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• Controlled circular distribution of the electric field for DNA separation and concentration was used. • Six different DNA molecules were separated with high resolution. • DNA concentration near the central electrode was achieved. • The electric field lines angles induce trajectories of DNA deflection. An approach for the controllable separation and concentration of nucleic acid using a circular nonuniform electric field was proposed and developed. Using six different lengths of DNA molecules as standard samples, the distribution of the gradient electric field was increased from the outer circular electrode to the inner rod-shaped electrode, contributing to the migration of DNA molecules at a velocity gradient towards the region with the strongest inner electric field. The DNA molecules were arranged in a distribution of concentric circles that aligned with the distribution of concentric equipotential lines. The concentration of DNA multiplied with the alternation of radius. As a result, this platform allowed simultaneous DNA separation, achieving a resolution range of 1.17–3.03 through an extended electrophoresis time, resulting in enhanced concentration factors of 1.08–6.27. Moreover, the manipulation of the relative height of the inner and outer electrodes enabled precise control over the distribution and the deflection degree of electric field lines, leading to accurate control over DNA deflection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• PPDA-MIPs with a sandwich structure is prepared by a facile polymerization method. • PPDA-MIPs is able to identify LDL and dispose "bad cholesterol" simultaneously. • LDL in goat serum is selectively isolated with a favorable adsorption performance. A simplified approach for preparation of sandwich type molecularly imprinted polymers (PPDA-MIPs) is proposed for simultaneously identify Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and dispose "bad cholesterol". Porous polydopamine nanosphere (PPDA) is applied as a matrix for immobilization of LDL, and the imprinted layer is formed by dopamine acting as a functional monomer. Since imprinted cavities exhibit shape memory effects in terms of recognizing selectivity, the PPDA-MIPs exhibit excellent selectivity toward LDL and a substantial binding capacity of 550.3 μg mg−1. Meanwhile, six adsorption/desorption cycles later, the adsorption efficiency of 83.09 % is still achieved, indicating the adequate stability and reusability of PPDA-MIPs. Additionally, over 80 % of cholesterol is recovered, indicating the completeness of "bad cholesterol" removal in LDL. Lastly, as demonstrated by gel electrophoresis, PPDA-MIPs performed satisfactory behavior for the removal of LDL from the goat serum sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Preparative gel electrophoresis-electrodialysis for biosamples. • Demonstrated with organoid models of Langerhans islets. • Cleans up samples for LC-MS analysis, demonstrated with insulin. Organoids are 3D cell cultures with microanatomies mimicking aspects of real organs, useful for e.g. animal-free studies of development, disease, and drug discovery. The cell medium of organoid models of Langerhans islets, regulating blood glucose levels by insulin secretion, can be analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). However, organoid medium complexity is a major challenge, as matrix interferences can reduce sensitivity and selectivity, even with optimized LC-MS conditions. By applying preparative agarose gel electrophoresis-electrodialysis (PGE-ED), we were able to decrease the cell medium background signal, allowing for reduced interferences affecting LC-MS analysis of human insulin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Method to quantify K+, Na+, Ca+2, Mg+2, free and total glycerol in biodiesel. • Four biodiesel quality parameters are present in the same electropherogram. • Simple cation extraction from biodiesel is performed in less than 3 min. • Method accuracy confirmed by official methods applied by other laboratories. Abstract A novel method for the sequential determination of sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium and free and total glycerol in biodiesel by capillary zone electrophoresis is proposed herein. The inorganic cations were separated along an effective length of 43.5 cm. The samples to quantify the free and total glycerol were injected into the opposite capillary end, close to the detection window, with an effective length of 8.5 cm. It was possible to achieve the separation of six analytes within 3 min. The quantification limits for the cations and glycerol ranged from 0.071 to 0.5 mg kg−1 to and 0.0017% to 0.017% w/w, respectively. Despite the complexity of the injection steps, the values for the instrumental, intraday and interday precision were better than 2.13, 4.49 and 5.68% (RSD), respectively, for the cations and the free and total glycerol. The method has good accuracy and specificity, which was statistically confirmed through an interlaboratory assay, where the method was compared with official methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) have been effectively used as a rapid and economical method for the separation and purification of many enzymes or proteins. However, a key problem is the recovery of the polymers forming ATPS and there are rarely available studies about ATPS for the transglutaminase. In this study, a pH-responsive ATPS has been established by two pH-responsive polymers (P ADB4.91 and P ADB4.06 ) that can be recycled by changing the pH values, with high recovery of over 96%. And partitioning of the crude transglutaminase in this new ATPS was investigated for the first time. The main parameters, such as crude TGase feedstock load, the pH of system (pH 6.50–7.80), polymers concentration, and the types and concentration of salts, were studied to optimize partition conditions. In the 3% P ADB4.91 /2% P ADB4.06 ATPS, enzyme recovery of 96.51%, partition coefficient of 4.23 and purification factor of 3.73 for TGase were obtained in the presence of 60 mmol/L MgSO4 and at pH 7.00. The result of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis shows that TGase can be well separated from crude extract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most recent advances on the use of cyclodextrins as chiral selectors in capillary electrophoresis for the enantioseparation of drugs are reviewed in this article. The types of cyclodextrins employed and the resolutions achieved are discussed. The use of dual chiral systems, modified capillaries, non-aqueous media or microfluidic devices is also included and the mechanisms for enantioseparation of drugs and the inversion of the enantiomer migration order are studied. The most relevant applications developed to carry out the quantitation of chiral drugs, to assess the enantiomeric purity of pharmaceutical formulations, to study their metabolism or to achieve criminalistic or forensic investigations are