Miniaturizing HPLC

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ILLUSTRATION: ANDREW MEEHAN

The two chips illustrated below represent the next generation of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Their manufacturers - Agilent Technologies and Nanostream - have miniaturized and simplified the traditionally reagent-intensive process with microfluidics in order to boost sensitivity and throughput while minimizing the solvent usage and sample loss inherent in pushing materials through so many joints, fittings, and tubes. Look closely, though, and you can still see the fundamental technology within.