Thermoset polyester as an alternative material for microchip electrophoresis/electrochemistry

Advancement of analytical modes in a multichannel, microfluidic droplet-based sample chopper employing phase-locked detection

In this work, we expand upon our recently developed droplet-based sample chopping concepts by introducing a multiplexed fluidic micro-chopper device (μChopper). Six aqueous input channels were integrated with a single oil input, and each of these seven channels was controlled by a pneumatic valve for automated sampling through software control. This improved design, while maintaining high precision in valve-based droplet generation at bandwidths of 0.03 to 0.05 Hz, enabled a variety of analytical modes to be employed on-chip compared to previous devices limited to sample/reference alternations. The device was analytically validated for real-time, continuous calibration with a single sample and five standards; multiplexed analysis during calibration using a mixed mode; and standard addition through spiking of six sample droplets with varying amounts of standard. Finally, the standard addition mode was applied to protein quantification in human serum samples using on-chip, homogeneous fluorescence immunoassays. Ultimately, with only ~1.2 μL of total analyzed solution volume- representing 100-fold and 75-fold reductions in reagent and serum volumes, respectively-we were able to generate full, six-point standard addition curves in only 1.5 min, and results correlated well with those from standard plate-reader equipment. This work thus exploited microfluidic valves for both their automation and droplet phase-locking capabilities, resulting in a micro-analytical tool capable of complex analytical interrogation modes on sub-microliter sample volumes while also leveraging drastic noise rejection via lock-in detection. The multichannel μChopper device should prove particularly useful in analyzing precious biological samples or for dynamic analyses at small volume scales.

Recent trends in capillary electrophoresis for complex samples analysis: A review

CE has been a continuously evolving analytical methodology since its first introduction in the 1980s of the last century. The development of new CE separation procedures, the coupling of these systems to more sensitive and versatile detection systems, and the advances in miniaturization technology have allowed the application of CE to the resolution of new and complex analytical problems, overcoming the traditional disadvantages associated with this method. In the present work, different recent trends in CE and their application to the determination of high complexity samples (as biological fluids, individual cells, etc.) will be reviewed: capillary modification by different types of coatings, microfluidic CE, and online microextraction CE. The main advantages and disadvantages of the different proposed approaches will be discussed with examples of most recent applications.

High-Throughput Inertial Focusing of Micrometer- and Sub-Micrometer-Sized Particles Separation

The ability to study individual bacteria or subcellular organelles using inertial microfluidics is still nascent. This is due, in no small part, to the significant challenges associated with concentrating and separating specific sizes of micrometer and sub-micrometer bioparticles in a microfluidic format. In this study, using a rigid polymeric microfluidic network with optimized microchannel geometry dimensions, it is demonstrated that 2 µm, and even sub-micrometer, particles can be continuously and accurately focused to stable equilibrium positions. Suspensions have been processed at flow rates up to 1400 µL min-1 in an ultrashort 4 mm working channel length. A wide range of suspension concentrations-from 0.01 to 1 v/v%-have been systematically investigated, with yields greater than 97%, demonstrating the potential of this technology for large-scale implementation. Additionally, the ability of this chip to separate micrometer- and sub-micrometer-sized particles and to focus bioparticles (cyanobacteria) has been demonstrated. This study pushes the microfluidic inertial focusing particle range down to sub-micrometer length scales, enabling novel routes for investigation of individual microorganisms and subcellular organelles.