described. Articles published in the last six years (period from 2010 to 2015) are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The newly developed interface-free capillary electrophoresis-nanospray/mass spectrometry system (CE-nESI/MS) was applied for rapid analysis of the cardioprotective drug dexrazoxane and its hydrolysed form ADR-925 in deproteinized blood plasma samples. The aim of this study was to test the simplest possible CE-nESI/MS instrumentation for analyses of real samples. This interface-free system, utilizing single piece of a narrow bore capillary as both the electrophoretic separation column and the nanospray emitter, was operated at a flow rate of 30 nL/min. Excellent electrophoretic separation and sensitive nanospray ionization was achieved with the use of only one high voltage power supply. In addition, hydrophobic external coating was developed and tested for additional stability of the nanospray ionization. To our knowledge this is the first study devoted to the analysis of dexrazoxane and ADR-925 by capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A disposable integrated microfluidic device was developed for rapid sample stacking, separation and extraction of multiple DNA fragments from a relatively large amount of sample. Isotachophoresis hyphenated gel electrophoresis (ITP-GE) was used to pre-concentrate and separate DNA fragments, followed by extraction of pure DNA fragments with electroelution on-chip. DNA fragments of 200 bp, 500 bp and 1 kbp were successfully separated and collected in the extraction chamber within 25 min. The extraction efficiency obtained from the chip was 49.9%, 52.1% and 53.7% for 200 bp, 500 bp and 1 kbp DNA fragments, respectively. The extracted DNA fragments exhibited compatibility with downstream enzymatic reactions, for example PCR. The chip was also used to extract DNA fragments with specific size range from sheared genomic DNA and demonstrated similar performance to that using traditional gel cutting method. The whole assay can finish in 32 min, 6 times faster than traditional method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• In-depth information about the technology and the current state of the art. • Limitations, challenges, and remedies affecting the analytical performance of CE-SDS. • Critical review showing the progress and gaps with suggestions for improvement. • Where we stand and what we need to leverage the technology in various fields. The purpose of this review is to highlight noteworthy advancements in the field of capillary gel electrophoresis for the separation and analysis of proteins from the period of 2015-2021. This review will provide an overview of the historical perspective and principles of the technique, introduce the challenges and limitations commonly faced, and highlight the advancements made to overcome these issues and broaden our knowledge of the method. Finally, applications of capillary gel electrophoresis and future directions for the technique will be presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The liquid in a separation capillary is used as an acceptor phase. [•] Extremely simple but powerful way of liquid phase microextraction. [•] In-tube microextraction is first applied to headspace extraction. [•] In-tube microextraction is coupled with capillary electrophoresis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Combination of MS imaging and separations reveals more sample composition. [•] Mass spectrometry images chromatography. [•] Separation improves mass spectrometry imaging results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] A novel processing method was proposed to determine the association constants. [•] Interesting selectivity of G-gel to aromatic compounds was found. [•] Selectivity was discussed based on the determined association constants. [•] The possible interactions were proposed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A chromatographic method for the analysis of whey protein isolate (WPI)–dextran glycates was developed in this work that is useful for quantification of sample purity and concentration, and as a sample-preparation method for subsequent analysis by gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and laser-light scattering. Glycation was by the Maillard reaction between WPI and dextran of 3 different sizes. Glycate fractions from each dextran were collected and analyzed by fluorescent and glycoprotein staining of gels, bicinchoinic acid protein assay, and static and dynamic laser light scattering. The weight-average molecular mass of the glycates was 27–34kDa (from 3.5kDa dextran), 32–39kDa (from 10kDa dextran), and 250–270kDa (from 150kDa dextran). The new method was used to characterize the kinetics of the glycation reaction, which followed a reversible pseudo first-order model. The kinetics of decomposition of the purified glycate by hydrolysis was also examined. The new method is rapid (25min) and quantitative, and is the first chromatographic method for direct analysis of WPI-dextran glycation products. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Over the past two decades, capillary electrophoresis (CE) has been the subject of extensive development and progress in various DNA based sieving electrophoresis applications, namely Sanger sequencing, forensic short tandem repeat (STR) analysis, clinical genotype screening (SNP), and phylogenetic fingerprinting. Yet, this trend has not been emulated in the RNA field. This review will highlight the development and key analysis parameters of RNA electrophoresis by CE and provide possible explanations for the low research interest in this area. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Instrumentation has been developed for the implementation of ultra-high voltage capillary electrophoresis (UHVCE) with potentials up to and exceeding 300kV. Several separations have been used to demonstrate the utility of higher applied voltages for improving the resolution of peptide, protein, and nucleic acid separations. Previously reported instrumentation was limited to 120kV and required submersion in a bath of transformer oil to prevent corona and high voltage arcing between the components of the instrument [Hutterer, 1999, 2000, 2005] [1–3]. A modular design that uses plastic dielectric materials to overcome these obstacles enabling simplified operation of the instrument in air is described here in detail. A forced air system developed to control the temperature of the instrument to within a few degrees over a range of 25–60°C for use with ultra-high voltage capillary gel electrophoresis is also described. UHVCE instrumentation and its applications with UV absorption and laser induced fluorescence detection are further developed, and the first demonstration of UHVCE coupled to electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry is shown. