title: Effects of embedded sub-micron pillar arrays in microfluidic channels on large DNA electrophoresis.
abstract: A study of the influences of embedding artificial structures in a microfluidic device for CE with a free buffer solution is presented. Compared with conventional slab-gel electrophoresis, three major additional effects on the overall system performance are identified when sub-micron pillar arrays are integrated into a standard CE microsystem. Since DNA molecules have to migrate in-between and interact with the pillars, pillar geometry is first demonstrated to have a direct impact on the DNA motion pattern. Electric field re-distribution is another inevitable outcome when features of sub-micron dimensions are placed inside a microchannel. This effect is verified by a numerical simulation tool. Furthermore, the integration of the closely packed sub-micron structures dramatically increases the surface to volume ratios in the microfluidic device and therefore generates a large EOF. The consequence of these additional influences implies a complexity in the measured DNA velocity and indicates that careful considerations have to be taken when these devices are used for DNA electrokinetics study or electrophoresis theory re-examination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Yick Chuen
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Yitshak
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zohar
authors.forename: Yi-Kuen
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D010582:Bacteriophage lambda / Q000235:genetics; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D053841:Electroosmosis; D019075:Electrophoresis, Capillary / Q000379:methods*; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral