Computational modeling of traveling wave electrophoresis*

Traveling wave electrophoresis (TWE) is a microfluidic separation technique in which electrodes flanking a microchannel apply a traveling potential wave along the channel. Charged particles, including small molecules, proteins, and nanoparticles are differentially transported along the channel at a rate dependent on their mobility. TWE is ideally suited for application in lab-on-a-chip and field deployed sensor systems. In order to fully exploit this technology, a series of computational models have been developed, including 1-dimensional and 2-dimensional models. These models allow for testable predictions of single-particle motion, and the effects of factors such as Ph and concentration upon separation efficiency. Efforts to include diffusive components within the model, and to consider the motion of bands, rather than single particles will be discussed.