Multiphase systems and uses thereof
AssigneePresident and Fellows of Harvard College
InventorsCharles R. Mace, Ozge Akbulut Halatci, Ashok A. Kumar, Nathan D. Shapiro, George M. Whitesides
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Abstract
A multi-phase system includes a phase-separated solution comprising at least two phases, each phase having a phase component selected from the group consisting of a polymer, a surfactant and combinations thereof, wherein at least one phase comprises a polymer, wherein the phases, taken together, represent a density gradient. Novel two-phase, three-phase, four-phase, five-phase, or six-phase systems are disclosed. Using the disclosed multi-phase polymer systems, particles, or other analyte of interest can be separated based on their different densities or affinities.
Claims29
A method of analyzing or separating a sample comprising:
- providing a phase-separated system comprising at least two phases, wherein
- a) the at least two phases each comprises a phase component selected from the group consisting of a polymer, a surfactant and combinations thereof, wherein at least one phase comprises a polymer;
- each said phase has an upper and a lower phase boundary;
- and
- each of the two or more phases has a different density and the phases, taken together, represent a density gradient;
- and
- b) introducing a sample comprising one or more analytes of interest to the phase-separated system without disrupting the phase boundaries of the phase-separated solution;
- and
- c) allowing each of the analytes to migrate to a location in the phase-separated system that is characteristic of its density, wherein during migration the sample contacts one or more of the two or more phases sequentially;
- wherein the phase-separated system is supported along a filament or on a sheet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.