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Yin B, Zhang Z, Wang Y, Zeng H, Xu J, Li H, Li Y, Zhang M. Compact contactless conductometric, ultraviolet photometric and dual-detection cells for capillary electrophoresis via additive manufacturing. J Chromatogr A 2023; 1712:464469. [PMID: 37924616 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2023.464469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
The growing demand for tailored detectors in capillary electrophoresis (CE), addressing tasks like field deployment or dual-detection analysis, emphasizes the necessity for compact detection cells. In this work, we propose cost-effective and user-friendly additive manufacturing (3D-printing) approaches to produce such miniaturized detection cells suitable for a range of CE applications. Firstly, capacitively-coupled contactless conductivity detection (C4D) cells of different sizes are fabricated by casting low-melting-point alloy into 3D-printed molds. Various designs of Faraday shields are integrated within the cells and compared. A mini-C4D cell (9.5×7.0×7.5 mm3) is produced, with limits of detection for alkaline cations ranging from 8-12 μM in a short-capillary based CE application. Secondly, ultraviolet photometric (UV-PD) detection cells are fabricated using 3D printing. These cells feature two narrow slits with a width of 60 μm, which are positioned along the path of incident and transmission light to facilitate collimation. A deep UV-LED (235 nm or 255 nm) is employed as the light source, and black resin is determined to be the optimal material for 3D printing the UV-PD cell, owing to its superior UV light absorption capabilities. The UV-PD cell is connected to the LED and photodetector through two optical fibers, making it easy to switch the light source and detector. The effective pathlength and stray light percentage for detecting on a 75 μm id capillary are 74 μm and 0.5 %, respectively. Thirdly, a dual-detection cell that combined C4D and UV-PD at a single detection point is proposed. The performance of direct detection by C4D and indirect detection by UV-PD is compared for detecting organic acids. The strategies for developing cost-effective compact detection cells facilitate the versatile integration of multiple detection methods in CE analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bangjie Yin
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin, Guangxi 541004, China
| | - Zheng Zhang
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin, Guangxi 541004, China
| | - Yingchun Wang
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin, Guangxi 541004, China
| | - Hui Zeng
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin, Guangxi 541004, China.
| | - Jin Xu
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin, Guangxi 541004, China
| | - Hongzhou Li
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin, Guangxi 541004, China
| | - Yan Li
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin, Guangxi 541004, China
| | - Min Zhang
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin, Guangxi 541004, China.
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Liu X, Liang W, Zeng H, Jiang Y, Li Y, Zhang M. 3D printed cartridge for high-speed capillary electrophoresis with sheath liquid thermostatting and contactless conductivity detection. Anal Chim Acta 2023; 1264:341235. [PMID: 37230716 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2023.341235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The high-speed capillary electrophoresis (HSCE) method is a technique that utilizes a high electric field strength applied through a short capillary to reduce the time required for sample separation. However, the increased electric field strength may result in pronounced Joule heating effects. To address this, we describe a 3D-printed cartridge with integrated contactless conductivity detection (C4D) head and a sheath liquid channel. The C4D electrodes and Faraday shield layers are fabricated by casting Wood's metal in chambers inside the cartridge. Effective thermostatting of the short capillary is achieved by flowing Fluorinert liquid, which provides better heat dissipation compared to airflow. A HSCE device is created by using the cartridge and a modified slotted-vial array sample-introduction approach. Analytes are introduced through electrokinetic injection. With the help of sheath liquid thermostatting, background electrolyte concentration can be increased to several hundred mM, resulting in improved sample stacking and peak resolutions. Additionally, the baseline signal is flattened. Typical cations such as NH4+, K+, Na+, Mg2+, Li+, and Ca2+ can be separated within 22 s with an applied field strength of 1200 V/cm. The limit of detection ranges from 2.5 to 4.6 μM with a relative standard deviation of migration times of 1.1-1.2% (n = 17). The method has been applied to detect cations in drinking water and black tea leaching for drink safety testing, and to identify explosive anions in paper swabs. Samples can be directly injected without the need for dilution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Liu
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin, Guangxi, 541004, China
| | - Wenshan Liang
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin, Guangxi, 541004, China
| | - Hui Zeng
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin, Guangxi, 541004, China.
| | - Yiyu Jiang
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin, Guangxi, 541004, China
| | - Yan Li
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin, Guangxi, 541004, China
| | - Min Zhang
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin, Guangxi, 541004, China.
