Fluorescence monitoring of microchip capillary electrophoresis separation with monolithically integrated waveguides.
Using femtosecond laser writing, optical waveguides were monolithically integrated into a commercial microfluidic lab-on-a-chip device, with the waveguides intersecting a microfluidic channel. Continuous-wave laser excitation through these optical waveguides confines the excitation window to a width of 12 microm, enabling high-resolution monitoring of the passage of different types of fluorescent analytes when migrating and being separated in the microfluidic channel by microchip capillary electrophoresis. Furthermore, we demonstrate on-chip-integrated waveguide excitation and detection of a biologically relevant species, fluorescently labeled DNA molecules, during microchip capillary electrophoresis. Well-controlled plug formation as required for on-chip integrated capillary electrophoresis separation of DNA molecules, and the combination of waveguide excitation and a low limit of detection, will enable monitoring of extremely small quantities with high spatial resolution.
Dongre
Chaitanya
C
Integrated Optical MicroSystems, MESA Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, AE Enschede, The Netherlands. C.Dongre@ewi.utwente.nl
Dekker
Ronald
R
Hoekstra
Hugo J W M
HJ
Pollnau
Markus
M
Martinez-Vazquez
Rebeca
R
Osellame
Roberto
R
Cerullo
Giulio
G
Ramponi
Roberta
R
van Weeghel
Rob
R
Besselink
Geert A J
GA
van den Vlekkert
Hans H
HH
D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D046209:Electrophoresis, Microchip / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000295:instrumentation*; D055096:Optical Devices; D018511:Systems Integration