A microfabricated device for the study of the sieving effect in protein electrophoresis

Many of the process factors involved in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of proteins are not well understood. A miniaturized device containing an "artificial gel" sieving matrix has been microfabricated. The well-defined structural features offer advantages of simplifying factors such as the pore size of the gel and the frictional forces that occur between the gel and the migrating molecule. These studies may lead to the ability to define and model optimal separation parameters for specific protein separations.