Operation of pneumatically-actuated membrane-based microdevices for in situ analysis of extraterrestrial organic molecules after prolonged storage and in multiple orientations with respect to Earth’s gravitational field

Duca, Z. A.; Tan, G.; Cantrell, T.; Enige, Michelle Van; Dorn, Max; Cato, Michael E.; Speller, Nicholas C.; Pital, Aaron; Mathies, Richard A.; Stockton, Amanda M.

doi:10.1016/j.snb.2018.05.040

Cited by 10 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…For some missions, this is an important issue and motivates microfluidics approaches. An alternative instrument construction approach will be based on the microfluidic transport/delivery technology [64,65,66,67,68,69], already developed by the R.A. Mathies’s Space Sciences Laboratory at Berkeley University. The chip for microscopic fluid transport between the components of an instrument such as OxR (e.g., reagent storage capsules, regolith sample chamber with O 2 /temp/pressure sensors, and waste reservoirs), is analogous to digital electronic processors, and all that is needed is a change in the order of operations conducted by the device [66].…”

Section: Implementation Of the Oxr Instrumentmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Oxygen Release Instrument: Space Mission Reactive Oxygen Species Measurements for Habitability Characterization, Biosignature Preservation Potential Assessment, and Evaluation of Human Health Hazards

Georgiou

McKay

Quinn

et al. 2019

Life

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We describe the design of an instrument, the OxR (for Oxygen Release), for the enzymatically specific and non-enzymatic detection and quantification of the reactive oxidant species (ROS), superoxide radicals (O2•−), and peroxides (O22−, e.g., H2O2) on the surface of Mars and Moon. The OxR instrument is designed to characterize planetary habitability, evaluate human health hazards, and identify sites with high biosignature preservation potential. The instrument can also be used for missions to the icy satellites of Saturn’s Titan and Enceladus, and Jupiter’s Europa. The principle of the OxR instrument is based on the conversion of (i) O2•− to O2 via its enzymatic dismutation (which also releases H2O2), and of (ii) H2O2 (free or released by the hydrolysis of peroxides and by the dismutation of O2•−) to O2 via enzymatic decomposition. At stages i and ii, released O2 is quantitatively detected by an O2 sensor and stoichiometrically converted to moles of O2•− and H2O2. A non-enzymatic alternative approach is also designed. These methods serve as the design basis for the construction of a new small-footprint instrument for specific oxidant detection. The minimum detection limit of the OxR instrument for O2•− and O22− in Mars, Lunar, and Titan regolith, and in Europa and Enceladus ice is projected to be 10 ppb. The methodology of the OxR instrument can be rapidly advanced to flight readiness by leveraging the Phoenix Wet Chemical Laboratory, or microfluidic sample processing technologies.

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Section: Implementation Of the Oxr Instrumentmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Oxygen Release Instrument: Space Mission Reactive Oxygen Species Measurements for Habitability Characterization, Biosignature Preservation Potential Assessment, and Evaluation of Human Health Hazards

Georgiou

McKay

Quinn

et al. 2019

Life

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“…These systems have conducted high-resolution analyses of trace species in multiple relevant planetary analogue samples, including those from hydrothermal sites, , the Murchison meteorite, and the Rio Tinto . MicroCE-LIF systems based on these prototypes, such as the Enceladus Organic Analyzer, the Impact Penetrator Organic Analyzer, the Microfabricated Organic Analyzer for Biosignatures, and the Planetary In Situ Capillary Electrophoresis System have been proposed for missions to Mars, Enceladus, and Europa. ,,− …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantitative and Compositional Analysis of Trace Amino Acids in Icy Moon Analogues Using a Microcapillary Electrophoresis Laser-Induced Fluorescence Detection System

Duca

Craft

Cable

et al. 2022

ACS Earth Space Chem.

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Enceladus’s jet activity, Europa’s putative plume activity, and the evidence supporting global subsurface oceans have made them high-priority targets for future NASA missions. In situ analysis of organic molecules in the jets/plumes or subsurface oceans of these icy moons would provide relevant, detailed information on the formation, habitability, and ongoing planetary processes of celestial bodies and could provide the first evidence of the potential for extant life beyond Earth. Microcapillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence (μCE-LIF) enables highly-sensitive, automated, quantitative, and compositional analysis of organic molecule monomers and short polymers and can achieve a sub-parts-per-trillion limit of detection. Portable Mars Organic Analyzer prototypes have been built and field-tested, and the Enceladus Organic Analyzer and Microfabricated Organic Analyzer for Biosignatures prototypes are under development as potential instruments for missions to Enceladus or Europa. Here, high-resolution separations of amino acids contained within icy moon analogue solutions of sulfuric acid, carbonic acid, sodium carbonate, and magnesium sulfate were obtained using a benchtop μCE-LIF system. Separations were improved by dilution, pH regulation, and chelation of cations with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. Also, a sample taken from Champagne Geyser, a CO2-driven geyser at Chaffin Ranch, Utah, was analyzed for amino acids and found to contain leucine, valine, serine, alanine, and glycine. Alanine and glycine were quantified via a standard curve at 80.1 ± 0.8 μM and 900 ± 100 nM, respectively. This work represents a significant step forward for the liquid-based μCE-LIF analysis of small organic molecules and biopolymers for future space missions to icy bodies like Enceladus and Europa.

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“…We have developed a microfluidic organic analyzer (MOA) system consisting of a programmable microvalve array (PMA) integrated directly with glass microchannels and a laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection system 8 – 14 . Previous MOA applications have focused on the performance of fluorescent labeling of amino acids, aldehydes, ketones, and carboxylic acids, followed by high-resolution capillary electrophoresis separation and nanomolar to picomolar detection of the labeled analytes 15 – 19 .…”

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confidence: 99%

Operation of a programmable microfluidic organic analyzer under microgravity conditions simulating space flight environments

et al. 2023

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A programmable microfluidic organic analyzer was developed for detecting life signatures beyond Earth and clinical monitoring of astronaut health. Extensive environmental tests, including various gravitational environments, are required to confirm the functionality of this analyzer and advance its overall Technology Readiness Level. This work examines how the programmable microfluidic analyzer performed under simulated Lunar, Martian, zero, and hypergravity conditions during a parabolic flight. We confirmed that the functionality of the programmable microfluidic analyzer was minimally affected by the significant changes in the gravitational field, thus paving the way for its use in a variety of space mission opportunities.

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Operation of pneumatically-actuated membrane-based microdevices for in situ analysis of extraterrestrial organic molecules after prolonged storage and in multiple orientations with respect to Earth’s gravitational field

Cited by 10 publications

References 44 publications

The Oxygen Release Instrument: Space Mission Reactive Oxygen Species Measurements for Habitability Characterization, Biosignature Preservation Potential Assessment, and Evaluation of Human Health Hazards

The Oxygen Release Instrument: Space Mission Reactive Oxygen Species Measurements for Habitability Characterization, Biosignature Preservation Potential Assessment, and Evaluation of Human Health Hazards

Quantitative and Compositional Analysis of Trace Amino Acids in Icy Moon Analogues Using a Microcapillary Electrophoresis Laser-Induced Fluorescence Detection System

Operation of a programmable microfluidic organic analyzer under microgravity conditions simulating space flight environments

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