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Zhang MT, Peng YM, Pan JZ, Fang XX, Li HY, Zhang XY, Liao YC, Yao JK, Wu ML, Yao YY, Fang Q. LIFGO: A modular laser-induced fluorescence detection system based on plug-in blocks. Talanta 2021; 239:123063. [PMID: 34890938 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2021.123063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
In this work, a laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection system built in a modular assembling mode was developed based on commercial LEGO blocks and 3D printed blocks. We designed and fabricated a variety of 3D printed building blocks fixed with optical components, including laser light source, filters, lens, dichroic mirror, photodiode detector, and control circuits. Utilizing the relatively high positioning precision of the plug-in blocks, a modular construction strategy was adopted using the flexible plug-in combination of the blocks to build a highly sensitive laser-induced fluorescence detection system, LIFGO. The LIFGO system has a simple structure which could be constructed by inexperienced users within 3 h. We optimized the structure and tested the performance of the LIFGO system, and its detection limits for sodium fluorescein solution in 100 μm i.d. and 250 μm i.d. capillaries were 7 nM and 0.9 nM, respectively. Based on the LIFGO system, we also built a simple capillary electrophoresis (CE) system and applied it to the analysis of DNA fragments to demonstrate its application possibility in biochemical analysis. The separation of 7 fragments in DL500 DNA markers were completed in 600 s. Because of the features of low cost (less than $100) and easy-to-build construction, we introduced the LIFGO system to the experimental teaching of instrumental analysis for undergraduate students. The modular construction form of the LIF detection system greatly reduces the threshold of instrument construction, which is conducive to the popularization of the LIF detection technique in routine laboratories as well as the reform of experimental teaching mode.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Ting Zhang
- Institute of Microanalytical Systems, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Ya-Mei Peng
- Institute of Microanalytical Systems, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jian-Zhang Pan
- Institute of Microanalytical Systems, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China; Hangzhou Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 311200, China.
| | - Xiao-Xia Fang
- Institute of Microanalytical Systems, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Han-Yang Li
- Institute of Microanalytical Systems, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xiao-Yang Zhang
- Institute of Microanalytical Systems, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yu-Cheng Liao
- Institute of Microanalytical Systems, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jia-Kang Yao
- Institute of Microanalytical Systems, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Ming-Lin Wu
- Institute of Microanalytical Systems, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yuan-Yang Yao
- Institute of Microanalytical Systems, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Qun Fang
- Institute of Microanalytical Systems, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China; Hangzhou Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 311200, China; Key Laboratory of Excited-State Materials of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310007, China; College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.
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Alidoust M, Baharfar M, Manouchehri M, Yamini Y, Tajik M, Seidi S. Emergence of microfluidic devices in sample extraction; an overview of diverse methodologies, principals, and recent advancements. Trends Analyt Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2021.116352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Abstract
This description of "soft robotics" is not intended to be a conventional review, in the sense of a comprehensive technical summary of a developing field. Rather, its objective is to describe soft robotics as a new field-one that offers opportunities to chemists and materials scientists who like to make "things" and to work with macroscopic objects that move and exert force. It will give one (personal) view of what soft actuators and robots are, and how this class of soft devices fits into the more highly developed field of conventional "hard" robotics. It will also suggest how and why soft robotics is more than simply a minor technical "tweak" on hard robotics and propose a unique role for chemistry, and materials science, in this field. Soft robotics is, at its core, intellectually and technologically different from hard robotics, both because it has different objectives and uses and because it relies on the properties of materials to assume many of the roles played by sensors, actuators, and controllers in hard robotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- George M Whitesides
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
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Affiliation(s)
- George M. Whitesides
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology; Harvard University; Cambridge MA USA
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A Low-Cost Palmtop High-Speed Capillary Electrophoresis Bioanalyzer with Laser Induced Fluorescence Detection. Sci Rep 2018; 8:1791. [PMID: 29379053 PMCID: PMC5789010 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-20058-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2016] [Accepted: 01/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
In this work, we developed a miniaturized palmtop high-speed capillary electrophoresis (CE) system integrating whole modules, including picoliter-scale sample injection, short capillary-based fast CE, high-voltage power supply, orthogonal laser induced fluorescence (LIF) detection, battery, system control, on-line data acquisition, processing, storage, and display modules. A strategy of minimalist miniaturization combining minimal system design and low-cost system construction was adopted to achieve the instrument miniaturization with extremely low cost, which is differing from the current microfabrication strategy used in most reported miniaturized CE systems. With such a strategy, the total size of the bioanalyzer was minimized to 90 × 75 × 77 mm (length × width × height) and the instrument cost was reduced to ca. $500, which demonstrated the smallest and lowest-cost CE instrument with LIF detection in so far reported systems. The present bioanalyzer also exhibited comparable analytical performances to previously-reported high-speed CE systems. A limit of detection of 1.02 nM sodium fluorescein was obtained. Fast separations were achieved for multiple types of samples as amino acids, amino acid enantiomers, DNA fragments, and proteins with high efficiency. We applied this instrument in colorectal cancer diagnosis for detecting KRAS mutation status by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method.
