High-Throughput Continuous-Flow Separation in a Micro Free-Flow Electrophoresis Glass Chip Based on Laser Microfabrication
Aodong Zhang,
Jian Xu,
Xiaolong Li,
Zijie Lin,
Yunpeng Song,
Xin Li,
Zhenhua Wang,
Ya Cheng
Affiliations
Aodong Zhang
Engineering Research Center for Nanophotonics and Advanced Instrument, School of Physics and Electronic Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
Jian Xu
Engineering Research Center for Nanophotonics and Advanced Instrument, School of Physics and Electronic Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
Xiaolong Li
State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, School of Physics and Electronic Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
Zijie Lin
State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, School of Physics and Electronic Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
Yunpeng Song
State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, School of Physics and Electronic Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
Xin Li
Engineering Research Center for Nanophotonics and Advanced Instrument, School of Physics and Electronic Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
Zhenhua Wang
Engineering Research Center for Nanophotonics and Advanced Instrument, School of Physics and Electronic Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
Ya Cheng
Engineering Research Center for Nanophotonics and Advanced Instrument, School of Physics and Electronic Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
Micro free-flow electrophoresis (μFFE) provides a rapid and straightforward route for the high-performance online separation and purification of targeted liquid samples in a mild manner. However, the facile fabrication of a μFFE device with high throughput and high stability remains a challenge due to the technical barriers of electrode integration and structural design for the removal of bubbles for conventional methods. To address this, the design and fabrication of a high-throughput μFFE chip are proposed using laser-assisted chemical etching of glass followed by electrode integration and subsequent low-temperature bonding. The careful design of the height ratio of the separation chamber and electrode channels combined with a high flow rate of buffer solution allows the efficient removal of electrolysis-generated bubbles along the deep electrode channels during continuous-flow separation. The introduction of microchannel arrays further enhances the stability of on-chip high-throughput separation. As a proof-of-concept, high-performance purification of fluorescein sodium solution with a separation purity of ~97.9% at a voltage of 250 V from the mixture sample solution of fluorescein sodium and rhodamine 6G solution is demonstrated.
