Isotachophoresis for purification of nucleic acids

A method for simultaneously purifying nucleic acids from at least two different samples comprising:

• (a) loading into a first channel of a microfluidic chip (i) a first sample comprising first nucleic acids and a first contaminant, (ii) a first trailing electrolyte buffer comprising first trailing ions, wherein a magnitude of an effective mobility of said first trailing ions is less than a magnitude of an effective mobility of said first nucleic acids, and (iii) a first leading electrolyte buffer comprising first leading ions, wherein a magnitude of an effective mobility of said first leading ions is greater than said magnitude of said effective mobility of said first nucleic acids;
• (b) loading into a second channel of said microfluidic chip (i) a second sample comprising second nucleic acids and a second contaminant, (ii) a second trailing electrolyte buffer comprising second trailing ions, wherein a magnitude of said second trailing ions is less than a magnitude of an effective mobility of said second nucleic acids, and (iii) a second leading electrolyte buffer comprising second leading ions, wherein a magnitude of an effective mobility of said second leading ions is greater than said magnitude of said effective mobility of said second nucleic acids;
• (c) independently controlling a first electric circuit connected to said microfluidic chip to conduct isotachophoresis in said first channel with said first trailing ions, said first nucleic acids, and said first leading ions, and independently controlling a second electric circuit to conduct isotachophoresis in said second channel with said second trailing ions, said second nucleic acids, and said second leading ions, thereby simultaneously purifying said first nucleic acids from said first contaminant and said second nucleic acids from said second contaminant;
• and
• (d) after independently controlling said first and second electric circuits, applying said first electric circuit or a third electric circuit to conduct isotachophoresis in a third channel in liquid communication with said first channel, and applying said second electric circuit or a fourth electric circuit in a fourth channel in liquid communication with said second channel, wherein said third and fourth channels comprise first and second elution buffers, respectively.