RESUMEN

There is a need for a microfluidic pumping technique that is simple to fabricate, yet robust, compatible with a variety of solvents, and which has easily controlled fluid flow. Redox-magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) offers these advantages. However, the presence of high concentrations of redox species, important for inducing sufficient convection at low magnetic fields for hand-held devices, can limit the use of redox-MHD pumping for analytical applications. A new method for redox-MHD pumping is investigated that takes advantage of the large amplitude of the transient portion of the faradaic current response that occurs upon stepping the potential sufficiently past the standard electrode potential, E°, of the pumping redox species at an electrode. This approach increases the velocity of the fluid for a given redox concentration. An electronic switch was implemented between the potentiostat and electrochemical cell to alternately turn on and off different electrodes along the length of the flow path to maximize this transient electronic current and, as a result, the flow speed. Velocities were determined by tracking microbeads in a solution containing electroactive potassium ferrocyanide and potassium ferricyanide, and supporting electrolyte, potassium chloride, in the presence of a magnetic field. Fluid velocities with slight pulsation were obtained with the switch that were 70% faster than the smooth velocities without the switch. This indicates that redox species concentrations can be lowered by a similar amount to achieve a given speed, thereby diminishing interference of the redox species with detection of the analyte in applications of redox-MHD microfluidics for chemical analysis.

RESUMEN

A unique capability of redox-magnetohydrodynamics (redox-MHD) for handling liquids on a small scale was demonstrated. A 1.2 muL solution plug was pumped from an injection site to a detector without the need for a channel to direct the flow. The redox pumping species did not interfere with enzymatic activity in a solution compatible with enzyme-linked immunoassays. Alkaline phosphatase (AP), a common enzyme label, converted p-aminophenyl phosphate (PAPP) to p-aminophenol (PAP(R)) in the presence of 2.5 mM Ru(NH(3))(6)Cl(2) and 2.5 mM Ru(NH(3))(6) Cl(3), in 0.1 M Tris buffer (pH = 9). A solution plug containing PAPP (no AP) was pumped through the surrounding solution containing AP (no PAPP), and the enzymatically generated PAP(R) was easily detected and distinguishable electrochemically from the pumping species with square wave voltammetry down to 0.1 mM concentrations. The test device consisted of a silicon chip containing individually addressable microband electrodes, placed on a 0.5 T NdFeB permanent magnet with the field oriented perpendicular to the chip. A 8.0 mm wide x 15.5 mm long x 1.5 mm high volume of solution was contained by a poly(dimethylsiloxane) gasket and capped with a glass slide. A steady-state fluid velocity of approximately 30 mum/s was generated in a reinforcing flow configuration between oppositely polarized sets of pumping electrodes with approximately 2.1 muA.

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RESUMEN

Three forces induced by magnetic fields offer unique control of fluid motion and new opportunities in microfluidics. This article describes magnetoconvective phenomena in terms of the theory and controversy, tuning by redox processes at electrodes, early-stage applications in analytical chemistry, mature applications in disciplines far afield, and future directions for micro total analysis systems. (To listen to a podcast about this article, please go to the Analytical Chemistry multimedia page at pubs.acs.org/page/ancham/audio/index.html .).

RESUMEN

Microbeads are used to track fluid flow over microband electrode arrays to investigate fundamentals of redox magnetohydrodynamics (redox-MHD) in a confined solution. The results may lead toward the design of micro total analysis systems with microfluidics based on the redox-MHD concept. Ion flux was generated by reduction and oxidation of electroactive potassium ferri- and ferrocyanide at selected individually addressable microelectrodes in the array. An external magnetic field was produced by a small, permanent magnet (0.38 T) placed directly below the array with its field perpendicular to the plane of the array. The cross product of ion flux and magnetic field produces a magnetic force (a portion of the Lorentz force equation) that causes the fluid to rotate around the active electrodes. Velocities up to 1.4 mm/s are demonstrated here. The effects on velocities were obtained for different concentrations of redox species, widths of electrodes, gaps between electrodes, and combinations of anodically- and cathodically polarized electrodes. The microbeads allowed mapping of flow patterns and velocities, both parallel and perpendicular to the array chip. The influence of counteracting shear forces, drag along the walls, and reinforcing flow are discussed. A significant result is the fairly flat flow profile across 650 microm, attained between electrodes that are oppositely biased.

RESUMEN

Microchip CE coupled with electrochemical detection (MCE-EC) is a good method for the direct detection of many small molecule analytes because the technique is sensitive and readily miniaturized. Polymer materials are being increasingly used with MCE due to their affordability and ease of fabrication. While PDMS has become arguably the most widely used material in MCE-EC due to the simplicity of microelectrode incorporation, it suffers from a lack of separation efficiency, lower surface stability, and a tendency for analyte sorption. Other polymers, such as poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) and poly(carbonate) (PC), have higher separation efficiencies but require more difficult fabrication techniques for electrode incorporation. In this report, thermoset polyester (TPE) was characterized as an alternative material for MCE-EC. TPE microchips were characterized in their native and plasma oxidized forms and after coating with polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs). TPE provides higher separation efficiencies when compared to PDMS microchips, while still using simple fabrication protocols. In this work, separation efficiencies as high as 295,000 N/m were seen when using TPE MCE-EC devices. Furthermore, the EOF was higher and more consistent as a function of pH for both native and plasma-treated TPE than PDMS. Finally, TPE is amenable to modification using simple PEM coatings as another way to control surface chemistry and surface charge.

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RESUMEN

The use of redox magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) to enhance the anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) response of heavy metals has been investigated, with respect to achieving portability: disposable electrodes consisting of screen-printed carbon (SPC) on a low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) substrate, small volumes, and permanent magnets. The analytes tested (Cd(2+), Cu(2+), and Pb(2+)) were codeposited on SPC with Hg(2+) to form a Hg thin film electrode. High concentrations of Fe(3+) were used to produce a high cathodic current which generates a significant Lorentz force in the presence of a magnetic field. This Lorentz force induces solution convection during the deposition step, enhancing the mass transport of analytes to the electrode and increasing their preconcentrated quantity in the mercury thin film. Therefore, larger ASV peaks and improved sensitivities are obtained, compared to analyses performed without a magnet. The effects on ASV signal of varying Hg(2+) concentration (0.10 and 1.0 mM), deposition time (10-600 s), and electrode surface roughness were investigated. In addition, analyses were performed using a real lake water matrix. By using the disposable LTCC-SPC working electrodes in small volumes (150 microL) and with small permanent magnets (0.78 T), peak areas were increased by 75% when compared to the signal obtained in the absence of a magnetic field. A limit of detection of 25 nM for Cd(2+) was observed with only a 1 min preconcentration time.