Hybrid Dynamic Coating with n-Dodecyl β-d-Maltoside and Methyl Cellulose for High-Performance Carbohydrate Analysis on Poly(methyl methacrylate) Chips

A rapid and facile preparation of APTS-labeled N-glycans by combination of ion pair-assisted extraction and HILIC-SPE for routine glycan analysis

Glycoanalytical technology is required for a wide variety of scientific research, including basic glycobiological pharmaceutical, and biomarker research. Although several innovative analytical techniques have been developed for these purposes, quantitative glycan analysis based on electrophoretic separation, has often been impeded by the lack of cost-effective and facile sample preparation approaches. Here, we developed a rapid and facile sample preparation workflow for cost-effective glycan analysis and demonstrated its use with fully automated microchip electrophoresis (ME). Purification of 8-aminopyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonate (APTS)-labeled glycans was based on the combination of ion-pair assisted extraction (IPAE) with hydrophilic interaction chromatography-solid phase extraction (HILIC-SPE). Compared to commonly used sample preparation methods, the IPAE/HILIC-SPE method undergoes minimal nonspecific loss and undesirable degradation of N-glycans during the purification step. Furthermore, our method required only 10 min, and the entire workflow, including glycan release, labeling, and concentration processes was completed within 4 h. Although the present system should be improved to enable analysis of more complex mixtures, ME-based separation of APTS-labeled N-glycans offers a fully automated operation including conditioning, sample loading, separation, and can be analyzed with a sample-to-sample throughput of 120 s in parallel processes. The present workflow is easy to implement, does not require expensive reagents and instruments and may be useful for glycoscientists across disciplines.

On-line sample preconcentration by polarity switching in floating electrode-integrated microchannel

In this study, we found that the polarity switching was effective to enrich and separate fluorescent analytes which have weakly-dissociated groups in a floating platinum electrode (width, 50 µm; thickness, 2.5 µm)-integrated straight-channel in microchip electrophoresis (MCE). In the straight channel filled with an Alexa Flour 488 (AF488) solution, a sharp peak was observed after the polarity inversion with a 530-fold enhancement of the sensitivity relative to the conventional MCE analysis. By using a fluorescent pH indicator, we verified that a sharp high-pH zone was generated nearby the floating electrode and moved toward the anode with maintaining the high pH, which induced the sample enrichment like a dynamic pH junction mechanism. In the floating electrode-embedded channel, the mixture of AF488-labeled proteins was also well concentrated and separated within 100 s.

Zeta Potential of Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) in Contact with Aqueous Electrolyte-Surfactant Solutions

The addition of surfactants can considerably impact the electrical characteristics of an interface, and the zeta potential measurement is the standard method for its characterization. In this article, a comprehensive study of the zeta potential of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) in contact with aqueous solutions containing an anionic, a cationic, or a zwitterionic surfactant at different pH and ionic strength values is conducted. Electrophoretic mobilities are inferred from electrophoretic light scattering measurements of the particulate PMMA. These values can be converted into zeta potentials using permittivity and viscosity measurements of the continuous phase. Different behaviors are observed for each surfactant type, which can be explained with the various adsorption mechanisms on PMMA. For the anionic surfactant, the absolute zeta potential value below the critical micelle concentration (CMC) increases with the concentration, while it becomes rather constant around the CMC. At concentrations above the CMC, the absolute zeta potential increases again. We propose that hydrophobic-based adsorption and, at higher concentrations, the competing micellization process drive this behavior. The addition of cationic surfactant results in an isoelectric point below the CMC where the negative surface charge is neutralized by a layer of adsorbed cationic surfactant. At concentrations near the CMC, the positive zeta potential is rather constant. In this case, we propose that electrostatic interactions combined with hydrophobic adsorption are responsible for the observed behavior. The zeta potential in the presence of zwitterionic surfactant is influenced by the adsorption, because of hydrophobic interactions between the surfactant tail and the PMMA surface. However, there is less influence, compared to the ionic surfactants. For all three surfactant types, the zeta potential changes to more-negative or less-positive values for alkaline pH values, because of hydroxide adsorption. An increase of the ionic strength decreases the absolute value of the zeta potential, because of the shielding effects.

