Capillary electrophoresis using replaceable gels

Abstract

The filling of an internally coated capillary with a gel in its polymerized state without damaging the gel. The coating prevents bonding of the gel to the inside of the capillary, The gel comprises up to 6% acrylamide and 0-5% crosslinker. The gel can be advantageously and conveniently used in automated electrophoresis systems for automatic replacement of spent gel.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the InventionThe present invention relates to capillary gel electrophoresis, and more particularly to refilling capillaries using a polymerized gel.2. Description of Related ArtElectrophoresis is one of the most widely used separation techniques in the biologically related sciences. Molecular species such as peptides, proteins, and oligonucleotides (analytes) are separated by causing them to migrate at different rates in a separation medium under the influence of an electric field. The separation medium can be a buffer solution, or a low to moderate concentration of an appropriate gelling agent such as agarose or polyacrylamide. When gel separation medium is used, separation of analytes is partly based on their molecular sizes as the analytes are sieved by the gel matrix. Smaller molecules move relatively more quickly than larger ones through a gel of a given pore size which depends in part on the concentration of the polymer in the gel.U.S. Pa...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is directed to filling an internally coated capillary using .Iadd.a .Iaddend.gel which is polymerized before filling the capillary. The internal coating on the capillary walls prevents bonding of the gel to the capillary walls. The gel is of a composition which allows it to fill the capillary in its polymerized state without damage to the gel and to be removed from the capillary after the gel has expended its useful life. The capillary can then be refilled with fresh gel. This can be handled automatically by an automated capillary electrophoresis system.

In the illustrated embodiment, the formulation of the gel comprises up to 6% of acrylamide monomer and buffer. In addition, optional amounts of crosslinker, catalyst, initiator, urea, and other additives may be added to adjust for the desired pore size, separation efficiency and life of the gel. The composition results in a gel of a consistency which can be forced into and out of the internally coated capillary without damaging the gel.

Problems solved by technology

The polymerized gel has a limited storage life.

Also, performance of the gel deteriorates after a period of use.

The applied electric field may cause disintegration of the polymer material after repeated use.

Images