Abstract: Miniaturized planar column devices are described for use in liquid phase analysis, the devices comprising microstructures fabricated by laser ablation in a variety of novel support substrates. Devices formed according to the invention include associated laser-ablated features required for function, such as analyte detection means and fluid communication means. Miniaturized columns constructed under the invention find use in any analysis system performed on either small and/or macromolecular solutes in the liquid phase and may employ chromatographic, electrophoretic, electrochromatographic separation means, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: Miniaturized planar column devices are described for use in liquid phase analysis, the devices comprising microstructures fabricated by laser ablation in a variety of novel support substrates. Devices formed according to the invention include associated laser-ablated features required for function, such as analyte detection means and fluid communication means. Miniaturized columns constructed under the invention find use in any analysis system performed on either small and/or macromolecular solutes in the liquid phase and may employ chromatographic, electrophoretic, electrochromatographic separation means, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: Miniaturized planar column devices are described for use in liquid phase analysis, the devices comprising microstructures fabricated by laser ablation in a variety of novel support substrates. Devices formed according to the invention include associated laser-ablated features required for function, such as analyte detection means and fluid communication means. Miniaturized columns constructed under the invention find use in any analysis system performed on either small and/or macromolecular solutes in the liquid phase and may employ chromatographic, electrophoretic, electrochromatographic separation means, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: A miniaturized column analytical apparatus having a miniaturized column device containing a body with an elongate separation compartment is provided. Two or more sets of spaced apart antennas are positioned along the elongate separation compartment. The elongate separation compartment has first and second opposing sides along its elongate dimension. Each set of antenna contains a plurality of antennas. One antenna from each set is associated with at least one antenna from each of the other sets to form repeating sequences of antennas along the separation compartment on the opposing sides of the separation compartment. Each set of the antennas is associated with a different oscillating electrical potential to provide a plurality of oscillating electric fields along the elongate separation compartment to draw a target substance along the elongate separation compartment toward an exit end of the separation compartment. The detector can detect a target substance passing out of the elongate separation compartment.

Abstract: Miniaturized planar column devices and miniaturized total analysis systems for liquid phase analysis are disclosed. The systems include a temperature control device for regulating temperature, preferably a thermoelectric device comprising Peltier elements.

Abstract: A miniaturized total analysis system (".mu.-TAS") comprising a miniaturized planar column device is described for use in liquid phase analysis. The .mu.-TAS comprises microstructures fabricated by laser ablation in a variety of novel support substrates. The .mu.-TAS includes associated laser-ablated features required for integrated sample analysis, such as analyte detection means and fluid communication means. .mu.-TAS constructed according to the invention is useful in any analysis system for detecting and analyzing small and/or macromolecular solutes in the liquid phase and may employ chromatographic separation means, electrophoretic separation means, electrochromatographic separation means, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: Miniaturized planar column devices are described for use in liquid phase analysis, the devices comprising microstructures fabricated by laser ablation in a variety of novel support substrates. Devices formed according to the invention include associated laser-ablated features required for function, such as analyte detection means and fluid communication means. Miniaturized columns constructed under the invention find use in any analysis system performed on either small and/or macromolecular solutes in the liquid phase and may employ chromatographic and/or electrophoretic separation means.

Abstract: A method for treating capillary walls exposable to protein solutes is provided that promotes reversible interactions between the protein solutes and the wall. Thus a small bore capillary tube, useful for reproducible protein electrophoretic separations, includes an interfacial phase comprising agarose that is bonded to the bore. Pretreatment of the capillary walls with silylation reagents forms an intermediate layer that provides a determinable cathodic electroosmotic flow magnitude that remains constant even if the buffer pH fluctuates between 4-7. The modified capillaries can be used repeatedly and they exhibit selectivity in protein separations.

Abstract: An electrophoretic apparatus that is useful for separation of analytes, such as proteins, comprises a capillary tube that has an interfacial layer bonded to reduce interactions between the bore and analytes during electroosmotic flow through the capillary, and an electrically modified media carried by or contacting a capillary wall outward from the bore. The modified media can be an electrically resistive coating or an electrically conductive coating. Together with appropriate power supply configurations, the electrically modified media permits the application of a voltage gradient that is transverse to the electrophoretic gradient, and provides electroosmotic flow control in cooperation with the interfacial layer.

Abstract: A solid surface that is exposed to protein solutes in use, such as medical implants or capillary tubes useful in capillary zone electrophoresis, is defined by or carries a polymer. An interfacial layer is covalently bound to the polymer and functions to reduce interactions between the surface and protein solutes. The interfacial layer includes either a hydratable amphoteric phase or a plurality of halogen atoms bound in the interfacial layer through at least one heteroatom.

Abstract: Capillary tubes useful for performing capillary zone electrophoresis separation techniques are prepared by precoating the capillary tubes with an adhesive agent, preferably a dilute agarose phase. The analytical agarose-based media then is positioned in the tubes, where it adheres to the earlier coating. The analytical media exhibits strong structural integrity and adheres well to the capillary tubes; moreover, the media is suitable for capillary zone electrophoretic separation of biopolymers.

Abstract: Capillary tubes useful for performing capillary zone electrophoresis separation techniques are modified to provide sample pre-treatment in situ. In one preferred embodiment, a polyacrylamide stacking gel is formed in a capillary tube and separated from the free zone of the tube by a polystyrene frit. The modified capillary permits effective filtration of macromolecules from analysis or their retardation to allow for sequential analysis.

Abstract: A method for treating a solid surface exposable to protein solutes is provided that reduces interactions of the protein solutes with the surface. Thus, a small bore capillary tube, useful for electrophoretic separation, comprises a reduced interaction phase coated along the bore that includes a terminal moiety covalently bound in the reduced interaction phase through at least one heteroatom. This terminal moiety includes a plurality of halogen atoms, and preferably is an aryl pentafluoro.

Abstract: A method for treating capillary walls exposable to protein solutes is provided that reduces interactions of the protein solutes with the wall and that permits control of electroosmotic flow within the capillaries by selection of solution pH. Thus, a capillary tube has an interfacial layer covalently bonded to the inner wall of the tube. This interfacial layer is effective to reduce interactions between the inner wall and protein solutes and preferably includes a hydratable amphoteric phase. The amphoteric phase is a reaction product of a protein, peptide or an ampholyte and an oxygen or nitrogen nucleophile. Electroosmotic flow magnitude and/or flow direction may be controlled when capillaries of the invention are used for electrophoretic separations.

Abstract: A method is provided for modifying a porous chromatographic material such as silica, alumina, thoria, titania or magnesia, which involves the steps of halogenating the surface hydroxyl groups of such material, and reacting the halogenated surface with a suitable alkylation reagent. The method gives a direct surface-to-carbon linkage in a high-yield reaction.

Abstract: A miniaturized total analysis system (".mu.-TAS") comprising a miniaturized planar column device is described for use in liquid phase analysis. The .mu.-TAS comprises microstructures fabricated by laser ablation in a variety of novel support substrates. The .mu.-TAS includes associated laser-ablated features required for integrated sample analysis, such as analyte detection means and fluid communication means. .mu.-TAS constructed according to the invention is useful in any analysis system for detecting and analyzing small and/or macromolecular solutes in the liquid phase and may employ chromatographic separation means, electrophoretic separation means, electrochromatographic separation means, or combinations thereof.