The Varigrad and similar apparatus in gradient liquid chromatography: A systematic computational approach. Part 1: Theoretical development

Different methods for producing a pre-assigned gradient in liquid chromatography are presented. A systematic approach to the calculations involved is given. The derived equations are mostly Poisson and Poisson summation distributions which are tabulated in the literature. The incremental method of gradient elution developed by Scott has been modified. In the modified apparatus two mixing chambers are used instead of one. This leads to an appreciable decrease in the number of reservoirs needed for the same precision in fitting a desired gradient. The application of the derived equations, together with other Varigrad modifications, will be given in Part 2 of this paper (to be published shortly in this Journal).     

The varigrad and similar apparatus in gradient liquid chromatography: A systematic computational approach. Part 2: Applications

Part 2 deals with the application of the equations derived in Part 1 to the systematic calculations of the constant volume and hydrostatic Varigrads. Examples are given which illustrate the advantage of using the modified incremental method of gradient elution. The non-homogeneous Varigrad, where mixing chambers may vary in volume, is also treated.     

Microfluidic mixing using contactless dielectrophoresis

The first experimental evidence of mixing enhancement in a microfluidic system using contactless dielectrophoresis (cDEP) is presented in this work. Pressure-driven flow of deionized water containing 0.5?μm beads was mixed in various chamber geometries by imposing a dielectrophoresis (DEP) force on the beads. In cDEP the electrodes are not in direct contact with the fluid sample but are instead capacitively coupled to the mixing chamber through thin dielectric barriers, which eliminates many of the problems encountered with standard DEP. Four system designs with rectangular and circular mixing chambers were fabricated in PDMS. Mixing tests were conducted for flow rates from 0.005 to 1?mL/h subject to an alternating current signal range of 0-300?V at 100-600 kHz. When the time scales of the bulk fluid motion and the DEP motion were commensurate, rapid mixing was observed. The rectangular mixing chambers were found to be more efficient than the circular chambers. This approach shows potential for mixing low diffusivity biological samples, which is a very challenging problem in laminar flows at small scales.     

IPGMAKER: a program for IBM-compatible personal computers to create and test recipes for immobilized pH gradients

The program "IPGMAKER" is a computational aid for creating and testing recipes for near-linear immobilized pH gradients. It was written for fast IBM personal computers (with a Type 80386 processor and 80387 coprocessor) and compatibles equipped with a VGA, EGA or Hercules (mono) graphics card. The program is limited to the use of up to 10 acids and/or bases, and to ranges spanning between pH 2 and 12. The resulting recipes are presented either as final concentrations in the 2 chambers of a mixing device for linear gradients or as volumes from 0.2 moles/L stock solutions adjusted to a user-defined average buffering power. One of the subroutines determines the pH, gradient slope and buffering capacity at any location of the gradient and includes a facility to estimate the pI of proteins from the composition of their primary structure.     

New Isothermal Titration Calorimeter for Investigations on Very Small Samples. Theoretical and experimental studies

A new isothermal titration calorimeter with 78.5 μL volume capillary chambers has been developed. It is based on the theory of mixing reagents in a capillary chamber of a titration calorimeter and separation of the sensitive volume of chambers in a differential calorimeter. The evaluation of the efficiency of diffusion mixing is described by means of an oscillating dispensing needle. The calorimeter was tested by the reactions: Ba²⁺– 18-Crown-6 and Rnase-2’CMP. The main advantages of the new titration calorimeter are the use of very small amounts of reagents, the high accuracy of separating the sensitive volume of calorimetric chambers and the minimization of power input while mixing reagents in a horizontally located capillary chamber. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A pneumatic micromixer facilitating fluid mixing at a wide range flow rate for the preparation of quantum dots

A novel fluid micromixer based on pneumatic perturbation and passive structures was developed. This micromixer facilitates integration and is applicable to fluid mixing over a wide range of flow rates. The microfluidic mixing device consists of an S-shaped structure with two mixing chambers and two barriers, and two pneumatic chambers designed over the S-shaped channel. The performance of the micromixer for fluids with wide variation of flow rates was significantly improved owing to the integration of the pneumatic mixing components with the passive mixing structures. The mixing mechanism of the passive mixing structures was explored by numerical simulation, and the influencing factors on the mixing efficiency were investigated. The results showed that when using a gas pressure of 0.26 MPa and a 100 m-thick polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) pneumatic diaphragm, the mixing of fluids with flow rates ranging from 1 to 650 L/min was achieved with a pumping frequency of 50 Hz. Fast synthesis of CdS quantum dots was realized using this device. Smaller particles were obtained, and the size distribution was greatly improved compared with those obtained using conventional methods.     

