Sampling and electrophoretic analysis of segmented flow streams using virtual walls in a microfluidic device

A method for sampling and electrophoretic analysis of aqueous plugs segmented in a stream of immiscible oil is described. In the method, an aqueous buffer and oil stream flow parallel to each other to form a stable virtual wall in a microfabricated K-shaped fluidic element. As aqueous sample plugs in the oil stream make contact with the virtual wall, coalescence occurs and sample is electrokinetically transferred to the aqueous stream. Using this virtual wall, two methods of injection for channel electrophoresis were developed. In the first, discrete sample zones flow past the inlet of an electrophoresis channel and a portion is injected by electroosmotic flow, termed the "discrete injector". With this approach at least 800 plugs could be injected without interruption from a continuous segmented stream with 5.1% RSD in peak area. This method generated up to 1,050 theoretical plates, although analysis of the injector suggested that improvements may be possible. In a second method, aqueous plugs are sampled in a way that allows them to form a continuous stream that is directed to a microfluidic cross-style injector, termed the "desegmenting injector". This method does not analyze each individual plug but instead allows periodic sampling of a high-frequency stream of plugs. Using this system at least 1000 injections could be performed sequentially with 5.8% RSD in peak area and 53,500 theoretical plates. This method was demonstrated to be useful for monitoring concentration changes from a sampling device with 10 s temporal resolution. Aqueous plugs in segmented flows have been applied to many different chemical manipulations including synthesis, assays, sampling processing and sampling. Nearly all such studies have used optical methods to analyze plug contents. This method offers a new way to analyze such samples and should enable new applications of segmented flow systems.