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Published on: April 10, 2012
Separation of proteins on surface-modified poly(dimethylsiloxane) microfluidic devices
Yue-Hua Dou1, Ning Bao, Jing-Juan Xu
1The State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Institute of Analytical Science, Department of Chemistry, Nanjing University, Nanjing, P. R. China.
Electrophoresis
|September 7, 2004
Summary
Nonionic surfactant modification of poly(dimethylsiloxane) devices improves protein separation and detection. This method enhances efficiency and reproducibility for analyzing large protein molecules.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) is widely used in microfluidic devices due to its biocompatibility and ease of fabrication.
- Hydrophobic PDMS surfaces can lead to non-specific adsorption of biomolecules, hindering separation and detection.
- Developing hydrophilic PDMS surfaces is crucial for improved performance in bioanalytical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To modify hydrophobic PDMS microchannels to enhance protein separation and detection.
- To investigate the effectiveness of nonionic surfactant Brij35 for surface modification.
- To evaluate the stability and performance of the modified PDMS devices across a range of pH conditions.
Main Methods:
- Microfabrication of PDMS devices.
- Surface modification of PDMS channels using nonionic surfactant Brij35.
- End-column amperometric detection for protein analysis.
- Optimization of operational variables including surfactant concentration and buffer conditions.
Main Results:
- Hydrophilic PDMS channels were successfully created by Brij35 modification, reducing protein adsorption.
- The modified channels demonstrated stable performance in the pH range of 6-12.
- Improved protein separation efficiency and reproducibility were achieved, with a relative standard deviation of 2.2% for glucose oxidase migration time.
- Separation of glucose oxidase and myoglobin was successfully demonstrated.
Conclusions:
- Nonionic surfactant modification of PDMS is an effective strategy for enhancing protein separation and detection in microfluidic devices.
- The Brij35 coating provides a stable hydrophilic surface, reducing biomolecule adsorption and improving analytical performance.
- This approach offers a promising platform for sensitive and reproducible analysis of proteins, including large molecules.
