Direct optical emission spectroscopy of liquid analytes using an electrolyte as a cathode discharge source (ELCAD) integrated on a micro-fluidic chip

Atomic emission detection of metallic species in aqueous solutions has been performed using a miniaturised plasma created within a planar, glass micro-fluidic chip. Detection was achieved using an Electrolyte as a Cathode Discharge source (ELCAD) in which the sample solution itself is used as the cathode for the discharge. To realise the ELCAD technique within a micro-fluidic device, a parallel liquid-gas flow was set up in a micro-channel and a glow discharge ignited between the flowing liquid sample surface and a metal wire anode. The detection of copper and sodium was achieved, using atmospheric pressure air as a carrier gas, by observation of atomic emission lines of copper at 324 nm, 327 nm, 511 nm, 515 nm and 522 nm and an atomic emission line of sodium at 589 nm using a commercially available miniaturised spectrometer. A total electrical power of less than 70 mW was required to sustain the discharge. A semi-quantitative, absolute detection limit of 17 nmol s(-1) was obtained for sodium with a sample flow rate of 100 microL min(-1) and an integration time of 100 ms in air at atmospheric pressure. The volume required for such detection is approximately 170 nL. Further analysis was performed with an Echelle spectrometer using both argon and air as a carrier gas. The geometry and flow rates used demonstrate the feasibility of integrating such micro-plasmas into other micro-fluidic devices, such as miniaturised CE devices, as a method of detection. The potential for using such micro-plasmas within highly portable miniaturised systems and mu-TAS devices is presented and discussed.     

On-line on-chip post-column derivatisation reactions for pre-ionisation of analytes and cluster analysis in gradient micro-liquid chromatography/electrospray mass spectrometry

A system is presented that demonstrates the principle of on-line and on-chip post-column derivatisation reactions in micro-high-performance liquid chromatography (micro-HPLC) hyphenated to electrospray time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-TOFMS). In this micro-HPLC-chip-MS set-up, the analytes are separated using gradient micro-HPLC and subsequently derivatised on-chip and detected. One of the major limitations of MS detection is its dependency on the degree of ionisation, which is widely variable and compound-specific. Optimising and controlling the degree of ionisation in a simple manner would allow MS detection to be truly generic. One way of achieving this is by pre-ionisation of analytes using simple derivatisation procedures that are both rapid and quantitative. Performing this in situ on the system described here overcomes issues of sample handling and efficiency losses when time-consuming "bench chemistry" is necessary prior to analysis. The power of the system is demonstrated by the separation of primary and secondary amines, which are subsequently derivatised with a positively charged phosphonium complex and detected in an enhanced manner. Typically, molecular cations (M(+)) are detected showing that the ionisation process is dominated by the phosphonium species, leading to more constant ionisation for a variety of compounds. In addition, stable isotopically labelled ((12)C/(13)C)-phosphonium reagent is used for the reactions, allowing for inherent signal/noise (S/N) improvement and automated data processing using cluster analysis. A similar reaction scheme is used for the derivatisation of ketones and aldehydes, also demonstrating dramatic increases in sensitivity, especially with increasing temperature. Minimal loss in chromatographic fidelity in terms of retention times is observed by the introduction of the micromixer chip into the system. Optimal flow rates in micro-HPLC and ESI-MS are compatible with flow rates for the chip as well as a multitude of in-line optical detectors including UV and fluorescence. In addition, the micromixer chip can be positioned pre-column if preferred. The system is robust, easily fully automated and applicable to a wide variety of reactions. The system has a major advantage in its simple robust connection to the "normal scale" outside world.     

Single-molecule fluorescence detection in microfluidic channels—the Holy Grail in μTAS?

Both single-molecule detection (SMD) methods and miniaturization technologies have developed very rapidly over the last ten years. By merging these two techniques, it may be possible to achieve the optimal requirements for the analysis and manipulation of samples on a single molecule scale. While miniaturized structures and channels provide the interface required to handle small particles and molecules, SMD permits the discovery, localization, counting and identification of compounds. Widespread applications, across various bioscience/analytical science fields, such as DNA-analysis, cytometry and drug screening, are envisaged. In this review, the unique benefits of single fluorescent molecule detection in microfluidic channels are presented. Recent and possible future applications are discussed.Dedicated to the memory of Wilhelm Fresenius     

Miniaturization of separation techniques using planar chip technology

Miniaturization of separation columns implies equally reduced vol- umes of injectors, detectors, and the connecting channels. Planar chip technology provides a powerful means for the fabrication of micron-sized structures such as channels. This is demonstrated by two examples. An optical absorbance detector chip exhibits the expected behavior of a 1 mm optical path length cell despite its volume of 1 nL. A capillary electrophoresis device allows integrated injections of 100 pL samples, efficiencies of 70,000 to 160,000 theoretical plates in 10 to 20 seconds, and external laser-induced fluorescence detection at any capillary length of choice between 5 and 50 mm.     

Sequential DNA hybridisation assays by fast micromixing

The prospects of performing DNA hybridisation assays in a novel sequential scheme are explored in this article. It is based on recording the kinetics of hybridisation on a microfluidic device measuring only 10 by 5 mm. It contains a split channel system for fast mixing and a subsequent meandering channel to observe the evolution of the mixture by optical means. The problems of diffusion limitations in the laminar flow regime are overcome by reducing the average diffusion distance to a few micrometers only. DNA oligomers (20-mers) of different sequences were injected on the chip for mixing. The detection of hybridisation was based on the fluorescence of DNA-intercalating dyes. Two modes of operation were investigated. First, the samples were injected into the micromixing device at a high flow rate of 40 microl min(-1). When the sample passed through the actual micromixing unit, the flow rate was reduced to allow for measurement of fluorescence levels at various steady-state reaction times in the range of 2-15 s, as defined by the channel geometry. Using this continuous flow approach, photobleaching of fluorophores could be avoided. In a buffer containing 0.2 M NaCl, 2 base-pair mismatches could routinely be detected within 5-20 s. Single base-pair mismatches were successfully identified under low salt conditions. In the second mode, the flow was completely stopped and the evolution of the total fluorescence signal influenced by the hybridisation of oligomers and photobleaching was observed. Whereas the sequence-dependent effects remained unchanged, the assay times between the mixing of two oligomers and clear identification of their hybridisation properties could be reduced down to a maximum of 5-7 s, in some cases even below 1 s.