Analytical Sciences

3D-Printed Microfluidic Nanoelectrospray Ionization Source Based on Hydrodynamic Focusing

Yu ZHAO,* Shichang JIANG,* Yuna BAI,* Xueying HUANG,*,** and Bo XIONG*,**

*Key Laboratory of Pesticides & Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
**Hubei International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Pesticide and Green Synthesis, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China

Nanoelectrospray ionization (nESI) mass spectrometry (MS) is an ideal detection method for microfluidic chips, and its performances depend on nESI emitters. However, the fabrication of monolithic nESI emitters in chips was difficult. Herein, we propose a three-dimensional (3D) printing method to develop a microfluidic nanoelectrospray ionization source (NIS), composed of a nESI emitter and other components. Firstly, the NIS was compatible with a 50 – 500 nL min⁻¹ nanoflows by imposing 3D hydrodynamic focusing to compensate for the total flow rate, achieving a 7.2% best relative standard deviation in the total ion current (TIC) profiles. Additionally, it was applied to probe thirteen organic chemicals, insulin, and lysozyme with adequate signal-to-noise ratios and an accuracy of m/z between 9.02 × 10⁻¹ and 1.48 × 10³ ppm. Finally, the NIS achieved comparable limits of detection compared with its commercial counterpart. Considering the standardized preparation of NIS, it would be a potential option to develop 3D-printed customized Chip-MS platforms.

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