Method for voltage-gated protein fractionation
US8163154B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 18, 2007 |
| Grant date | Apr 24, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 27, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB01L3/502753
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
We report unique findings on the voltage dependence of protein exclusion from the pores of nanoporous polymer exclusion membranes. The pores are small enough that proteins are excluded from passage with low applied electric fields, but increasing the field enables proteins to pass through. The requisite field necessary for a change in exclusion is protein-specific with a correlation to protein size. The field-dependence of exclusion is important to consider for preconcentration applications. The ability to selectively gate proteins at exclusion membranes is also a promising means for manipulating and characterizing proteins. We show that field-gated exclusion can be used to selectively remove proteins from a mixture, or to selectively trap protein at one exclusion membrane in a series.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.