Thread based electrofluidic platform for direct metabolite analysis in complex samples

• Published in: Analytica chimica acta Vol. 1000; pp. 283 - 292
• Main Authors: Cabot, Joan M., Breadmore, Michael C., Paull, Brett
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 13-02-2018; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: 3D printed platform; Bioassays; Capillary electrophoresis; Complex systems; Electrophoresis; Electrophoresis, Capillary - instrumentation; Electrophoretic mobility; Fluorescein; Humans; Metabolite analysis; Metabolites; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques - instrumentation; Microfluidic thread based analytical device; Modular systems; Ohmic dissipation; Rhodamine 6G; Rhodamines - chemistry; Riboflavin; Riboflavin - metabolism; Riboflavin - urine; Studies; Thread electrophoresis; Three dimensional printing; Urine; Urine analysis; Riboflavin; Microfluidic thread based analytical device; 3D printed platform; Metabolite analysis; Thread electrophoresis; Urine analysis
• ISSN: 0003-2670; 1873-4324
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2017.10.029

The application of electrophoresis upon commercial threads is investigated for development of low-cost diagnostics assays, designed for the matrix separation and quantification of low abundance metabolites in complex samples – in this work riboflavin in human urine. Zone electrophoresis was evaluated upon 8 commercially available threads, with several synthetic threads exhibiting higher electroosmotic flow (EOF) and increased electrophoretic mobility of the rhodamine 6G, rhodamine B, and fluorescein. Of those tested, a nylon bundle was selected as the best platform, offering less band dispersion and higher resolution, a high relative EOF, whilst minimising the contribution of joule heating. A novel 3D printed platform was designed, based on a modular system, facilitating the electrophoresis process and rapid assembly, whilst offering the potential for multiplexed analysis or investigation of more complex systems. Using the thread-based electrophoresis system, riboflavin was determined in less than 2 min. The device exhibited a linear working range from 0.1 to 15 μg/mL of riboflavin in urine, and was in good agreement with capillary electrophoresis measurements.
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•Electrophoretic separations were investigated and employed upon 8 commercial threads.•Direct, rapid and inexpensive assay for separation and determination of metabolites.•Separation and quantification of riboflavin from urine was achieved in less than 2 min.•Thread-based devices exhibited a linear working range 0.1–5 μg/mL and good correlation with standard method.