Chiral separations of 1-aminoindan (AI) by cyclodextrin electrokinetic chromatography (CDEKC) were investigated on microfluidic quartz chips. By using a microchip electrophoresis (MCE) instrument equipped with a linear-imaging UV detector, the separation process of the enantiomeric compounds was observed. When sulfated β-cyclodextrin was employed as a chiral selector, the baseline separation of AI could be achieved within 1 min with a high repeatability. The relative standard deviation of the migration time was less than 6%. The fastest separation was achieved in 14 s, utilizing a separation length of only 6.1 mm. These results show that the MCE analysis employing a linear imaging UV detector has a significant potential for fast chiral analysis.

High-speed analyses of proteins by microchip isoelectric focusing (MCIEF) were investigated on straight channel chips. By employing a commercially available microchip electrophoresis instrument equipped with a linear-imaging UV detector, sample proteins focused in a separation channel could be detected without a mobilization step. Typically, standard proteins were focused within 210 s at different positions in a separation channel with its total length of 38.8 mm on the basis of their pI values. The linear relationship between the focused position of each protein and its pI value was observed in the pH range from 6 to 10. The formation process of a pH gradient in the microchannel and the effects of the applied voltage and the channel length on the MCIEF separation were also investigated.

In female athletes, iron deficiency and anaemia have marked effects on performance and could also impair health. Female athletes often limit their diet to control their weight, and thus may not obtain sufficient iron. Iron is difficult to absorb, so it is necessary to devise an efficient intake method. Absorption of non-haem iron seems to increase when taken with L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C [VC]). L-Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside (VCG), a food additive that binds glucose and thus improves its stability, is often added to beverages. Therefore, the effects of simultaneous intake of iron and VCG on iron nutrition were examined in female athletes. The subjects were 41 female college student athletes, and a placebo test was conducted in which a drink containing 200 mg VCG and 6 mg iron was consumed twice daily for 2 months. The placebo group consumed only the iron without VCG. Iron nutrition status was evaluated by blood tests, dietary surveys and subjective symptoms before and after the 2 months. Blood tests were also performed to determine the effects of iron intake on liver function and hepcidin levels. After 2 months, the VCG/iron drink had increased serum iron and blood VC levels in the VCG group compared to the placebo group. By contrast, aspartate aminotransferases (AST) tended to decrease in the VCG group, and no increase in hepcidin was observed in either group. This suggests that long-term iron intake through beverages can improve iron nutritional status in female athletes, and that VCG may enhance this status by suppressing the oxidative damage to the liver associated with iron intake.

We have studied on microchip-cyclodextrin electrokinetic chromatography (MC-CDEKC) analysis of enantiomers and microchip-isoelectric focusing (MC-IEF) of proteins by using a commercially available microchip electrophoresis (MCE) instrument equipped with a linearimaging UV detector, which allows real-time measurements of concentration profiles in a microchannel. In the MC-CDEKC analysis of racemic 1-aminoindane, sulfated-β-cyclodextrin (S-β-CD) was used as a pseudo-stationary phase. Effect of the concentration of S-β-CD on the separation process was investigated. In the MC-IEF analysis of proteins, on the other hand, we studied the processes of a pH gradient formation and protein focusing. Furthermore, effect of the channel length and applied electric field strength on the separation performance of proteins in MC-IEF was studied.