A high-performance polycarbonate electrophoresis microchip with integrated three-electrode system for end-channel amperometric detection

Electrophoresis. 2008 May;29(9):1881-8. doi: 10.1002/elps.200700377.

Abstract

A fully integrated polycarbonate (PC) microchip for CE with end-channel electrochemical detection operated in an amperometric mode (CE-ED) has been developed. The on-chip integrated three-electrode system consisted of a gold working electrode, an Ag/AgCl reference electrode and a platinum counter electrode, which was fabricated by photo-directed electroless plating combined with electroplating. The working electrode was positioned against the separation channel exit to reduce post-channel band broadening. The electrophoresis high-voltage (HV) interference with the amperometric detection was assessed with respect to detection noise and potential shifts at various working-to-reference electrode spacing. It was observed that the electrophoresis HV interference caused by positioning the working electrode against the channel exit could be diminished by using an on-chip integrated reference electrode that was positioned in close proximity (100 microm) to the working electrode. The CE-ED microchip was demonstrated for the separation of model analytes, including dopamine (DA) and catechol (CA). Detection limits of 132 and 164 nM were achieved for DA and CA, respectively, and a theoretical plate number of 2.5x10(4)/m was obtained for DA. Relative standard deviations in peak heights observed for five runs of a standard solution containing the two analytes (0.1 mM for each) were 1.2 and 3.1% for DA and CA, respectively. The chip could be continuously used for more than 8 h without significant deterioration in analytical performance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Catechols / analysis
  • Dopamine / analysis
  • Electricity
  • Electrodes
  • Electrophoresis, Microchip / instrumentation*
  • Electrophoresis, Microchip / methods
  • Equipment Design
  • Polymers*

Substances

  • Catechols
  • Polymers
  • lexan
  • catechol
  • Dopamine