Counterflow gradient electrophoresis for focusing and elution

Abstract

Counterflow gradient electrofocusing uses the bulk flow of a liquid solution to counterbalance the electrophoretic migration of an analyte. When either the bulk velocity or the electrophoretic velocity of the analyte is made to vary across the length of the channel, there exists a unique zero-velocity point for the analyte. This focusing method enables simultaneous separation and concentration of different analytes. The high resolution and sensitivity achieved are similar to that of isoelectric focusing, which separates analytes based on their isoelectric points, but the key difference is that analytes will instead focus based on their electrophoretic mobility. Dynamically changing the applied voltage or the counterflow rate over time will shift the zero-velocity point, and therefore allows the focused analytes to pass through a fixed detection point, or elute from the separation channel. Throughout the review, a number of different counterflow gradient techniques will be discussed, along with their recent advancements and potential applications.

Keywords: Capillary electrophoresis; Counterflow gradient electrofocusing; Elution; Preconcentration; Protein analysis.