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Direct Production of Microstructured Surfaces for Planar Chromatography Using 3D Printing
Niall P Macdonald1,2, Sinead A Currivan2, Laura Tedone2
1ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, University of Tasmania , Sandy Bay, Hobart 7001, Tasmania, Australia.
Analytical Chemistry
|February 15, 2017
Summary
Researchers developed 3D printed polymer substrates for planar chromatography. These unmodified platforms successfully separated dyes and proteins, marking a first for 3D printed stationary phases in chromatography.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Chromatography
Background:
- Traditional chromatography often requires complex fabrication and surface modification.
- 3D printing offers potential for novel, customizable stationary phases.
- Direct fabrication of chromatographic platforms is an emerging area.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate 3D printed polymer substrates for planar chromatography.
- To demonstrate the direct fabrication of functional chromatographic platforms without surface functionalization.
- To assess the separation capabilities for dyes and proteins.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an Objet Eden 260VS 3D printer for polymer substrate fabrication.
- Characterized print material using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), infrared (IR), and Raman spectroscopy.
- Performed chromatographic separations of colored dyes, fluorescent dyes, and fluorescently tagged proteins.
Main Results:
- Successfully fabricated polymer thin layer chromatography platforms via direct 3D printing.
- Achieved optical visualization of dye separations and successful separation of fluorescent dyes and proteins.
- Demonstrated that protein separation is influenced by isoelectric point (pI) and ion exchange properties.
Conclusions:
- 3D printed polymer substrates can be directly used as unmodified stationary phases for planar chromatography.
- This approach offers a simplified method for creating chromatographic platforms.
- Represents the first instance of chromatographic separations using an unmodified 3D printed stationary phase.
