On-column preconcentration of glutathione and glutathione disulfide using pH-mediated base stacking for the analysis of microdialysis samples by capillary electrophoresis

Enhanced Microchip Electrophoresis Separations Combined with Electrochemical Detection Utilizing a Capillary Embedded in Polystyrene

The ability to use microchip-based electrophoresis for fast, high-throughput separations provides researchers with a tool for close-to real time analysis of biological systems. While PDMS-based electrophoresis devices are popular, the separation efficiency is often an issue due to the hydrophobic nature of PDMS. In this study, a hybrid microfluidic capillary device was fabricated to utilize the positive features of PDMS along with the electrophoretic performance of fused silica. A capillary loop was embedded in a polystyrene base that can be coupled with PDMS microchannels at minimal dead volume interconnects. A method for cleaning out the capillaries after a wet-polishing step was devised through the use of 3D printed syringe attachment. By comparing the separation efficiency of fluorescein and CBI-glycine with both a PDMS-based serpentine device and the embedded capillary loop device, it was shown that the embedded capillary loop device maintained higher theoretical plates for both analytes. A Pd decoupler with a carbon or Pt detection electrode were embedded along with the loop allowing integration of the electrophoretic separation with electrochemical detection. A series of catecholamines were separated to show the ability to resolve similar analytes and detect redox active species. The release of dopamine and norepinephrine from PC 12 cells was also analyzed showing the compatibility of these improved microchip separations with high ionic cell buffers associated with cell culture.

New Application of pH-Mediated Acid Stacking Technique for Amphoteric Compounds in Capillary Electrophoresis: Example Assay of Blood Glutathiones

Both reduced and oxidized forms of glutathiones were firstly stacked and detected using pH-mediated acid stacking method, in which glutathiones were stacked as cations and separated as anions. Factors, such as injection time, sweeping time, buffer pH, concentration of sodium chloride in sample matrix, that influenced stacking and separation were systematically studied and optimized. Under the optimum condition, the enhancement factors of ~20 times for both reduced and oxidized forms of glutathiones could be easily obtained within 20 min with satisfied sensitivities (limit of detections were 0.12 and 0.06 μmol/L for reduced and oxidized glutathione, respectively, at signal-to-noise ratio, S/N = 3), linearity range (0.3-300.0 and 0.6-300.0 μmol/L for reduced and oxidized glutathione, respectively), recoveries (>98%) and reproducibilities (relative standard deviation <5.1% for peak height). The proposed method provides an alternation way for assaying of glutathiones, as well as amphoteric compounds, in blood sample.

Improvement of derivatized amino acid detection sensitivity in micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography by means of acid-induced pH-mediated stacking technique

Derivatization is a frequently used sample preparation procedure applicable to the enhancement of analyte detection sensitivity. Amino acids mostly require derivatization prior to electrophoretic or chromatographic analysis, especially if spectrophotometric detection is used. This study presents an on-line preconcentration technique for derivatized amino acids. The sensitivity of the method was improved by the utilization of the proposed acid-induced pH-mediated stacking mechanism. The method is demonstrated by preconcentration of amino acids labeled with 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene. Use of optimized conditions for a large sample volume injection (40 s, 13.8 kPa) followed by electrokinetic injection of 0.1 M HCl (20 s, 10 kV) gave a 20- to 30-fold enhancement of sensitivity. The significance of the sweeping mechanism and pseudo-isotachophoresis for the on-line sample focusing and the influence of parameters on the preconcentration process were discussed. The applicability of the elaborated method was demonstrated using human urine samples.

On-line capillary electrophoresis for enhanced detection sensitivity of feline panleukopenia virus

A rapid on-line capillary electrophoresis (CE) method for highly sensitive detection of DNA molecules with specific lengths was developed based on the combination of base stacking (BS) and programmed field strength gradients (PFSG). The BS method has been performed for on-column concentration to improve detection sensitivity without any modification of the CE system. PFSG increased the electrophoretic velocity of DNA molecules, which effectively decreased analysis time. Using the BS and PFSG combination, the amplified PCR product (340-bp DNA) of cats infected with feline panleukopenia virus was detected within 6.5min. Detection sensitivity (∼10-fold) was enhanced compared to conventional CE analysis. The combined on-line CE/BS-PFSG methodology could be an effectively rapid analysis technique for the highly sensitive detection of disease-related specific DNA molecules.

