RAPID SEPARATION OF FLUORESCEIN DERIVATIVES USING A MICROMACHINED CAPILLARY ELECTROPHORESIS SYSTEM

Using micromachining techniques electrophoresis systems consisting of sample injectors and separation capillaries have been fabricated in planar glass structures. A device with a total capillary channel length of 13.9 cm was used to inject and separate fluorescein and fluorescein sulfonate dyes within 3 min, with an injector to detector distance of 6.0 cin, and an applied field of 520 V/cm. A similar device with a capillary length of 1.6 cm effected injection and separation within 4 s for an injector to detector length of 0.75 cm at an applied field of 1875 V/cm. Injected sample volumes of 60 pl or less were readily injected and analyte detected at 10 muM concentrations.