Capillary Electrophoresis is a very efficient technique in determining
substances due to the great separation capacity. This technique has been
employed with several detection methods such as fluorescence, mass spectrometry
and electrochemistry. In the present report a CE apparatus applied to the
analysis of substances taken directly from single cells has been developed.
In this apparatus, the capillary column is placed on the rectangular
mechanical stage of a microscope, the samples are taken directly from the
cytoplasm of a single cell by electromigration injection 30 kV with device
micromanipulator in real time and the substances are detected with subnanomolar
concentration by amperometric methods.
Moreover, the apparatus has a system for the isolation of the detector
from the high-applied voltage based in etching the capillary wall with
HF after the polyimide coating of the capillary had been removed.
It is not necessary to isolate the anodic high voltage end of the capillary
in a Plexiglas box. In order to test the apparatus before extracting any
sample it has been added an UV detector. The major goal of the present
micro-CZE apparatus is the capacity to obtain in vivo information about
some compounds that are detected in real time.