Behavior of interacting species in capillary electrophoresis described by mass transfer equation

Affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE) has been used to estimate thermodynamic constants of binding interactions with linear or nonlinear regression methods. The accuracy of this approach relies heavily on the binding interaction mechanism, which is controlled by both the nature of the interaction and the experimental conditions. The development of a highly efficient computer-simulated ACE system makes it possible to demonstrate the detailed behavior of any interacting species of a given interaction under any conditions. The order of the mobilities of the complex and the two binding species in their free forms is a key factor to determine what molecules in what locations of the column are involved in the interaction, and the peak shape resulting from such interactions, of a given ACE experiment. In this paper and the supporting materials, 18 scenarios in 6 different combinations of migration orders of the free analyte, free additive, and complex formed are studied by a computer simulation program based on the mass transfer equation. From the study of these situations, we conclude high additive concentration (ensuring high capacity factor) and low analyte concentration (ensuring fast fill-in of the free additive in the analyte plug) are crucial for obtaining accurate results when using the regression methods. On the other hand, the approach to estimate binding constants with computer simulation can be much more accurate as long as accurate and efficient simulation models can be developed, especially when the ratio of the additive and analyte concentrations is not large enough.     

Enumeration algorithm for determination of binding constants in capillary electrophoresis

With more accurate simulation models and more efficient algorithms becoming available, the binding constants of an affinity interaction can be obtained from much simpler experiments using capillary electrophoresis. With the enumeration algorithm, all possible combinations of the binding constant and the complex mobility in certain ranges that could result in the experimental migration time of an injected analyte are extracted from a 3-D surface, which depicts the migration times resulting from different values of the binding constant and the mobility of the complex formed between the interacting pair, to form a 2-D curve. When the experimental conditions are changed, the analyte migration time will also change. A new 2-D curve can be constructed from another 3-D surface on the basis of the pairs of binding constants and complex mobility values that could result in the new migration time. Because the true binding constant and complex mobility values have to be the same for both experimental conditions under the same temperature, there has to be a point where both 2-D curves will converge. The coordinates of the converging point give the values for a binding constant and a complex mobility that will fit all 2-D curves generated under certain experimental conditions. p-Nitrophenol is used as the analyte, beta-cyclodextrin is used as the additive, and a one-cell model is used to simulate affinity CE. The experimental conditions that can improve the accuracy of the binding constants are discussed.     

Determination of shapes and maximums of analyte peaks based on solute mobilities in capillary electrophoresis

In capillary electrophoresis, the relative orders of mobilities of analyte, additive, and the complex formed determine the analyte peak shape in a way similar to the way the binding isotherms determine the peak shapes in chromatography. The three mobilities allow six possible orders; each produces a characteristic peak shape in CE. Equations describing the analyte migration in a CE system with the presence of mobility-changing additives can be implemented into computer programs to predict the migration times of the analyte peak maximums, and the predicted migration times agree well with the experimental results.     

Higher order equilibria and their effect on analyte migration behavior in capillary electrophoresis

This paper presents a quantitative investigation into the effect of analyte-additive interactions on analyte migration behavior in capillary electrophoresis (CE) when both 1:1 and 1:2 stoichiometries are present. Equations based on the individual capacity factors for each interaction are derived to account for the effect of both first- and second-order equilibria. The analyte migration behavior is described using these equations with a full account of how the microscopic equilibrium constants and microscopic mobilities are combined to give the macroscopic values. The binding isotherms of interactions with both 1:1 and 1:2 stoichiometries are compared with those of a 1:1 stoichiometry. 4,4'-Biphenol and 4-phenylphenol were chosen as analytes that undergo complexation with one and two hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) molecules; phenol was used as an analyte that interacts with only one HP-β-CD molecule. The process of calculating higher order equilibrium constants and complex mobilities from the binding isotherms is demonstrated. The effects of experimental conditions, such as the additive concentration range and the number of data points, on the error in the calculated constants and the ability of the equations to accurately describe the experimental data are discussed. A comparison of the linear transformations of the binding isotherm with respect to their ability to detect higher order equilibria is made, and the advantage of using the capacity factor in CE is illustrated.     

