Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2026
15:41
A Microfluidic Chip for the Versatile Chemical Analysis of Single Cells
Published on: October 15, 2013
Two-dimensional electrophoresis on a microfluidic chip for quantitative amino acid analysis
Bo Xu1, Xiaojun Feng, Youzhi Xu
1Key Laboratory of Biomedical Photonics of MOE, Department of Systems Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry
|June 9, 2009
Summary
A novel microfluidic two-dimensional electrophoresis system offers rapid and precise separation of 20 standard amino acids. This high-throughput analytical tool demonstrates excellent resolution and sensitivity for complex biological sample analysis.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Microfluidics
Background:
- High-throughput analytical tools are essential for analyzing complex biological samples.
- Existing methods may lack the speed or resolution required for comprehensive analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a microfluidic two-dimensional electrophoresis system for high-throughput separation.
- To assess the system's performance in separating and quantifying standard amino acids.
Main Methods:
- Development of a microfluidic two-dimensional electrophoresis system with mercury-lamp-induced fluorescence detection.
- Separation of fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled amino acids using micellar electrokinetic chromatography (1D) and capillary zone electrophoresis (2D).
- Utilized a double electrokinetic valve system for sample injection and channel switching.
Main Results:
- Effective separation of 20 standard amino acids within 20 minutes with high resolution and repeatability.
- Achieved linear dynamic ranges over three orders of magnitude with micromolar detection limits.
- Successfully demonstrated quantitative analysis of a commercial nutrition supplement liquid.
Conclusions:
- The developed microfluidic two-dimensional electrophoresis system is a reliable and efficient tool for analyzing complex biological samples.
- The system offers high throughput, resolution, and sensitivity for amino acid analysis.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Two-dimensional Gel Electrophoresis
Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis is a high-resolution protein separation method first introduced by O' Farrell and Klose in 1975. This method involves protein separation by two dimensions, mass and charge, making it more accurate than one-dimensional gel electrophoresis.
The first dimension separation uses the isoelectric focusing or IEF technique performed on immobilized pH gradient (IPG) strips that separate proteins according to their isoelectric points.
Biological samples, such as cells...
The first dimension separation uses the isoelectric focusing or IEF technique performed on immobilized pH gradient (IPG) strips that separate proteins according to their isoelectric points.
Biological samples, such as cells...
01:30Capillary Electrophoresis: Applications
Capillary electrophoretic separations offer various modes, each with unique applications. These modes include capillary zone electrophoresis, capillary gel electrophoresis, capillary array electrophoresis, capillary isoelectric focusing, capillary isotachophoresis, micellar electrokinetic chromatography, and capillary electrochromatography.
Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) separates ionic components based on their electrophoretic mobility. It has been used to separate proteins, amino acids,...
Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) separates ionic components based on their electrophoretic mobility. It has been used to separate proteins, amino acids,...
01:20Electrophoresis: Overview
Electrophoresis is a powerful analytical separation technique that relies on the differential migration of charged species when subjected to an electric field. The core strength of electrophoresis lies in its ability to separate high-molecular-weight species in complex mixtures. It has found widespread use in biochemistry, molecular biology, and analytical chemistry, allowing the separation of compounds like amino acids, nucleotides, carbohydrates, and proteins with excellent resolution.
There...
There...
01:27SDS-PAGE
Gel electrophoresis is a method that separates biological macromolecules like nucleic acids or proteins by forcing them to pass through a gel matrix under an electric field.
A variation of gel electrophoresis, termed polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), is commonly used for separating proteins according to their molecular size by passing them through a polyacrylamide gel. Because of the varying charges associated with amino acid side chains, PAGE can be used to separate intact proteins...
A variation of gel electrophoresis, termed polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), is commonly used for separating proteins according to their molecular size by passing them through a polyacrylamide gel. Because of the varying charges associated with amino acid side chains, PAGE can be used to separate intact proteins...