Lg. Song et al., Separation of double-stranded DNA fragments in plastic capillary electrophoresis chips by using E99P69E99 as separation medium, ELECTROPHOR, 20(14), 1999, pp. 2847-2855
The separation of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) fragments in polymethylmethac
rylate (PMMA) capillary electrophoresis (CE) chips by using E99P69E99 as a
separation medium has been demonstrated. The PMMA CE chips were simply manu
factured by micromachining and adhesive tape sealing. To make the separatio
n channel compatible with the separation medium, a dynamic nonionic surfact
ant coating procedure was developed, which made the plastic separation chan
nel sufficiently hydrophilic to allow the separation medium to fill the cha
nnel by capillary action. Subsequent separation of DNA fragments was succes
sful with a separation efficiency of the order of 10(4) theoretical plates
over an effective separation distance of 1.5 cm. By using an applied electr
ic field strength of 200 V/cm, the separation of low DNA mass ladder was co
mpleted within 5 min. The simple coating procedure, together with the self-
assembled viscosity-adjustable separation medium, should be useful to meet
some of the essential requirements for developing single-use disposable CE
chips. Coating the channels with polymer blends of PMMA and the separation
medium also showed promise.