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Identification of potential changes in the glycosylation of existing cancer biomarkers can result in a higher level of diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. Clusterin (Apolipoprotein J) has been implicated in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and other types of malignancy as potential biomarker. In the present work, an automated multi-dimensional HPLC platform enabling high throughput affinity enrichment of clusterin from plasma samples was developed. Integrated with two dimensional gel electrophoresis, high purity clusterin in microgram quantities suitable for glycan characterization was isolated. The analytical platform was applied to study clusterin glycosylation in a small group of RCC patients before and after nephrectopy as a pilot study to evaluate the performance of the platform. A statistically significant decrease was observed in the levels of a bi-antennary digalactosyl disialylated (A2G2S(3)2) glycans while the levels of a core fucosylated bi-antennary digalactosyl disialylated glycan (FA2G2S(6)2) and a tri-antennary trigalactosyl disialylated glycan (A3G3S(6)2) were increased in the post-surgery plasma samples. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Capillary electrophoresis (CE) has long been regarded as a powerful analytical separation technique that is an alternative to more traditional methods such as gel electrophoresis (GE) and liquid chromatography (LC). It is often touted as having a number of advantages over both of these, such as speed, flexibility, portability, sample and reagent requirements and cost, but also a number of disadvantages such as reproducibility and sensitivity. Microchip electrophoresis (ME), the next evolutionary step, miniaturised CE further providing improvements in speed and sample requirements as well as the possibility to perform more complex and highly integrated analyses. CE and ME are seen as a viable alternative to GE, but are often considered to be inferior to LC. This review will consider the strengths and weaknesses of both CE and ME and will challenge the common conceptions held about these. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Degradation products from lignocellulosic materials receive increasing attention due to the continuously growing interest in their utilization. The inherent structural variance of lignocellulosics combined with the intricacy of lignocellulosic processing (e.g. pulping of wood and bleaching of cellulosic pulps) and the complexity of degradation processes occurring therein result in rather complex mixtures in the process streams and effluents that contain a large quantity of structurally different degradation products. This is true for most processing steps, but also for degradation reactions occurring during aging of lignocellulosic materials, such as paper, cellulosic tissue or textiles. In order to render such mixtures better analytically accessible than hitherto possible a CE-ESI-MS method was established for the simultaneous determination of aliphatic carboxylic acids from the degradation of (hemi)celluloses and aromatic compounds from lignin degradation. CE and ESI-MS parameters have been optimized towards sensitivity and good reproducibility. The method was tested in two real-world scenarios: the determination of major components in effluents from bleaching stages in the pulp and paper industry, and the analysis of degradation products in extracts of naturally aged papers. The advantages and drawbacks of this approach are critically discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Transcription factor (TF) purification and identification is an important step in elucidating gene regulatory mechanisms. In this study, we present two new electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA)-based multi-dimensional electrophoresis approaches to isolate and characterize TFs, using detection with either southwestern or western blotting and HPLC–nanoESI-MS/MS analysis for identification. These new techniques involve several major steps. First, EMSA is performed with agents that diminish non-specific DNA-binding and the DNA–protein complex is separated by native PAGE gel. The gel is then electrotransferred to PVDF membrane and visualized by autoradiography. Next, the DNA–protein complex, which has been transferred onto the blot, is extracted using a detergent-containing elution buffer. Following detergent removal, concentrated extract is separated by SDS-PAGE (EMSA-2DE), followed by in-gel trypsin digestion and HPLC–nanoESI-MS/MS analysis, or the concentrated extract is separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (EMSA-3DE), followed by southwestern or western blot analysis to localize DNA binding proteins on blot which are further identified by on-blot trypsin digestion and HPLC–nanoESI-MS/MS analysis. Finally, the identified DNA binding proteins are further validated by EMSA-immunoblotting or EMSA antibody supershift assay. This approach is used to purify and identify GFP-C/EBP fusion protein from bacterial crude extract, as well as purifying AP1 and CEBP DNA binding proteins from a human embryonic kidney cell line (HEK293) nuclear extract. AP1 components, c-Jun, Jun-D, c-Fos, CREB, ATF1 and ATF2 were successfully identified from 1.5mg of nuclear extract (equivalent to 3×107 HEK293 cells) with AP1 binding activity of 750fmol. In conclusion, this new strategy of combining EMSA with additional dimensions of electrophoresis and using southwestern blotting for detection proves to be a valuable approach in the identification of transcriptional complexes by proteomic methods. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In contrast to α-, β- and γ-cyclodextrins, little information is available on the isolation and separation of cycloamylose (CA) with degree of polymerization (DP) larger than 22. The objective of the current study was to develop a new iodine affinity capillary electrophoresis (CE) for separation of CA with DP of 22–42, which was based on the formation of CA-iodine inclusion complexes, CA with twisted conformations made complicated mobility behaviors on CE instead of merely size dependent. The influences of iodide/iodine ratio, iodine concentration, pH, ion strength of running phosphate buffer, voltage, and temperature on the peak resolution and electrophoretic mobility were further investigated. Our results suggest that iodine affinity capillary electrophoresis provides a versatile and selective tool for the isolation and analysis of CA with DP from 22 to 42. