Integration of flow injection analysis and zeptomole-level detection of the Fe(II)-o-phenanthroline complex

Microchannels having a 150x100 mu m cross section were fabricated in a quartz glass chip as a component in an integrated flow injection analysis (FIA) system. They were put to use for flow, mixing, reaction, and detection. The reaction system was a chelating reaction of divalent iron ion with o-phenanthroline (o-phen), and a photothermal microscope was applied for the ultra-sensitive detection of the non-fluorescent reaction product. Nano liter levels of solutions were introduced and transported by capillary action and mixed by molecular diffusion. Zeptomole levels of the reaction product were detected quantitatively. This was the first demonstration of an on-chip chemical determination device which integrates the primitive FIA system without using electroosmotic liquid control or fluorometric determination.