Electrophoresis technology experiment MA-011

Abstract

Experiment MA-011, electrophoresis technology, was designed to test electrophoresis hardware that would continue the development of technology for electrophoretic separation of materials in the near zero g environment of space. The experimental hardware generally functioned as planned. Frozen live cells were successfully transported into space, electrophoretic processing was performed, and viable cells were returned to earth. A separation of the three types of fixed red blood cells (rabbit, human, and horse) was demonstrated. The human lymphocytes, however, showed no apparent migration. The separation of human kidney cells produced the most exciting data. Analysis shows electrophoretic separation throughout the entire column with at least four bands of viable cells. The isotachophoresis experiment definitely demonstrated the isotachophoretic separation of biological cells in a near zero g environment.