Polymer Based Microchip for Combined Capillary Electrophoresis and Electrochemical Detection

We have developed Microsystems with capillary electrophoresis and an electrochemical detector (CE-ECD). The microfabricated CE-ECD systems can be used as a disposable device and the characteristics have been optimized for application in electrochemical detection. The system has been realized on a polystyrene (PS) polymer chip with gold electrodes. The injection and separation channels were produced by relatively simple and inexpensive methods. An electro-osmotic flow system (EOF) and a three-electrode electrochemical detector were fabricated on the same substrate in a single process. Cyclic voltammetry has been used to test the electrodes behaviour with catechol and dopamine in buffers of different pH. In this article, we give an overview on the methodological aspects of coupling ED (electrochemical detection) with capillary electrophoretic systems.