Poly(dimethylsiloxane) microchip: microchannel with integrated open electrospray tip

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Abstract
A polymer microchip with an open tip for electrospray mass spectrometry is presented. The tip consists of a groove with parallel walls where a droplet can form at the end surface. A lid covers the whole chip except at the microchannel tip, which is left open. Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microchips were cast using a nickel mould which in turn was replicated from a dry etched silicon wafer. Tips with microchannel widths of around 50 µm could easily be replicated. Since the tip had no cover, the assembly of microchip and cover was simplified. A total ion current variation of 5% during 300 s was achieved for a 1 µM myoglobin solution. The non-complex design of the cover makes it suitable for versatile tests of chip prototypes. The nickel mould was found to be useful for PDMS microstructure fabrication. Also, such a robust mould allows casting electrospray tips in more rigid thermoset materials.

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