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Digital Microfluidics for Automated Proteomic Processing
Published on: November 6, 2009
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Direct Interface between Digital Microfluidics and High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.
Chang Liu1,2, Kihwan Choi1,3, Yang Kang2
1Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto , 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada.
Analytical Chemistry
|November 24, 2015
Summary
We developed an automated digital microfluidics (DMF) system that seamlessly integrates with HPLC-MS. This accessible method enhances sample processing for diverse analytical applications.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Biotechnology
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- High-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) is a powerful analytical technique.
- Digital microfluidics (DMF) offers automated sample manipulation capabilities.
- Integrating DMF with HPLC-MS can enhance analytical workflows.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an automated method for in-line coupling of digital microfluidics (DMF) with HPLC-MS.
- To create an accessible system compatible with commercial autosamplers.
- To demonstrate the system's utility in a relevant chemical analysis.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a custom 3D-printed manifold for DMF-HPLC-MS integration.
- Developed a custom plugin for the open-source DropBot control system.
- Validated the system with aqueous buffers, methanol, and a steroid-labeling reaction.
Main Results:
- Successfully achieved in-line coupling of DMF with HPLC-MS.
- Demonstrated compatibility with common solvents and a derivatization reaction.
- The system interfaces directly with commercial autosamplers without modification.
Conclusions:
- The developed automated DMF-HPLC-MS system is accessible and versatile.
- This integration combines the strengths of automated sample processing and advanced analytical separation.
- The method is applicable to a broad range of analytical challenges.
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