elektroforeesia

Elektroforeesia is a term used in some theoretical and speculative discussions in microfluidics and electrokinetics to describe a coordinated transport phenomenon in which electric fields drive both electrophoretic migration of charged species and electroosmotic flow of the solvent, producing controllable separation and patterning in porous or microfabricated media.

Etymology: The name combines electro- with phoresis, the traditional term for transport under an electric field, with a suffix -esia to denote a phenomenon or observation.

Principles: The concept envisions charged particles undergoing electrophoresis while the solvent experiences electroosmotic flow; nonuniform or time-varying fields create spatial and temporal gradients that shape trajectories. Interactions with pore geometry, surface charges, and dielectrophoretic forces can further influence transport, enabling selective routing and assembly of components.

Status: The term is not widely standardized in peer-reviewed literature and appears mainly in speculative or exploratory sources. It is often used to describe a broader class of coupled electrokinetic effects rather than a distinct, established technique. Experimental demonstrations, if they exist, are not yet common or universally accepted.

Applications and challenges: If realized, elektroforeesia could enable on-chip separation, assembly, or patterning of nanoparticles, biomolecules, or cells with complex routing schemes. Practical use faces challenges including controlling Joule heating, maintaining stable flow conditions, achieving reproducible field configurations, and integrating with existing microfluidic platforms.

See also: electrophoresis; electroosmosis; dielectrophoresis; microfluidics.

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