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Visual Detection of Multiple Nucleic Acids in a Capillary Array
Published on: November 15, 2017
Miniaturized high throughput detection system for capillary array electrophoresis on chip with integrated light
Kangning Ren1, Qionglin Liang, Xuan Mu
1Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
Lab on a Chip
|February 19, 2009
Summary
A new portable capillary array electrophoresis system uses a simplified design for sensitive fluorescence detection. This miniaturized micro-total analysis system (micro-TAS) achieves a low limit of detection for labeled arginine.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Microfluidics
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Capillary array electrophoresis (CAE) is a powerful separation technique.
- Miniaturization and portability are key goals for micro-total analysis systems (micro-TAS).
- Existing CAE detection systems can be complex and lack portability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel, miniaturized, and portable fluorescence detection system for CAE on a microfluidic chip.
- To simplify the detection system by eliminating components like CCDs, lenses, and moving parts.
- To achieve high sensitivity and low power consumption for a portable micro-TAS.
Main Methods:
- Developed a system with a scanning light-emitting diode (LED) light source and a single photoelectric sensor.
- Employed pulsed driving of the LED to enhance sensitivity and reduce power consumption.
- Integrated the system for robustness and ease of use, powered via a universal serial bus (USB) port.
Main Results:
- The system demonstrated a highly integrated, robust, and user-friendly design.
- Achieved a high scanning rate for radial capillary arrays compared to traditional systems.
- Successfully detected fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) labeled arginine (Arg) in an 8-channel CAE on chip with a limit of detection (LOD) of 640 amol.
Conclusions:
- The developed system represents a significant advancement towards portable micro-total analysis systems (micro-TAS).
- The simplified design and pulsed LED driving offer enhanced sensitivity and reduced power consumption.
- The system is suitable for sensitive on-chip electrophoretic separations, as demonstrated by the low LOD for labeled arginine.
