Development and Characterization of a 2-D microchip-based Protein separation system.

We have developed a 2-D microchip based separation system that employs capillary isoelectric focusing (CIEF) coupled with capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) and uses a real-time fluorescent imaging of the analytes as they are separated. Physics-based simulations have been developed to understand the fundamental physico-chemical processes occurring in this system. Here, we describe the design of the chip, instrument and detection system, characterize the operation and present results from preliminary simulations to understand and establish optimal separation conditions