Reduction in sample injection bias using pressure gradients generated on chip

Sample injection in microchip-based capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) frequently rely on the use of electric fields which can introduce differences in the injected volume for the various analytes depending on their electrophoretic mobilities and molecular diffusivities. While such injection biases may be minimized by employing hydrodynamic flows during the injection process, this approach typically requires excellent dynamic control over the pressure gradients applied within a microfluidic network. The current article describes a microchip device that offers this needed control by generating pressure gradients on-chip via electrokinetic means to minimize the dead volume in the system. In order to realize the desired pressure-generation capability, an electric field was applied across two channel segments of different depths to produce a mismatch in the electroosmotic flow rate at their junction. The resulting pressure-driven flow was then utilized to introduce sample zones into a CZE channel with minimal injection bias. The reported injection strategy allowed the introduction of narrow sample plugs with spatial standard deviations down to about 45 μm. This injection technique was later integrated to a capillary zone electrophoresis process for analyzing amino acid samples yielding separation resolutions of about 4-6 for the analyte peaks in a 3 cm long analysis channel.

Instrumentation design for hydrodynamic sample injection in microchip electrophoresis: a review

Reproducible and representative sample injection in microchip electrophoresis has been a bottleneck for quantitative analytical applications. Electrokinetic sample injection is the most used because it is easy to perform. However, this injection method is usually affected by sample composition and the bias effect. On the other hand, these drawbacks are overcome by the hydrodynamic (HD) sample injection, although this injection mode requires HD flow control. This review gives an overview of the basic principles, the instrumentation designs, and the performance of HD sample injection systems for microchip electrophoresis.

Polydimethylsiloxane-integratable micropressure sensor for microfluidic chips

A novel microfluidic pressure sensor which can be fully integrated into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is reported. The sensor produces electrical signals directly. We integrated PDMS-based conductive composites into a 30 mum thick membrane and bonded it to the microchannel side wall. The response time of the sensor is approximately 100 ms and can work within a pressure range as wide as 0-100 kPa. The resolution of this micropressure sensor is generally 0.1 kPa but can be increased to 0.01 kPa at high pressures as a result of the quadratic relationship between resistance and pressure. The PDMS-based nature of the sensor ensures its perfect bonding with PDMS chips, and the standard photolithographic process of the sensor allows one-time fabrication of three dimensional structures or even microsensor arrays. The theoretical calculations are in good agreement with experimental observations.