Preparative continuous flow electrophoretic instrumentation for purification of biological samples

We constructed preparative instrumentation and developed the method that are based on separation of the samples by bidirectional isotachophoresis/moving boundary electrophoresis in continuous divergent flow. The described instrumentation can be used for variety of the samples, however, it can be easily optimized and tailored for the specific sample. The trapezoid separation bed from non-woven textile exhibited minimum adsorption effect for sample and it can be used repeatedly. By addition of different spacers via separation space inlets, the sections of pH gradient can be modified to enhance the separation. The liquid flow from two inlets positioned on each side of the sample inlet prevented the contact of the sample with anolyte and catholyte at the analysis beginning. One pair of thin electrodes (graphite and stainless-steel) was placed at the separation space output. The electrode products were washed out into drains without disturbing the focusing process. The influence of EOF was managed by tilting the separation bed in direction from cathodic to anodic side. The components of spirulina supernatant and color pI markers were separated in the pH gradient from 3.9 to 10.1. pH gradient was stable for at least 4.5 hours and spirulina supernatant from about 0.12 g of dry powder was processed. Compared to other preparative methods used for spirulina separation, the presented method/instrumentation working with continuous divergent flow had essential advantages. The efficient separation was fast, and no intermediate steps were necessary to obtain liquid fractions with separated components compatible with further biological experiments. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Continuous flow electrophoretic separation - Recent developments and applications to biological sample analysis

Continuous flow electrophoretic separation with continuous sample loading provides the advantage of processing volumes of any sizes, as well as the benefit of a real-time monitoring and optimization of the separation process. In addition, the spatial separation of the sample enables collecting multiple separated components simultaneously and in a continuous manner. The separation is usually performed in mild buffers without organic solvents and detergents (sample biological activity is retained) and it is carried out without usage of a solid support in the separation space preventing the interaction of the sample with it (high sample recovery). The method is used for the separation of proteins/peptides in proteomic applications, and its great applicability is to the separation of the cells, cellular organelles, vesicles, membrane fragments, and DNA. This review focuses on the electrophoretic separation performed in a continuous flow and it describes various electrophoretic modes and instrumental setups. Recent developments in methodology and instrumentation, the integration with other techniques, and the application to the biological sample analysis are discussed as well.

Continuous fast focusing in a trapezoidal void channel based on bidirectional isotachophoresis in a wide pH range

This study concentrates on development of instrumentation for focusing and separation of analytes in continuous flow. It is based on bidirectional ITP working in wide pH range with separation space of closed void channel of trapezoidal shape and continuous supply of sample. The novel instrumentation is working with electrolyte system formulated previously and on the contrary to devices currently available, it allows preparative separation and concentration of cationic, anionic, and amphoteric analytes simultaneously and in wide pH range. The formation of sharp edges at zone boundaries as well as low conductivity zones are avoided in suggested system and thus, local overheating is eliminated allowing for high current densities at initial stages of focusing. This results in high focusing speed and reduction of analysis time, which is particularly advantageous for separations performed in continuous flow systems. The closed void channel is designed to avoid basic obstacles related to liquid leakage, bubbles formation, contacts with electrodes, channel height and complicated assembling. The performance of designed instrumentation and focusing dynamics were tested by using colored low molecular mass pH indicators for local pH determination, focusing pattern, and completion. In addition, feasibility and separation efficiency were demonstrated by focusing of cytochrome C and myoglobin. The collection of fractions at instrument output allows for subsequent analysis and identification of sample components that are concentrated and conveniently in form of solution for further processing. Since the instrumentation operates with commercially available simple defined buffers and compounds without need of carrier ampholytes background, it is economically favorable.

From micro to macro: conversion of capillary electrophoretic separations of biomolecules and bioparticles to preparative free-flow electrophoresis scale

This invited contribution in the special issue of Electrophoresis published in celebration of the 30th Anniversary of this journal reflects the impact of our milestone paper [Prusík, Z., Kasicka, V., Mudra, P., Stepánek, J., Smékal, O., Hlavácek, J., Electrophoresis 1990, 11, 932-936] in the area of conversion of microscale analytical and micropreparative CE separations of biomolecules and bioparticles into (macro)preparative free-flow electrophoresis (FFE) scale on the basis of a correlation between CE and FFE methods. In addition to the survey of advances in the relatively narrow field of CE-FFE correlation and CE-FFE conversion, a comprehensive review of the recent developments of micropreparative CE and (macro)preparative FFE techniques is also presented and applications of these techniques to micro- and (macro)preparative separations and purifications of biomolecules and bioparticles are demonstrated. The review covers the period since the year of publication of the above paper, i.e. ca. the last 20 years.