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A simple analytical system using disposable, open-tubular ion exchange clean-up precolumns coupled in-line to capillary electrophoresis for direct injection of biological samples is presented. The clean-up precolumns were prepared from fused silica capillaries by thermally initiated layer-by-layer polymerization of poly(butadiene-maleic acid) (PBMA) directly on the capillary wall. Typically, 6cm long precolumns with 4-layers of PBMA were used for sample pretreatment. A robust and reproducible coupling between the precolumn (75μm ID) and the analytical capillary (50μm ID) was achieved using an inexpensive, commercially available low dead volume union. No extra dispersion of the analyte zones was observed. Proteins and other high molecular weight compounds from biological sample matrices were retained on the cation-exchanger sites of the precolumn, which eliminated their adsorption on analytical capillary walls and ensured stable electroosmotic flow and migration times of target analytes. Unretained small inorganic cations migrated freely into the analytical capillary for separation and detection. Applicability of the sample clean-up procedure was proved by determination of major inorganic cations in blood serum and plasma samples using capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductivity detection. Separations were performed in background electrolyte solution consisting of 15mM l-arginine, 12.5mM maleic acid, 3mM 18-crown-6 at pH 5.5 and repeatabilities of migration times and peak areas were below 1.5% and 7.3%, respectively. Less than 1μL of biological sample was required for injection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A surfactant bilayer/diblock polymer coating was previously developed for the separation of proteins. The coating consisted of a mixture of the cationic surfactant dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DODAB) and the neutral polymer poly-oxyethylene (POE) 40 stearate (Journal of Chromatography A 1130 (2006) 265–271). Herein an improved method of generating DODAB/POE stearate coatings is demonstrated, which yields more predictable EOF, more stable coatings, greater average efficiencies and easier method development. In this sequential preparation method the DODAB is first flowed through the capillary, followed by a flow of the POE stearate (sequential method). A tunable EOF (−2.40 to −0.17×10−4 cm2/Vs) is achieved by varying the POE chain length (8, 40 and 100 oxyethylene units). Mixtures of POE 8 and POE 40 stearate enabled continuous variation in EOF from −2.44 to −0.42×10−4 cm2/Vs. Separations of basic proteins yielded efficiencies of 760000–940000plates/m. Coatings formed using the sequential method were more stable over a larger number of runs (%RSD for migration times: 0.7–1.0% over 30 runs) than those formed using the original mixed method (%RSD: 2.4–4.6% over 14 runs). The ability to tune the EOF is important in maximizing the resolution of analytes with similar electrophoretic mobilities. Histone proteins are separated on a sequentially coated capillary with resolution of nine possible subtypes. Acidic proteins are separated on a sequentially coated capillary at pH 6.4. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Planar separations, which include thin layer chromatography and gel electrophoresis, are in widespread use as important and powerful tools for conducting separations of complex mixtures. To increase the utility of planar separations, new methods are needed that allow in situ characterization of the individual components of the separated mixtures. A large number of atmospheric pressure surface sampling and ionization techniques for use with mass spectrometry have emerged in the past several years, and several have been investigated as a means for mass spectrometric read-out of planar separations. In this article, we review the atmospheric pressure surface sampling and ionization techniques that have been used for the read-out of planar separation media. For each technique, we briefly explain the operational basics and discuss the analyte type for which it is appropriate and some specific applications from the literature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Accelerated tryptic digestion of a therapeutic protein including microwave irradiation and thermal transfer by convection at 60°C and 37°C was investigated. An analytical setup was devised to follow the protein digestion rate using 1D gel electrophoresis and liquid chromatography coupled a triple quadrupole linear ion trap mass spectrometer. The formation kinetic of its tryptic peptides was monitored in the selected monitoring mode (LC-SRM/MS). Different digestion end points (e.g. 2, 5, 10, 15, 30 and 60min) as well as an overnight digestion were tested using a therapeutic human monoclonal antibody (mAb) with the goal of its LC-SRM/MS quantification in human plasma. The peptides from the human mAb were generated at different rates and were classified into three categories: (1) the fast forming peptides, (2) the slow forming peptides and (3) the peptides degrading over time. For many monitored peptides, a heating temperature of 37°C with a 750rpm mixing applied for at least 30min provided equivalent results to microwave-assisted digestion and generally allowed the achievement of an equivalent peptide concentration as an overnight digestion carried out at 37°C. The disappearance of the protein of the heavy and light chains can be monitored by 1D gel electrophoresis but was found not to be representative of the final tryptic peptide concentrations. For quantitative purposes a stable isotope labeled version (13C4, 15N1) of the therapeutic protein was used. The labeled protein as internal standard was found to be very efficient to compensate for incomplete digestion or losses during sample preparation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The aim of this study was to develop a fast capillary electrophoresis method for the determination of propranolol in pharmaceutical preparations. In the method development the pH and constituents of the background electrolyte were selected using the effective mobility versus pH curves. Benzylamine was used as the internal standard. The background electrolyte was composed of 60mmolL−1 tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane and 30mmolL−1 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, at pH 8.1. Separation was conducted in a fused-silica capillary (32cm total length and 8.5cm effective length, 50μm I.D.) with a short-end injection configuration and direct UV detection at 214nm. The run time was only 14s. Three different strategies were studied in order to develop a fast CE method with low total analysis time for propranolol analysis: low flush time (Lflush) 35runs/h, without flush (Wflush) 52runs/h, and Invert (switched polarity) 45runs/h. Since the three strategies developed are statistically equivalent, Wflush was selected due to the higher analytical frequency in comparison with the other methods. A few figures of merit of the proposed method include: good linearity (R 2 >0.9999); limit of detection of 0.5mgL−1; inter-day precision better than 1.03% (n =9) and recovery in the range of 95.1–104.5%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Investigation of the transcription factor (TF) proteome presents challenges including the large number of low abundance and post-translationally modified proteins involved. Specialized purification and analysis methods have been developed over the last decades which facilitate the study of the TF proteome and these are reviewed here. Generally applicable proteomics methods that have been successfully applied are also discussed. TFs are selectively purified by affinity techniques using the DNA response element (RE) as the basis for highly specific binding, and several agents have been discovered that either enhance binding or diminish non-specific binding. One such affinity method called “trapping” enables purification of TFs bound to nM concentrations and recovery of TF complexes in a highly purified state. The electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) is the most important assay of TFs because it provides both measures of the affinity and amount of the TF present. Southwestern (SW) blotting and DNA–protein crosslinking (DPC) allow in vitro estimates of DNA-binding-protein mass, while chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) allows confirmation of promoter binding in vivo. