PDMS-based microfluidics for proteomic analysis.

A microfluidic poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microdevice was realized, combining on-line protein electrophoretic separation, selection, and digestion of a protein of interest for identification by mass spectrometry. The system includes eight integrated valves and one micropump dedicated to control the flow operations. Myoglobin was successfully isolated from bovine serum albumin (BSA), then selected using integrated valves and digested in a rotary micromixer. Proteolytic peptides were recovered from the micromixer for protein identification. Total analysis from sample injection to protein identification is performed under 30 minutes, with samples of tens of nanolitres. The paper shows that PDMS technology can be successfully used for integrating complex preparation protocols of proteic samples prior to MS analysis.

Thin double layer approximation to describe streaming current fields in complex geometries: analytical framework and applications to microfluidics.

We set up an analytical framework that allows one to describe and compute streaming effects and electro-osmosis on an equal footing. This framework relies on the thin double layer approximation commonly used for description of electroosmotic flows, but rarely used for streaming problems. Using this framework we quantitatively assess the induction of bulk streaming current patterns by topographic or charge heterogeneities on surfaces. This too also permits analytical computation of all linear electrokinetic effects in complex microfluidic geometries, and we discuss a few immediate applications.

Generalized Onsager relations for electrokinetic effects in anisotropic and heterogeneous geometries.

We lay down a general formalism to describe the linear electrohydrodynamic response of systems of arbitrary topology, symmetry and heterogeneity, and through an explicit proof, we demonstrate a set of general Onsager relations between the corresponding electrokinetic coefficients. This generalizes a classical result of Mazur and Overbeek [P. Mazur and J.T.G. Overbeek, Recl. Trav. Chim. Pays-Bas. 70, 83 (1951)] to situations that may become of practical relevance in particular in the field of microfluidic devices. Technically, our proof of the symmetry of the generalized conductance matrix relies on an adaptation of the reciprocal theorem of low-Reynolds-number hydrodynamics.