Charged Hydrogels for Concentrating Proteins

Hydrogel compositions that are capable of separating analytes in a mixture of analytes, and related methods, are generally described. For example, a hydrogel composition can be mixed with a sample comprising, at least, a first analyte and a second analyte, and the hydrogel composition can partition the first analyte selectively over the second electrolyte. The first analyte remains confined by the hydrogel composition, while the second analyte remains unconfined, facilitating separation of the two analytes.