Electrophoresis

For the process of administering medicine, see Iontophoresis.
For other uses, see Electrophoresis (disambiguation).
1. Illustration of electrophoresis

2. Illustration of electrophoresis retardation

Electrophoresis is the motion of charged dispersed particles or dissolved charged molecules relative to a fluid under the influence of a spatially uniform electric field. As a rule, these are zwitterions.[1]

Electrophoresis is used in laboratories to separate macromolecules based on their charges. The technique normally applies a negative charge called cathode so protein molecules move towards a positive charge called anode.[2] Therefore, electrophoresis of positively charged particles or molecules (cations) is sometimes called cataphoresis, while electrophoresis of negatively charged particles or molecules (anions) is sometimes called anaphoresis.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9]

Electrophoresis is the basis for analytical techniques used in biochemistry for separating particles, molecules, or ions by size, charge, or binding affinity either freely or through a supportive medium using a one-directional flow of electrical charge.[10] It is used extensively in DNA, RNA and protein analysis.[11]

Liquid droplet electrophoresis is significantly different from the classic particle electrophoresis because of droplet characteristics such as a mobile surface charge and the nonrigidity of the interface. Also, the liquid–liquid system, where there is an interplay between the hydrodynamic and electrokinetic forces in both phases, adds to the complexity of electrophoretic motion.[12]

  1. ^ Michov, B. (2022). Electrophoresis Fundamentals: Essential Theory and Practice. De Gruyter, ISBN 9783110761627. doi:10.1515/9783110761641. ISBN 9783110761641.
  2. ^ Kastenholz, B. (2006). "Comparison of the electrochemical behavior of the high molecular mass cadmium proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana and in vegetable plants on using preparative native continuous polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PNC-PAGE)". Electroanalysis. 18 (1): 103–6. doi:10.1002/elan.200403344.
  3. ^ Lyklema, J. (1995). Fundamentals of Interface and Colloid Science. Vol. 2. p. 3.208.
  4. ^ Hunter, R.J. (1989). Foundations of Colloid Science. Oxford University Press.
  5. ^ Dukhin, S.S.; Derjaguin, B.V. (1974). Electrokinetic Phenomena. J. Wiley and Sons.
  6. ^ Russel, W.B.; Saville, D.A.; Schowalter, W.R. (1989). Colloidal Dispersions. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521341882.
  7. ^ Kruyt, H.R. (1952). Colloid Science. Vol. 1, Irreversible systems. Elsevier.
  8. ^ Dukhin, A.S.; Goetz, P.J. (2017). Characterization of liquids, nano- and micro- particulates and porous bodies using Ultrasound. Elsevier. ISBN 978-0-444-63908-0.
  9. ^ Anderson, J.L. (January 1989). "Colloid Transport by Interfacial Forces". Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics. 21 (1): 61–99. Bibcode:1989AnRFM..21...61A. doi:10.1146/annurev.fl.21.010189.000425. ISSN 0066-4189.
  10. ^ Malhotra, P. (2023). Analytical Chemistry: Basic Techniques and Methods. Springer, ISBN 9783031267567. p. 346.
  11. ^ Garfin, D.E. (1995). "Chapter 2 – Electrophoretic Methods". Introduction to Biophysical Methods for Protein and Nucleic Acid Research: 53–109. doi:10.1016/B978-012286230-4/50003-1.
  12. ^ Rashidi, Mansoureh (2021). "Mechanistic studies of droplet electrophoresis: A review". Electrophoresis. 42 (7–8): 869–880. doi:10.1002/elps.202000358. PMID 33665851.