磁场辅助微流控碳纳米纤维尺寸排阻色谱技术及微纳尺度物质分离

The separation and analytical techniques of micro/nano scale substances play a significant role in the development of modern precision medicine. To date, the separation of micro/nano scale substances principally based on the methods like immunomagnetic separation, electrophoresis, field flow fractionation, and size exclusion chromatography (SEC). However, low resolution or low separation efficiency are some of the drawbacks that still exist in such techniques. Based on the characteristics of carbon nanofiber such as chemically modifiable surface morphology, structural flexibility and three-dimensional size effects, this study will develop a novel size exclusion chromatography technique by adjusting the size and space alignment of carbon nanofibers together with controlled magnetic field. With the addition of different external magnetic field that can regulate the gaps and pores alignment between carbon nanofibers, the different sizes and shapes of micro/nanoscale substances can embed into different gaps and pores between carbon nanofibers, so the substances show different retention times, hence achieving precise and highly effective separation. The focuses of this study involve: 1) research into the growth characteristics of carbon nanofiber/quartz fiber; 2) study on the responsiveness of carbon nanofiber induced by magnetic field; 3) examine the separation effectiveness of micro/nanoscale biomolecules; 4) evaluate the feasibility of separation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs). The result of this study will exert a promising development potential on promoting further fabrication of innovative technology used for the separation and analysis of micro/nano scale biomolecules such as cancer cells, viruses and micro-organisms.

微纳尺度物质的分离分析技术在现代精准医学发展中起到至关重要的作用。目前，微纳尺度物质的分离主要采用免疫磁珠、电泳、场流及尺寸排阻等分离技术，但仍然存在分离度差、分选效率低等问题。本研究基于碳纳米纤维表面的化学可修饰性和物理柔顺性以及微纳尺度物质的立体尺寸效应等特征，利用碳纳米纤维的尺寸和空间排序可控制备技术和磁场控制技术，拟研发新型的尺寸排阻色谱技术。在外加磁场力作用下，可调控碳纳米纤维的间隙及孔隙排列方向，不同尺寸和形貌的微纳尺度物质因嵌入到碳纳米纤维的间隙、孔隙的深度及滞留时间不同而得到精准、高效分离。研究内容有1）碳纳米纤维/石英纤维生长特征研究；2）碳纳米纤维的磁场行为特征研究；3）微纳尺度生物体的分离行为特征研究；4）循环肿瘤细胞的分离可行性研究。本研究成果将在癌细胞、病毒、微生物等微纳尺度生物的分离分析以及新型分离仪器的开发等方面具有巨大的应用前景。

微纳尺度物质的分离分析技术在现代精准医学发展中起到至关重要的作用。然而，目前微纳尺度物质的分离技术普遍存在分离度差、分选效率低等局限性，尚无法满足临床及科研对微纳尺度物质的需求，缺乏有效标准技术分离和分析微纳尺度物质。本项目系统研究了尺寸可控纳米阵列材料制备方法，构建了毛细管电场流分离体系，实现了电泳、色谱、场流动分离技术的“三位一体”。在交流电场和流动场的共同作用下，颗粒物在分离通道内反复发生吸附-脱附过程并最终实现微纳尺度物质的色谱化分离。此外，为了探究微纳尺度物质中小分子的时空分布，本研究还针对小分子类目标物提出纳米限域萃取方法，通过多种萃取模式，实现了对不同种类小分子的原位、在线高效富集。本研究成果将在癌细胞、病毒、微生物等微纳尺度生物的分离分析以及小分子与细胞相互作用研究等方面具有巨大的应用前景。