Capillary zone electrophoresis in nonaqueous solvents in the presence of ionic additives

Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) in nonaqueous media and in the presence of ionic additives has been successfully applied to the determination of compounds that differ only slightly in their electrophoretic mobilities. Triazine herbicides of environmental interest were chosen as test compounds because they behave as very weak bases. CZE separation of these analytes (especially chlorotriazines) in aqueous solution is difficult due to the low pH required for their conversion into protonated cationic form (HA(+)). However, in mixed nonaqueous solvents, 50% (v/v) acetonitrile-methanol, the acid-base characteristics of these compounds are modified, yielding the protonated ionic species that is susceptible to migration when subjected to an electric field. A noteworthy increase in separation selectivity and resolution can be achieved by using ionic additives. Thus, in this mode of capillary zone electrophoresis, separation is based on ionic interactions between the charged analytes and the ionic additive present in the separation medium. These interactions contribute to enhancing mobility differences and to improving analyte separation. For the separation of chloro- and methylthiotriazines, 10 mM perchloric acid in 50% (v/v) acetonitrile-methanol and 20 mM SDS proved to be satisfactory, providing high resolution in short analysis times. The selectivity achieved was found to depend on the degree of association of the analyte with the ionic additive in the nonaqueous medium. This permits manipulation of the selectivity of the electrophoretic separations as a function of the type and concentration of the ionic additive and of the nature of the nonaqueous medium employed.     

Capillary electrochromatography with fused-silica capillaries packed with copolymeric reversed-phase adsorbent and ion exchangers

Macroporous poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) (PSDVB), PRP-1, a reversed-phase adsorbent, and PSDVB-based strong acid cation exchangers and strong base and weak base anion exchangers were evaluated as stationary phases for capillary electrochromatography (CEC). Electroosmotic flow (EOF) for adsorbent and exchanger packed fused-silica capillaries for acetone as the marker increases with increasing ion exchange capacity, buffer organic solvent concentration, and applied voltage, is nearly independent of pH, and decreases with increased buffer ionic strength. For anion exchangers, EOF is reversed. Thiourea, acetone, acrylamide, nitromethane, propanal, and acetic acid were evaluated as EOF markers and undergo weak interaction with the PSDVB-based stationary phases. EOF in a basic buffer is greater than or equal to silica-based C-18 and cation exchanger packed capillaries. For an acidic buffer, EOF for a PRP-1 capillary is almost twice the C-18 packed capillary. As analyte hydrophobicity increases, retention and migration time increases for the PSDVB-based stationary phases. As exchange capacity increases, availability of the polymeric matrix for analyte partitioning decreases, causing analyte migration time to decrease. Increasing buffer organic solvent concentration decreases analyte retention. The PSDVB-based stationary phases provide good resolving power and reproducibility and are applicable to the CEC separation of neutral, weakly acidic, and basic analytes. Efficiency, however, is less than obtained with silica-based stationary phases. Because of stability in a strong acid buffer, the CEC separation of weak acids, where dissociation is suppressed, and weak bases as cations is possible. Separations of short-chain alkyl aldehydes, methyl ketones, aromatic hydrocarbons, substituted benzene derivatives, and short-chain carboxylic acids are described.     

Separation of tissue proteins of human lung carcinomas by partial-filling capillary electrophoresis

Tissue proteins from human squamous cell lung carcinomas (SQCLC) and small cell lung carcinomas (SCLC) were separated in 0.01% hydroxypylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) linear polymer sieving solutions in the inlet portion of the capillary and next to the outlet of the capillary, followed by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) in 40 mM phosphate buffer, pH 2.5. A proper HPMC concentration could cause a molecular sieving effect through the formation of an entangled polymer network. The migration time of the analyte in this matrix depended on the size and electrophoretic mobility of the analyte, the mesh size, and the electric field strength. In the CZE separation, the electroosmotic flow and the charge-to-size ratio of the analyte were important parameters. HPMC concentration and zone length were examined to optimize the separation. Applying this partial-filling technique to the separation of water-soluble proteins from human lung tissues, we found a greatly improved resolution and increased peak intensity. The capillary electrophoresis patterns of normal, SQCLC, and SCLC were obtained and compared for their molecular classifications.     

