Abstract: Capillary tubes useful for performing capillary zone electrophoresis separation techniques are prepared by first forming a matrix of hydrophilic molecules which is thereafter incorporated into an electrophoretic gel. The analytical media exhibits strong structural integrity, uniformity, and adheres well to the capillary tubes.

Abstract: A method of preparing a microcapillary gel separation column for electrophoresis comprises: pretreatment of a tube with a bifunctional reagent to provide polymer bonding sites on the inner wall of the tube; filling the tube with a monomer solution a cross-linking agent, and a photoinitiator; forming a polymer plug by illuminating an initiation section of the tube; growing the plug by moving the tube gradually past the illumination source; and stopping tube motion when the desired length of gal is attained. Provision is made for monitoring polymerization and adjusting tube movement speed to avoid gaps in the growing polymer.

Abstract: A capillary zone electrophoresis chemical analysis system provides for rapid, non-turbulent, post-separation diffusional mixing of sample effluent with a fluorogenic labeling reagent, permitting sensitive detection of well-defined sample component zones. A power supply and opposing electrodes establish a field which induces charge-related differential electrophoretic migration to define component zones. A flared input of a mixing capillary defines an annular gap between the separation capillary and the mixing capillary. The effluent of the separation capillary is mixed with the labeling reagent, which is introduced through the annular gap. Thus, fluorescence labeling is effective with minimum zone broadening. This system combines the high resolving power of CZE separation with the sensitivity of labeled fluorescence detection to attain an improved system for analyzing biological samples.

Abstract: A method of preparing a microcapillary gel separation column for electrophoresis comprises: pretreatment of a tube with a bifunctional reagent to provide polymer bonding sites on the inner wall of the tube; filling the tube with a monomer solution a crosslinking agent, and a photoinitiator; forming a polymer plug by illuminating an initiation section of the tube; growing the plug by moving the tube gradually past the illumination source; and stopping tube motion when the desired length of gel is attained. Provision is made for monitoring polymerization and adjusting tube movement speed to avoid gaps in the growing polymer.