Naghdi E, Moran GE, Reinau ME, De Malsche W, Neusüß C. Concepts and recent advances in microchip electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry: Technologies and applications.
Electrophoresis 2023;
44:246-267. [PMID:
35977423 DOI:
10.1002/elps.202200179]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The online coupling of microchip electrophoresis (ME) as a fast, highly efficient, and low-cost miniaturized separation technique to mass spectrometry (MS) as an information-rich and sensitive characterization technique results in ME-MS an attractive tool for various applications. In this paper, we review the basic concepts and latest advances in technology for ME coupled to MS during the period of 2016-2021, covering microchip materials, structures, fabrication techniques, and interfacing to electrospray ionization (ESI)-MS and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-MS. Two critical issues in coupling ME and ESI-MS include the electrical connection used to define the electrophoretic field strength along the separation channel and the generation of the electrospray for MS detection, as well as, a miniaturized ESI-tip. The recent commercialization of ME-MS in zone electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing modes has led to the widespread application of these techniques in academia and industry. Here we summarize recent applications of ME-MS for the separation and detection of antibodies, proteins, peptides, carbohydrates, metabolites, and so on. Throughout the paper these applications are discussed in the context of benefits and limitations of ME-MS in comparison to alternative techniques.
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