High-pressure gel loader for capillary array electrophoresis microchannel plates

Microfabricated capillary array electrophoresis (mu CAE) microchannel plate s are the next generation of bioanalytical separation devices. To fully exp loit the capabilities of mu CAE devices, supporting technology such as robo tic sample loading, gel loading, microplate washing, and data analysis must be developed. Here, we describe a device for loading gel into radial capil lary array electrophoresis microplates and for plate washing and diving. Th e microplates are locked into a loading module, and high-pressure helium is used to drive aqueous separation media or wash solutions into the microcha nnels through fixtures connected to the central anode reservoir. Microplate s are rapidly (30 s to 5 min) loaded with separation media, such as 3%-4.8% linear polyacrylamide or 0.7%-3.0% hydroxyethyl cellulose, for electrophor esis. The effective and rapid gel filling and plate-cleaning methods togeth er with short electrophoretic analysis times (2-30 min) make mu CAE systems versatile and powerful nucleic acid analysis platforms.