Impact of Material Morphology On Bioseparations In Nanocomposite Hydrogels: a Modeling Approach In An Annular Channel

Separation of biomacromolecules is important for potential developments in new pharmaceuticals as well as clinical diagnostics. Separation may take place in a hydrogel , for example. New next-generation nanocomposite hydrogels have the potential to alter biomacromolecule separation characteristics.  These nanocomposite gels usually consist of a polyamide matrix with some incorporated nanoparticle. The incorporation of anisotropic high aspect ratio nanoparticles, such as montmorillonite, offers the potential to create new geometric domains within the gel, such as an annulus.

A geometric approximation is employed using continuum mechanics over a singular annular channel with included high aspect ratio nanoparticle will be presented. This approach is based upon the electrokinetics-hydrodynamics framework presented by Arce and others.  The impact of physicochemical parameters, symmetry, and, perhaps most importantly, geometry on separation of model particles will be presented under situations involving both electrophoresis as well as electroosmotic flow.