Controllable concentric electric field line distribution for simultaneous separation of DNA.

An approach for the controllable separation and concentration of nucleic acid using a circular nonuniform electric field was proposed and developed. Using six different lengths of DNA molecules as standard samples, the distribution of the gradient electric field was increased from the outer circular electrode to the inner rod-shaped electrode, contributing to the migration of DNA molecules at a velocity gradient towards the region with the strongest inner electric field. The DNA molecules were arranged in a distribution of concentric circles that aligned with the distribution of concentric equipotential lines. The concentration of DNA multiplied with the alternation of radius. As a result, this platform allowed simultaneous DNA separation, achieving a resolution range of 1.17-3.03 through an extended electrophoresis time, resulting in enhanced concentration factors of 1.08-6.27. Moreover, the manipulation of the relative height of the inner and outer electrodes enabled precise control over the distribution and the deflection degree of electric field lines, leading to accurate control over DNA deflection.

Estradiol is a key candidate for treating Ankylosing Spondylolisthesis with Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Some Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has shown anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects on Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) treatment. Wan Bikang (WBK) and Wan Biqing (WBQ) are two traditional empirical formulas for AS. However, the mechanism of their effects on AS is largely unknown. This study deciphered the underlying common molecular mechanisms of these TCM treatments for AS. The ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-triple/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) assays were employed to detect herbal ingredients. Target proteins of herbal ingredients were identified by ChEMBL Database. To infer the relationships between ingredients and AS-related proteins, network pharmacology was employed. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and core target analyses were carried out with tools Cytoscape and STRING. To find out the molecular basis and target of AS, molecular docking and an in vitro experiment were also conducted. It is found that estradiol may participate in the treatment of AS via the inhibition of inflammatory factors, and Estrogen Receptor 1 (ESR1) appears to be a key target. This research offers insight into the therapeutic mechanism of TCM formulas for AS and furthers our understanding of TCM pharmacology.

Circular Nonuniform Electric Field Gel Electrophoresis for the Separation and Concentration of Nanoparticles.

A circular nonuniform electric field strategy coupled with gel electrophoresis was proposed to control the precise separation and efficient concentration of nano- and microparticles. The circular nonuniform electric field has the feature of exponential increase in the electric field intensity along the radius, working with three functional zones of migration, acceleration, and concentration. The distribution form of electric field lines is regulated in functional zones to control the migration behaviors of particles for separation and concentration by altering the relative position of the ring electrode (outside) and rodlike electrode (inner). The circular nonuniform electric field promotes the target-type and high-precision separation of nanoparticles based on the difference in charge-to-size ratio. The concentration multiple of nanoparticles is also controlled randomly with the alternation of radius, taking advantage of vertical extrusion and concentric converging of the migration path. This work provides a brand new insight into the simultaneous separation and concentration of particles and is promising for developing a versatile tool for the separation and preparation of various samples instead of conventional methods.

[Research progress in the application of external field separation technology and microfluidic technology in the separation of micro/nanoscales].

The micro/nanoscales concerns interactions of entities with sizes in the range of 0.1-100 µm, such as biological cells, proteins, and particles. The separation of micro/nanoscales has been of immense significance for drug development, early-stage cancer detection, and customized precision therapy. For example, in recent years, rapid advances in the field of cell therapy have necessitated the development of simple and effective cell separation techniques. The isolation technique allows the collection of the required stem cells from complex samples. With the development of materials science and precision medicine, the separation of particles is also critical. The key physicochemical properties of micro/nanoscales are highly dependent on their specific size, shape, functional group, and mobility (based on the charged characteristics), which control their performance in the separation system. The current demand has made the simultaneous innovation of a separation system and an on-line detection platform imperative. Accordingly, various analytical methods involving the use of external forces, such as the flow field, magnetic field, electric field, and acoustic field, have been used for micro/nanoscales separation. Based on the physical and chemical parameters of the separation materials, these analytical methods can select different external force fields for micro/nanoscales separation, enabling real-time, accurate, efficient, and selective separation. However, at present, most of the applied field separation technologies require complex equipment and a large sample amount. This makes it crucial to miniaturize and integrate separation technologies for low-cost, rapid, and accurate micro/nanoscales separation. Microfluidic technology is a representative micro/nanoscales separation technology. It requires only a small volume of liquid, making it cost-effective; its high throughput enables continuous separation and analysis; its fast response in a microchip can allow many reactions; and finally, the miniaturization of the device allows the coupling of multiple detectors with the microchip. With the continuous growth and progress of microfluidic technology, some microfluidic platforms are now able to achieve the non-destructive separation of cells. They also enable on-line detection, offer high separation efficiency, and allow rapid separation for different biological samples. This review primarily summarizes recent advances in microfluidic chips based on flow field, electric field, magnetic field, acoustic field, and field separation technologies to improve the micro/nanoscales separation efficiency. This review also discusses the various external force fields of micro/nanoscales, such as a microparticle, single cell separation of substances classified introduction, and summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of their application and development. Finally, the prospect of the combined application of external field separation technology and microfluidic technology in the early screening of cancer cells and for precise micro/nanoscales separation is discussed, and the advantages and potential applications of the combined technology are proposed.

Open-tubular radially cyclical electric field-flow fractionation (OTR-CyElFFF): an online concentric distribution strategy for simultaneous separation of microparticles.

An open-tubular radially cyclical electric field-flow fractionation technique which achieves the online separation of microparticles in a functional annular channel is proposed in this study. The system was set up by using a stainless steel tube and a platinum wire modified with ionic liquid/mesoporous silica materials as the external and internal electrodes. The feasibility for online separation of various particles was experimentally demonstrated. Particles in the channel were affected by a radial electric field and field-flow fractionation (FFF). On the cross section, different particles showed distinctive migration distances depending on their own properties and the different magnitudes of forces being exerted. The same kind of particles form an annular distribution within the same annulus while different particles form annular distributions at varied concentric annuli through electrophoresis. Under a laminar flow of FFF, different sizes of particles formed a conical arrangement within the annular separation channel. With the joint influence of electric field and flow field, different trajectories were obtained and the particles were eventually separated. Voltage, frequency and duty cycle value are the main parameters affecting the separation of particles. By adjusting these parameters, particles migrate in a zigzag trajectory on one side of the electrodes (mode I) and reach both sides of the electrodes (mode II). Six polystyrene particles were completely separated with high resolution within several minutes. Our system offers numerous advantages of label-free, high-resolution and online separation without tedious operations, and it is a promising tool for the effective separation of various micro-objects.