Adsorption-based electrochemical detection of nonelectrochemically active analytes for capillary electrophoresis

A sensitive electrochemical detection method (ECD) for capillary electrophoresis has been developed that is applicable to a much wider range of analytes than more conventional ECD methods. Using a modified Osteryoung square-wave voltammetry method, the adsorption of what are normally considered nonelectrochemically active analytes onto a platinum electrode was found to produce a concentration-proportional response. Although the mechanisms that cause this response may be complex, it appears that it is due to changes in the electrode/solution interface that accompany adsorption of the analyte onto the electrode rather than a simple redox process. Analytes that possess pi-electron density appeared to chemisorb rather than only physically adsorb onto the electrode and gave the best response with detection limits of < 10(-8) M while maintaining good linearity. Because this detection method requires only that the analyte adsorb onto the electrode, it has the advantage of much wider applicability than previously reported electrochemical detection methods. The applicability of this detection method was investigated for a variety of analytes and background electrolyte conditions (varied pH, ionic strength, buffer additives). Comparisons of the sensitivity of this method to UV detection showed that, even for analytes that have good UV chromophores, sensitivities greater than 1 order of magnitude were obtained using adsorption-based electrochemical detection.     

Flow counterbalanced capillary electrophoresis using packed capillary columns: resolution of enantiomers and isotopomers

A method with the ability to increase greatly both the resolution and efficiency of a given capillary electrophoretic system is described. This method differs from traditional capillary electrophoresis (CE) in that a counterflow is induced in the direction opposite to the electrokinetic migration of the analyte. This has the effect of extending not only the time the analytes migrate in the electric field but also the effective length and the effective applied voltage of the system. Previous work in our group with flow counterbalanced capillary electrophoresis has utilized an open tube of small inner diameter to reduce peak broadening caused by hydrodynamic flow. Narrow-diameter capillaries (5-10 microm) restricted analysis to fluorescent analytes and laser-induced fluorescence detection. The method described here uses a capillary of much larger inner diameter (75 microm) that has been packed with nonporous silica particles. The packing material reduces the amount of band broadening caused by pressure-induced flow relative to that experienced in an open tube. A larger diameter capillary allows the detection of analytes by UV absorption, not only eliminating the need to tag analytes with fluorescent tags but also allowing for the detection of a much broader range of analytes. The system was evaluated by studying the separations of several enantiomers using only beta-cyclodextrin as the chiral selector. The system was also used to resolve the two naturally occurring isotopes of bromine and to resolve phenylalanine from phenylalanine-d8. Relative to traditional CE, large improvements in resolution and separation efficiency have been achieved with this method.     

Capillary isoelectric focusing-based multidimensional concentration/separation platform for proteome analysis

An integrated proteome concentration/separation approach involving on-line combination of capillary isoelectric focusing (CIEF) with capillary reversed-phase liquid chromatography (CRPLC) is developed for providing significant analyte concentration and extremely high resolving power toward protein and peptide mixtures. Upon completion of analyte focusing, the self-sharpening effect greatly restricts analyte diffusion and contributes to analyte stacking in narrowly focused bands with a concentration factor of approximately 240. In addition to analyte focusing, CIEF as the first separation dimension resolves proteins/peptides on the basis of their differences in pI and offers greater resolving power than that achieved in strong cation exchange chromatography. The grouping of two highly resolving and completely orthogonal separation techniques of CIEF and CRPLC, together with analyte focusing and concentration, significantly enhances the dynamic range and sensitivity of conventional mass spectrometry toward the identification of low-abundance proteins. The CIEF-based multidimensional separation/concentration platform enables the identification of a greater number of yeast soluble proteins than methods presented in the literature, yet requires a protein loading of only 9.6 microg. This protein loading is 2-3 orders of magnitude lower than those employed by the reported non-gel-based proteome techniques. The distribution of a codon adaptation index value for identified yeast proteins approximates to that predicted for the entire yeast proteome and supports the capability of CIEF-based proteome separation technology for achieving comprehensive proteome analysis. By reducing the inner diameter of chromatography columns from 180 microm to 100 microm, the required protein loading is further decreased from 9.6 microg to 960 ng, illustrating the potential usage of this proteome technology for the analysis of protein profiles within small cell populations or limited tissue samples.     

