Skip to main content

Microfluidic Free-Flow Isoelectric Focusing with Real-Time pI Determination

  • Protocol
  • First Online:
Microfluidic Electrophoresis

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1906))

Abstract

Free-flow electrophoresis (FFE) may be used for continuous and preparative separation of a wide variety of biomolecules. Isoelectric focusing (IEF) provides for the separation of compounds according to their isoelectric point (pI). Here we describe a microfluidic chip-based protocol for the fabrication, application, and optical monitoring of free-flow isoelectric focusing (FFIEF) of proteins and peptides on the microscale with optical surveillance of the microscopic pH gradient provided by an integrated pH sensing layer. This protocol may be used with modifications also for the FFIEF of other biomolecules and may serve as template for the fabrication of microfluidic chips with integrated fluorescent or luminescent pH sensor layers for FFE and other applications.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Protocol
USD 49.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Kohlheyer D, Eijkel JCT, van den Berg A, Schasfoort RBM (2008) Miniaturizing free-flow electrophoresis—a critical review. Electrophoresis 29:977–993

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Agostino FJ, Krylov SN (2015) Advances in steady-state continuous-flow purification by small-scale free-flow electrophoresis. Trends Anal Chem 72:68–79

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Novo P, Janasek D (2017) Current advances and challenges in microfluidic free-flow electrophoresis, a critical review. Anal Chim Acta 991:9–29

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Johnson AC, Bowser MT (2018) Micro free flow electrophoresis. Lab Chip 18:27–40

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Xu Y, Zhang CX, Janasek D, Manz A (2003) Sub-second isoelectric focusing in free flow using a microfluidic device. Lab Chip 3:224–227

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Kohlheyer D, Besselink GAJ, Schlautmann S, Schasfoort RBM (2006) Free-flow zone electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing using a microfabricated glass device with ion permeable membranes. Lab Chip 6:374–380

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Song YA, Chan M, Celio C, Tannenbaum SR, Wishnok JS, Han J (2010) Free-flow zone electrophoresis of peptides and proteins in PDMS microchip for narrow pI range sample prefractionation coupled with mass spectrometry. Anal Chem 82:2317–2325

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Walowski B, Hüttner W, Wackerbarth H (2011) Generation of a miniaturized free-flow electrophoresis chip based on a multi-lamination technique—isoelectric focusing of proteins and a single-stranded DNA fragment. Anal Bioanal Chem 401:2465–2471

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Cheng LJ, Chang HC (2014) Switchable pH actuators and 3D integrated salt bridges as new strategies for reconfigurable microfluidic free-flow electrophoretic separation. Lab Chip 14:979–987

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Nagl S (2017) Micro free-flow isoelectric focusing with integrated optical pH sensors. Eng Life Sci 18(2):114–123.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Herzog C, Poehler E, Peretzki AJ, Borisov SM, Aigner D, Mayr T, Nagl S (2016) Continuous on-chip fluorescence labelling, free-flow isoelectric focusing and marker-free isoelectric point determination of proteins and peptides. Lab Chip 16:1565–1572

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Poehler E, Herzog C, Lotter C, Pfeiffer SA, Aigner D, Mayr T, Nagl S (2015) Label-free microfluidic free-flow isoelectric focusing, pH gradient sensing and near real-time isoelectric point determination of biomolecules and blood plasma fractions. Analyst 140:7496–7502

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Jezierski S, Belder D, Nagl S (2013) Microfluidic free-flow electrophoresis chips with an integrated fluorescent sensor layer for real time pH imaging in isoelectric focusing. Chem Commun 49:904–906

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Herzog C, Beckert E, Nagl S (2014) Rapid isoelectric point determination in a miniaturized preparative separation using jet-dispensed optical pH sensors and micro free-flow electrophoresis. Anal Chem 86:9533–9539

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Aigner D, Borisov SM, Petritsch P, Klimant I (2013) Novel near infra-red fluorescent pH sensors based on 1-amino perylene bisimides covalently grafted onto poly(acryloyl)morpholine. Chem Commun 49:2139–2141

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Jezierski S (2013) Mikrofluidische Freifluss-Elektrophorese mit integrierten optischen Sensoren. Ph.D. Thesis, Universität Leipzig, Germany

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stefan Nagl .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature

About this protocol

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this protocol

Nagl, S. (2019). Microfluidic Free-Flow Isoelectric Focusing with Real-Time pI Determination. In: Dutta, D. (eds) Microfluidic Electrophoresis. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1906. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-8964-5_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-8964-5_8

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-8963-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-8964-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

Publish with us

Policies and ethics