title: Image processing and analysis system for development and use of free flow electrophoresis chips.
abstract: We present an image processing and analysis system to facilitate detailed performance analysis of free flow electrophoresis (FFE) chips. It consists of a cost-effective self-built imaging setup and a comprehensive customizable software suite. Both components were designed modularly to be accessible, adaptable, versatile, and automatable. The system provides tools for i) automated identification of chip features (e.g. separation zone and flow markers), ii) extraction and analysis of stream trajectories, and iii) evaluation of flow profiles and separation quality (e.g. determination of resolution). Equipped with these tools, the presented image processing and analysis system will enable faster development of FFE chips and applications. It will also serve as a robust detector for fluorescence-based analytical applications of FFE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Centre for Research on Biomolecular Interactions, York University, Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3, Canada. skrylov@yorku.ca.
authors.forename: Sven
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7423-4609
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kochmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Centre for Research on Biomolecular Interactions, York University, Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3, Canada. skrylov@yorku.ca.
authors.forename: Sergey N
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3270-2130
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Krylov
mesh_terms: D004586:Electrophoresis / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D046208:Microchip Analytical Procedures; D012984:Software