, 1997). For chiral analyses with low detection limit, integrated microfluidic lab-on-a-chip technologies offer many advantages that are particularly suited to the problem of in situ analysis including small size and weight, low power consumption, and capabilities for automation (Pumera, 2007). Furthermore, microfluidic CE devices with fluorescence detection such as the Mars Organic Analyzer (MOA) can provide detection limits as low
as 0.5 parts per trillion (low nanomolar in solution) (Skelley et al., 2005). However, Pritelivir purchase because no organic molecules have ever been detected on Mars, it is not clear what detection limit will be required. Consequently, it is important to improve the detection limits of such platforms
as much as possible. Temperature gradient focusing (TGF) (Ross et al., 2002) and Gradient Elution Isotachophoresis (GEITP) (Shackman et al., 2007) are recently described techniques that combine high resolution electrophoretic separation with built in concentration enhancement for low detection limits. Although TGF and GEITP have a number of advantages over conventional CE in terms of sensitivity, simplicity, and robustness, its primary advantage for application to biomarker detection may be its flexibility: With TGF and GEITP, the detection limit and the resolution can be easily improved without changing the device hardware but simply through modification of the operational parameters of the device (Munson et al., 2007; Selleckchem Doramapimod Danger et al., 2008a; Danger et al., 2008b). Furthermore, TGF and GEITP are performed with the same apparatus which provide analysis duplications on a same apparatus which limits cost, size and weight. We present proof-of-concept experiments to examine the feasibility of TGF and GEITP for trace chiral amino acids analysis. Using a very low concentration of chiral selector, the chiral techniques provide a high resolution separation of a mixture of six
to seven different amino acids (five chiral), with Obatoclax Mesylate (GX15-070) only few overlapping peaks Bada, J. L., McDonald, G. D. (1997), extraterrestrial handedness? Science, 275: 942–943. Danger, G., Ross, D., (2008a), Chiral Separation with Gradient Elution Isotachophoresis for Proteases inhibitor future in situ extraterrestrial analysis, Electrophoresis, Accepted. Danger, G., Shackman, J., Ross, D., (2008b), Development of a Temperature Gradient Focusing Method for in situ Extraterrestrial Biomarker Analysis, Electrophoresis, Accepted. Munson, M., Danger, G., Shackman, J., Ross, D., (2007), Temperature Gradient Focusing with Field-Amplified Continuous Sample Injection for Dual-Stage Analyte Enrichment and Separation, Anal. Chem., 79:6201–6207. Pumera, M. (2007), Microfluidics in amino acid analysis, Electrophoresis, 28:2113–2124. Ross, D., Locascio, L., (2002), Microfluidic temperature gradient focusing, Anal. Chem., 74:2556–2564. Shackman, J., Ross, D.