Stable homogeneous gel for molecular-sieving of DNA fragments in capillary electrophoresis

Hydrogels in Electrophoresis: Applications and Advances

A hydrogel is a solid form of polymer network absorbed in a substantial amount of aqueous solution. In electrophoresis, hydrogels play versatile roles including as support media, sieving matrixes, affinity scaffolds, and compositions of molecularly imprinting polymers. Recently, the study of hydrogels has been advancing with unprecedented speed, and the application of hydrogels in separation science has brought new opportunities and possible breakthroughs. A good understanding about the roles and effects of the material is essential for hydrogel applications. This review summarizes the hydrogels that has been described in various modes of electrophoretic separations, including isoelectric focusing gel electrophoresis (IEFGE), isotachophoresis (ITP), gel electrophoresis and affinity gel electrophoresis (AGE). As microchip electrophoresis (ME) is one of the future trends in electrophoresis, thought provoking studies related to hydrogels in ME are also introduced. Novel hydrogels and methods that improve separation performance, facilitate the experimental operation process, allow for rapid analysis, and promote the integration to microfluidic devices are highlighted.

PDMS-glass bonding using grafted polymeric adhesive--alternative process flow for compatibility with patterned biological molecules

We report a novel modification of silicone elastomer polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with a polymer graft that allows interfacial bonding between an elastomer and glass substrate to be performed without exposure of the substrate to harsh treatment conditions, such as oxygen plasma. Organic molecules can thus be patterned within microfluidic channels and still remain functional post-bonding. In addition, after polymer grafting the PDMS can be stored in a desiccator for at least 40 days, and activated upon exposure to acidic buffer for bonding. The bonded devices remain fully bonded in excess of 80 psi driving pressure, with no signs of compromise to the bond integrity. Finally, we demonstrate the compatibility of our method with biological molecules using a proof-of-concept DNA sensing device, in which fluorescently-labelled DNA targets are successfully captured by a patterned probe in a device sealed using our method, while the pattern on a plasma-treated device was completely destroyed. Therefore, this method provides a much-needed alternative bonding process for incorporation of biological molecules in microfluidic devices.

Analysis of inorganic polyphosphates by capillary gel electrophoresis

This paper describes the development of a method that uses capillary gel electrophoresis (CGE) to analyze mixtures of inorganic polyphosphate ((P(i))(n)). Resolution of (P(i))(n) on the basis of n, the number of residues of dehydrated phosphate, is accomplished by CGE using capillaries filled with solutions of poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) (PDMA) and indirect detection by the UV absorbance of a chromophore, terephthalate, added to the running buffer. The method is capable of resolving peaks representing (P(i))(n) with n up to approximately 70; preparation and use of authentic standards enables the identification of peaks for (P(i))(n) with n = 1-10. The main advantages of this method over previously reported methods for analyzing mixtures of (P(i))(n) (e.g., gel electrophoresis, CGE using polyacrylamide-filled capillaries) are its resolution, convenience, and reproducibility; gel-filled capillaries are easily regenerated by pumping in fresh, low-viscosity solutions of PDMA. The resolution is comparable to that of ion-exchange chromatography and detection of (P(i))(n) by suppressed conductivity. The method is useful for analyzing (P(i))(n) generated by the dehydration of P(i) at low temperature (125-140 degrees C) with urea, in a reaction that may have been important in prebiotic chemistry. The method should also be useful for characterizing mixtures of other anionic, oligomeric, or polymeric species without an intrinsic chromophore (e.g., sulfated polysaccharides, oligomeric phospho-diesters).

Capillary electrophoresis for studying drug–DNA interactions

The development of new drugs to treat disease by binding directly to DNA offers much promise but is reliant on methods to determine the relative affinity of the putative drug for different DNA sequences. Such methods should ideally be rapid and inexpensive as well as reliable. Use of capillary electrophoresis in simple silica columns offers such a method. The development of systems in which the solvent carries a soluble polymer allows the reliable separation of DNA oligomers, of 12-20 bp in length, which can then be titrated with the ligand in competition experiments. The results obtained are comparable with those obtained by footprinting and give direct graphical output, easily analysed for relative binding affinity.

