Separation of DNA by Capillary Electrophoresis Based on Nanoparticles Hydrogel

A library of Nanoparticles hydrogel ( NPs) was synthesized by emulsion polymerization method in aqueous solution. The feasibility of NPs applying to the DNA fragments separation in capillary electrophoresis was investigated based on the dynamic coating method. The diameters of the particles were proved uniform with good mono-dispersion by dynamic light scattering method. The experimental results indicated that three factors had an effect on the DNA separation, including the amount of monomer, the particle size and the concentration of NPs in capillary electrophoresis buffer solution. NPs exhibited the best performance in DNA separation when the monomer molar ratios were optimized to N-isopropylacrylamide ( 87%) , hydroxyethylacrylate (8%) , acrylic acid (4%) and N,Ntmethylene bisacrylamide( 1% ). Meanwhile , the particle size of the prepared NPs could be changed by changing the amount of the surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate ( SDS). A completely separation among the three different length of DNA frament samples ( 20 nt, 50 nt and 80 nt) could be obtained when 8. 0 mg/mL NPs (400 nm) were added in the TG buffer solution (25 mmol/L Tris, 192 mmol/L glycine, at pH 8. 3) in the capillary electrophoresis study. These hydrogel nanoparticles showed potential capability in DNA separation due to their well-developed crosslinking network structure.