Rapid microfluidic prototyping of sophisticated protein analysis platforms using grayscale photopatterning

We present a technique that utilizes hydrogel photopatterning via laser-printed grayscale masks to controllably define non-uniform pore-size distributions from a single <;60s UV exposure and acrylamide precursor solution. This method enables facile and rapid fabrication of spatially complex chromatography tools that are impossible to realize using traditional methods. To highlight its utility we present two workhorse analytical electrophoresis platforms: (1) a 24-plex electrophoresis screening assay in adhesive microfluidics and (2) a 96-plex gradient gel-based protein sizing assay in a free-standing polyacrylamide gel platform.