Microfluidics-Mass Spectrometry for Cell Analysis

Microchip-mass spectrometry has been emerging as excellent analytical tool in the field of complex biological samples analysis. Microchip can play an important role, such as cell culture and sample preparation steps prior to mass spectral identification, which are beneficial from its ability to handle small sample quantities with the potential for high-throughput parallel analysis. Recent progress in chip-mass spectrometry including various approaches that combined microchip devices with electrospray ionization (ESI) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) is described. Then the main applications of chip-mass spectrometry in proteomics and cell analysis during the recent years are reviewed. We also outlook their implications in the future. The goal of this chapter is to guide new and interested researchers to the important areas and strive toward full integration of microchip and mass spectrometry within biological research field.