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis methods (2-DE), and 3-DE methods which combines EMSA with 2-DE, allow further resolution of TFs. The synergy of highly selective purification and analytical strategies has led to an explosion of knowledge about the TF proteome and the proteomes of other DNA- and RNA-binding proteins. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Virus reference materials are needed to develop and calibrate detection devices and instruments. We used electrospray differential mobility analysis (ES-DMA) and quantitative amino acid analysis (AAA) to determine the particle concentration of three small model viruses (bacteriophages MS2, PP7, and ϕX174). The biological activity, purity, and aggregation of the virus samples were measured using plaque assays, denaturing gel electrophoresis, and size-exclusion chromatography. ES-DMA was developed to count the virus particles using gold nanoparticles as internal standards. ES-DMA additionally provides quantitative measurement of the size and extent of aggregation in the virus samples. Quantitative AAA was also used to determine the mass of the viral proteins in the pure virus samples. The samples were hydrolyzed and the masses of the well-recovered amino acids were used to calculate the equivalent concentration of viral particles in the samples. The concentration of the virus samples determined by ES-DMA was in good agreement with the concentration predicted by AAA for these purified samples. The advantages and limitations of ES-DMA and AAA to characterize virus reference materials are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Although Staphylococcus Protein A (SpA) affinity chromatography is the state of the art capture step for antibody purification, non-affinity methods are more economical. We used two-dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis (2-D DIGE) to evaluate the purification of a recombinant IgG1 antibody from cultured cells, with two different processes: (1) SpA capture followed by cation-exchange chromatography (CEX); and (2) CEX capture, followed by anion exchanger, then hydrophobic interaction chromatography. Efficiencies were similar in sodium dodecylsulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and size-exclusion chromatography; however, 2-D DIGE revealed higher efficiency with SpA than with CEX capture. Thus, 2-D DIGE is a valuable tool for downstream process development. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We present a novel isotachophoresis–gel electrophoresis (ITP–GE) microchip system designed for rapid and efficient isotachophoretic preconcentration coupled with gel electrophoresis separation by using a negative pressure sampling technique. The overall ITP–GE procedure involves only three steps: sample loading, ITP preconcentration and GE separation and was controlled by a simple and compact negative pressure sampling device, which is composed of a vacuum vessel, a three-way electromagnetic valve and a single high voltage power supply. During the sample loading stage, a negative pressure was applied via a three-way electromagnetic valve in headspace of the two sealed sample waste reservoirs (SWs). A sandwiched sample zone between a leading and a terminating electrolyte zone was formed in the channel intersection in less than 1s. Once the three-way electromagnetic valve was switched to connect SWs to ambient atmosphere to release vacuum in SWs, ITP preconcentration in free solution and GE separation in the 4% hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) sieving material were consequently activated under the electric potentials applied. The performance of present approach was evaluated by using DNA fragments as model analytes. Compared to conventional cross microchip GE using electrokinetic pinched injection, an average signal enhancement of 185-fold was obtained with satisfactory resolution. The results demonstrated the ITP–GE approach possessing an exciting potential of high sensitivity and short sampling time with significant simplification in operation and instrumentation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A completely automated procedure for the purification and desalting of proteins with a polyhistidine purification tag prior to mass spectrometry analysis is presented. The system is ideal for rapid quality control and optimization studies and it provides researchers with a straightforward, reliable tool for studies of recombinant proteins. Forty-eight samples can be prepared within 4.5h and only small cultivation and buffer volumes are needed. In this proof of concept, 19,000–35,000Da recombinant proteins from both crude and clarified cell lysates were successfully prepared for subsequent analysis by electrospray ionization and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry as well as by gel electrophoresis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Complete dissociation into subunits was attained by incubating Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-derived or native human thyrotropin, follitropin and lutropin overnight at 37°C in acetic acid. The α-and β-subunits of the pituitary glycoprotein hormones were rapidly and quantitatively isolated by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). A dissociation efficiency of >98% was obtained on the basis of mass determinations of the heterodimers and subunits carried out via mass spectrometry. CHO-derived or native subunits were isolated on a C4 column (80–90% total recovery) and characterized comparatively for purity, hydrophobicity, molecular mass and charge distribution by HPLC, mass spectrometry, sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing. Thyrotropin was used as a model for showing that, after subunit reassociation, the in vivo bioactivity of the hormone was completely restored. The method described is mild, practical, flexible, and can be adapted to dissociate microgram amounts of native or recombinant glycoprotein hormones, allowing characterization of each subunit. