Continuous separation of biomolecules by the laterally asymmetric diffusion array with out-of-plane sample injection

Mario Cabodi, Yi Fan Chen, Stephen W.P. Turner, Harold G. Craighead, Robert H. Austin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

65 Scopus citations

Abstract

The laterally asymmetric diffusion array, a biomolecule sorting device, was used to continuously separate a mixture of T2 and T7 coliphage DNA molecules into its constituents. A two-dimensional array of obstacles (in the presence of an average flow v) can be used to rectify the Brownian motion of particles (in this case DNA molecules) so that they diffuse preferentially in one direction, and perpendicular to the direction of the applied field (in this case an electric field). This type of device had not yet been used for actual fractionation of biomolecules, due to difficulties in injection of the sample. Here we show that with a new injection strategy a well-defined, narrow and continuous stream of molecules can be injected into the separation channel, thus enabling this separation technique to be used in a working device. We expect this type of device could now be employed for separation of a variety of different biomolecules, ranging from long dsDNA to small proteins.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3496-3503
Number of pages8
JournalELECTROPHORESIS
Volume23
Issue number20
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2002

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Biochemistry
  • Clinical Biochemistry

Keywords

  • Brownian motion
  • DNA
  • Fractionation
  • Microfabrication
  • Microfluidics

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