Probing fast kinetics in complex fluids by combined rapid mixing and small-angle X-ray scattering.
Stopped-flow mixing coupled to small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is an established technique for investigating structural kinetics in solution down to the millisecond range. More recently, the emphasis has shifted to the sub-millisecond range using continuous flow microfluidic mixing devices. The aim of this article is to review the present status and limitations when applying mixing techniques to a wide range of soft matter and biological systems. In the case of SAXS, special consideration of the mixing quality is necessary for a quantitative description of the scattered intensity. This is demonstrated through two representative examples involving protein refolding and micellar self-assembly.
Panine
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European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, F-38043 Grenoble, France. panine@esrf.fr
Finet
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S
Weiss
T M
TM
Narayanan
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T