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The technique of “serial displacement chromatofocusing” (SDC) is investigated both theoretically and experimentally with model mixtures of proteins and peptides. The method employs a multistep, retained pH gradient formed using adsorbed buffering species to produce a series of discrete effluent fractions. Each of these fractions may contain several displaced protein bands under conditions of sufficient mass overloading, so that several displacement trains of adjoined bands can be produced in a single chromatographic run. Numerical simulations and experimental results showed selective concentration effects for minor components in a fraction when the feed amount was sufficient large. A computer-aided design method was developed to facilitate the use of the method and was applied to both anion- and cation-exchange column packings. Good agreement was achieved between the designed pH gradients and experimental results. The characteristics of SDC were also explored in terms of its loading capacity, scalability, repeatability, recovery, and differentiation of proteins between their true and apparent isoelectric point values. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Part I of this study investigated the theory and basic characteristics of “serial displacement chromatofocusing” (SDC). In Part II of this study, SDC is applied to two prototype applications which have potential uses in proteomics and related areas involving the analysis of complex analyte mixtures. In the first application, SDC was used as a prefractionation method prior to two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) to separate a human prostate cancer cell lysate. It was observed that the resolution achieved in narrow-pI-range 2D-PAGE was improved when using SDC prefractionation, so that SDC may be useful as a low-cost, high-speed, and highly scalable alternative to electrophoretic prefractionation methods for 2D-PAGE. The second application involves the use of SDC as the first dimension, and reversed-phase chromatography as the second dimension, to produce a novel, fully automated, two-dimensional high-performance liquid chromatography technique. The method was shown to have performance advantages over one-dimensional reversed-phase chromatography for peptide separations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Chiral binaphthols belong to the group of most effective ligands for asymmetrical catalysis. In this context, various binaphthols presenting original substituents have been synthesized. Their study through capillary electrophoresis is the object of this work. The literature dedicated to the separation of atropisomers by capillary electrophoresis, corresponding only to binaphthol, reveals that its enantioseparation is always delicate because of the influence of many factors and the resolutions obtained are weak. Therefore, for a structured optimization, we first successfully evaluated the acidity constants of different binaphthols by means of capillary electrophoresis. With these known physicochemical characteristics, we could successfully carry out enantiomeric separations of the different binaphthols at pH 11.5, practically in completely ionized form, in phosphate medium, and in the presence of cyclodextrin (CD), with analysis times lower than 8min. The nature of CDs (α-CD, β-CD, γ-CD, hydroxypropyl-α-cyclodextrin (HP-α-CD), HP-β-CD, HP-γ-CD and trimethyl-β-CD (TM-β-CD)) and other factors in relation to enantiomeric resolution (applied voltage, nature and concentration of the electrolyte, and concentration of cyclodextrin) were optimized. These studies allowed us to determine the optimal conditions of separation (concentration and nature of CD) for each of the studied binaphthols. It is necessary to mention that, for the 1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diol (Binol) at pH 11.5, the S atropisomer always migrated first, regardless of the nature and concentration of the cyclodextrin used. Moreover, an inversion in elution order of the two atropisomers as a function of pH was observed with γ-CD (pH range: 10–11.5). The R atropisomer migrated first at pH 10. At pH 10.8 the migration order of the two atropisomers of Binol was reversed as a function of γ-CD concentration. Finally, the addition of chiral ionic liquids (R(−)-1-hydroxy-N,N,N-trimethylbutan-2-aminium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide and S(+)-tetrabutylammonium camphorsulfonate) was conducted. In the case of S(+)-tetrabutylammonium camphorsulfonate, a weak antagonistic effect was observed with modeling the evolution of enantiomeric resolution by means of the experimental design, while in the case of R(−)-1-hydroxy-N,N,N-trimethylbutan-2-aminium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide the effect was neutral. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A novel optical scheme, which accomplished simultaneous coaxial thermal lens spectroscopy and retro-reflected beam interference detection for capillary electrophoresis, has been described. By a special design, an adjustable pump laser waist relative to the probe laser waist was implemented, while some key elements for both detection modes were optimized. In either detection modes, certain preponderance compared with former reports was indicated. With both coaxial thermal lens spectroscopy and retro-reflected beam interference detection, the reported detection scheme combined high sensitivity and universal property for capillary electrophoresis detection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The aim of this work was to develop a capillary electrophoresis–mass spectrometry (CE–MS) method to identify and quantify phenolic and other related polar compounds in walnut samples. The extraction capacity of several solvent mixtures of phenolic compounds from walnut by conventional solid–liquid extractions was tested, and CE and electrospray ionization MS parameters were optimized. The finalized procedure is able to determine many well-known phenolic compounds present in walnuts and provide relevant information about the presence of minor polar compounds. A new compound in walnut ((2E,4E)-8-hydroxy-2,7-dimethyl-2,4-decadiene-1,10-dioic acid 6-O-β-d-glucopiranosyl ester, [M−H]− 403.161 m/z) with a structure similar to glansreginins was also identified. Phenolic compounds correspond to 14–28% of total polar compounds quantified. Aglycone and glycosylated ellagic acid represent the principal components and account for 64–75% of total phenols in walnuts. However, the sum of glansreginins A, B and (2E,4E)-8-hydroxy-2,7-dimethyl-2,4-decadiene-1,10-dioic acid 6′-O-β-d-glucopiranosyl ester was in the range of 72–86% of total quantified compounds. In addition, this is the first time that separation by CE with detection by electrospray ionization time-of-flight MS has been applied to the analysis of phenolic and other polar compounds in walnut samples, providing results in less than 15min. