Low-voltage origami-paper-based electrophoretic device for rapid protein separation

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Conventional electrophoresis requires high voltages and complex equipment.
• There is a need for rapid, low-cost, and portable separation techniques for diagnostics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel origami paper-based electrophoretic device (oPAD-Ep) for rapid molecular and protein separation.
• To demonstrate the feasibility of using low voltages and folded paper layers for electrophoresis.
• To explore potential applications in point-of-care diagnostic testing.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a multilayer origami paper device with thin paper layers (180 μm/layer).
• Utilizing a slip layer for convenient sample introduction.
• Applying a low driving voltage (∼10 V) to create a high electric field (>1 kV/m).
• Separation of fluorescent molecules and proteins.

Main Results:

• Achieved rapid separation of fluorescent molecules and proteins in approximately 5 minutes.
• Demonstrated effective separation using a significantly lower voltage (∼10 V) compared to conventional methods.
• Successfully separated proteins in bovine serum, showcasing diagnostic potential.

Conclusions:

• The oPAD-Ep offers a rapid, low-voltage, and portable platform for electrophoresis.
• The multilayer folded paper design enables efficient separation and easy analysis.
• oPAD-Ep shows promise for point-of-care diagnostic applications, particularly in protein analysis.