In-column field-amplified sample stacking of biogenic amines on microfabricated electrophoresis devices

A novel method for performing in-column field-amplified sample stacking (FASS) in chip-based electrophoretic systems is presented. The methodology involves the use of a narrow sample channel (NSC) injector. NSC injectors allow sample plugs to be introduced directly into the separation channel, and subsequent stacking and separation can proceed without any need for leakage control. More importantly, stacking and separation occur in a single step negating the requirement for complex channel geometries and voltage switching to control sample plugs during the stacking procedure. The chip is composed of six paralleled systems. Using the NSC injector design, the number of reservoirs in the multiplexed chip is reduced to N + 2, where N is the number of paralleled systems. This design feature radically reduces the complexity in chip structures and associated chip operation. The approach is applied to the analysis of fluorescently labelled biogenic amines affording detection at concentrations down to 20 pM.