Fully Automated Microchip Electrophoresis Analyzerfor Potential Life Detection Missions
2020
There
are a variety of complementary observations that could be
used in the search for life in extraterrestrial settings. At the molecular
scale, patterns in the distribution of organics could provide powerful
evidence of a biotic component. In order to observe these molecular
biosignatures during spaceflight missions, it is necessary to perform
separation science in situ. Microchip electrophoresis (ME) is ideally
suited for this task. Although this technique is readily miniaturized
and numerous instruments have been developed over the last 3 decades,
to date, all lack the automation capabilities needed for future missions
of exploration. We have developed a portable, automated, battery-powered,
and remotely operated ME instrument coupled to laser-induced fluorescence
detection. This system contains all the necessary hardware and software
interfaces for end-to-end functionality. Here, we report the first
application of the system for amino acid analysis coupled to an extraction
unit in order to demonstrate automated sample-to-data operation. The
system was remotely operated aboard a rover during a simulated Mars
mission in the Atacama Desert, Chile. This is the first demonstration
of a fully automated ME analysis of soil samples relevant to planetary
exploration. This validation is a critical milestone in the advancement
of this technology for future implementation on a spaceflight mission.
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