MOLECULAR-WEIGHT MEASUREMENTS OF LOW-MOLECULAR-WEIGHT HEPARINS BY GEL-PERMEATION CHROMATOGRAPHY

The molecular weight profiles of low molecular weight heparin samples have been measured by high-performance gel permeation chromatography u sing as calibrant the heparinase-degraded material (90/686) now establ ished as the Ist International Reference Preparation (IRP) Low Molecul ar Weight Heparin for Molecular Weight Calibration. Use of the calibra nt as a broad molecular weight standard is described and a calibration table provided based on data collected over several years in one labo ratory. In order to confirm the assignment of degree of polymerisation to resolved oligosaccharide peaks in the calibrant, molecular weights of oligosaccharides fractionated from the 1st IRP were independently determined by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB MS). The mo lecular weight distributions of commercial low molecular weight hepari ns have been characterized. Measurements of molecular weight parameter s of heparin molecular weight standards from several sources provide c omparisons between the molecular weight scales of this and other studi es.