Synthesis of hydrogel via click chemistry for DNA electrophoresis

- Copper (I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC), click chemistry, was used to synthesize a novel sieving matrix for DNA electrophoresis.
- The efficiency of this reaction provides hydrogels with near-ideal network connectivity and improved physical properties.
- Hydrogel formation via click chemistry condensation of functional polymers does not require toxic monomers and UV initiation.
- Addition of florescent dye prior to electrophoresis improves of resolution and separation efficiency.

This work introduces a novel sieving gel for DNA electrophoresis using a classical click chemistry reaction, the copper (I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC), to cross-link functional polymer chains. The efficiency of this reaction provides, under mild conditions, hydrogels with near-ideal network connectivity and improved physical properties. Hydrogel formation via click chemistry condensation of functional polymers does not involve the use of toxic monomers and UV initiation. The performance of the new hydrogel in the separation of double stranded DNA fragments was evaluated in the 2200 TapeStation system, an analytical platform, recently introduced by Agilent that combines the advantages of CE in terms of miniaturization and automation with the simplicity of use of slab gel electrophoresis. The click gel enables addition of florescent dyes prior to electrophoresis with considerable improvement of resolution and separation efficiency over conventional cross-linked polyacrylamide gels.