Nanoliter Capillary Electrochromatography Columns Based on Collocated Monolithic Support Structures Molded in Poly(Dimethyl Siloxane)
Author(s): Slentz, Benjamin E., Natalia A. Penner, Emilia Lugowska, Fred Regnier
Journal: Electrophoresis (2001) 22: 3736-3743.
Abstract:
Following current trends in miniaturization of analytical chemistry, an inexpensive disposable analytical tool in the form of a liquid chromatography column fabricated on a poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) chip was created. Ease of fabricating the chromatography column was demonstrated by molding collocated monolithic support structures (COMOSS) directly in the column. Positive photo-resist, SPR 220, was used to create column structures on a negative relief master providing final channel dimensions of 2.7–5.2 µm wide by 10.0 µm deep, while monolithic dimensions were 9.8 x 9.8 x 10.0 µm – 12.3 x 12.3 x 10.0 µm. The ability to separate biological samples such as peptides from a tryptic digest of fluorescein isothiocyanate labeled bovine serum albumin (FITC-BSA) was shown. Separations in capillary electrochromatographic (CEC) mode were performed yielding column efficiencies of 4.0 x 105 plates/m.