Containment by scpDNA hydrogels

All polymer network structures will be utilized for the entrapment of small molecules and macromolecular species. As low molecular weight entities fluorescent dyes will be employed since they can be probed in an easy way. As macromolecules DNA will be employed since its size can be controlled very accurately and staining by intercalating dyes is a routine procedure. This allows evaluation of network structures as programmable separation and releasing devices within a microfluidic context.