Functionalization-Free Microfluidic Electronic Tongue Based on a Single Response

Electronic tongues (e-tongues) are promising analytical devices for a variety of applications to address the challenges of quality control in water monitoring and industries of foods, beverages, and pharmaceuticals. A crucial drawback in the current e-tongues is the need to recalibrate the device when one or more sensing units (usually with modified surface) are replaced. Another downside is the necessity to perform subsequent surface modifications and analyses to each of the diverse sensing units, undermining the simplicity and velocity of the method. These features have prevented widespread commercial use of the e-tongues. In this paper, we introduce a microfluidic e-tongue that overcomes all such limitations. The key principle of global selectivity of the e-tongue was achieved by recording only a single response, namely, the equivalent admittance spectrum of an association of resistors in parallel. Such resistors consisted of five nonfunctionalized stainless steel microwires (sensing units), which were short-circuited and coated with gold, platinum, nickel, iron, and aluminum oxide films. The microwires were inserted in a chip composed of a single piece of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Using impedance spectroscopy, the e-tongue was successfully applied in classification of basic tastes at a concentration below the threshold for the human tongue. In addition, our chip allowed the distinction of various chemicals used in oil industry. Finally, our cleanroom-free prototyping allows the mass production of chips with easily replaceable and reproducible sensing units. Hence, one can now envisage the widespread dissemination of e-tongues with fast and reproducible data.

Fabrication of a totally renewable off-channel amperometric platform for microchip electrophoresis

In this approach, a novel method to fabricate an integrated amperometric platform used in off-channel electrophoresis has been introduced. A simple screen printed protocol combining a wet etching procedure was used to define the pattern on a glass substrate, and whole electrodes were constructed by filling the conductive carbon ink into the etched cavities. A simple Teflon tape was used to align this platform with the micro-channel, and the variation of reassembling of this device can be down to 2.2% without the assistance of microscope. This device was characterized by dopamine (DA) and catechol (CA), and the width of half peak is around 4s, even a 100 μm double T shape injection design and a 550 μm working electrode were used in this work. Under the optimum condition, this device possesses a low background with a noise level of 1.4 pA (peak to peak). The linear range for DA and CA are 0.1-100 μM (R = 0.998) and 0.2-200 μM (R = 0.996) with a theoretical plate number of 1.57 × 10(4) and 3.46 × 10(4) (plate/m), respectively.

Electrophoretic separations in poly(dimethylsiloxane) microchips using mixtures of ionic, nonionic and zwitterionic surfactants

The use of surfactant mixtures to affect both EOF and separation selectivity in electrophoresis with PDMS substrates is reported, and capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection is introduced for EOF measurement on PDMS microchips. First, the EOF was measured for two nonionic surfactants (Tween 20 and Triton X-100), mixed ionic/nonionic surfactant systems (SDS/Tween 20 and SDS/Triton X-100), and finally for the first time, mixed zwitterionic/nonionic surfactant systems (TDAPS/Tween 20 and TDAPS/Triton X-100). EOF for the nonionic surfactants decreased with increasing surfactant concentration. The addition of SDS or TDAPS to a nonionic surfactant increased EOF. After establishing the EOF behavior, the separation of model catecholamines was explored to show the impact on separations. Similar analyte resolution with greater peak heights was achieved with mixed surfactant systems containing Tween 20 and TDAPS relative to the single surfactant system. Finally, the detection of catecholamine release from PC12 cells by stimulation with 80 mM K(+) was performed to demonstrate the usefulness of mixed surfactant systems to provide resolution of biological compounds in complex samples.

Electrophoretic separations in poly(dimethylsiloxane) microchips using a mixture of ionic and zwitterionic surfactants

The use of mixtures of ionic and zwitterionic surfactants in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microchips is reported. The effect of surfactant concentration on electroosmotic flow (EOF) was studied for a single anionic surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS), a single zwitterionic surfactant (N-tetradecylammonium-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammonio-1-propanesulfonate, TDAPS), and a mixed SDS/TDAPS surfactant system. SDS increased the EOF as reported previously while TDAPS showed an initial increase in EOF followed by a reduction at higher concentrations. When TDAPS was added to a solution containing SDS, the EOF decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. The EOF for all three surfactant systems followed expected pH trends, with increasing EOF at higher pH. The mixed surfactant system allowed tuning of the EOF across a range of pH and concentration conditions. After establishing the EOF behavior, the adsorption/desorption kinetics were measured and showed a slower adsorption/desorption rate for TDAPS than SDS. Finally, the separation and electrochemical detection of model catecholamines in buffer and reduced glutathione in red blood cell lysate using the mixed surfactant system were explored. The mixed surfactant system provided shorter analysis times and/or improved resolution when compared to the single surfactant systems.