Gradient elution under hydrostatic equilibrium in liquid chromatography. Part 1

The theory of gradient elution under hydrostatic equilibrium is developed for the case where only one reservoir and one mixing chamber are used and where both solvents have equal densities. Given the shapes of the two vessels, effluent concentration curve equations are deduced for different mixing chamber-reservoir combinations. On the other hand, given the equation for the effluent concentration curve, the reservoir cross-sectional area, as a function of height, can be deduced when the mixing chamber has a constant cross-section. The varying cross-section of the reservoir is accomplished by inserting thin discs of different areas on top of one another inside a regular vessel of constant cross-section. Except for complicated gradients, a given gradient can be accomplished using a reservoir with a cross-sectional area which varies linearly with height. In the case of complex gradients, a reservoir having two or more linear segments becomes necessary. A numerical method is given for the calculation of the continuously varying reservoir cross-section for the exact duplication of a given gradient.     

Multi-chamber apparatus for preparative isoelectric focusing

A multi-chamber apparatus for preparative isoelectric focusing is described. The apparatus is constructed of 32 separation chambers and 2 electrode chambers, all separated by uncharged porous membranes. The total volume of the 32 separation chambers is 660 mL. A cooling system and a stirring system are built in. Human serum proteins were separated by isoelectric focusing in a natural pH gradient. The fractionation was monitored by fused rocket immunoelectrophoresis. The number of proteins in each fraction was monitored by crossed immunoelectrophoresis. The apparent pI values of IgG, transferrin and alpha-1-antitrypsin are as found in the literature. Orosomucoid (alpha-1-acid glycoprotein) (pI = 1.8) is concentrated at the acid end of the pH gradient.     

The Development of Rotors Having Separate Sample and Reagent Transfer Channels for Use with Centrifugal Fast Analyzers

Abstract

Two new rotors have been designed and developed for use with Centrifugal Fast Analyzers. These rotors incorporate separate sample and reagent chambers and transfer channels, which prevent premature mixing of the aliquots of sample and reagent and also provide for their simultaneous and rapid transfer and mixing when the rotor is accelerated.     

Green microfluidic devices made of corn proteins

An alternative green microfluidic device made of zein, a prolamin of corn, can be utilized as a disposable environmentally friendly microchip especially in agriculture applications. Using standard soft lithography and stereo lithography techniques, we fabricated thin zein films with microfluidic chambers and channels. These were bonded to both a glass slide and another zein film. The zein film with microfluidic features bonds irreversibly with other surfaces by vapor-deposition of ethanol to create an adhesive layer resulting in very little or no trapped air and small shape distortion. Zein-zein and zein-glass microfluidic devices demonstrated sufficient strength to facilitate fluid flow in a complex microfluidic design that showed no leakage under high hydraulic pressure. Zein-glass microfluidic devices with serpentine mixing design showed successful fluid manipulation as a concentration gradient of Rhodamine B solution was generated. The ease of fabrication and bonding and the flexibility and moldability of zein offer attractive possibilities for microfluidic device design and manufacturing. These devices can include several unit operations with mixing being one of the most commonly used. The zein-based microfluidic devices, made entirely from a biopolymer from agricultural origin, offer alternative environmentally friendly material choices that are less dependent on limited petroleum based polymer resources.     

