Chiral separation of FITC-labeled amino acids with gel electrochromatography using a polydimethylsiloxane microfluidic device.

A chiral separation model of gel electrochromatography in a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic device for amino acids (AAs) is presented. Six pairs of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled dansyl amino acids (Dns-AAs) were separated in a 36-mm effectual separation channel in less than 120 sec, with resolutions all above 0.96. This highly efficient PDMS chiral microfluidic chip was prepared by inserting the mixture solution of monomers, crosslinkers, and radical initiation into the microchannel via syringe. Specifically, allyl-gamma-cyclodextrin (CD) as a chiral selector and crosslinker was bonded in gamma-CD-bonded polyacrylamide (PAA) gel, which was the separation media, and was immobilized in a PDMS microchannel through the stable linkage of 3-(trimethoxysilyl)-propyl methacrylate (Bind-Silane, Sigma, St. Louis, MO, U.S.A.). The preparation not only permitted the prompt chiral separation of AAs, but also extended application of the PDMS microfluidic device by restraining its hydrophobicity through the PAA gel monolithic column. Furthermore, the longevity of the PDMS microfluidic device was prolonged significantly. This can also be a powerful way to develop a rapid and efficient bioanalysis method and portable analytical apparatus.