Mass spectrometry is a unique analytical technique that combines high sensitivity with abundant qualitative information useful for analyte identification. But a significant limitation for mass spectrometry is the requirement of laborious, multi-step sample preparation prior to analysis. This has led to great interest in the microfluidics community in the development of automated, integrated techniques to serve as a front-end complements to mass spectrometers. Most of this work has relied on the conventional microfluidic device format of planar devices with enclosed microchannels. But a new format known as 'digital microfluidics' has recently become a popular alternative to microchannels. In digital microfluidics, droplets are manipulated electrostatically on open devices (with no channels) bearing an array of electrodes covered with a hydrophobic insulator. Digital microfluidics has significant advantages for sample preparation, including the capacity to handle both liquids and solids (with no risk of clogging), and the ability to address each droplet individually (allowing for absolute control over all reagents). In this talk, I will review a number of methods that my group and I have developed to combine digital microfluidics and mass spectrometry, highlighting systems for in-line monitoring of organic synthesis and for in-line and off-line analysis of dried blood spot (DBS) samples. I propose that these examples and others suggest that the combination of digital microfluidics and  mass spectrometry may be useful for a wide range of applications in laboratory science.

Digital microfluidics and mass spectrometry

244th National Meeting (2012)

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