A simple, disposable microfluidic device for rapid protein concentration and purificationvia direct-printing

A facile and disposable microfluidic device for rapid protein concentration was fabricated by using a direct printing process. Two printed V-shaped microchannels in mirror image orientation were separated by a 100 μm wide toner gap. When a high electric field was applied across the two channels, nanofissures were formed by electric breakdown at the junction toner gap. This microfluidic device with nanofissures was used as a concentrator for protein. Negatively charged proteins were observed to concentrate at the anode side of the nanofissures upon application of an electric field across this junction. Using this device, about 103–105-fold protein concentration was achieved within 10 min. Systematic investigation showed that the concentration mechanism could be explained by the ion exclusion-enrichment effect of the nanofissures. In addition, the present microchip device integrated both functions of concentration and purification were confirmed. This simple on chip protein preconcentration and purification device could be a disposable sample preparation component in printed microfluidic systems used for practical biochemical assays.