Ionization of semi-fluorinated n-alkanes in controlled atmosphere using flexible micro-tube plasma (FμTP) ionization source with square- and sine-wave voltage.

Non-thermal plasma-based ionization sources have been widely used and shown excellent soft ionization performance in mass spectrometry. Despite their extensive application, the ionization mechanisms of these sources are of great interest for further exploring their full potential. A controlled atmosphere can provide a clean and controllable ionization environment and is beneficial for studying the ionization mechanism.

Pulsed Blue Laser Diode Thermal Desorption Microplasma Imaging Mass Spectrometry.

An ambient air laser desorption, plasma ionization imaging method is developed and presented using a microsecond pulsed laser diode for desorption and a flexible microtube plasma for ionization of the neutral desorbate. Inherent parameters such as the laser repetition rate and pulse width are optimized to the imaging application. For the desorption substrate, copper spots on a copper-glass sandwich structure are used.

Detection and Evaluation of Lipid Classes and Other Hydrophobic Compounds Using a Laser Desorption/Plasma Ionization Interface.

Ionization mechanisms of different lipid classes and other hydrophobic compounds have been evaluated in an ambient air laser-desorption flexible microtube plasma ionization (LD-FμTPi) setup, without sample manipulation. Lipids require a minimum laser fluency of 27 W/mm for efficient desorption and detection, providing the possibility for temperature-programmed laser desorption of different lipid classes. The flexible microtube plasma (FμTP) produces oxygen addition to double bonds, even to polyunsaturated molecules.

Standardization of Sandwich-Structured Cu-Glass Substrates Embedded in a Flexible Diode Laser-Plasma Interface for the Detection of Cholesterol.

This study introduced sandwich-structured copper-glass substrates for standardization of laser desorption and plasma ionization. For standardized quantitative analysis, cavities were constructed which allow better reproducibility in droplet deposition and for laser application. Applying the diode laser, molten substrate material is incorporated into the glass, being trapped inside.

Analyte-Tailored Controlled Atmosphere Improves Dielectric Barrier Discharge Ionization Mass Spectrometry Performance.

Plasma sources in atmospheric pressure soft-ionization mass spectrometry have gained significant interest in recent years. As many of these sources are used under ambient air conditions, their interaction with the surrounding atmosphere plays an important role in the ionization pathway. This study focuses on the interaction between the plasma source and the surrounding atmosphere by connecting the plasma source to the mass spectrometer using a 2 mm ID closed reactant capillary supplied by a reactant gas up to 500 mL per minute to gain a controlled atmosphere.

Flexible Microtube Plasma (FμTP) as an Embedded Ionization Source for a Microchip Mass Spectrometer Interface.

Dielectric barrier discharges are used as soft ionization sources for mass spectrometers or ion mobility spectrometers, enabling excellent possibilities for analytical applications. A new robust and small-footprint discharge design, flexible microtube plasma (FμTP), developed as a result of ongoing miniaturization and electrode design processes, is presented in this work. This design provides major safety benefits by fitting the electrode into an inert flexible fused silica capillary (tube).

Medium Vacuum Electron Emitter as Soft Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization Source for Organic Molecules.

An electron emitter as a soft atmospheric pressure chemical ionization source is presented, which operates at inner pressures of the device in the medium vacuum range (>10(-3) hPa). Conventional nonradioactive electron emitters require high vacuum (<10(-6) hPa) to prevent electrical sparkovers. The emitter presented here contains structural modifications of an existing setup, which inhibits electrical breakdowns up to 10(-2) hPa at 8 kV acceleration voltage.

Dielectric Barrier Discharge Ionization of Perfluorinated Compounds.

The soft ionization ability based on plasma-jet protonation of molecules initiated by a dielectric barrier discharge ionization source (DBDI) is certainly an interesting application for analytical chemistry. Since the change of an applied sinusoidal voltage may lead to different discharge modes the applied discharge was powered by a square wave generator in order to get a homogeneous plasma. It is known that besides the protonation [M+H](+) of unpolar as well as some polar molecules the homogeneous DBDI can be used to ionize molecules directly [M](+).

Configurable low-cost plotter device for fabrication of multi-color sub-cellular scale microarrays.

The construction and operation of a low-cost plotter for fabrication of microarrays for multiplexed single-cell analyses is reported. The printing head consists of polymeric pyramidal pens mounted on a rotation stage installed on an aluminium frame. This construction enables printing of microarrays onto glass substrates mounted on a tilt stage, controlled by a Lab-View operated user interface.

High fidelity neuronal networks formed by plasma masking with a bilayer membrane: analysis of neurodegenerative and neuroprotective processes.

Spatially defined neuronal networks have great potential to be used in a wide spectrum of neurobiology assays. We present an original technique for the precise and reproducible formation of neuronal networks. A PDMS membrane comprising through-holes aligned with interconnecting microchannels was used during oxygen plasma etching to dry mask a protein rejecting poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) adlayer.

A microfluidic array with cellular valving for single cell co-culture.

We present a highly parallel microfluidic approach for contacting single cell pairs. The approach combines a differential fluidic resistance trapping method with a novel cellular valving principle for homotypic and heterotypic single cell co-culturing. Differential fluidic resistance was used for sequential single cell arraying, with the adhesion and flattening of viable cells within the microstructured environment acting to produce valves in the open state.

Separation of proteins using a novel two-depth miniaturized free-flow electrophoresis device with multiple outlet fractionation channels.

A novel free-flow electrophoresis glass chip design with two-depth etched structures for the separation and fractionation of proteins is presented. The microfluidic structures etched in two depths enhance the flow characteristics inside the miniaturized device. A novel nine-port outlet interface enables the fractionation of the separated analytes.

A new two-chip concept for continuous measurements on PMMA-microchips.

A new concept for continuous measurements on microchips is presented. A PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate) based capillary electrophoresis chip with integrated conductivity detection is combined with a second chip, which undertakes the task of fluid handling and electrical connections. The combination of electrokinetic and hydrodynamic flows allows long-term continuous stable analyses with good reproducibilities of migration time and peak heights of analytes.