GEL COMPOSITION
A gel composition for use in electrophoresis analysis of proteins, characterised in that the gel composition includes a polar solvent as an additive, wherein the polar solvent is one of either an alcohol or a formamide derivative. Methods of use, methods of manufacture and apparatus including the gel composition described hereinabove are also provided.
1 . A gel composition for use in electrophoresis analysis of proteins, characterised in that the gel composition includes a polar solvent, wherein the polar solvent comprises an alcohol, formamide or a formamide derivative.
2 . A gel composition according to claim 1 , wherein the gel has a range of separation of 200-6 kDa.
3 . A gel composition according to claim 1 , wherein the polar solvent has regions of polarity and non-polarity.
4 . A gel composition according to claim 1 , wherein the polar solvent is an alcohol selected from isopropanol, methanol, ethanol and hexanediol.
5 . A gel composition according to claim 4 , wherein the alcohol derivative is isopropanol.
6 . A gel composition according to claim 1 , wherein the polar solvent is a formamide derivative selected from acetonitrile, dioxane, dimethylformamide, diethylformamide and dimethylsulphone.
7 . A gel composition according to claim 6 , wherein the formamide derivative is diethylformamide.
8 . A gel composition according to claim 1 , wherein the gel has a uniform polyacrylamide concentration.
9 . A gel composition according to claim 1 , wherein the gel has a variable polyacrylamide concentration.
10 . A method of manufacturing the gel composition of claim 1 , comprising using the polar solvent as an additive in the manufacture of a gel composition.
11 . The method of manufacturing the gel composition according to claim 10 , wherein the polar solvent is an alcohol derivative or a formamide derivative.
12 . The method of manufacturing the composition according to claim 10 wherein the polar solvent has regions of polarity and non-polarity.
13 . The method of manufacturing the gel composition according to claim 10 wherein the polar solvent is an alcohol derivative and is selected from isopropanol, methanol, ethanol and hexanediol.
14 . The method of manufacturing the gel composition according to claim 13 wherein the polar solvent is isopropanol.
15 . The method of manufacturing the gel composition according to claim 10 wherein the polar solvent is a formamide derivative and is selected from acetonitrile, dioxane, dimethylformamide, diethylformamide and dimethylsulphone.
16 . The method of manufacturing the gel composition according to claim 15 wherein the formamide derivative is diethylformamide.
17 . A method of gel electrophoresis, comprising:
providing a gel composition as defined in claim 1 ;
providing a sample;
applying the sample to the gel composition;
applying an electrical current to the gel composition for a predetermined period of time; and
detecting and analysing separated proteins in the gel composition.
18 . A method according to claim 17 , wherein the gel composition is contained within a capillary electrophoresis unit.
19 . A method according to claim 17 , wherein the gel composition is configured into a slab gel.
20 . A method according to claim 17 , wherein protein bands are analysed directly using fluorescence.
21 . A method according to claim 17 , wherein protein bands are analysed indirectly using Western blot analysis.
22 . A method of manufacturing a gel composition according to claim 1 , comprising;
providing polyacrylamide gel ingredients and a polar solvent,
mixing said ingredients in a solvent;
heating the mixture until the ingredients dissolve to produce a solution;
pouring the mixture into a mould device; and
allowing the gel composition to set.
23 . A method according to claim 22 , wherein the polar solvent is one of either a formamide or an alcohol derivative.
24 . A method according to claim 22 , wherein the polar solvent has regions of polarity and non-polarity.
25 . A method according to claim 22 , wherein the polar solvent is an alcohol and is selected from isopropanol, methanol, ethanol and hexanediol.
26 . A method according to claim 25 , wherein the alcohol is isopropanol.
27 . A method according to claim 22 , wherein the polar solvent is a formamide derivative and is selected from dimethylformamide, diethylformamide and dimethylsulphone.
28 . A method according to claim 27 , wherein the formamide derivative is diethylformamide.
29 . A method according to claim 22 , wherein the gel has a variable polyacrylamide concentration.
30 . A method according to claim 22 , wherein the gel has a uniform polyacrylamide concentration.
31 . A gel electrophoresis apparatus comprising: a gel composition as defined in claim 1 .