Microscale Total Analysis System

CL is an attractive detection method for CE in part due to its simple instrumentation. An external radiation source is not required, reduces instrument cost, complexity, as well as the overall footprint of the instrument. In addition, since there is no background from an excitation source, there is no need to filter the collected radiation, which increases detection efficiency. In its simplest form, a CE-CL instrument can consist of only a capillary, power supply, and a detector, such as a PMT or photodiode detector. The small footprint of such instrumentation is particularly attractive for microscale total analysis systems (p,TAS) or lab-on-a-chip applications. - " ... 

The main obstacle to the widespread use of microfiuidics in conjunction with MS is related to the fabrication of such systems. It still requires a considerable effort and costly equipment. Implementation of microchips often necessitates expert knowledge about the device assembly, maintenance, and trouble-shooting. However, the rapidly expanding 3D printing tools, and open-source electronic modules, can cut the costs of fabrication and promote the use of microfiuidic devices in kinetic studies conducted with MS detectors. We anticipate that, in the near future, a microscale total analysis system (pTAS) combining microfiuidics and miniature mass spectrometers will become an omnipresent piece of the laboratory toolkit. 

Schmitt, H., Brecht, A., Gauglitz, G., An integrated system for microscale affinity measurements. Micro Total Analysis Systems 96, Proceedings of 2nd International Symposium on pTAS, Basel, 19-22 Nov. 1996, 104-109. 

The miniarnrized systems, designed for the above cited applications, are generally implemented with a microscale mixer to provide an intimate contact between the reagent molecules for interactions/chemical reactions. Furthermore, beside their integration in more complex micro total analysis systems (pTAS) [28], microscale mixers could also work as stand-alone devices for applications where a superior control and a scaling-down of the mixing process are required. 

In recent years, laser-based biosensors have become important tools in many fields such as analytical biochemistry, pharmaceutical research and development, and food/environ-mental monitoring. However, the volumes of the optic components in these biosensors limit their application in portable microdevices. In order to obtain more powerful, miniaturized, and cheaper biosensors using lasers, novel biological sensing principles, detection means, and fabrication methods need to be sought. The integration of biosensors and microfluidic chips will be an important direction for developments in laser-based biosensors. Biosensors can be used as microscale detection tools in lab-on-a-chip for the research and development of miniaturized detection devices, i.e., micro-total analysis systems. 

In the past two decades, the biological and medical fields have seen great advances in the development of biochips capable of characterizing and quantifying biomolecules. Biochips, also known as labs on a chip or pTAS (micro-total analysis systems), are microscale systems that interact with biological components on their characteristic length scale. Many biochips work with particles (cells, bacteria, DNA, etc.) suspended in fluids. 

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