Abstract
This review highlights the methodological and instrumental developments in microchip micellar EKC (MCMEKC) from 1995. The combination of higher separation efficiencies in micellar EKC (MEKC) with highโspeed separation in microchip electrophoresis (MCE) should provide highโthroughput and highโperformance analytical systems. The chipโbased separation technique has received considerable attention due to its integration ability without any connector. This advantage allows the development of a multidimensional separation system. Several types of 2โD separation microchips are described in the review. Since complicated channel configurations can easily be fabricated on planar substrates, various sample manipulations can be carried out prior to MCMEKC separations. For example, mixing for onโchip reactions, onโline sample preconcentration, onโchip assay, etc., have been integrated on MEKC microchips. The application of onโline sample preconcentration to MCMEKC can provide not only sensitivity enhancement but also the elucidation of the preconcentration mechanism due to the visualization ability of MCE. The characteristics of these sample manipulations on MEKC microchips are presented in this review. The scope of applications in MCMEKC covers mainly biogenic compounds such as amino acids, peptides, proteins, biogenic amines, DNA, and oestrogens. This review provides a comprehensive table listing the applications in MCMEKC in relation to detection methods.