MICROGRADIENTPAGE · Micro Gradient Polyacrylamide Gels for High Throughput Electrophoresis Analysis

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) is the most widespread tool to separate and detect macromolecules based on their molecular weight. New generation PAGE assays miniaturize the technique to obtain high throughput performance and reduce sample volume, reagents and cost. Here, we present a novel technology that will improve the range, the resolution and the accuracy that these new generation PAGE assays can resolve. On traditional PAGE assays, polyacrylamide gels with an acrylamide gradient are used to significantly improve the separation of macromolecules. However, on new generation PAGE assays the technology to fabricate those gradients at the millimetre scale with micron resolution is missing. The technology presented in this project, developed as a part of the ERC project GenesForceMotion, allows the fabrication of millimetre sized polyacrylamide gels with a well-defined and precise acrylamide microgradient. Moreover, the acrylamide density profile can be precisely controlled along the gel to improve the separation of macromolecules with similar molecular weights. This technology generates a market opportunity to improve the performance of the gel electrophoresis technique widely extended in worldwide life science laboratories. The expected outcome of the project is to test the benefits of our microgradient gel technology to improve the new generation miniaturized PAGE assays and make this technology available to the market