Abstract
In nearly all cases, electrophoresis in gels is driven via the electrolysis of water at the electrodes, where the process consumes water and produces electrochemical by-products. We have previously demonstrated that π-conjugated polymers such as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) can be placed between traditional metal electrodes and an electrolyte to mitigate electrolysis in liquid (capillary electroosmosis/electrophoresis) systems. In this report, we extend our previous result to gel electrophoresis, and show that electrodes containing PEDOT can be used with a commercial polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis system with minimal impact to the resulting gel image or the ionic transport measured during a separation.
Highlights
The quest for increased capacity and cost reduction drives miniaturization of chemical analysis methods in life science and chemistry
The observed color change confirmed the compatibility of the sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) and TRIS buffer with the PEDOT:PSS, that the ions are able to migrate into the partially-hydrated polymer, allowing the PEDOT through the entire thickness of the electrode to switch
We have demonstrated that PEDOT:PSS electrodes are chemically and electrochemically compatible with SDS-PAGE separations via electrophoresis of a standard benchmark protein mixture
Summary
The quest for increased capacity and cost reduction drives miniaturization (and automation) of chemical analysis methods in life science and chemistry. The overall electrochemical reaction is the electrolysis of water, forming O2 gas, H+, and H2O2 at the anode, and H2 gas, and OH2 at the cathode These products are all undesirable, as the gases produced effectively reduce the active electrode area, and the acid and base can negatively impact the molecules (proteins) being separated, when electrophoresis of proteins in their native structure is intended. Miniaturized devices often contain relatively small quantities of water, limiting that available for electrolysis before the device literally dries out This challenge can be addressed by oxidizing and reducing material that remains attached to or within the electrodes. Overoxidation breaks the conjugation in the polymer, rendering the polythiophene non-conductive and unusable for electronic or electrochemical applications Another limitation of oxidizing and/ or reducing a pi-conjugated polymer electrode instead of electrolyzing water is the limited electrochemical capacity available. (SDS-PAGE), both ex-situ in a simple electrochemical cell, and insitu, in a real SDS-PAGE protein separation
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