Microanalytical device containing a membrane for molecular identification

A method for chemically altering and transporting an analyte molecule in a fluid, comprising the steps of:

• (a) introducing the molecule through an inlet port into a microchannel formed in a substantially planar substrate surface so that the molecule travels along the microchannel;
• (b) transporting the molecule from the substrate microchannel in a non-parallel direction with respect to the substrate surface into a pore of a membrane, wherein the pore is located downstream from the inlet port;
• (c) chemically altering the analyte molecule to form an altered molecule using a moiety attached to an interior surface of the pore;
• and
• (d) collecting the altered molecule from the pore on a cover plate microchannel formed on a substantially planar cover plate surface of a cover plate, wherein the substantially planar cover plate surface is in opposing relation to the substantially planar substrate surface.

A method for identifying a plurality of biomolecules, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a substrate having a substantially planar substrate surface, the substrate having a substrate microchannel formed in the substrate surface;
• (b) spatially resolving the biomolecules along the substrate microchannel;
• (c) transporting the biomolecules from the substrate microchannel in a non-parallel direction with respect to the substrate surface into pores of a membrane while preserving the spatial resolution of the biomolecules;
• (d) digesting the biomolecule in the pores of the membrane to form biomolecular components;
• (e) collecting the biomolecular components from the pores while preserving the spatial resolution of the biomolecular components on a cover plate microchannel formed on a substantially planar cover plate surface of a cover plate, wherein the substantially cover plate surface is in opposing relation to the substantially planar substrate surface;
• and
• (f) spatially resolving the biomolecular components in the cover plate microchannel.