Katsuyoshi Takahashi

Development of a pressure-driven injection system for precisely time controlled attoliter sample injection into extended nanochannels

The rapidly developing interest in nanofluidics, which is used to examine liquids on an order that ranges from an attoliter to a femtoliter, correlates with the recent interest in decreased sample amounts, such as in the field of single-cell analysis. For general nanofluidic analysis, the fact that a pressure-driven flow does not limit the choice of solvents (aqueous or organic) is an important aspect. In this paper, an automated injection system using a pressure-driven flow for several hundred nanometer-sized channels (extended nanochannels) is described. By automatically, and independently, switching four pressure lines using solenoid valves controlled by a sequencer with a time resolution of 10 ms, 550 aL sample band in minimum was reproducibly injected under normal phase conditions. The reproducibility of the band injection was improved by one order when compared with the previous injection method, which enables determination of time zero for injection. These facts are essential for the further band analysis in nanochannels, where diffusion is dominant. This injection system using pressure-driven flow can be used with any kind of solvent, which should make it a significant tool for nanofluidic applications, such as immunoassay, DNA analysis, and chromatography.

Fully automated two-dimensional electrophoresis system for high-throughput protein analysis.

We developed a fully automated electrophoresis system for rapid and highly reproducible protein analysis. All the two-dimensional (2D) electrophoresis procedures including isoelectric focusing (IEF), on-part protein staining, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and in situ protein detection were automatically completed. The system comprised Peltiert devices, high-voltage generating devices, electrodes, and three disposable polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) parts for IEF, reaction chambers, and SDS-PAGE. Because of miniaturization of the IEF part, rapid IEF was achieved in 30 min. A gel with a tapered edge gel on the SDS-PAGE part realized a connection between the parts without use of a gluing material. A biaxial conveyer was employed for the part relocation, sample introduction, and washing processes to realize a low-maintenance and cost-effective automation system. Performances of the system and a commercial minigel system were compared in terms of detected number, resolution, and reproducibility of the protein spots. The system achieved high-resolution comparable to the minigel system despite shorter focusing time and smaller part dimensions. The resulting reproducibility was better or comparable to the performance of the minigel system. Complete 2D separation was achieved within 1.5 h. The system is practical, portable, and has automation capabilities.

Isoelectric focusing in a microfluidically defined electrophoresis channel.

A new form of microchip isoelectric focusing that allows efficient coupling with pretreatment processes is reported. The sample is conveyed in a carrier ampholyte solution to the separation channel that is connected at both ends by two V-shaped lead channels, which supply electrode solutions to the connection point and complete the electrical connection to off-chip electrodes. The relatively high electric conductivity of the electrode solutions compared with that of the pH gradient enables focusing with a 2% loss of applied voltage at the electrodes using the lead channels. A glass microchip was constructed specifically for this configuration. The channel wall was coated with polydimethylacrylamide, and the IEF chip was operated in a chip holder equipped with on-chip connector valves. A plug of fluorescence-labeled peptide p I markers with p I values ranging from 3.64 to 9.56 with carrier ampholyte solution (pH 3-10) was introduced into the separation channel. When the plug reached the channel segment (24 mm in length) between the connection points with the electrolyte lead channels, isoelectric focusing was started after filling the lead channels with electrolyte solutions. The peptide markers were observed using scanning fluorescence detection. The entire range of the pH gradient was established in the segment after approximately 2 min. Isoelectric focusing of three consecutively injected sample plugs containing different p I markers was demonstrated.

A capillary holder for scanning detection of capillary isoelectric focusing with laser-induced fluorescence

A holder for a 12 cm long capillary was designed for scanning LIF detection of CIEF. The polyimide coat of a fused-silica capillary has been removed, and 1.5 mm diameter flanges have been attached near both ends. The holder is fixed on the stage of a fluorescence microscope via a translational stage, and a capillary guide is directly fixed on the microscope stage. The guide has a groove and a pressure plate for the capillary to slide in. The holder has two pulling plates with slits of 1 mm to accept the capillary just inside the flanges. The slits and the groove of the guide have been aligned. The motion of the translational stage brings the pulling plate into contact with the flange at the pulled side, and slides the capillary through the guide. The other end of the capillary is free and produces no strain on the capillary. When the motion of the stage is reversed, an unstrained contact is achieved at the other end. The baseline noise from scanning was only 50% larger than that without scanning. The fluorescence-signal variation during scanning was about 4% of the total signal, which was about twice that without scanning.