One-Step Protein Analysis Using Slanted Nanofilter Array
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsSung Hee Ko, Jongyoon Han
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Abstract
This disclosure provides an apparatus and a method for quickly, efficiently and continuously fractionating biomolecules, such as DNAs and proteins based on size and other factors, while allowing imaging of the separated biomolecules as they are processed within the apparatus. The apparatus employs angled nanochannels to first preconcentrate and then separate like molecules. Its embodiments offer improved detection sensitivity and separation resolution over existing technologies and multiplexing capabilities.
Claims19
A biomolecular sorter comprising:
- a) a first substrate;
- b) a second substrate, preferably an optical glass, affixed to a surface of the first substrate;
- c) at least one sample inlet on a surface of the first substrate;
- d) at least one sample outlet on a surface of the first substrate;
- e) at least a first preconcentration region on a surface of the first substrate, the at least first preconcentration region comprising a plurality of first nanochannels having a shallow depth and a plurality of second nannochannels having a deep depth, and said plurality of first and plurality of second nanochannels are in fluid communication with eachother and the at least one sample inlet;
- f) at least a first separation region on a surface of the substrate, the at least a first separation region comprising a plurality of first nanochannels having a shallow depth and a plurality of second nannochannels having a deep depth, and said plurality of first and plurality of second nanochannels are in fluid communication with eachother, the at least a first preconcentration region and the at least one sample outlet;
- g) at least a first conduit for applying an electrostatic force field or hydrodynamic force field to the nanochannels of the at least a first preconcentration region and the nanochannels of the at least a first separation region;
- h) at least a second conduit for applying an electrostatic force field or hydrodynamic force field to the nanochannels of the at least a first separation region and the nanochannels of the at least a first preconcentration region.
A method of sorting a fluid mixture comprising a plurality of proteins or other biomolecules which vary in terms of the physio-chemical characteristics of each of said plurality of proteins or other biomolecules, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) loading a fluid mixture comprising a plurality of proteins or other biomolecules in a biomolecular sorter of any one of the above claims;
- b) applying an electrostatic force field or hydrodynamic force field to the at least a first conduit and the at least a second conduit, whereby applying said force fields allows for preconcentration of the various proteins or other biomolecules of said fluid mixture within the at least a first preconcentration region, and separation of like proteins or other biomolecules within the at least a first separation region;
- and
- c) collecting said biomolecules and/or performing spectral or other optical imaging on the separated proteins or other biomolecules via the optical glass over the at least a first separation region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.