title: A simple electrokinetic protein preconcentrator utilizing nano-interstices.
abstract: This work proposes a simple method for creating nanofluidic channels for protein preconcentration through self-assembled gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using the exclusion-enrichment effect. A depletion force is elicited in nano-interstices among self-assembled AuNPs due to the overlap of electrical double layers (EDLs); therefore, proteins quickly accumulate. The experimental results show that the generation of depletion forces is correlated with the size of the AuNPs. The self-assembled monolayer of AuNPs (13 nm in diameter) can successfully preconcentrate proteins through effective EDL overlapping. This approach provides a new process to produce nanochannels that does not require high-voltage or time-consuming fabrication.
authors.forename: Yu-Hung
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University , Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsuan Franziska
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Models of Emotional Pathology, Scientific Research Institute of Physiology and Basic Medicine , Novosibirsk, Russia.
authors.forename: Tamara G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Amstislavskaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Chung Cheng University , Chia Yi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chang-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Chung Cheng University , Chia Yi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chun-Ping
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Jen