Plug-plug kinetic capillary electrophoresis for in-capillary exoglycosidase digestion as a profiling tool for the analysis of glycoprotein glycans

An online exoglycosidase digestion was combined with a plug-plug kinetic mode of capillary electrophoresis (CE) for the analysis of glycoprotein-derived oligosaccharides. An exoglycosidase solution and a solution of glycoprotein glycans derivatized with 8-aminopyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid (APTS) were introduced to a neutrally coated capillary previously filled with electrophoresis buffer solution containing 0.5w/v% hydroxypropylcellulose. After immersion of both ends of the capillary in the buffer solutions, a negative voltage was applied for analysis. An APTS group of an oligosaccharide derivative has triply negative charges, which forced saccharide derivatives to anode with fast mobility and pass through the enzyme plug, which are detected at the anodic end. If the terminal monosaccharides of APTS-labeled oligosaccharides are released by the action of an exoglycosidase, the migration times of the oligosaccharides shift to those of digested oligosaccharides. We examined β-galactosidase, α-mannosidase, β-N-acetylhexosaminidase, α-neuraminidase, and α-fucosidase, and found only β-galactosidase and α-neuraminidase showed good reactivity toward APTS-labeled oligosaccharides; the reaction was completed by injecting a 3.6cm long plug of 200 and 50mU/mL concentration of exoglycosidases. In contrast, other exoglycosidases could not react with APTS labeled oligosaccharides at a concentration up to 5U/mL. The β-N-acetylhexosaminidase reaction was successively followed by the electrophoretic mobility of APTS oligosaccharides and stopped for 10min when saccharide derivatives were achieved in the enzyme plug. The reaction of α-fucosidase and α-mannosidase was completed by decreasing the electrophoretic voltage to -2kV when the APTS oligosaccharides were passing through an exoglycosidase plug. We established the CE conditions for all of the glycosidic linkage analysis of glycoprotein glycans.

Characterization of low viscosity polymer solutions for microchip electrophoresis of non-denatured proteins on plastic chips

In this paper, we study characteristics of polymers (methylcellulose, hypromellose ((hydroxypropyl)methyl cellulose), poly(vinylpyrrolidone), and poly(vinyl alcohol)) with different chemical structures for microchip electrophoresis of non-denatured protein samples in a plastic microchip made of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Coating efficiency of these polymers for controlling protein adsorption onto the channel surface of the plastic microchip, wettability of the PMMA surface, and electroosmotic flow in the PMMA microchannels in the presence of these polymers were compared. Also relative electrophoretic mobility of protein samples in solutions of these polymers was studied. We showed that when using low polymer concentrations (lower than the polymer entanglement point) where the sieving effect is substantially negligible, the interaction of the samples with the polymer affected the electrophoretic mobility of the samples. This effect can be used for achieving better resolution in microchip electrophoresis of protein samples.

Physisorbed surface coatings for poly(dimethylsiloxane) and quartz microfluidic devices

Surface modifications of microfluidic devices are of essential importance for successful bioanalytical applications. Here, we investigate three different coatings for quartz and poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) surfaces. We employed a triblock copolymer with trade name F(108), poly(L-lysine)-g-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLL-PEG), as well as the hybrid coating n-dodecyl-β-D-maltoside and methyl cellulose (DDM/MC). The impact of these coatings was characterized by measuring the electroosmotic flow (EOF), contact angle, and prevention of protein adsorption. Furthermore, we investigated the influence of static coatings, i.e., the incubation with the coating agent prior to measurements, and dynamic coatings, where the coating agent was present during the measurement. We found that all coatings on PDMS as well as quartz reduced EOF, increased reproducibility of EOF, reduced protein adsorption, and improved the wettability of the surfaces. Among the coating strategies tested, the dynamic coatings with DDM/MC and F(108) demonstrated maximal reduction of EOF and protein adsorption and simultaneously best long-term stability concerning EOF. For PLL-PEG, a reversal in the EOF direction was observed. Interestingly, the static surface coating strategy with F(108) proved to be as effective to prevent protein adsorption as dynamic coating with this block copolymer. These findings will allow optimized parameter choices for coating strategies on PDMS and quartz microfluidic devices in which control of EOF and reduced biofouling are indispensable.

