This study reports on the development of a novel instrument for capillary electrophoresis (CE) coupled with laser induced fluorescence (LIF) detection that is inspired by the Lego-toy concept. The Lego CE-LIF design is an evolution of purpose-made CE instrumentation, allowing the users to construct their own analytical device with a high degree of standardization (i.e. a "standard" setup) without requirement of mechanical and electronic workshop facilities. To allow instrument reproduction outside the original fabrication laboratory, which is not trivial for in-house-built CE systems, the new design is based on unprecedent 'plugging' hyphenation of various off-the-shelf parts available for microfluidics, optics and electrophoresis. To render the operation with Lego CE-LIF optimal, we developed a new background electrolyte (BGE), using for the first time extremely high concentrations of zwitterionic and large weakly charged species for much improvement of detection sensitivity. The Lego CE-LIF was demonstrated for separation and detection of oligosaccharides labelled with 8-aminopyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid (APTS). The new gel-free BGE for oligosaccharide analysis also allowed simplification of the conventional CE-LIF protocol used with commercial instruments while keeping satisfactory separation performances. Furthermore, the new BGE is fully compatible with a non-thermostatted Lego CE instrument thanks to low current and therefore low heat generation under application of a high voltage.

中文翻译：

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使用即插即用微流体、电泳和光学模块进行激光诱导荧光检测的毛细管电泳模块化仪器

本研究报告了一种新型毛细管电泳 (CE) 与激光诱导荧光 (LIF) 检测仪器的开发，该仪器受到乐高玩具概念的启发。乐高 CE-LIF 设计是特制 CE 仪器的演变，允许用户构建自己的高度标准化（即“标准”设置）的分析设备，而无需机械和电子车间设施。为了允许在原始制造实验室之外进行仪器复制，这对于内部构建的 CE 系统而言并非微不足道，新设计基于前所未有的“插入”连字，可用于微流体、光学和电泳的各种现成部件。为了优化乐高 CE-LIF 的操作，我们开发了一种新的背景电解质 (BGE)，首次使用极高浓度的两性离子和大的弱带电物质来大大提高检测灵敏度。Lego CE-LIF 已被证明可用于分离和检测用 8-氨基芘-1,3,6-三磺酸 (APTS) 标记的寡糖。用于寡糖分析的新型无凝胶 BGE 还允许简化与商业仪器一起使用的传统 CE-LIF 协议，同时保持令人满意的分离性能。此外，新型 BGE 与非恒温乐高 CE 仪器完全兼容，这要归功于低电流和高电压应用下的低热量产生。Lego CE-LIF 被证明可用于分离和检测用 8-氨基芘-1,3,6-三磺酸 (APTS) 标记的寡糖。用于寡糖分析的新型无凝胶 BGE 还允许简化与商业仪器一起使用的传统 CE-LIF 协议，同时保持令人满意的分离性能。此外，新型 BGE 与非恒温乐高 CE 仪器完全兼容，这要归功于低电流和高电压应用下的低热量产生。Lego CE-LIF 已被证明可用于分离和检测用 8-氨基芘-1,3,6-三磺酸 (APTS) 标记的寡糖。用于寡糖分析的新型无凝胶 BGE 还允许简化与商业仪器一起使用的传统 CE-LIF 协议，同时保持令人满意的分离性能。此外，新型 BGE 与非恒温乐高 CE 仪器完全兼容，这要归功于低电流和高电压应用下的低热量产生。