Continuous biomolecule separation in a nanofilter

Abstract

This invention provides a method and an apparatus for quickly continuously fractionating biomolecules, such as DNAs, proteins and carbohydrates by taking advantage of differential bidirectional transport of biomolecules with varying physico-chemical characteristics, for example size, charge, hydrophobicity, or combinations thereof, through periodic arrays of microfabricated nanofilters. The passage of biomolecules through the nanofilter is a function of both steric and electrostatic interactions between charged macromolecules and charged nanofilter walls, Continuous-flow separation through the devices of this invention are applicable for molecules varying in terms of any molecular properties (e.g., size, charge density or hydrophobicity) that can lead to differential transport across the nanofilters.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 723,926, filed Oct. 6, 2005, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety.GOVERNMENT INTEREST STATEMENT

[0002] This invention was made in whole or in part with government support under grant number CTS-0347348, awarded by the National Science Foundation. The government may have certain rights in the invention.FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] This invention is directed to sorting devices comprising nanoseparation matrices, an apparatus comprising the same, and methods of use thereof for high throughput molecular separations. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In systems biology, and in the application of biomarker detection and biosensing, the separation and identification of many proteins, small molecules, and carbohydrates from a cell or from complex biological samples, is necessary. Often, one needs to profile the concentrations of many different biomarkers, ...

Images