Evaluation of different nonspecific binding blocking agents deposited inside poly(methyl methacrylate) microfluidic flow-cells

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) flow-cells containing microwells were deposited with different nonspecific binding blocking agents, namely, bovine serum albumin (BSA), cationic lipid (DOTAP:DOPE) and diethylene glycol dimethyl ether (DEGDME). Water contact angle (WCA) and atomic force microscope (AFM) measurements were carried out to confirm the successful depositions of BSA, DOTAP, and DEGDME onto the PMMA surfaces. Fluorescent intensity measurements were performed to evaluate the degree of nonspecific adsorption of Cy5-labeled anti-IgG proteins onto plain and oxygen plasma-treated (PT) PMMA flow-cells as well as PMMA flow-cells deposited with different above-mentioned blocking agents. We then employed a label-free detection method called total internal reflection ellipsometry (TIRE) to evaluate the stability of the deposited blocking agents inside the PMMA flow-cells. It was found that, while DOTAP:DOPE was the best agent for blocking the nonspecific adsorption, it could be removed from the PMMA surfaces of the flow-cells upon rinsing with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and later deposited back onto the Au-coated glass sensing substrate of the TIRE. The removal of the blocking agents from PMMA surfaces and their deposition onto the sensing substrate were further manifested by measuring the kinetics and the amount of adsorbed anti-α-hCG proteins. Overall, the dry DEGDME coating by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) showed very good blocking and excellent stability for subsequent assay inside the microwells. Our results could be useful when one considers what blocking agents should be used for PMMA-based microfluidic immunosensor or biosensor devices by looking at both the blocking efficiency and the stability of the blocking agent.

Charge heterogeneity of a therapeutic monoclonal antibody conjugated with a cytotoxic antitumor antibiotic, calicheamicin

A robust and highly reproducible capillary isoelectric focusing (cIEF) method for the evaluation of charge heterogeneity of monoclonal antibody (mAb) pharmaceutical which contains covalently bound antitumor compounds was developed using a combination of commercially available dimethylpolysiloxane-coated capillary and carrier ampholyte. In order to optimize major analytical parameters for robust mobilization, experimental responses from three pI markers were selected. The optimized method gave excellent repeatability and intermediate precision in estimated pI values of charge variants with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of not more than 0.06% and 0.95%, respectively, when using IgG(4) as a model. Furthermore, RSDs of charge variant compositions were less than 5.0%. These results suggest that the proposed method can be a powerful tool for reproducible evaluation of charge variants of both naked mAbs and their conjugates with high resolution, and it is applicable to quality testing and detailed characterization in the pharmaceutical industry. In addition, it should be noticed that the method provided non-linear pH gradient within the tested ranges, from pI 9.50 to 3.78, and the pH gradient caused the inconsistency of estimated pI ranges between cIEF and gel IEF. This result indicates that selecting appropriate pI markers based on the target pI ranges of charge variants for each mAb related pharmaceutical is highly recommended for the precise determination of pI values.