Electrowetting-based droplet mixers for microfluidic systems

Mixing of analytes and reagents is a critical step in realizing a lab-on-a-chip. However, mixing of liquids is very difficult in continuous flow microfluidics due to laminar flow conditions. An alternative mixing strategy is presented based on the discretization of liquids into droplets and further manipulation of those droplets by electrowetting. The interfacial tensions of the droplets are controlled with the application of voltage. The droplets act as virtual mixing chambers, and mixing occurs by transporting the droplet across an electrode array. We also present an improved method for visualization of mixing where the top and side views of mixing are simultaneously observed. Microliters of liquid droplets are mixed in less than five seconds, which is an order of magnitude improvement in reported mixing times of droplets. Flow reversibility hinders the process of mixing during linear droplet motion. This mixing process is not physically confined and can be dynamically reconfigured to any location on the chip to improve the throughput of the lab-on-a-chip.     

Mixing chambers in flow analysis: A review

Inclusion of a mixing chamber in a flow system is critically rev—iewed in-relation to sample dilution, improvement of mixing conditions and exploitation of exponential concentration lessening. Analytical perspectives related to the use of a mixing chamber such as time-based flow analysis, flow titrations, and analyte separation/concentration are also discussed along with the examination of several ordinary manifold components that might act as mixing chambers. The possibility of using the mixing chamber in order to accommodate or to carry out the multiple steps inherent to the specific analytical procedure or, in other words, to behave as a mini-laboratory, is also highlighted. This aspect is foreseen as a logical evolution of the lab-on-a-valve and the flow-batch concepts. The article is published in the original.     

Studying dispersoid systems

Summary Measurements of energy transformation in mitochondria are done on a capillary differential titration calorimeter CTD2156. It is important to mention that a sediment is quickly formed by the mitochondria suspension without mixing by means of a vibrating needle. During the measurements, the vibrating needle is located inside the working volume of the chamber. The design of the calorimeter is substantiated theoretically. It provides a new mode of a reagent input in the measuring volume of the calorimetric chambers. It expands the spectrum of tasks that can be solved using this instrument. In the capillary calorimeter the calorimetric chambers unit is simple and small in size. These advantages of capillary chambers provide an opportunity to unite 20 capillary calorimetric chambers in one calorimetric block. It allows designing a multi-channel titration calorimeter. There are obvious advantages of such a calorimeter over other instruments in screening researches and in researches of objects maintaining stability only for a short time.     

Fast DNA hybridization on a microfluidic mixing device based on pneumatic driving

A novel fluid mixing strategy was developed which significantly enhanced the efficiency of DNA hybridization. A pneumatic micro-mixing device consisting of two pneumatic chambers and an underneath DNA microarray chamber was built up. The fluid in the array chamber was pneumatically pumped alternately by the two pneumatic chambers. The chaotic oscillatory flow caused by the pumping greatly intensified the fluidic mixing. A homogeneous distribution of the tracer dye solution in the microarray chamber was observed after 2 s mixing with a pumping frequency of 24 Hz. Microarray DNA hybridization was substantially accelerated using this device, and the fluorescence intensity showed a plateau after oscillating 30 s at room temperature. The corresponding signal level of the dynamic hybridization was 12.5-fold higher than that of the static hybridization performed at 42 °C. A signal-to-noise ratio of 117 was achieved and the nonspecific adsorption of the targets to the sample array was minimized, which might be attributed to the strong shearing force generated during the pneumatic mixing process.     

Enhanced mixing of droplets during coalescence on a surface with a wettability gradient

We investigated the dynamics of head-on collisions between a moving droplet and a stationary droplet on a surface with a wettability gradient. The mixing of fluids is achieved passively through convective mass transfer caused by the release of surface energy during coalescence, and also through diffusive mass transfer. The coalescence dynamics were visualized with a high-speed camera; the internal flow patterns were resolved with measurement of micro-PIV (particle image velocimetry). The results show that the released surface energy creates a pair recirculation flow inside the merged droplet when the stationary droplet is placed near the gradient, whereas most released surface energy is converted into oscillation when the stationary droplet is far from the gradient. This distinction is attributed to the motion of the contact line during coalescence. The mixing of fluorescently labeled oligonucleotides in these two modes is revealed with confocal micro-laser induced fluorescence technique. The results of 3D scans demonstrate that the motion of the contact line during coalescence distributes the fluids in a complicated manner, thus beneficial for mixing. This mechanism of enhanced mixing is applicable also for platforms other than a surface with a wettability gradient; prospective applications include improving the mixing of biochemical fluids.     

