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Abstract
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Microfluidic chips play a vital role in modern biotechnology research. They offer a promising, low-cost, and easy-to-implement platform for developing
efficient separation methodologies. This study introduces a separation method utilizing two distinct microfluidic chip designs. Compact microfluidic
systems offer key advantages in speed, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness [1, 2]. The first design features three inlets and employs an applied electric
current to facilitate active separation based on molecular charge or mobility. In this configuration, the central inlet introduces a plant extract, while the side
inlets supply reagents [3]. Various voltages were tested to determine optimal separation conditions. The second design utilizes a simpler configuration with
two inlets and incorporates a PET membrane positioned between two separate channels. This allows passive separation through selective diffusion,
eliminating the need for external forces. As a low-cost and straightforward option, this membrane-based chip is well-suited for small-scale laboratory
applications. In this setup, a dilute acid solution, either hydrochloric acid or phosphoric acid, was introduced through the second inlet. Flow rates of 0.5
μL/min, 1 μL/min, and 2 μL/min were tested. To evaluate the effectiveness of both designs, a plant extract from Viola ignobilis, collected in Iran’s West
Azerbaijan province, was used. The target compounds in this study were cyclotides, small, highly stable cyclic peptides with promising potential in
biomedical applications [3, 4].
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