Microfluidic gradient formation for nanoflow chip LC

Anal Chem. 2007 Dec 15;79(24):9302-9. doi: 10.1021/ac0712805. Epub 2007 Nov 13.

Abstract

We report a method for forming a nanoflow liquid chromatography (nano-LC) gradient using a single fluid pump at flow rates below 1 muL/min by passively forming a gradient on a microfluidic device. This device works together with an Agilent HPLC-Chip to perform high-throughput nanoflow liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (nano-LC/MS). The nanoflow gradient delay time is reduced from several minutes for a commercial LC nanoflow pump to only a few seconds with this microfluidic device, thus shortening the total analysis time and increasing the analysis throughput. With this microfluidic device, a nano-LC solvent delivery system can be greatly simplified and have increased robustness, reliability, reduced waste, and ease of use.

MeSH terms

  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / instrumentation*
  • Mass Spectrometry / instrumentation
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques
  • Microfluidics / instrumentation
  • Microfluidics / methods*
  • Nanotechnology / instrumentation