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Han W, Chen X. Numerical Simulation of the Droplet Formation in a T-Junction Microchannel by a Level-Set Method. Aust J Chem 2018. [DOI: 10.1071/ch18320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
To satisfy the increasingly high demands in many applications of microfluidics, the size of the droplet needs accurate control. In this paper, a level-set method provides a useful method for studying the physical mechanism and potential mechanism of two-phase flow. A detailed three-dimensional numerical simulation of microfluidics was carried out to systematically study the generation of micro-droplets and the effective diameter of droplets with different control parameters such as the flow rate ratio, the continuous phase viscosity, the interfacial tension, and the contact angle. The effect of altering the pressure at the x coordinate of the main channel during the droplet formation was analysed. As the simulation results show, the above control parameters have a great influence on the formation of droplets and the size of the droplet. The effective droplet diameter increases when the flow rate ratio and the interfacial tension increase. It decreases when the continuous phase viscosity and the contact angle increase.
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Liu X, Tian M, Camara MA, Guo L, Yang L. Sequential capillary electrophoresis analysis using optically gated sample injection and UV/vis detection. Electrophoresis 2015; 36:2380-5. [DOI: 10.1002/elps.201500066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2015] [Revised: 04/27/2015] [Accepted: 05/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxia Liu
- Faculty of Chemistry; Northeast Normal University; ChangChun Jilin P. R. China
| | - Miaomiao Tian
- Faculty of Chemistry; Northeast Normal University; ChangChun Jilin P. R. China
| | | | - Liping Guo
- Faculty of Chemistry; Northeast Normal University; ChangChun Jilin P. R. China
| | - Li Yang
- Faculty of Chemistry; Northeast Normal University; ChangChun Jilin P. R. China
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Zhang T, Fu J, Fang Q. Improved high-speed capillary electrophoresis system using a short capillary and picoliter-scale translational spontaneous injection. Electrophoresis 2014; 35:2361-9. [DOI: 10.1002/elps.201400186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2014] [Revised: 06/05/2014] [Accepted: 06/05/2014] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ting Zhang
- Department of Chemistry; Institute of Microanalytical Systems; Zhejiang University; Hangzhou P. R. China
| | - Jinglin Fu
- Department of Chemistry; Institute of Microanalytical Systems; Zhejiang University; Hangzhou P. R. China
| | - Qun Fang
- Department of Chemistry; Institute of Microanalytical Systems; Zhejiang University; Hangzhou P. R. China
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Zhu Y, Chen H, Du GS, Fang Q. Microfluidic droplet-array liquid-liquid chromatography based on droplet trapping technique. LAB ON A CHIP 2012; 12:4350-4354. [PMID: 22903271 DOI: 10.1039/c2lc40573c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
We describe the first realization of liquid chromatographic separation in a droplet-based microfluidic system and develop a novel mode for microchip-based chromatography named as droplet-array liquid-liquid chromatography. In this system, two arrays of picoliter-scale droplets immobilized on both sidewalls of a microchannel with droplet trapping technique served as the stationary phase in chromatographic separation, while the other immiscible phase flowing in the microchannel served as the mobile phase. The chromatographic separation was achieved on the basis of multiple extraction and elution of analytes between the droplet array stationary phase and the mobile phase. The proof-of-concept study of the droplet-array LC system was performed in the separation of fluoranthene and benzo[b]fluoranthene. Under the optimum conditions, the two analytes were separated within 26 min with separation efficiencies of 112 μm and 119 μm plate height, respectively. The advantages of the present system include simple structure, low driving pressure, and relatively high sample capacity. It can also provide a useful platform for LC theory study and educational purposes by allowing the researchers and students to directly "see" the continuous extraction and elution process of a chromatographic separation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhu
- Institute of Microanalytical Systems, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
