaluation.
Speaker: Derek Lohmann
Derek Lohmann is a GPC/SEC Product Specialist at Agilent Technologies, with more than 10 years of experience in polymer characterization. He holds a Ph.D. in polymer analysis, with a focus on SEC/GPC and asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation (aFFF) coupled to light scattering for the characterization of large, water-soluble polymers.
He has a longstanding interest in structure–property relationships and in translating polymer physics into practical, robust, and reliable analytical workflows. Derek brings a combination of deep technical expertise and application-driven insight from over a decade of work in the field, including previous roles as Product Specialist for GPC and Business Development Manager at PSS, and now in his current role as Product Specialist for GPC/SEC at Agilent.