Simultaneous determination of oxidized and reduced glutathione in eel's (Monopterus albus) plasma by transient pseudoisotachophoresis coupled with capillary zone electrophoresis

Both the reduced form of glutathione (GSH) and the oxidized form of glutathione (GSSG) in eel's ( Monopterus albus) plasma were for the first time determined by transient pseudoisotachophoresis coupled with capillary zone electrophoresis. The method of transient pseudoisotachophoresis coupled with capillary zone electrophoresis has been thoroughly optimized and adequately evaluated for the simultaneous determination of GSH and GSSG in eel's plasma. The detection limits (S/N = 3) of the method developed were 0.2 and 0.05 micromol/L for GSH and GSSG, respectively. The linearity of the calibration curves was valid in the range of 0-10 micromol/L GSH and 0-0.70 micromol/L GSSG. The method was simple, fast, and reproducible. It was found that the respective concentrations of GSH and GSSG were in the range of 9.1-14.5 and 0.31-0.58 micromol/L in the adult eel's plasma, and 10.8-17.9 and 0.49 - 0.68 micromol/L in the juvenile eel's plasma of the three populations determined. Each blood sample was a composite of five eels. For each of the three populations, the concentrations of GSH and GSSG in the adult eel's plasma were lower than those in the juvenile eel's plasma, and the concentrations of GSH and GSSG in the plasma of population 1 (deep yellow finless eels) were higher than those in populations 2 (light yellow finless eels) and 3 (green finless eels) for either the adult or the juvenile eels.

Recent developments in CE and CEC of peptides

The article brings a comprehensive survey of recent developments and applications of high-performance capillary electromigration methods, zone electrophoresis, ITP, IEF, affinity electrophoresis, EKC, and electrochromatography, to analysis, preparation, and physicochemical characterization of peptides. New approaches to the theoretical description and experimental verification of electromigration behavior of peptides and to methodology of their separations, such as sample preparation, adsorption suppression, and detection, are presented. Novel developments in individual CE and CEC modes are shown and several types of their applications to peptide analysis are presented: conventional qualitative and quantitative analysis, purity control, determination in biomatrices, monitoring of chemical and enzymatical reactions and physical changes, amino acid and sequence analysis, and peptide mapping of proteins. Some examples of micropreparative peptide separations are given and capabilities of CE and CEC techniques to provide important physicochemical characteristics of peptides are demonstrated.

Sample preparation

A panorama of sample preparation methods has been composed from 481 references, with a highlight of some promising methods fast developed during recent years and a somewhat brief introduction on most of the well-developed methods. All the samples were commonly referred to molecular composition, being extendable to particles including cells but not to organs, tissues and larger bodies. Some criteria to evaluate or validate a sample preparation method were proposed for reference. Strategy for integration of several methods to prepare complicated protein samples for proteomic studies was illustrated and discussed.

Recent advances in enhancing the sensitivity of electrophoresis and electrochromatography in capillaries and microchips

Poor sensitivity is considered to be one of the major limitations of electrophoretic separation methods, particularly when compared to traditional liquid chromatographic techniques. To address this issue, various in-line preconcentration techniques have been developed over the past 15 years, ranging in power and complexity, and there are now a number of well understood approaches routinely capable of providing a 10,000- to 100,000-fold increase in sensitivity, as well as several that can be pushed above a million. Furthermore, these have been achieved with particularly troublesome and often difficult samples, such as those having high salinity from a biological or environmental origin. This review will discuss the most common methods for improving the sensitivity of CE, CEC and microchip version of these, with particular attention to those approaches developed over the last five years.

Contemporary sample stacking in CE: A sophisticated tool based on simple principles

Sample stacking is a general term for methods in CE which are used for on-line concentration of diluted analytes. During the stacking process, analytes present at low concentrations in a long injected sample zone are concentrated into a short zone (stack). The stacked analytes are then separated and individual zones are detected. Thus stacking provides better separation efficiency and detection sensitivity. Many papers have been published on stacking till now, various procedures have been described, and, many names have been proposed for stacking procedures utilizing the same principles. This contribution brings an easy and unified view on stacking, describes the basic principles utilized, makes a list of recognized operational principles and brings an overview of principal current procedures. Further, it surveys selected recent practical applications ordered according to their operational principles and includes the terms, nicknames, and acronyms used for these actual stacking procedures. This contribution may help both newcomers and experts in the field of CE to orient themselves in the already quite complex topic of sample stacking.

Capillary isotachophoresis from the student point of view – images and the reality

A review of some fundamental aspects of ITP from the student point of view, imaginations of some basic facts and laws, use of ITP, and the recent trends are presented. The results of theoretical computations of ITP separation processes are added for comparison of imaginations with the exact mathematical description.