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Quantitative online detection of low-concentrated drugs via a SERS microfluidic system.

Ackermann KR, Henkel T, Popp J

Institute of Physical Chemistry, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Helmholtzweg 4, 07743 Jena, Germany.

Herein, quantitative online monitoring of concentration fluctuations of different interesting drugs, namely, the phenothiazine promethazine as well as the anti-cancer agent mitoxantrone via surface enhanced Raman scattering assay based on a microfluidic device is demonstrated. With the applied liquid/liquid two-phase-segmented flow system we succeed in preventing the adhesion of nanoparticle aggregates to the channel walls which is necessary for a quantitative analysis. Even after repeated cycles no carry-over due to sedimentation of colloid particles is observed. To the best of our knowledge these are the first measurements applying a combination of a microfluidic device with SERS detection for quantitative online monitoring of fluctuations in drug concentrations over hours without use of aggressive chemicals for rinsing the chip surfaces prior to each measurement.

Published 20 December 2007 in Chemphyschem, 8(18): 2665-70.
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