The online coupling of microchip electrophoresis (ME) as a fast, highly efficient, and low-cost miniaturized separation technique to mass spectrometry (MS) as an information-rich and sensitive characterization technique results in ME–MS an attractive tool for various applications. In this paper, we review the basic concepts and latest advances in technology for ME coupled to MS during the period of 2016–2021, covering microchip materials, structures, fabrication techniques, and interfacing to electrospray ionization (ESI)–MS and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization–MS. Two critical issues in coupling ME and ESI–MS include the electrical connection used to define the electrophoretic field strength along the separation channel and the generation of the electrospray for MS detection, as well as, a miniaturized ESI-tip. The recent commercialization of ME–MS in zone electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing modes has led to the widespread application of these techniques in academia and industry. Here we summarize recent applications of ME–MS for the separation and detection of antibodies, proteins, peptides, carbohydrates, metabolites, and so on. Throughout the paper these applications are discussed in the context of benefits and limitations of ME–MS in comparison to alternative techniques.

中文翻译：

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微芯片电泳与质谱联用的概念和最新进展：技术和应用

微芯片电泳 (ME) 作为一种快速、高效、低成本的小型化分离技术与作为信息丰富且灵敏的表征技术的质谱 (MS) 的在线耦合使 ME–MS 成为各种应用的有吸引力的工具。在本文中，我们回顾了 2016-2021 年期间 ME 与 MS 耦合技术的基本概念和最新进展，涵盖微芯片材料、结构、制造技术以及与电喷雾电离 (ESI)-MS 和基质辅助的接口激光解吸/电离-MS。耦合 ME 和 ESI–MS 的两个关键问题包括用于定义沿分离通道的电泳场强度的电连接和用于 MS 检测的电喷雾的生成，以及微型 ESI 尖端。最近 ME-MS 在区带电泳和等电聚焦模式中的商业化导致这些技术在学术界和工业界的广泛应用。在这里，我们总结了最近 ME-MS 在抗体、蛋白质、多肽、碳水化合物、代谢物等分离和检测方面的应用。在整篇论文中，这些应用都在 ME-MS 与替代技术相比的优势和局限性的背景下进行了讨论。