Sweeping with electrokinetic injection and analyte focusing by micelle collapse in two-dimensional separation via integration of micellar electrokinetic chromatography with capillary zone electrophoresis

A novel integrated concentration/separation approach involving online combination of sweeping with electrokinetic injection and analyte focusing by micelle collapse (AFMC) with heart-cutting two-dimensional (2D) capillary electrophoresis (CE) in a single capillary was developed for analysis of Herba Leonuri and mouse blood samples. First, a new sweeping with an electrokinetic injection preconcentration method was developed to inject a large volume sample solution and significantly enhance detection sensitivity. Then, the preconcentration scheme was integrated to the 2D-CE to provide significant analyte concentration and extremely high resolving power. The sample was preconcentrated by sweeping with electrokinetic injection and separated in first dimension micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC). Then, only a desirable fraction of the first dimension separation was transferred into the second dimension of the capillary by pressure and further analyzed by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) acting as the second dimension. As the key to successful integration of MEKC and CZE, an AFMC step was integrated between the two dimensions to release analytes from the micelle interior to a liquid zone and to overcome the sample zone diffusion caused by mobilization pressure. The injected sample plug lengths for flavonoids under 15 kV for 60 min were experimentally estimated as 546 cm. The dual concentration methods resulted in the increased detection factors of 6000-fold relative to the traditional pressure injection method. The relative standard deviation (RSD) values of peak height, peak area, and migration time were 2.7-4.5%, 1.9-4.3%, and 4.7-6.8% (n = 10), respectively. The limits of detection (S/N = 3) were in the range of 7.3-36.4 ng/L, and the theoretical plate numbers (N) were in the range of 1.7-4.3 × 10(4) plates/m. This method has been successfully applied to determine flavonoids in Herba Leonuri and postdosing mouse blood samples. The pharmacokinetic study also demonstrated that the proposed concentration/separation method was convenient and sensitive and would become an attractively alternative method for online sample concentration and separation in complex samples.     

Anionic functionalized gold nanoparticle continuous full filling separations: importance of sample concentration

Electrically driven separations which contain nanoparticles offer detection and separation advantages but are often difficult to reproduce. To address possible sources of separation inconsistencies, anionic functionalized gold nanoparticles are thoroughly characterized and subsequently included in continuous full filling capillary electrophoresis separations of varying concentrations of three small molecules. Citrate stabilized gold nanospheres are functionalized with 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid, 6-mercaptohexanoic acid, or thioctic acid self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) and characterized using dynamic light scattering, extinction spectroscopy, zeta potential, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy prior to use in capillary electrophoresis. Several important trends are noted. First, the stability of these anionic nanoparticles in the capillary improves with increased ligand packing density as indicated by a ratio of absorbance collected at 520 to 600 nm. Second, increasing nanoparticle concentration from 0 to 2 nM (0-0.002(5)%, w/w) minimally impacts analyte migration times; however, when higher nanoparticle concentrations are included within the capillary, nanoparticle aggregation occurs which induces separation inconsistencies. Third, analyte peak areas are most significantly impacted as their concentration decreases. These trends are attributed to both sample enrichment and electrostatic interactions between the anionic carboxylic acid functionalized gold nanoparticles and sample. These important findings suggest that sample concentration-induced conductivity differences between the sample matrix and separation buffer as well as SAM packing density are important parameters to both characterize and consider when nanoparticles are used during continuous full filling separations and their subsequent use to enhance spectroscopic signals to improve in-capillary analyte detection limits.     

