Preparation of the capillary-based microchips for solid phase extraction by using the monolithic frits prepared by UV-initiated polymerization

Rapid Formation of Polymer Frits in Fused Silica Capillaries Using Spatially defined Thermal Free-Radical Initiated Polymerization

Column preparation in capillary chromatography commonly relies upon the generation of on-column porous frits. Here, we report a simple, robust and low-cost approach for preparing polymer frits on-column, in a rapid and spatially controlled manner using thermal free-radical initiated polymerization. In this approach, a simple, temperature-controlled heating apparatus is positioned adjacent to a 100 μm i.d. fused-silica capillary for a defined duration. Frits were synthesized in 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate modified capillaries using a monomer solution of 2,2-azobisisobutyronitrile, glycidyl methacrylate, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, and decanol. Frit length and stability were investigated as a function of polymerization time and temperature. Frit length was easily controlled via a combination of polymerization time and temperature and position was readily controlled using a simple mechanical placement jig. Thermal initiated frits were stable throughout column packing and did not require removal of the capillary polyimide coating. The thermal initiation approach offers higher throughput, with polymerization times of < 2 min compared to ≥ 30 min for UV-initiated polymerization and significantly reduces the cost, enabling broader access to on-column frit technology for a variety of capillary separation applications.

Paper-based assays for urine analysis

A transformation of the healthcare industry is necessary and imminent: hospital-centered, reactive care will soon give way to proactive, person-centered care which focuses on individuals' well-being. However, this transition will only be made possible through scientific innovation. Next-generation technologies will be the key to developing affordable and accessible care, while also lowering the costs of healthcare. A promising solution to this challenge is low-cost continuous health monitoring; this approach allows for effective screening, analysis, and diagnosis and facilitates proactive medical intervention. Urine has great promise for being a key resource for health monitoring; unlike blood, it can be collected effortlessly on a daily basis without pain or the need for special equipment. Unfortunately, the commercial rapid urine analysis tests that exist today can only go so far-this is where the promise of microfluidic devices lies. Microfluidic devices have a proven record of being effective analytical devices, capable of controlling the flow of fluid samples, containing reaction and detection zones, and displaying results, all within a compact footprint. Moving past traditional glass- and polymer-based microfluidics, paper-based microfluidic devices possess the same diagnostic ability, with the added benefits of facile manufacturing, low-cost implementation, and disposability. Hence, we review the recent progress in the application of paper-based microfluidics to urine analysis as a solution to providing continuous health monitoring for proactive care. First, we present important considerations for point-of-care diagnostic devices. We then discuss what urine is and how paper functions as the substrate for urine analysis. Next, we cover the current commercial rapid tests that exist and thereby demonstrate where paper-based microfluidic urine analysis devices may fit into the commercial market in the future. Afterward, we discuss various fabrication techniques that have been recently developed for paper-based microfluidic devices. Transitioning from fabrication to implementation, we present some of the clinically implemented urine assays and their importance in healthcare and clinical diagnosis, with a focus on paper-based microfluidic assays. We then conclude by providing an overview of select biomarker research tailored towards urine diagnostics. This review will demonstrate the applicability of paper-based assays for urine analysis and where they may fit into the commercial healthcare market.

Microfluidic Sample Preparation for Medical Diagnostics

Fast and reliable diagnoses are invaluable in clinical care. Samples (e.g., blood, urine, and saliva) are collected and analyzed for various biomarkers to quickly and sensitively assess disease progression, monitor response to treatment, and determine a patient's prognosis. Processing conventional samples entails many manual time-consuming steps. Consequently, clinical specimens must be processed by skilled technicians before antigens or nucleic acids are detected, and these are often present at dilute concentrations. Recently, several automated microchip technologies have been developed that potentially offer many advantages over traditional bench-top extraction methods. The smaller length scales and more refined transport mechanisms that characterize these microfluidic devices enable faster and more efficient biomarker enrichment and extraction. Additionally, they can be designed to perform multiple tests or experimental steps on one integrated, automated platform. This review explores the current research on microfluidic methods of sample preparation that are designed to aid diagnosis, and covers a broad spectrum of extraction techniques and designs for various types of samples and analytes.

Comparison of different types of outlet frits in slurry-packed capillary columns

Fused-silica capillary columns for high-performance liquid chromatography with 320 and 250 μm inner diameter were prepared by slurry packing with 5 and 3 μm Nucleosil C18 stationary phase. Different types of mechanical and monolithic outlet frits were used and their influence on the resulting column performance was evaluated. Columns with quartz wool exhibited symmetrical peaks and low theoretical plate height, and the preparation time was short. The performance of monolithic frits varied based on type of monolith, length of the frit, and silanization procedure. The best frit performed similarly to the quartz wool ones, but the preparation took several hours. Their main advantage lies in the possibility of on-column detection, because the detection window can be burnt immediately behind the frit.