Synthesis and evaluation of polymeric continuous bed (monolithic) reversed-phase gradient stationary phases for capillary liquid chromatography and capillary electrochromatography

There is a demand of novel high resolution separation media for separation of complex mixtures, particularly biological samples. One of the most flexible techniques for development of new separation media currently is synthesis of the continuous bed (monolithic) stationary phases. In this study the capillary format gradient stationary phases were formed using continuous bed (monolith) polymerization in situ. Different reversed-phase stationary phase gradients were tailored and their resolution using capillary liquid chromatography and capillary electrochromatography at isocratic mobile phase conditions was evaluated. It is demonstrated, that efficiency and resolution of the gradient stationary phases can be substantially increased comparing to the common (isotropic) stationary phases. The proposed formation approach of the gradient stationary phase is reproducible and compatible with the capillary format or microchip format separations. It can be easily automated for the separation optimizations or mass production of the capillary columns or chips.

Purification of a synthetic oligonucleotide by anion exchange chromatography: method optimisation and scale-up

A single-step chromatographic method for purification of a synthetic 20-mer oligonucleotide is described. Method optimisation was conducted at laboratory scale where 30 mg crude sample was purified per run with a yield of 17 mg pure oligonucleotide. The protocol was scaled-up in steps to achieve 5-, 58- and a final 230-fold scale-up. At the final scale, 7.0 g of crude material was purified with a yield of 4.1 g product. The purity of the oligonucleotide was in all scales higher than 97%. The cycle time was 110 min, which corresponds to a purification capacity of about 90 g crude oligonucleotide material per 24 h.

Application of monolithic (continuous bed) chromatographic columns in phytochemical analysis

One and a half decade passed since the pioneering work on synthesis and application of non-particulate monolithic stationary phases for liquid chromatography was published by S. Hjertén et al. [S. Hjertén, J.L. Liao, R. Zhang, J. Chromatogr. 473 (1989) 273]. This technique attracted much interest and effort of the researchers developing chromatographic methods and designing chromatographic stationary phases due to several generic qualities of the monolithic (continuous bed) technique. Advantages include: flexibility of the technique in sense of chemistries and functional compositions of the resultant stationary phases; low separation impedance (ratio of pressure drop and efficiency) of monolithic columns; compatibility with micro and nanoformat separations; low time and labour consumption and cost-efficiency. Not surprisingly, these materials attracted interest from phytochemists as plants constitute a complex matrix. However to date, not many successful studies were published in the area of monolithic materials for solving plant metabolomics problems or substituting common particulate materials with monolithic stationary phases in phytochemical analysis. This paper provides an overview.

Homogeneous reversed-phase agarose thermogels for electrochromatography

A method for the derivatization of agarose by covalent attachment of hydrophobic ligands for reversed-phase (RP) chromatographic separation and ionic groups for generation of electroosmosis under electrochromatographic conditions in the capillaries or microfluidic channels filled with the thermogel of this agarose derivative is described. The product renders a capability of reversible thermogelation. The thermogels formed provide sufficient hydrophobicity and electroosmosis for the separations of the analytes under RP mobile-phase conditions and electric field applied. The gels may be used repeatedly without loss of resolution. They are thermally replaceable and UV transparent (providing possibility in column/in-gel detection), require no covalent attachment to the capillary inner wall (or microchip channel), and are suitable for isocratic or gradient operation in the aqueous-organic mobile phases.

Continuous beds (monoliths): stationary phases for liquid chromatography formed using the hydrophobic interaction-based phase separation mechanism

The pioneering research work published by Hjertén et al. [J. Chromatogr. 473 (1989) 273] in 1989 dealing with development and application of the continuous bed (monolithic) technique as an attractive alternative for the classical packed columns in chromatography, stimulated further investigations in this direction. The research data published since that time on the development and application of the continuous beds formed using hydrophobic interaction-based phase separation mechanism are reviewed. Some innovative species of the beds, such as polyrotaxane beds or nonparticulate restricted-access materials for direct analysis of the biological fluids in the capillary format are also discussed. Characteristic features and practical details of the continuous bed technique are revealed. Due to many advantages, the continuous bed technique became a competitor with the traditional packings in capillary or chip-based microanalysis. The importance of the continuous bed morphology on the chromatographic characteristics is shown. The applicability of modern microscopic analysis to evaluate the morphology of the continuous beds is demonstrated.