Role of molecular size in ratchet fractionation.
We show the importance of finite particle size in microfluidic asymmetric continuous-flow diffusion arrays, specifically the critical nature of the particle size with respect to the barrier gaps. We show that particles much smaller than the barrier gap follow individual field lines through narrow gaps and are poorly fractionated. In contrast, particles comparable to the gap size lose memory of their incoming field line and can be fractionated with high resolution. We demonstrate this effect using a new technological approach to create very straight and narrow injection bands in such arrays, and completely resolve bands of DNA of lengths 48,500 and 16,7000 base pairs.
Huang
Lotien Richard
LR
Center for Photonics and Optoelectronic Materials (POEM), Department of Electrical Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA.
Silberzan
Pascal
P
Tegenfeldt
Jonas O
JO
Cox
Edward C
EC
Sturm
James C
JC
Austin
Robert H
RH
Craighead
Harold
H
D017122:Bacteriophage T4 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D010582:Bacteriophage lambda / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005591:Chemical Fractionation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010316:Particle Size
D004279:DNA, Viral