Zdeněk Prusík

Theory of the correlation between capillary and free-flow zone electrophoresis and its use for the conversion of analytical capillary separations to continuous free-flow preparative processes. Application to analysis and preparation of fragments of insulin.

A basic theoretical description of the correlation between capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) and free-flow zone electrophoresis (FFZE) is presented. The theory of the correlation between CZE and FFZE results from the fact that both methods are based on the same separation principle, zone electrophoresis, and both are performed in the carrierless separation medium with the same composition of the background electrolyte. The equations describing the movement of the charged and noncharged particles in the d.c. electric field applied in the capillary and in the flow-through electrophoretic chamber are presented and used for the quantitative description of the correlation between CZE and FFZE. Based on the theory of the correlation between CZE and FFZE a procedure has been developed for conversion of analytical, microscale CZE separations into continuous preparative separation processes realized by FFZE. Practical application of the developed procedure is demonstrated by CZE analysis and FFZE preparation of an octapeptide fragment of human insulin.

Capillary zone electrophoresis with electroosmotic flow controlled by external radial electric field.

A new way of regulation of electroosmotic flow (EOF) in capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) by external electric field has been developed. A set of three high‐voltage power supplies is used to form a radial electric field across the capillary wall. One power supply is applied in the usual way as a driving force of CZE and EOF to the ends of the inner capillary compartment dipped into the electrode vessels and filled with background electrolyte. Two power supplies are connected to the ends of the outer low‐conductivity coating of the capillary which is formed by the dispersion of copolymer of aniline and p‐phenylenediamine in polystyrene matrix. The difference between electric potentials on the outer capillary surface and inside the capillary determines the voltage of radial electric field across the capillary wall and affects the electrokinetic potential at the solid‐liquid interface inside the capillary. The effect of magnitude and polarity of external radial electric field on the flow rate of EOF, on the migration times of charged analytes and on the separation efficiency and resolution of CZE separations of synthetic oligopeptides, diglycine, triglycine and octapeptide fragments of human insulin was evaluated. Through the EOF control by external electric field the dynamic effective length of the capillary was obtained and the speed of analysis and resolution of CZE separations of peptide analytes could be optimized.

External electric field control of electroosmotic flow in non-coated and coated fused-silica capillaries and its application for capillary electrophoretic separations of peptides

The influence of an external electric field on the electroosmotic flow in the noncoated (bare) fused-silica capillaries and in the fused-silica capillaries with covalent coating of the inner surface by the polymer of a new acrylamido derivative, N-(acryloylaminoethoxy)ethyl-beta-D-glucopyranose, has been tested in the capillary electrophoretic separations of peptide analytes. The effect of magnitude and polarity of the external electric field on the flow-rate of the electroosmotic flow, the migration times of charged analytes and the separation efficiency and resolution of separations of synthetic oligopeptides, diglycine, triglycine, glycyl-proline and prolyl-glycine, by capillary zone electrophoresis has been evaluated. The effect of the external electric field on the velocity of the electroosmotic flow was much higher in the bare fused-silica capillaries than in the coated capillaries. Better separation of the analyzed peptides was achieved in the coated fused-silica capillaries. An external electric field proved to be an effective tool for control of the electroosmotic flow and for optimization of the speed and resolution of capillary electrophoretic separations of synthetic peptides.

Application of capillary and free-flow zone electrophoresis and isotachophoresis to the analysis and preparation of the synthetic tetrapeptide fragment of growth hormone-releasing peptide

The use of high-performance electromigration separation methods, capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) and capillary isotachophoresis (CITP) and continuous free-flow arrangements of these two separation principles, free-flow zone electrophoresis (FFZE) and free-flow isotachophoresis (FFITP), was investigated in the analysis and purification of the synthetic C-terminal tetrapeptide fragment (H2N-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Lys.NH2) of the growth hormone-releasing peptide. CZE and CITP were used for microanalysis of peptide preparations after different steps of their purification. The homogeneity of the peptide preparations, including fractions of preparative separations, was quantified by relative zone length (CITP) and/or relative peak height (CZE). In addition, the data obtained by CZE and CITP (electrophoretic and electroosmotic flow migration velocities) were utilized for conversion of micro-scale capillary separations (nano- to picomole level) into the preparative separations realized by FFZE and FFITP with a capacity from tens to hundreds of milligrams per hour.

Capillary zone electrophoresis with external radial electric field control of electroosmotic flow and its application to the separation of synthetic oligopeptides

Abstract A new way of applying external radial electric field for the control of electroosmotic flow in capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) has been developed. It is based on a new type of low-conductivity coating of the outer capillary surface by a polyaniline dispersion in hydroxypropylcellulose and on the application of a set of three high-voltage power supplies to form a constant radial electric field across the capillary wall as far as possible along the capillary length. Two power supplies are connected to the ends of the outer low-conductivity coating and the third one is applied to the ends of the inner capillary compartment filled with background electrolyte. The difference of electric potentials at the inner and outer capillary surface determines the voltage of radial electric field across the capillary wall and affects the electrokinetic potential at the solid–liquid interface inside the capillary. The effect of magnitude and polarity of external radial electric field on the flow-rate of electroosmotic flow, on the migration times of charged analytes (speed of analysis) and on the separation efficiency and resolution of CZE separations of synthetic oligopeptides, diglycine, triglycine, dalargin and dalargin–ethylamide has been evaluated. Application of external radial electric field has proved to be an efficient tool for regulation of electroosmotic flow in CZE and for optimization of migration times and resolution of oligopeptides in their CZE separations and analyses.

Evaluation of the efficiency of extraction of ultraviolet-absorbing pollen allergens and organic pollutants from airborne dust samples by capillary electromigration methods

Capillary electromigration methods, zone electrophoresis (CZE) and micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC), have been used for evaluation of the efficiency of different extraction agents applied to the extraction of pollen allergens and organic pollutants from dust samples collected during different periods (before, during and after pollen seasons) and in different locations in air-filtration devices (car-traffic tunnel in Prague and a metro station in Paris). Water and acetic acid extracts were analyzed by CZE using acetic acid as background electrolyte (BGE). Water and alkaline water-SDS-buffer extracts were analyzed by MEKC in Tris-phosphate BGE with anionic detergent sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) micellar pseudophase. More material was extracted and more components were found in the water-buffer extracts than in the water extracts, and better resolution of the components was achieved by MEKC than by CZE. Significant differences have been found in the analyses of dust extracts of different origin. More material and more components have been found in the extracts of the dust collected in the pollen-rich period (March, April) than in the pollen-free period (December, January).