Nanofluidic devices for rapid analysis of DNA and proteins

Direct analysis of biologically-relevant entities such as nucleic acids and proteins offers the potential to outperform conventional analysis techniques and diagnostic methods through enhancements in speed, accuracy, and sensitivity. Nanofluidic systems with critical dimensions comparable to the molecular scale open up new possibilities for direct observation, manipulation and analysis of biomolecules (single or ensemble), thus providing a novel basis for ultra-sensitive and high-resolution sensors and medical diagnostic systems. Inspired by this concept, we have developed a new class of nanofluidic filter devices and have implemented them as controllable molecular sieves for rapid analytical separation of various physiologically-relevant molecules such as dsDNA and proteins. In addition, we have conducted theoretical studies of molecular sieving process in the context of periodic free-energy landscapes created by the patterned nanofluidic filter arrays. The kinetic model constructed based upon the equilibrium partitioning theory and the Kramers rate theory properly describes the field-dependent sieving behavior, presenting notable progress beyond the existing equilibrium model in conventional gels.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2007

Author dc:creator

• Fu, Jianping, Ph. D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Jongyoon Han.

• Mechanical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/39840

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/39840