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Cheng YQ, Yao B, Zhang HD, Fang J, Fang Q. An automated capillary electrophoresis system for high-speed separation of DNA fragments based on a short capillary. Electrophoresis 2012; 31:3184-91. [PMID: 22216429 DOI: 10.1002/elps.201000362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
A high-speed DNA fragment separation system was developed based on a short capillary and a slotted-vial array automated sample introduction system. The injection process of DNA sample in a short capillary was investigated systematically with three injection techniques including constant-field-strength, low-field-strength and translational spontaneous injections. Under the optimized conditions, picoliter-scale sample plugs (corresponding to ca. 20-μm plug length) were obtained, which ensure the high-speed and high-efficiency separation for DNA fragments with a short effective separation length. Other separation conditions including the sieving matrix concentration, separation field strength and effective separation length were also optimized. The present system was applied in the separation of ΦX174-Hae III digest DNA marker. With an effective separation length of 2.5 cm, the separation could be achieved in <100 s with plate heights ranging from 0.21 to 0.74 μm (corresponding to plate numbers from 4.86 × 10(6) to 1.36 × 10(6)/m). The repeatabilities for the migration time of the eleven fragments were between 0.4 and 1.1% RSD (n=8). By using the automated continuous injection method, the separation for four different DNA samples could be achieved within 250 s. The present system was further applied in the fast sizing of real DNA samples of PCR products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Qiang Cheng
- Institute of Microanalytical Systems, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, PR China
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14
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Sun M, Fang Q. High-throughput sample introduction for droplet-based screening with an on-chip integrated sampling probe and slotted-vial array. LAB ON A CHIP 2010; 10:2864-2868. [PMID: 20714511 DOI: 10.1039/c005290f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
We developed a droplet-based microfluidic screening system with an on-chip sampling probe integrating multi-channels for sample introduction, reagent merging and nanolitre-scale droplet generation, and a slotted-vial array sample presenting system. The present system was applied in protein crystallization conditions screening with an ultra-high sampling throughput up to 6000 h(-1) for different samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Sun
- Institute of Microanalytical Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
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Du WB, Sun M, Gu SQ, Zhu Y, Fang Q. Automated Microfluidic Screening Assay Platform Based on DropLab. Anal Chem 2010; 82:9941-7. [DOI: 10.1021/ac1020479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Bin Du
- Institute of Microanalytical Systems, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Meng Sun
- Institute of Microanalytical Systems, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Shu-Qing Gu
- Institute of Microanalytical Systems, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Ying Zhu
- Institute of Microanalytical Systems, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Qun Fang
- Institute of Microanalytical Systems, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
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Zhang T, Fang Q, Du WB, Fu JL. Microfluidic Picoliter-Scale Translational Spontaneous Sample Introduction for High-Speed Capillary Electrophoresis. Anal Chem 2009; 81:3693-8. [DOI: 10.1021/ac900573x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ting Zhang
- Institute of Microanalytical Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Qun Fang
- Institute of Microanalytical Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Wen-Bin Du
- Institute of Microanalytical Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jing-Lin Fu
- Institute of Microanalytical Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
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Fang Q, Sun M, Huang YZ. Capillary-based microfluidic analysis systems. Anal Bioanal Chem 2008; 393:63-6. [DOI: 10.1007/s00216-008-2402-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2008] [Revised: 09/03/2008] [Accepted: 09/05/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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