This paper described a low-cost and reliable process for reversible bonding fabrication of electrophoresis microchips on quartz glass substrates in ordinary laboratory without the requirement of clean room facilities, and the microchips have been used in model protein separation and clinical urinary protein detection. Patterns of microchannel were fabricated through standard photolithography and etching on the quartz glass substrate. After bonding surfaces were rigorously rinsed, bonding was realized in vacuum ovens. The chip could be separated and re-bonded for usage. The microchip in these studies was designed to realize on-chip separation of urinary proteins with UV detection. The electrophoretic buffer was 75 mmol/L borate with 0.5 mol/L lactate and pH 10.5. The chips have been used successfully for separation of model proteins and clinical urinary proteins.

Key words: reversible bonding, electrophoresis microchip, urinary protein