Some Properties of Polyacrylamide Gels

GELS composed of cross-linked Polyacrylamide have been used extensively in gel permeation chromatography and as a stabilizing medium in the zone electrophoresis of proteins and nucleic acids. Both types of experiment rely on a molecular sieve mechanism which depends on the total gel concentration as well as the proportion of cross links. These parameters also effect other physical properties of the gel such as the elasticity, turbidity and tendency to swell in excess solvent.