A fast and highly sensitive detection of cholesterol using polymer microfluidic devices and amperometric system

In this work, the rapid detection of cholesterol using poly(dimethylsiloxane) microchip capillary electrophoresis, based on the coupling of enzymatic assays and electrochemical detection, was developed. Direct amperometric detection for poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microchip capillary electrophoresis was successfully applied to quantify cholesterol levels. Factors influencing the performance of the method (such as the concentration and pH value of buffer electrolyte, concentration of cholesterol oxidase enzyme (ChOx), effect of solvent on the cholesterol solubility, and interferences) were carefully investigated and optimized. The migration time of hydrogen peroxide, product of the reaction, was less than 100 s when using 40 mM phosphate buffer at pH 7.0 as the running buffer, a concentration of 0.68 U/mL of the ChOx, a separation voltage of +1.6 kV, an injection time of 20s, and a detection potential of +0.5 V. PDMS microchip capillary electrophoresis showed linearity between 38.7 μg/dL (1 μM) and 270.6 mg/dL (7 mM) for the cholesterol standard; the detection limit was determined as 38.7 ng/dL (1 nM). To demonstrate the potential of this assay, the proposed method was applied to quantify cholesterol in bovine serum. The percentages of recoveries were assessed over the range of 98.9-101.8%. The sample throughput was found to be 60 samples per hour. Therefore, PDMS microchip capillary electrophoresis, based on the coupling of enzymatic assays and electrochemical detection, is very rapid, accurate and sensitive method for the determination of cholesterol levels.

Adsorption of Proteins to Thin-Films of PDMS and Its Effect on the Adhesion of Human Endothelial Cells

This paper describes a simple and inexpensive procedure to produce thin-films of poly(dimethylsiloxane). Such films were characterized by a variety of techniques (ellipsometry, nuclear magnetic resonance, atomic force microscopy, and goniometry) and used to investigate the adsorption kinetics of three model proteins (fibrinogen, collagen type-I, and bovine serum albumin) under different conditions. The information collected from the protein adsorption studies was then used to investigate the adhesion of human dermal microvascular endothelial cells. The results of these studies suggest that these films can be used to model the surface properties of microdevices fabricated with commercial PDMS. Moreover, the paper provides guidelines to efficiently attach cells in BioMEMS devices.

Improving MCE with electrochemical detection using a bubble cell and sample stacking techniques

Two efforts to improve the sensitivity and limits of detection for MCE with electrochemical detection are presented here. One is the implementation of a capillary expansion (bubble cell) at the detection zone to increase the exposed working electrode surface area. Bubble cell widths were varied from 1x to 10x the separation channel width (50 mum) to investigate the effects of electrode surface area on detection sensitivity, LOD, and separation efficiency. Improved detection sensitivity and decreased detection limits were obtained with increased bubble cell width, and LODs of dopamine and catechol detected in a 5x bubble cell were 25 and 50 nM, respectively. Meanwhile, fluorescent imaging results demonstrated approximately 8 and approximately 12% loss in separation efficiency in 4x and 5x bubble cell, respectively. Another effort at reducing the LOD involves using field amplified sample injection for gated injection and field amplified sample stacking for hydrodynamic injection. Stacking effects are shown for both methods using amperometric detection and pulsed amperometric detection. The LODs of dopamine in a 4x bubble cell were 8 and 20 nM using field amplified sample injection and field amplified sample stacking, respectively. However, improved LODs were not obtained for anionic analytes using either stacking technique.