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The removal of water-soluble sulphonated phenylazonaphthol dye effluents generated by textile industries is an important issue in wastewater treatment. Microbial treatment of environmental pollutants including dyes, with white rot fungi has received wide attention as a potential alternative for conventional methods in wastewater treatment. Three sulphonated phenylazonaphthol dyes with similar molecular structures Acid Orange 7, Acid Orange 8 and Mordant Violet 5 were selected and degraded by the white rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus. Chemical instrumental analysis methods such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and capillary electrophoresis combined with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (CE-ESI-MS) were used to identify the degraded dyes. Mordant Violet 5 had two degradation pathways when degraded by P. ostreatus. The first degradation pathway for Mordant Violet 5 was for trans structure and the cis-Mordant Violet 5 followed the second pathway. Acid Orange 8 and Acid Orange 7 had the same degradation mechanism as the first degradation mechanism for Mordant Violet 5, that is cleavage of azo bond at the naphthalene ring side where benzenesulfonic acid and 1,2-naphthoquinone are formed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Increasingly biomedical studies require a top-down approach that can be achieved by comparing patterns, signatures or “fingerprints” of metabolites that change in response to disease, toxin exposure, environmental or genetic alterations. Capillary electrophoresis is a technique well suited for the analysis of biofluids and extracted tissue. The experimental design requires a multidisciplinary team comprising chemists, informaticians, medics, etc. Here we have reviewed the field of CE fingerprinting and organised the manuscript in four main blocks, Sample treatment is a discussion of the latest methods for extraction of compounds, Analytical methods, deals with the different versions of electrophoretic methods and detection instrumentation, Chemometrics and CE fingerprinting, explains algorithms that have been presented for peak alignment, normalization, data analysis and metabolite identification, and the Applications heading focuses in urine, plasma, organic matter and plant extract studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: An alternative methodology for the determination of ethambutol by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) under direct UV detection at 262nm, using acetic acid/sodium acetate buffer solution (pH 4.6) containing copper(II) sulphate to form the ethambutol–copper(II) complex, within analysis time of 2.5min is proposed. The optimum CE conditions for the background electrolyte were established performing experiments of a 32 factorial design. Complex formation was evidenced by the UV batochromic shift and the [CuETB]0 and [CuETB]2+ chemical structures were indicated by LC–MS analysis. After some validation parameters have been performed, such as linearity (r =0.999), selectivity (comparison between slope of the calibration curve of the external standard and calibration curve of the standard addition), area precision (RSD%: <2.13 for ETB and <1.94 for 2A1B), recovery mean (101.7% for ETB and 99.95% for 2A1B) and quantification limit (mgL−1: 10.17 for ETB and 19.70 for 2A1B), the method was successfully applied to ETB analysis in pharmaceutical formulation samples. It is possible to determine the presence of the 2A1B impurity at concentrations of less than 1% ETB content. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Methylation is a crucial step in plant microRNA biogenesis. To improve our understanding of the methylation process and its regulation, a rapid and convenient high-throughput method should be sought to help with the study of reaction kinetics and assist the search for chemical inhibitors of the methyltransferase, HEN1. In this short communication, we report a pioneering work that used capillary electrophoresis (CE) to separate the miRNA and its methylation product. Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with UV-absorption detection and a reduced running temperature achieved good separation of miR173/miR173* and miR173-m/miR173*-m with a detection limit of around 1μM. To enhance detection sensitivity, capillary gel electrophoresis (CGE) coupled with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection was also tested, and base-line separation of nanomolar duplex RNA samples was achieved using 4% polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as the sieving matrix and SYBR Green II RNA gel stain for on-column labeling. Although further study is needed to investigate if the separation is sequence dependent, our study demonstrated, for the first time, that CE could be an effective and rapid method in monitoring the miRNA methylation process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A method based on capillary electrophoresis-amperometric detection has been developed for the determination of catechin, rutin, kaempferol, gentistic acid, and quercetin in Folium Eriobotryae with the aid of microwave-assisted solvent extraction. The effects of the acidity and the concentration of the running buffer, separation voltage, injection time, detection potential, and irradiation time were investigated to acquire the optimum analysis conditions. The detection electrode was a 300-μm-diameter carbon disc electrode at a detection potential of +0.90V. The five analytes could be well separated within 12min in a 40-cm length fused-silica capillary at a separation voltage of 12kV in a 50-mM borate buffer (pH 9.0). The relation between peak current and analyte concentration was linear over about three orders of magnitude with detection limits (S/N=3) ranging from 2.1 to 4.5μM for all the analytes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: NMR study and molecular modeling were performed to improve the level of understanding of the chiral recognition process occurring between linezolid and anionic single-isomer cyclodextrin—heptakis-(2,3-diacetyl-6-sulfato)-β-cyclodextrin (HDAS-β-CD). NMR spectrometry allowed to estimate the stoichiometry of the complexes between HDAS-β-CD and S- or R-linezolid and to determine the binding constants. The 1:1 complex stoichiometry was detected in millimolar concentrations and the mode of binding was proposed. The binding constants K a of the complexes were of the order of 30–80M−1. Molecular dynamic simulations of 40ns for four complexes and calculations of binding free energies were performed. These calculations allowed determining the mode of binding of linezolid to HDAS-β-CD and explaining the binding enantioselectivity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Two on-line sample concentration techniques, sample stacking and sweeping under pH-suppressed electroosmotic flow, were evaluated in microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography. The concept of stacking with anion selective electrokinetic injection and a water plug in a reverse-migrating microemulsion (SASIW-RMME) was brought forward in this article. Six flavonoids were concentrated using a microemulsion consisting of 80mM sodium dodecyl sulfate, 1.2% (v/v) ethyl acetate, 0.6% (v/v) 1-butanol, 10% acetonitrile (v/v) and 50mM phosphoric acid (pH* 1.8). Significant detector response improvements were achieved. The limits of detection were in the low ng/ml level. Finally, the sample of Fructus aurantii Immaturus was analyzed using sweeping technique. