Patent ID: 8460529

Claim:
A method of determining the functional activity of at least one polynucleotide, polynucleotide complex, virus, polynucleotide-protein complex, protein or protein complex in a cell, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining a biological sample comprising at least one polynucleotide, polynucleotide complex, virus, polynucleotide-protein complex, protein or protein complex; providing an electrophoresis device that includes a degradable polyacrylamide gel, the degradable polyacrylamide gel comprising a polyacrylamide that is cross-linked with at least one degradable cross-linker, the degradable cross-linker including a ketal or acetal group having the formula (I): wherein R 1 and R 2 are the same or different and are hydrogen, an alkyl, or a substituted alkyl; loading the biological sample into the degradable polyacrylamide gel; and performing electrophoresis on the degradable polyacrylamide gel to separate the at least one polynucleotide, polynucleotide complex, virus, polynucleotide-protein complex, or protein complex; excising at least one fraction containing the at least one polynucleotide, polynucleotide complex, virus, polynucleotide-protein complex, or protein complex from the degradable polyacrylamide gel; at least partially solubilizing the at least one excised fraction; administering the at least one polynucleotide, polynucleotide complex virus, polynucleotide-protein complex, protein or protein complex to a cell, and measuring the functional activity of the at least one polynucleotide, polynucleotide complex, virus, polynucleotide-protein complex, protein or protein complex in the cell.