Modulated capillary titration calorimeter

A modulated capillary titration calorimeter has been developed. New software and optimization of the calorimetric unit CTD2156 are used as a basis of the modulated capillary titration calorimeter. The scanning mode of the calorimeter has been theoretically substantiated. The scanning of chambers temperature is provided due to the fact that the shield temperature is linearly varied at heating and cooling. The reversing and kinetic part of the total heat flow are measured at heating of a diluted collagen solution. The main advantage of the calorimeter is its ability to operate in a modulation mode, in an isothermal mode, in modes of linear heating and cooling of homogeneous and dispersoid liquid samples at an effective mixing of reagents in calorimetric chambers.     

Liquid countercurrent chromatography: A new approach to creating a concentration gradient in the stationary phase

The capability of dynamic phase mixing in a two-phase liquid system in a rotating coiled column, which is used to separate substances in liquid countercurrent chromatography, was studied. The effects of the hydrodynamic conditions of the chromatographic process and the physicochemical properties of the two-phase liquid systems now in use on the efficiency of phase mixing in a rotating coiled column were found. A new approach to creating a concentration gradient in the stationary phase was proposed. The following three modes of mixing stationary-phase regions within a column were found: the formation of a stable reagent concentration gradient within the rotating coiled column, the slow mixing of zones, and the complete mixing of zones.__________Translated from Zhurnal Analiticheskoi Khimii, Vol. 60, No. 4, 2005, pp. 404–411.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Maryutina, Rakcheev.     

Gel-free IEF in a membrane-sealed multicompartment cell for proteome prefractionation

A minidevice for performing gel-free proteome prefractionation via conventional IEF in soluble carrier ampholyte buffers is reported here. It consists of a compact block of polyoxymethylene in which eight samples and two electrode chambers are machined. Each of the eight sample chambers can be filled with up to 120 microL of sample and has the following size: 7 mm width, 3 mm depth and 10 mm height. The anodic and cathodic compartments have the same width and height as the sample chambers, but with a depth of 6 mm, thus accepting up to 250 microL of electrodic solutions. Focusing is in general accomplished in 2 h with a voltage gradient of up to 1000 V (7 cm electrode distance). Easy fractionation and collection of the content of the eight chambers is achieved by simply pressing a rubber diaphragm against the edges of the thin walls separating each well, this automatically breaking liquid continuity. The performance of this device has been tested by subfractionating total cell lysates of a human cancer cell line (U2Os) and of Escherichia coli bacterial cells, and by analysing the content of each chamber by mono-dimensional SDS-PAGE and 2-D maps.     

Artificial cilia for active micro-fluidic mixing

In lab-on-chip devices, on which complete (bio-)chemical analysis laboratories are miniaturized and integrated, it is essential to manipulate fluids in sub-millimetre channels and sub-microlitre chambers. A special challenge in these small micro-fluidic systems is to create good mixing flows, since it is almost impossible to generate turbulence. We propose an active micro-fluidic mixing concept inspired by nature, namely by micro-organisms that swim through a liquid by oscillating microscopic hairs, cilia, that cover their surface. We have fabricated artificial cilia consisting of electro-statically actuated polymer structures, and have integrated these in a micro-fluidic channel. Flow visualization experiments show that the cilia can generate substantial fluid velocities, up to 0.6 mm s(-1). In addition, very efficient mixing is obtained using specially designed geometrical cilia configurations in a micro-channel. Since the artificial cilia can be actively controlled using electrical signals, they have exciting applications in micro-fluidic devices.     

Recent Developments in Thin-Layer Chromatography - II

Abstract

This review updates the one we did 4 years ago. The emphasis is on technique rather than application. Recent advances in adsorbents, plate shape, developing chambers, gradient elution and quantification methods are reviewed and commented on. Theoretical studies of the basic aspects of TLC processes are also reviewed.