A fully functional palmtop microchip electrophoresis analyzer with laser-induced fluorescence detection

Microchip electrophoresis (MCE) is an ideal tool for rapid on-site analysis of multiple components, therefore the demand for portable MCE devices is increasing. In this work, a fully functional palmtop MCE analyzer was built, integrating units of sample injection, laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection, high-voltage (HV), imaging and data acquisition. Frames were fabricated with 3D printing to encapsulate miniaturized components selected with balanced consideration on size, cost and performance. The LIF unit contains a laser diode as the excitation light source, a collimating lens used in the commercial laser diode as the focusing lens and an avalanche photodiode (APD) for the laser distance meter as the photoelectric converter. The sample injection was achieved by negative pressure induced pinching. The total cost of the device is approximately $600 with a size of 89 x 98 x 98 mm3 and a weight of 350 g. It can be powered by a laptop or a mobile power bank. The limit of detection (LOD) measured under a typical MCE condition for sodium fluorescein could be 110 pM. The applicability of the device was demonstrated with the detection of rhodamines and DNA fragments.

Automated summary

This study successfully developed a fully functional palmtop MCE analyzer by integrating multiple units and using 3D printing for fabrication. The device is characterized by its small size, lightweight, and low cost, and can be powered by a laptop or mobile power bank.