Simultaneous concentration and separation of enantiomers with chiral temperature gradient focusing

A new technique is demonstrated for the simultaneous concentration and high-resolution separation of chiral compounds. With temperature gradient focusing, a combination of a temperature gradient, an applied electric field, and a buffer with a temperature-dependent ionic strength is used to cause analytes to move to equilibrium, zero-velocity points along a microchannel or capillary. Different analytes are thus separated spatially and concentrated in a manner that resembles isoelectric focusing but that is applicable to a greater variety of analytes including small chiral drug molecules. Chiral separations are accomplished by the addition of a chiral selector, which causes the different enantiomers of an analyte to focus at different positions along a microchannel or capillary. This new technique is demonstrated to provide high performance in a number of areas desirable for chiral separations including rapid separation optimization and method development, facile reversal of peak order (desirable for analysis of trace enantiomeric impurities), and high resolving power (comparable to capillary electrophoresis) in combination with greater than 1000-fold concentration enhancement enabling improved detection limits. In addition, chiral temperature gradient focusing allows for real-time monitoring of the interaction of chiral analyte molecules with chiral selectors that could potentially be applied to the study of other molecular interactions. Finally, unlike CE, which requires long channels or capillaries for high-resolution separations, separations of equivalent resolution can be performed with TGF in very short microchannels (mm); thus, TGF is inherently much more suited to miniaturization and integration into lab-on-a-chip-devices.     

Capillary electrophoresis-based noncompetitive immunoassay for the prion protein using fluorescein-labeled protein A as a fluorescent probe

A novel CE-based noncompetitive immunoassay for prion protein (PrP) was established. Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled protein A (FITC-PrA) was used as a fluorescent probe to tag monoclonal antibody through noncovalent binding of FITC-PrA to the Fc region of the antibody. The FITC-PrA-Ab was incubated with the analyte, prion protein, under optimized condition, forming the immunocomplex FITC-PrA-Ab-PrP. The complex was separated and analyzed by capillary zone electrophoresis. The addition of carboxymethyl-beta-cyclodextrin in the running buffer as dynamical coating reagent improved the reproducibility and the resolution. The complex was isolated in less than 1 min with theoretical plates of 3.8 x 10(4). Relative standard deviations of peak height and migration time for the complex were 3.46 and 1.48%, respectively. A linear relationship was established for the bovine recombinant prion protein (rPrP) concentration in the range from 0.2 to 2.0 mug/mL and the peak height. The correlation factor was r2 = 0.9969. The estimated detection limit for rPrP was approximately 6 ng/mL, which is 3 times the signal-to-noise ratio. The method was successfully applied for testing blood samples from scrapie-infected sheep.     

Capillary waveguide optrodes: an approach to optical sensing in medical diagnostics

Glass capillaries with a chemically sensitive coating on the inner surface are used as optical sensors for medical diagnostics. A capillary simultaneously serves as a sample compartment, a sensor element, and an inhomogeneous optical waveguide. Various detection schemes based on absorption, fluorescence intensity, or fluorescence lifetime are described. In absorption-based capillary waveguide optrodes the absorption in the sensor layer is analyte dependent; hence light transmission along the inhomogeneous waveguiding structure formed by the capillary wall and the sensing layer is a function of the analyte concentration. Similarly, in fluorescence-based capillary optrodes the fluorescence intensity or the fluorescence lifetime of an indicator dye fixed in the sensing layer is analyte dependent; thus the specific property of fluorescent light excited in the sensing layer and thereafter guided along the inhomogeneous waveguiding structure is a function of the analyte concentration. Both schemes are experimentally demonstrated, one with carbon dioxide as the analyte and the other one with oxygen. The device combines optical sensors with the standard glass capillaries usually applied to gather blood drops from fingertips, to yield a versatile diagnostic instrument, integrating the sample compartment, the optical sensor, and the light-collecting optics into a single piece. This ensures enhanced sensor performance as well as improved handling compared with other sensors.     

