Alternating Current Cloud Point Extraction on a Microfluidic Chip: the Use of Ferrocenyl Surfactants

Alternating current cloud point extraction (ACPE) is a preconcentration technique that can be employed in the analysis of membrane proteins on a microfluidic chip. However, the selectivity of ACPE relies on the hydrophobicity of the analytes. In this study, 11-ferrocenyltrimethylundecylammonium bromide (FTMA) was utilized to introduce electrostatic interaction as part of the ACPE technique. The use of ACPE with oxidized FTMA resulted in efficient concentration of fluorescently labeled anionic membrane proteins. We expect the approach outlined in this report to be useful in the preconcentration technique of microchip electrophoresis.