A piezo-ring-on-chip microfluidic device for simple and low-cost mass spectrometry interfacing

Abstract

Mass spectrometry (MS) interfacing technology provides the means for incorporating microfluidic processing with post MS analysis. In this study, we propose a simple piezo-ring-on-chip microfluidic device for the controlled spraying of MALDI-MS targets. This device uses a low-cost, commercially-available ring-shaped piezoelectric acoustic atomizer (piezo-ring) directly integrated into a polydimethylsiloxane microfluidic device to spray the sample onto the MS target substrate. The piezo-ring-on-chip microfluidic device's design, fabrication, and actuation, and its pulsatile pumping effects were evaluated. The spraying performance was examined by depositing organic matrix samples onto the MS target substrate by using both an automatic linear motion motor, and manual deposition. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) was performed to analyze the peptide samples on the MALDI target substrates. Using our technique, model peptides with 10 M concentration can be successfully detected. The results also indicate that the piezo-ring-on-chip approach forms finer matrix crystals and presents better MS signal uniformity with little sample consumption compared to the conventional pipetting method.

Towards spatial comprehensive three-dimensional liquid chromatography: A tutorial review

“…7A for the experimental set-up [114]. A thermoplastic microfluidic chip containing eight parallel channels was coated with Teflon at the channel exits to increase the hydrophobicity, encouraging droplet formation, see reported on a multichannel piezoelectric dispenser integrating picoliter dispensing tips to deposit arrays of solvent nanodroplets onto tissues prior to ambient liquid extraction MS [115]. Alternative approaches used to deposit sample volumes on target plates include also electrospray and piezo-electrospray deposition [116][117][118], use of a pressure-pulse dispenser [119], and acoustic spotting [120].…”

Cell Analysis on Microfluidics Combined with Mass Spectrometry

“…A ring-shaped piezoelectric acoustic atomizer (piezo-ring) directly was integrated into a microfluidic device to spray the sample onto the MS target substrate, which helps to form finer matrix crystalline and present better MS signal uniformity with little sample consumption compared to the conventional pipetting method. 74 Droplet was another choice for sample deposition. Nanoliter aqueous droplets immersed in oil could be deposited on the plate, with a detection threshold reached in the nanomole or femtomole range.…”

A novel valve-less piezoelectric micropump generating recirculating flow

“…With the increasing demand for microfluidic technologies and their rapid development, emerging technologies in related fields increase the potential for microfluidic systems to achieve complex functions (Aleman et al, 2019;Jiang et al, 2014;Liao et al, 2018;MacDonald et al, 2003;Mach et al, 2002;Quang et al, 2020;Tsao et al, 2018;Zhu et al, 2019). Theoretical and applied researches on the quantification, diversification, and complexity of flow characteristics in microchannels have advanced, especially in the field of the specific functional flow of microfluidic recirculation.…”