Patents Assigned to MILESTONE DEVELOPEMENT SERVICES
  • Publication number: 20120153143
    Abstract: Droplets or plugs within multiphase microfluidic systems have rapidly gained interest as a way to manipulate samples and chemical reactions on the femtoliter to microliter scale. Chemical analysis of the plugs remains a challenge. It has been discovered that nanoliter plugs of sample separated by air or oil can be analyzed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry when pumped directly into a fused silica nanospray emitter nozzle. Using leu-enkephalin in methanol and 1% acetic acid in water (50:50 v:v) as a model sample, we found carry-over between plugs was <0.1% and relative standard deviation of signal for a series of plugs was 3%. Detection limits were 1 nM. Sample analysis rates of 0.8 Hz were achieved by pumping 13 nL samples separated by 3 mm long air gaps in a 75 ?m inner diameter tube. Analysis rates were limited by the scan time of the ion trap mass spectrometer. The system provides a robust, rapid, and information-rich method for chemical analysis of sample in segmented flow systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicants: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, NEW OBJECTIVE, INC., MILESTONE DEVELOPEMENT SERVICES
    Inventors: Robert Kennedy, Jian Pei, Qiang Li, Mike S. Lee, Gary A. Valaskovic