PUNCTUATED MICROGRADIENTS FOR IMPROVED SEPARATIONS OF MOLECULES AND PARTICLES

摘要

The present invention provides devices and methods to separate and concentrate target species. In some embodiments, a punctuated continuous microchannel or parallel processing (array-based) separations are provided, the microchannel having a plurality of sequential, constrictive insulating features to form a plurality of reservoirs including a first, second and third reservoir, and a plurality of constricted passageways including a first constricted passageway that connects the first reservoir to the second reservoir and a second constricted passageway that connects the second reservoir to the third reservoir. A voltage is applied to the microchannel to create different electrical fields and/or different dielectrophoresis (DEP) gradients at each of the plurality of constricted passageways in order to separate species that have differing ratios of electrokinetic mobility to dielectrophoretic mobility.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
a punctuated microgradient device that includes: a substrate having a first continuous microchannel that is patterned with a plurality of sequential features to form a plurality of reservoirs including a first, second and third reservoir, and a plurality of constricted passageways including a first constricted passageway that connects the first reservoir to the second reservoir and a second constricted passageway that connects the second reservoir to the third reservoir, wherein the microchannel has walls that are electrically insulative; and a first electrode and a second electrode both operatively coupled to the first microchannel and configured to establish an electric field E within the microchannel.