Mikroelektrophorese

Mikroelektrophorese is a laboratory technique used to separate molecules, primarily nucleic acids and proteins, based on their size and charge under the influence of an electric field. The method utilizes very small volumes of sample, typically micro-scale (nanoliter to microliter), allowing high-throughput analysis and reduced reagent consumption. The sample is loaded into a microfabricated chip or a capillary, and an electric potential is applied. The analytes migrate through a polymer or gel-like matrix; smaller molecules travel faster than larger ones, creating a size-based separation.

The technique evolved from conventional slab gel electrophoresis at the turn of the twenty‑first century, driven by advances in microfluidics and label‑free detection technologies. Microchip electrophoresis offers faster run times—often under a minute—and integrated detection, such as UV absorption or laser-induced fluorescence, without the need for external imaging systems. It also reduces background noise due to smaller path lengths and can be automated for parallel processing of many samples.

Applications span genomics, proteomics, and clinical diagnostics. In DNA analysis, micro electrophoresis can genotype microsatellites, detect single‑nucleotide polymorphisms, or profile DNA fragments in forensic samples. Protein separation is used for quality control of therapeutic proteins or for complex mixture analysis in systems biology. Environmental monitoring can benefit from rapid detection of contaminants in water.

Advantages include minimal sample consumption, rapid analysis, and potential for portable devices. Limitations involve the requirement for specialized microfabricated devices, challenges in scaling up for very large proteins or high‑molecular‑weight nucleic acids, and sensitivity constraints compared to bulk gel methods. Despite these challenges, mikroelektrophorese remains a powerful tool for modern analytical workflows, especially where speed and sample economy are critical.