Serial electrophoresis
AssigneeIntegenX Inc.
InventorsMattias Vangbo, David King, Arnaldo Barican
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed are methods for performing capillary electrophoresis on two or more nucleic acid samples. The methods employ a forward voltage to move a first sample forward from an inlet to an interrogation region in the capillary, then a backward voltage to move the first sample backward, and then a forward voltage again to move the first sample and a second sample forward. Systems and apparatuses for performing capillary electrophoresis are also provided.
Claims14
A method of performing capillary electrophoresis of multiple samples, the method comprising:
- introducing a first sample to an inlet of a capillary containing a separation medium, the first sample comprising first DNA fragments having a plurality of different sizes;
- performing electrophoresis on the first sample in the capillary, wherein the electrophoresis comprises applying a first substantially constant forward polarity electrophoresis voltage to the capillary while detecting some of the first DNA fragments at an interrogation region proximate a distal end of the capillary;
- before all of the first DNA fragments have passed the interrogation region, applying a reverse polarity voltage pulse to the capillary, thereby transporting at least some of the first DNA fragments in the capillary toward the inlet of the capillary, and
- thereafter introducing a second sample to the inlet of the capillary, the second sample comprising second DNA fragments having a plurality of different sizes;
- and
- applying a second substantially constant forward polarity electrophoresis voltage to the capillary to simultaneously perform electrophoresis on the second DNA fragments and the first DNA fragments.
A method of performing capillary electrophoresis of multiple samples, the method comprising:
- initiating electrophoresis of a first sample in a capillary containing a separation medium, the first sample comprising first DNA fragments having a plurality of different sizes;
- conducting steady-state transport of the first DNA fragments from the first sample by applying a substantially constant forward polarity electrophoresis voltage to the capillary;
- before completing electrophoresis of the first sample, halting application of the substantially constant forward polarity electrophoresis voltage and thereby interrupting the steady-state transport of the first DNA fragments in the capillary;
- applying a reverse polarity voltage to the capillary to drive transport of the first DNA fragments toward an inlet of the capillary;
- halting application of the reverse polarity voltage;
- introducing a second sample to an inlet region in contact with the capillary inlet, wherein the second sample comprises second DNA fragments having a plurality of different sizes;
- applying an injection forward polarity voltage pulse to create a plug of the second DNA fragments in the capillary, proximate the capillary inlet;
- applying a second substantially constant forward polarity voltage to cause steady-state transport of both the first DNA fragments and the second DNA fragments in the capillary;
- and
- interrogating the first DNA fragments and the second DNA fragments as they reach an interrogation region proximate a distal end of the capillary.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.