Spontaneous adsorption on a hydrophobic surface governed by hydrogen bonding

Spontaneous adsorption from solution onto solid surface is a common phenomenon in nature, but the force that governs adsorption is still a matter of considerable debate. (1, 2) We found that surfactants and cellulose adsorb from solution onto a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) surface in an ordered and cooperative way governed by hydrogen bonding. The glucose rings of n-dodecyl-beta-D-maltoside (DDM) and hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) stand perpendicular to the surface, H-bond to the surface COOMe groups with their C=O and Me-O bonds parallel to the surface, and form a tight monolayer. The non-H-bonded COOMe groups orient their C=O bonds perpendicular to the surface. In contrast, the glucose rings of hydrophobically modified hydroxyethylcellulose (HMHEC) lie flat with the side chains perpendicular to the surface and H-bond to the perpendicular-oriented C=O groups. The non-H-bonded COOMe groups orient their C=O bonds parallel but Me-O bonds near-perpendicular to the surface for stabilizing HMHEC. The current work provides a detailed picture of how surface-active molecules interact with a solid surface and self-assemble into greatly different architectures.

Ionic liquids supported growth of highly ordered microdroplets induced by fluidic leakage at poly(dimethylsiloxane) interfaces

"Fluidic leakage" caused by vacuum force at the reversible sealing poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) interfaces was converted to one useable avenue, which led to formation of highly ordered surfactant microdroplets functionalized with ionic liquids (ILs). Vacuum force is the prerequisite to lead constant microsolutions to diffuse to the PDMS interfaces. Imidazolium ions of ILs rendered structural rearrangement of the surfactant aggregates and the ordered droplets formation. The anion tetrafluoroborate of ILs possessed indispensable functions in affecting the polarity of the microdroplets and was discovered to have enhanced effect on encapsulation of hydrophilic molecules in surfactant microdroplets. These interesting phenomena were characterized by various analytical methods such as confocal laser scanning microscopy, atomic force microscopy, luminescence spectroscopy and UV-vis spectroscopy.

Single cell analysis in full body quartz glass chips with native UV laser-induced fluorescence detection

In order to investigate the individual and inhomogenous cellular response, e.g. to external stimuli, single cell analysis is mandatory and may provide new cognitions in proteomics as well as in other fields of systems biology in the future. Here, we report on novel chip architectures for single cell analysis based on full body quartz glass microfluidic chips (QG chips) that extend our previous studies in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) chips, and enhance the detection sensitivity of native UV laser-induced fluorescence (UV-LIF) detection. Detection of a 10nM tryptophan solution with an S/N ratio of 11.9, which gives a theoretical limit of detection of 2.5 nM (with S/N=3), was possible. With these optimizations the three proteins alpha-chymotrypsinogen A, ovalbumin and catalase each at a concentration of 100 microg/mL (equal to 4 microM, 0.4 microM and 2.2 microM) were injected electrokinetically and could be separated with nearly baseline resolution. Furthermore, fluorescence spectra (excitation wavelength, lambda(ex) = 266 nm) clearly demonstrate the favourable properties like the very high UV transparency and the nearly vanishing background fluorescence of the QG chips as compared to PDMS chips and to PDMS quartz window (PQW) chips. Finally we exploit the improved sensitivity for single cell electropherograms of Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) insect cells.

Electrophoretic separations on microfluidic chips

This review presents a brief outline and novel developments of electrophoretic separation in microfluidic chips. Distinct characteristics of microchip electrophoresis (MCE) are discussed first, in which sample injection plug, joule heat, channel turn, surface adsorption and modification are introduced, and some successful strategies and recognized conclusions are also included. Important achievements of microfluidic electrophoresis separation in small molecules, DNA and protein are then summarized. This review is aimed at researchers, who are interested in MCE and want to adopt MCE as a functional unit in their integrated microsystems.

Fully integrated microfluidic separations systems for biochemical analysis

Over the past decade a tremendous amount of research has been performed using microfluidic analytical devices to detect over 200 different chemical species. Most of this work has involved substantial integration of fluid manipulation components such as separation channels, valves, and filters. This level of integration has enabled complex sample processing on miniscule sample volumes. Such devices have also demonstrated high throughput, sensitivity, and separation performance. Although the miniaturization of fluidics has been highly valuable, these devices typically rely on conventional ancillary equipment such as power supplies, detection systems, and pumps for operation. This auxiliary equipment prevents the full realization of a "lab-on-a-chip" device with complete portability, autonomous operation, and low cost. Integration and/or miniaturization of ancillary components would dramatically increase the capability and impact of microfluidic separations systems. This review describes recent efforts to incorporate auxiliary equipment either as miniaturized plug-in modules or directly fabricated into the microfluidic device.

