A continuous flow microelectrophoretic module for protein separation

In the framework of our research work, we are developing a microfluidic system that can be used as a pre-treatment device for the sample preparation in analytical microsystems, as biosensors, for instance. Sample pre-treatment phase is usually envisaged before chemical and biological analysis. For example, if we want to perform contaminants detection in a complex matrix as milk, we must consider that the sample consists in a solution of butterfat globules and water with dissolved carbohydrates and protein complexes. If we want a bio-sensor to perform a label free detection of some target-contaminants in milk, interferents in the matrix must be removed. Proteins are an important part of these interferents, and their concentration needs to be reduced, in order to avoid fouling and consequently the inhibition of the sensor, or false positive results in the analysis. We have designed and fabricated a SPLITT flow thin fractionation device for protein separation that is now under testing with a BSA solution.