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper presents a novel method regarding a wavelength-resolved fluorescence detection scheme for high-throughput analysis of bio-samples in a micro-CE chip. Instead of using the conventional laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) microscope equipped with delicate spatial filters and complex control systems, this study adopts a hollow cone illumination generated using a dark-field condenser for exciting fluorescence in the microchannel and an ultraviolet–visible–near–infrared (UV–Vis–NIR) spectrometer for detecting the emission signals. Experimental results show that the proposed system is feasible for simultaneously detecting a mixed sample composed of Atto 610, Rhodamine B and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) fluorescent dyes in a single test run. Furthermore, a mixed bio-sample composed of two mixed 16-mer single-stranded DNAs labeled with Cy3 and FITC fluorescent dyes is also successfully detected with the proposed system. The measured limit of detection (LOD) for detecting FITC of the proposed system can be as low as 5.4×10−6 M (S/N=3). This proposed detection method has shown its potential on RNA identification and DNA sequencing applications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The migration behavior of three calix[4]pyrroles (C4Ps) in acetonitrile (ACN) and in the mixtures of ACN/ethanol (EtOH) (95:5; v/v)with tetraalkylammonium chloride as background electrolyte (BGE) was studied. Electroosmotic flow (EOF) mobilities and absolute mobilities in ACN and mixture of ACN/EtOH (95:5; v/v) were investigated. A decrease of EOF mobilities in EtOH/ACN was observed compared with that of in pure ACN. Variation of the C4Ps effective mobilities as a function of the square root of concentration of tetraakylammonium chloride salts such as tetramethylammonium chloride (Me4NCl), tetraethylammonium chloride (Et4NCl) and tetrabutylammonium chloride (Bu4NCl) in both solvents was plotted, and straight lines were exhibited when Bu4NCl was used as BGE. Absolute mobilities of C4Ps were obtained by extrapolation from the mentioned plots. It was found that the absolute mobilities of C4Ps is independent of the nature of BGE and the values are: meso-octamethylcalix[4]pyrrole (OMCP)> meso-tetracyclopentylcalix[4]pyrrole (TPCP)> meso-tetracyclohexylcalix[4]pyrrole (THCP). The ion-pairing constants follow the order under given solvent: Me4N+ >Et4N+ >Bu4N+, and ion-pairing constant of C4P follows the order: THCP>TPCP>OMCP. As though, ion-pairing association is intensified by steric hindrance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A background electrolyte for capillary electrophoresis containing tris(-hydroxymethyl) aminomethane (THAM) and ethanesulfonic acid (ESA) gives excellent efficiency for separation of drug cations with actual theoretical plate numbers as high as 300,000. However, the analyte cations often elute too quickly and consequently offer only a narrow window for separation. The best way to correct this is to induce a reverse electroosmotic flow (EOF) that will spread out the peaks by slowing their migration rates, but this has always been difficult to accomplish in a controlled manner. A new method for producing a variable EOF is described in which a low variable concentration of tributylammonium- or triethylammonium ESA is added to the BGE. The additive equilibrates with the capillary wall to give it a positive charge and thereby produce a controlled opposing EOF. Excellent separations of complex drug mixtures were obtained by this method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A new dual-channel microchip capillary electrophoresis (MCE) has been developed on glass substrates for the first time with electrochemical detection. Dual-channel (called Π-design) as well as single-channel microchips have been fabricated on soda-lime glass using photolithography, wet etching and thermal bonding. Moreover, a laser writing system has been applied for the fabrication of photomasks with the different microchip designs (single- and dual-channel configurations). The microfabricated channels have been characterized by optical, confocal and scanning electron microscopy. The resulting single- and dual-channel microchips have been evaluated using an end-channel amperometric detector based on one (single-channel) or two (dual-channel) 100-μm gold wires aligned at the outlet of the separation channel. Parameters affecting the separation of several phenolic compounds (dopamine, p-aminophenol and hydroquinone) have been studied in the glass microchips. Thus, the influence of separation voltage, detection potential and background electrolyte has been examined in the single-channel microchip. Different total length microchannel has been compared. Furthermore, the possibility of carrying out two simultaneous measurements has been demonstrated in the new dual-channel microchip electrophoresis. The injection format has been checked and resulted to be critical, in such a way that a special and new form is employed for obtaining simultaneous signals at both channels. Analytical characteristics, such as sensitivity and reproducibility have been evaluated and resulted very adequate. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A novel method for determination of methylmercury (MeHg) and phenylmercury (PhHg) by liquid–liquid–liquid microextraction (LLLME) coupled with capillary electrophoresis (CE) with ultraviolet (UV) technique was developed. The method based on MeHg and PhHg was complexed with 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) to form hydrophobic complexes. When the sample solution was stirred, analytes were extracted into the organic layer (200μL toluene) and back-extracted simultaneously into the 4.0μL 0.1% (w/v) l-cysteine microdrop. The factors affecting on the LLLME of two mercury species, including sample pH, complex reagent concentration, extraction time, volume of organic solvent, stirring rate and phase volume ratio, were investigated. Under the optimized conditions, the detection limits (S/N=3) of MeHg and PhHg were 0.94 and 0.43ngmL−1 (as Hg), respectively. The precisions (RSDs, c =10ngmL−1, n =7) were in the range of 3.3–3.4% for migration time, 6.1–7.2% for peak area response, and 6.7–7.5% for peak height response for the two mercury species. The enrichment factors of 324 for MeHg and 210 for PhHg were obtained with 40min LLLME. The developed method was successfully applied to the determination of trace amounts of MeHg and PhHg in water samples. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]