ULTRAFAST ON-CHIP SEPARATIONS OF CYTOKINES BY SDS-PAGE USING UV-INITIATED POLYACRYLAMIDE

摘要

Cytokines serve as early markers for human exposure to a number of pathogens. The separation and identification of these key immune system proteins from complex protein mixtures is of great importance in the development of a rapid primary screen for pathogen exposure. In situ photopolymerized polyacylamide gels have been developed for rapid on-chip separations of cytokine mixtures using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Separations of low- and high-range molecular weight marker proteins, as well as a mixture of three cytokines, occurred within 20 seconds and required a separation length of less than 1 cm.