Shortly after I posted “Proteomics made faster” I saw another research article published on the topic. Now, Detlev Belder and colleagues at the University of Regensburg, have developed a glass microchip that directly couples electrophoretic separation techniques with the electrospray process. As per “Chemistry World“:

Chemists in Germany have created a glass microchip that combines microfluidic channels with a nanospray emitter for electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The device enables the coupling of microchip electrophoresis and mass spectrometry with nanolitre samples and no dead volume.

The group developed a glass chip on which the electrophoresis channels lead directly to the integrated nanospray nozzle. “Glass chips are more suitable than silicon especially for electrophoresis, but also for many chemical applications,” Belder commented.

The staff of Chemistry World contacted several mass spectrometrists that confirmed that existing solutions to the coupling of nanospray mass spectrometry with separation techniques were satisfactory. “The topic has been around for 10 years and has been solved,” said one of the contacted analytical chemists.