Capillary electrophoresis of biological particles: Viruses, bacteria, and eukaryotic cells

Abstract

A review about the application of electrophoretic methods in the capillary format for the investigation of large biological assemblies like viruses, bacteria, yeast or entire mammalian cells is given. These entities are of a size ranging between some nanometers and tens of micrometers. They can form colloidal solutions or dispersions and move under the influence of an electric field. They are separated by zone electrophoresis according to their different electrophoretic velocity, and characterized by the electrophoretic mobility, which is easily determinable in free solution in capillaries or in other microdevices. As the charge of these particles, when being amphoteric, is pH-dependent, isoelectric focusing can also be carried out and the capillary format is increasingly being employed for their separation and determination of pI values. Furthermore, interactions with ligands can be assessed by various modes of affinity capillary electrophoresis. Capillary zone electrophoresis has thus become a valuable tool for investigation of large macromolecular assemblies in the field of biochemistry, clinical chemistry, toxicology, and nutrition chemistry amongst many others.

Identification of poliovirions and subviral particles by capillary electrophoresis

“…Reviews about the analysis of virus particles using electrophoresis in capillaries and microfluidic devices, covering approximately the last 10 years of research in this field, can be found in [1][2][3][4]. The analysis of intact viruses with CE, and even with other analytical separation techniques, is for some reason very scarce, although CE can offer a fast and cheap alternative for the classical virological techniques.…”

Electrophoretic Mobility of Mouse Leukocytes Evaluated Using Microcapillary Electrophoresis Chips

“…Cell electrophoresis is practically the only method available for estimating the cell surface charge density [3][4][5][6]. Cell electrophoretic mobility (EPM), which can be measured by a cell electrophoresis experiment, is a characteristic physical property that reflects the electrical and mechanical properties of the cell surface.…”

Detection of microbial food contaminants and their products by capillary electromigration techniques

“…Therefore, altering the composition and pH of the surrounding solution will affect the electrophoretic mobility of microorganisms [22]. For a more detailed treatment of these concepts, including the theoretical considerations in the study of the colloidal features of microorganisms by CE, interested readers can take resort of some works published on this topic [21][22][23][24][25].…”