| Capillary electrophoresis (CE), as a high resolution and rapid analysis technique, has been widely used in fast separations, in vivo chemical monitoring, and reaction dynamics studies. Integrated compact CE systems enable this useful technique to be used in field analysis. Currently, the main challenges for compact CE systems are the integration and miniaturization of injection module, separation module and detection module.In Chapter One, the development and the recent progress of integrated CE systems based on different separation module (short capillary and micro fabricated chips) are reviewed. Then different detection modules used in integrated CE systems are also introduced. Typical commercialized CE instruments and reported miniaturized CE systems are also introduced.In Chapter Two, we developed a compact handheld laser induced fluorescence (LIF) detector based on quasi-confocal optical configuration, which integrated a 450 nm laser diode light source, optical modules, a photomultiplier tube, as well as signal recording, processing and displaying unit with a total size of 9.1×6.2×4.1 cm. It could be used as an independent detector and flexibly coupled to various analysis systems. We applied the LIF detector in multiple applications including high-speed capillary electrophoresis of amino acids, flow cytometry of tumor cells and scanning detection of microfluidic droplet array chip.In Chapter Three, a compact high speed capillary electrophoresis (HSCE) bioanalyzer based on a short capillary has been developed. Multiple modules of picoliter-scale sample injection, HSCE separation, sample changing, LIF detection and a custom designed tablet computer for data processing, instrument controlling, and result displaying were integrated in the bioanalyzer with a size of 23 cm×17cm×19 cm. The HSCE bioanalyzer is capable of performing automated sample injection and separation for multiple samples and has been successfully applied in fast separations of amino acids, chiral amino acids, proteins and DNA fragments. The separation speed and efficiency of the optimized HSCE system are comparable to or even better than those reported in microchip-based CE systems. We believe this bioanalyzer could provide an advanced platform for fundamental research in bioscience and clinical diagnosis, as well as in quality control for drugs, foods and feeds.In Chapter Four, an integrated and low-cost palmtop HSCE bioanalyzer was developed using a smart miniaturization strategy combining innovative system design and low-cost instrument components. The bioanalyzer integrated multiple modules including orthogonal LIF detection, translational spontaneous sample injection, short capillary CE, high-voltage power supply, battery, and electric modules, with a total size of 9cm×7.5 cm×7.7 cm. It has been applied in multi-mode high speed separations for amino acids, DNA fragments and proteins. |
