embodiments of the present invention employ complexly shaped , high - surface - area channels for separation and purification of molecules , including important biopolymers such as proteins , glycoproteins , polysaccharides , and other molecular components of living cells . the relatively large internal surface areas of the complexly shaped channels employed in embodiments of the present invention provide , in comparison to traditional , simply shaped separation channels , increased heat dissipation during electrokinetic separation , and a decreased tendency for bulk - solution flow . heat dissipation prevents high temperatures that can denature proteins and that can induce thermal currents within the separation channel . bulk - solution flow within a separation channel can overwhelm the generally linear , electrical - potential - induced migration of molecules that leads to efficient and well - resolved molecular separations . the complexly shaped channels employed in various embodiments of the present invention can be readily manufactured at microscale dimensions for use in microscale devices , at millimeter - scale dimensions for inclusion in microfluidics devices , and may also be used in larger scale , traditional separation and purification systems .