Urine analysis in microfluidic devices

Microfluidics has attracted considerable attention since its early development in the 1980s and has experienced rapid growth in the past three decades due to advantages associated with miniaturization, integration and automation. Urine analysis is a common, fast and inexpensive clinical diagnostic tool in health care. In this article, we will be reviewing recent works starting from 2005 to the present for urine analysis using microfluidic devices or systems and to provide in-depth commentary about these techniques. Moreover, commercial strips that are often treated as chips and their readers for urine analysis will also be briefly discussed. We start with an introduction to the physiological significance of various components or measurement standards in urine analysis, followed by a brief introduction to enabling microfluidic technologies. Then, microfluidic devices or systems for sample pretreatments and for sensing urinary macromolecules, micromolecules, as well as multiplexed analysis are reviewed, in this sequence. Moreover, a microfluidic chip for urinary proteome profiling is also discussed, followed by a section discussing commercial products. Finally, the authors' perspectives on microfluidic-based urine analysis are provided. These advancements in microfluidic techniques for urine analysis may improve current routine clinical practices, particularly for point-of-care (POC) applications.

Multifunctional protein processing chip with integrated digestion, solid-phase extraction, separation and electrospray

We describe a microfluidic device in which integrated tryptic digestion, SPE, CE separation and electrospray ionization for MS are performed. The chip comprised of 10 × 30 μm channels for CE, and two serially connected 150 μm deep, 800 μm wide channels packed with 40 to 60 μm diameter beads, loaded with either immobilized trypsin, reversed-phase packing or both. On-chip digestion of cytochrome c using the trypsin bed showed complete consumption of the protein in 3 min, in contrast to the 2 h required for conventional solution phase tryptic digestion. SPE of 0.25 μg/mL solutions of the peptides leu-enkephalin, angiotensin II and LHRH gave concentration enhancements in the range of 4.4-12, for a ten times nominal volume ratio. A 100 nM cytochrome c sample concentrated 13.3 times on-chip gave a sequence coverage of 85.6%, with recovery values ranging from 41.2 to 106%. The same sample run without SPE showed only five fragment peaks and a sequence coverage of 41.3%. When both on-chip digestion and SPE (13.3 volume ratio concentration enhancement) were performed on 200 nM cytochrome c samples, a sequence coverage of 76.0% and recovery values of 21-105% were observed. Performing on-chip digestion alone on the same sample gave only one significant fragment peak. The above digestion/peptide concentration step was compared to on-chip protein concentration by SPE followed by on-chip digestion with solution phase trypsin. Both procedures gave similar recovery results; however, much larger trypsin autodigestion interference in the latter approach was apparent.

Separation and determination of coumarins in Fructus cnidii extracts by pressurized capillary electrochromatography using a packed column with a monolithic outlet frit

The pressurized capillary electrochromatography (pCEC) was utilized for the separation and determination of coumarins in Fructus cnidii extracts from 12 different regions. After a thorough study of analytical parameters such as acetonitrile content of the mobile phase, the concentration and pH of the buffer, and the applied voltage, a methodology was proposed to separate and determine six coumarins of F. cnidii extracts in less than 15 min. The experiments were performed in an in-house packed column with a monolithic outlet frit under the optimal conditions: pH 4.0 ammonium acetate buffer at 10 mM containing 50% acetonitrile at -6kV applied voltage. The calibration curves were linear in the range of 10.0-100.0 microg/mL for bergapten, 20.0-200.0 microg/mL for imperatorin, 5.0-400.0 microg/mL for osthole, 10.0-100.0 microg/mL for 2'-acetylangelicin, 10.0-200.0 microg/mL for oroselone, and 10.0-200.0 microg/mL for O-acetylcolumbianetin. The correlation coefficients were between 0.9967 and 0.9995. With this pCEC system, fingerprints of F. cnidii extracts were preliminarily established to distinguish three types of coumarins by characteristic peaks, and the quality of various sources of raw materials was evaluated by determining the contents of six coumarins.

Use of photopatterned porous polymer monoliths as passive micromixers to enhance mixing efficiency for on-chip labeling reactions

We introduce a passive micromixer with novel architecture using photopatterned porous polymer monoliths (PPM) and demonstrate an improvement in mixing efficiency by monitoring the fluorescence of an on-chip labeling reaction. UV light was used to photopattern a periodic arrangement of PPM structures directly within the channel of a plastic microfluidic chip. By optimizing the composition of the polymerization solution and irradiation time we demonstrate the ability to photopattern PPM in regularly repeating 100 microm segments at the tee-junction of the disposable device. To evaluate the efficiency of this dual functional mixer-reactor fluorescamine and lysine were introduced in separate channels upstream of the tee-junction and the intensity of laser-induced fluorescence resulting from the fluorogenic labeling reaction was monitored. The fluorescence level after the photopatterned periodic monolith configuration was 22% greater than both an equivalent 1 cm continuous segment of PPM and an open channel. Results indicate that this periodic arrangement of PPM, with regularly spaced open areas between 100 microm plugs of PPM, is directly responsible for enhancing the mixing and overall rate of chemical reaction in the system. In addition to facilitating preparation of a dual functional mixer-reactor, the ability to accurately photopattern PPM is an enabling technology for seamlessly integrating multiple monoliths into a single device. This technology will be particularly important to proteomic applications requiring preconcentration, enzymatic digestion and two-dimensional separations.