# Ficoll

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**Ficoll** is a neutral, highly branched, high-mass, [hydrophilic](/source/Hydrophilic) [polysaccharide](/source/Polysaccharide) synthesized from repeating [sucrose](/source/Sucrose) units, which dissolves readily in [aqueous](/source/Water) [solutions](/source/Solution_(chemistry)). Ficoll radii range from 2 to 7 nm. It is prepared by reaction of the polysaccharide with [epichlorohydrin](/source/Epichlorohydrin). Ficoll is a registered trademark owned by GE Healthcare companies.[1]

Ficoll is part of Ficoll-Paque, which is used in [biology](/source/Biology) [laboratories](/source/Laboratory) to separate [blood](/source/Blood) to its components ([erythrocytes](/source/Erythrocyte), [leukocytes](/source/Leukocyte) etc.). Ficoll-Paque is normally placed at the bottom of a conical tube, and blood is then slowly layered above Ficoll-Paque. After being [centrifuged](/source/Centrifuge), the following layers will be visible in the conical tube, from top to bottom: plasma and other constituents, a layer of mono-nuclear cells called [buffy coat](/source/Buffy_coat) ([PBMC](/source/PBMC)/MNC), Ficoll-Paque, and erythrocytes and [granulocytes](/source/Granulocytes), which should be present in pellet form. This separation allows easy harvest of PBMCs. Note that some [red blood cell](/source/Red_blood_cell) trapping (presence of erythrocytes and granulocytes) may occur in the PBMC or Ficoll-Paque layer. Major [blood clotting](/source/Blood_clotting) may sometimes occur in the PBMC layer. Ethylene diamine tetra-acetate ([EDTA](/source/EDTA)) and heparin are commonly used in conjunction with Ficoll-Paque(TM) to prevent clotting and is used as a mononuclear cell separator.

At one time, fairly early in the research for diabetes treatment by transplantation, Ficoll was used in an attempt to separate [islets of Langerhans](/source/Islets_of_Langerhans) from enzyme (collagenase) digested human pancreatic tissue. The theory was that separated islets could then be used for transplantation into patients with [type 1 diabetes](/source/Type_1_diabetes). In practice, using Ficoll led to difficulty obtaining a pure enough preparation of islets, with enough islet recovery from the original tissue, for safe and effective islet transplantation in humans.

Because Ficoll-Paque layering is a very slow process, devices that aid in the most time-consuming step, the overlay, have been developed. One such product is SepMate-50,[2] a specialized tube containing a porous insert that forms a physical barrier between the Ficoll-Paque and blood sample. This allows the blood sample to be rapidly pipetted onto the insert, avoiding the need for overlaying it directly onto Ficoll-Paque. The SepMate insert also reduces the duration of the centrifugation step, and after centrifugation, the top layer containing plasma and PBMCs can be poured into a new tube.[3] Other devices include a column containing a porous high-density [polyethylene](/source/Polyethylene) barrier or "frit." These products allow blood to be layered on much more quickly without mixing polysaccharide and blood. An example of such a product is the "Accuspin System Histopaque-1077" sold by Sigma Aldrich. The cost of this product is significantly higher than basic Ficoll and Ficoll-Paque products. It is also possible to have the Ficoll-Paque separating system included in the [Vacutainer](/source/Vacutainer) used to collect the blood. Such Vacutainers increase the convenience and safety of collecting blood products, but cost 50 times as much as the basic Vacutainer.

## See also

- [Percoll](/source/Percoll)

## Notes

1. ["Ficoll"](http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=r67qfq.2.2). United States Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved 2007-02-15.

1. [SepMate™-50](http://www.sepmate.com)

1. ["www.sepmate.com"](http://www.sepmate.com). *www.sepmate.com*. Retrieved 2012-09-25.

## External links

- [Cell Separation Media, Methodology & Applications Handbook](http://www.gelifesciences.com/handbooks) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20081205061748/http://www.gelifesciences.com/handbooks) 2008-12-05 at the Wayback Machine

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ficoll](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ficoll) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ficoll?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.