Dynamic coating using methylcellulose and polysorbate 20 for nondenaturing electrophoresis of proteins on plastic microchips

A dynamic coating using methylcellulose (MC) and a nonionic detergent (polysorbate 20) was developed, which controlled protein adsorption onto the surface of microchannels on a microchip made of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Optimum concentration of polysorbate 20 in combination with the range of MC concentrations controlled the protein adsorption onto the microchannel surface, and increased the solubility of the protein samples while facilitating the injection of high concentrations of MC solutions into the microchannels. Higher concentrations of nonionic detergent increased the EOF mobility as opposed to the electrophoretic mobility and caused the electrophoresis to fail. Nondenaturing microchip electrophoresis of protein samples with molecular masses ranging from 20 to 100 kDa were completed in 100 s. Also, successful separation of a BSA sample and its complex with anti-BSA mAb ( 220 kDa) was achieved on a PMMA microchip. The separation exhibited high reproducibility in both migration time (RSD = 1%) and peak area (RSD = 10-15%).

In-situ grafting hydrophilic polymer on chitosan modified poly(dimethylsiloxane) microchip for separation of biomolecules

In this paper, a simple and green modification method is developed for biomolecules analysis on poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microchip with successful depression of nonspecific biomolecules adsorption. O-[(N-succinimdyl)succiny]-o'-methyl-poly(ethylene glycol) was explored to form hydrophilic surface via in-situ grafting onto pre-coated chitosan (Chit) from aqueous solution in the PDMS microchannel. The polysaccharide chains backbone of Chit was strongly attracted onto the surface of PDMS via hydrophobic interaction combined with hydrogen bonding in an alkaline medium. The methyl-poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG) could produce hydrophilic domains on the mPEG/aqueous interface, which generated brush-like coating in this way and revealed perfect resistance to nonspecific adsorption of biomolecules. This strategy could greatly improve separation efficiency and reproducibility of biomolecules. Amino acids and proteins could be efficiently separated and successfully detected on the coated microchip coupled with end-channel amperometric detection at a copper electrode. In addition, it offered an effective means for preparing biocompatible and hydrophilic surface on microfluidic devices, which may have potential use in the biological analysis.

Enhanced electrophoretic resolution of monosulfate glycosaminoglycan disaccharide isomers on poly(methyl methacrylate) chips

To improve the separation of monosulfate glycosaminoglycan disaccharide isomers by microchip electrophoresis, we found that addition of 1,4-dioxane (DO) dramatically improved analyte resolution, probably due to solvation effects. Methylcellulose (MC) was tested for the ability to suppress EOF and analyte adsorption to the chip. To improve analyte resolution, buffer pH, beta-CD, and DO were systematically investigated. Fast separation was achieved by increasing the electric field strength, and field-amplified sample stacking occurred with increasing buffer concentrations. Therefore, based on our findings, we describe an efficient method for the separation of monosulfate and trisulfate unsaturated disaccharides (DeltaDi-UA2S, DeltaDi-4S, DeltaDi-6S, and DeltaDi-triS) derivatized with 2-aminoacridone hydrochloride. A mixture of monosulfate disaccharide isomers (DeltaDi-UA2S, DeltaDi-4S, and DeltaDi-6S) was baseline-separated within 75 s on a poly(methyl methacrylate) chip using a mixed buffer (DO/running buffer 57:43 v:v), 0.5% MC, pH 6.81, with an E(sep) of 558 V/cm. The theoretical plate was in the range of 5 x 10(5) to 1 x 10(6) m-1.