Control of chemical reactions using isotachophoresis

摘要

Isotachophoresis (ITP) is exploited to control various aspects of chemical reactions. In a first aspect, at least one of the reactants of a chemical reaction is confined to an ITP zone, but the resulting product of the chemical reaction is separated from this ITP zone by the ITP process. In a second aspect, one or more reactants of a chemical reaction are confined to an ITP zone, and one or more other reactants of the chemical reaction are not confined to this ITP zone. In a third aspect, ITP is employed to confine at least one reactant of a chemical reaction to an ITP zone, and at least one reactant of the chemical reaction is delivered to the ITP zone in two or more discrete doses. These aspects are especially relevant to performing polymerase chain reactions using chemical denaturants as opposed to thermal cycling.

主权项

1. A method of performing a chemical reaction, the method comprising:
providing at least a first reactant and a second reactant, wherein the first reactant and the second reactant are confined by isotachophoresis (ITP) to a first ITP zone in a liquid flow channel; providing a catalyst or enzyme in said first ITP zone; allowing said first and second reactants to react in said first ITP zone to provide at least a first product, wherein the catalyst or enzyme facilitates production of said first product via one or more chemical reactions, and wherein the catalyst or enzyme is not consumed in the one or more chemical reactions.