Determination of accurate electroosmotic mobility and analyte effective mobility values in the presence of charged interacting agents in capillary electrophoresis

A method for determining the accurate effective mobility value of an analyte in the presence of a charged interacting agent, such as a charged cyclodextrin, a micellar agent, a protein, or a DNA fragment that binds the traditional electroosmotic flow markers, is presented. Part of the capillary is filled with the charged interacting agent-containing background electrolyte; the other part is filled with the charged interacting agent-free background electrolyte. The analyte band is placed in the charged interacting agent-containing background electrolyte zone, while a neutral marker (electroosmotic flow marker) is placed in the adjacent charged interacting agent-free background electrolyte zone. The initial, preelectrophoresis distance between the analyte band and the neutral marker band is determined by pressure mobilizing the bands past the detector and recording the detector trace. Subsequently, by applying reverse pressure, the bands are moved back into the first portion of the capillary and a brief electrophoretic separation is carried out. Then, the bands are pressure mobilized again past the detector to obtain their final, postelectrophoresis distance. If (i) the neutral marker does not come into contact with the charged interacting agent and (ii) the analyte does not migrate out of the homogeneous portion of the charged interacting agent zone, the accurate effective electrophoretic migration distance of the analyte, corrected for bulk flow transport, can be determined. The actual electric field strengths in the different zones of the heterogeneously filled capillary can be calculated from the integral of the electrophoretic current and the conductivity of the charged interacting agent-containing background electrolyte measured in a separate experiment. Once the effective mobility of an analyte in the charged resolving agent-containing background electrolyte is determined by this method, the analyte becomes a mobility reference probe for that background electrolyte and can be used to calculate the bulk flow mobility in subsequent conventional CE separations utilizing the same charged interacting agent. The new method can also be used to probe the interactions of the charged interacting agents and the wall of the capillary.     

Another approach toward over 100,000-fold sensitivity increase in capillary electrophoresis: electrokinetic supercharging with optimized sample injection

Electrokinetic supercharging (EKS) is a powerful and practical method for multifold in-line concentration of various analytes prior to capillary electrophoresis (CE) analysis. However, a problem of insufficient sensitivity has always existed when trace analyte quantification by EKS-CE is a target, especially when coupled with conventional detectors. Normally this requires a greatly increased amount of analyte injected without separation degradation. In this contribution, we have shown that it is possible to substantially improve analyte loading and hence CE method detectability by modifying sample introduction configuration. The volume of sample vial was increased (from typical 500 μL to 17 mL), the common wire electrode was replaced by a ring electrode, and the sample solution was stirred. With these alterations, more analyte ions are accumulated within the effective electric field during electrokinetic injection and then maintained as focused zones due to transient isotachophoresis. The versatility of the customized EKS-CE approach for sample concentration was demonstrated for a mixture of seven rare-earth metal ions with an enrichment factor of 500?000 giving detection limits at or below 1 ng/L. These detection limits are over 100?000 times better than can be achieved by normal hydrodynamic injection, 1000 times better than the sensitivity thresholds of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES), and even close to those of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS).     

Fritless packed columns for capillary electrochromatography: separation of uncharged compounds on hydrophobic hydrogels

A novel column is described that does not require frits to keep packing material within a capillary. A continuous bed is prepared in situ in aqueous solution by radical copolymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid (the resultant gel is denoted poly(AMPS-co-IPAAm). N,N'-Methylenebisacrylamide is used for cross-linking. On the application of an electrical field, electroosmotic flow (EOF) is developed in the bed along the capillary, where fluid propulsion would be otherwise difficult to achieve. The resultant EOF transports neutral compounds through the column without forcing the gel out of the capillary. Examination of the fluid motion in the continuous bed using a video microscope system and an image processor shows a relatively flat flow profile of EOF. The bed functions as the stationary phase for reversed-phase capillary electrochromatography (CEC). This new approach is an alternative to packed capillary columns which have been used previously in CEC. A high efficiency is obtained for a steroid which is separated on a 4.0% total monomer concentration (T), 10.0% degree of cross-linking (C), and 10.0% mole fraction of AMPS in the total monomer (S), poly(AMPS-co-IPAAm) column. A mixture of polyaromatic hydrocarbons is separated on a 6.9% T, 5.8% C, and 5.5% S poly(AMPS-co-IPAAm) column. The capacity factor of benzo[a]pyrene increases from 0.63 to 1.91 as the acetonitrile content in a Tris-boric acid buffer is decreased from 45 to 30% (v/v). The run-to-run RSD of analyte migration time is less than 0.73%, and the day-to-day RSD is acceptable. Potential benefits of this approach are also mentioned.