Immunological selective preconcentration in nanofluidics : towards a fast identification of pathogenic agents
Nanofluidics is the study of the transport of molecules through filtering nanostructures whose size approximates the thickness of the diffuse double layer at the surface of the glass. At this scale of hundreds of nanometers, the surface charge induces an exclusion of negative species outside the "nanofilter" and a retention effect of biomolecule. Studies on the electrokinetic transport in a single nanochannel have shown that it was theoretically possible to concentrate solutions, even highly diluted, with high rates (up to 103) thanks to a concentration polarization effect. This phenomenon can be exploited in many medical diagnostic applications (early and fast sample analysis), quality control (food, water) or defense (continuous monitoring of risky areas for biological terrorist threat). Modeling the dynamics of electropreconcentration phenomena (under an electric field) and retention phenomena (under a pressure gradient) of a single nanochannel is extremely difficult. A multitude of observations, often contradictory regarding the obtained preconcentration profile, were also reported with focal points observed sometimes in the anodic side and other times in the cathodic side for the same protein . Some experiments observe these focal points either upstream in the microchannel reservoir or directly at the entrance of the nanochannel. In this context, a one-dimensional model was previously developed to predict the concentration profile of the analyte at any point of the proposed MNM (Micro/Nano/Microchannel) structure. This modeling work has demonstrated the existence of four distinct regimes: two regimes in the anodic side and two regimes in the cathodic side, more or less distant from the nanochannel. This model highlighted the selectivity of the process regarding the electrophoretic mobility and the valence of the preconcentrated analytes and allowed to understand a little better the diversity of reported experiments. However, the obtained regime depends on the bioanalyte. Though it would be interesting not to be dependent of the characteristics of the analyzed solution and, on the contrary, to realize a selective electropreconcentration of the analyte. This could allow to perform two important steps in any diagnosis: the separation and the preconcentration of a mixture. To do so, we introduced an experimental setting, a hydrodynamic component (or pressure) in addition to the electric field to modulate the localization of the preconcentration .Using an "all glass" technology patented in LPN, chips perfectly insulating, biocompatible and with an exceptional resistance over time are now manufactured. These chips presenting a nanoslit in a straight microchannel are combined with a "homemade" experimental set-up fully automated (interfaced with Matlab®) which allow a perfect control of the various experimental parameters. The data obtained during experiments are then preprocessed by other Matlab codes that we have developed. Thanks to these various tools, many electropreconcentration experiments were performed for two bioanalytes: fluorescein and BSA (Bovin Serum Albumin). They have identified different parameters affecting the preconcentration of these analytes and they have demonstrated the selectivity and the efficiency of the method proposed in this thesis. Unexpected and stable preconcentration regime have been obtained with high rates of preconcentration.