Apparatus for, and a method of, electroelution isolation of biomolecules and recovering biomolecules after elution
OwnerAftab Alaminventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for electroelution isolation of biomolecules and recovering biomolecules after elution including a tubular enclosure for engaging a piece of separating gel having a band of biomolecules. The enclosure is capped by a closure means having a passage means, and then placed in an electrophoresis tank with the closure means facing the positive terminal. Applying an electric current forces the biomolecules to accumulate at the closure means. The biomolecules may be recovered by inserting a capillary tip through the passage means and drawing the biomolecules through the capillary.
Claims43
A method of electroelution of biomolecules following electrophoretic separation, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a piece of separating gel having bands of biomolecules formed by said electrophoretic separation;
- engaging an enclosure into said separating gel such that at least one of said bands of biomolecules is secured within said enclosure;
- capping said enclosure with a closure means;
- submerging said enclosure with said closure means into an electrophoresis tank such that said closure means faces the positive terminal;
- applying an electric field across said electrophoresis tank thereby forcing said biomolecules to migrate toward said positive terminal and accumulating said biomolecules at said closure means;
- and
- recovering said trapped biomolecules by inserting a capillary tip through a passage means adjacent an end of said closure means nearest said positive terminal.
A method for electroelution of biomolecules from a separating gel, the method comprising the steps of:
- engaging a piece of a separating gel containing biomolecules with a shaped body having at least one open end, said engaging step comprising positioning the body over said separating gel, with said open end right above said biomolecules and pushing said open end into the separating gel thereby excising said gel piece from said gel and securing said gel piece into said body, wherein said body is operatively connected to a closure means;
- and
- separating said biomolecules from said gel piece by applying an electrical field to said gel piece to move said biomolecules toward said closure means.
A device for assisting electroelution of biomolecules from a separating gel, comprising:
- a shaped body for retaining a piece of a gel containing biomolecules, said body having cutting means for engaging and excising said gel piece, said cutting means comprising at least one open end of said body;
- and
- a closure means for collecting said biomolecules after elution from said gel piece, said closure means comprising a membrane that is impermeable to said biomolecules and does not interfere with an electrical field, wherein said closure means is operatively connected to said shaped body.
A device for collecting and recovering biomolecules following electroelution of biomolecules from a gel, comprising:
- a shaped closure having opposing first and second open ends, said first open end being shaped and sized to be operatively connected to a tubular shaped reservoir adapted for electroeluting biomolecules from a piece of a gel;
- a membrane secured over said second open end;
- a passage located in said closure adjacent to said second open end and is covered by a portion of said membrane, said membrane being rupturable to provide access to electroeluted biomolecules collected at said second end;
- wherein said membrane is secured over said second open end and said passage by an outer element sleeved over an inner element, and wherein said membrane is impermeable to said biomolecules and does not interfere with an electrical field.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.