Sorting by diffusion: an asymmetric obstacle course for continuous molecular separation.
A separation technique employing a microfabricated sieve has been demonstrated by observing the motion of DNA molecules of different size. The sieve consists of a two-dimensional lattice of obstacles whose asymmetric disposition rectifies the Brownian motion of molecules driven through the device, causing them to follow paths that depend on their diffusion coefficient. A nominal 6% resolution by length of DNA molecules in the size range 15-30 kbp may be achieved in a 4-inch (10-cm) silicon wafer. The advantage of this method is that samples can be loaded and sorted continuously, in contrast to the batch mode commonly used in gel electrophoresis.
Chou
C F
CF
Department of Physics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
Bakajin
O
O
Turner
S W
SW
Duke
T A
TA
Chan
S S
SS
Cox
E C
EC
Craighead
H G
HG
Austin
R H
RH
D005591:Chemical Fractionation; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004058:Diffusion
D004247:DNA