Abstract: A capillary electrophoresis detection and/or analysis method comprising the following steps:rinsing a ready-to-use capillary with an initiator to create an initialized capillary,adding a capillary buffer into the initialized capillary,injecting a sample to be analyzed (possibly diluted with a sample diluent) into the initialized capillary,optionally, adding a cathodic buffer to the cathodic end of the capillary, andsubmitting the sample to capillary electrophoresis.In this method, the capillary and/or cathodic buffer comprise(s) a polyanion or a mixture of polyanions. The polyanion or the mixture of polyanions is included at least in the capillary or the cathodic buffer. The method can additionally comprise rinsing the capillary with NaOH after electrophoresis.The present invention also includes a capillary electrophoresis detection and/or analysis unit, including an initiator and a capillary buffer and/or a cathodic buffer.

Abstract: Coated capillary electrophoresis columns and methods for their use in electrophoretic separations are disclosed. The coated capillary columns include a length of tubing having an interior surface having an interconnected polymeric coating. The interconnected polymeric coating includes a hydrophobic hydrocarbon polymeric functionality covalently bound to the interior surface and polyvinylalcohol interconnected with the hydrophobic polymeric functionality. Exemplary columns are prepared by causing a Si-OH reactive compound, having a hydrophobic polymeric functionality, to react with Si-OH functionalities on the interior surface of capillary columns. Then causing vinyl acetate to polymerize in contact with the hydrophobic polymeric functionality and hydrolyzing the resulting polyvinylacetate forms a coating of interconnecting hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for increasing the electro-osmotic flow rate available for a silica surface. In the method, there is provided an electrophoretic channel which is defined by one or more silica surfaces. The surface(s) are contacted with an alkaline aqueous solution containing a solubilized silicate-monovalent metal complex in an amount effective to increase the acidity of the silica surface(s), as evidenced by a reduction in the average bulk pKa of the surface(s). The achieved increase in acidity is greater than would be obtained using an otherwise identical solution lacking said silicate. In one preferred embodiment, the monovalent metal used in the solution is Li.sup.+, Na.sup.+, or K.sup.+. Also disclosed is a method for increasing the acidity of a silica surface, by contacting the surface with an alkaline aqueous solution of the type noted above.

Abstract: The invention provides uncharged water-soluble silica-adsorbing polymers for suppressing electroendoosmotic flow and to reduce analyte-wall interactions in capillary electrophoresis. In one aspect of the invention, one or more of such polymers are employed as components of a separation medium for the separation of biomolecules, such as polynucleotides, polysaccharides, proteins, and the like, by capillary electrophoresis. Generally, such polymers are characterized by (i) water solubility over the temperature range between about 20.degree. C. to about 50.degree. C., (ii) concentration in a separation medium in the range between about 0.001% to about 10% (weight/volume), (iii) molecular weight in the range of about 5.times.10.sup.3 to about 1.times.10.sup.6 daltons, and (iv) absence of charged groups in an aqueous medium having pH in the range of about 6 to about 9.

Abstract: The invention provides uncharged water-soluble silica-adsorbing polymers for suppressing electroendoosmotic flow and to reduce analyte-wall interactions in capillary electrophoresis. In one aspect of the invention, one or more of such polymers are employed as components of a separation medium for the separation of biomolecules, such as polynucleotides, polysaccharides, proteins, and the like, by capillary electrophoresis. Generally, such polymers are characterized by (i) water solubility over the temperature range between about 20.degree. C. to about 50.degree. C., (ii) concentration in a separation medium in the range between about 0.001% to about 10% (weight/volume), (iii) molecular weight in the range of about 5.times.10.sup.3 to about 1.times.10.sup.6 daltons, and (iv) absence of charged groups in an aqueous medium having pH in the range of about 6 to about 9.

Abstract: The phenomenon of electroendosmosis which occurs in electrophoretic separations and interferes with the efficiency, accuracy and reproducibility of the separations, is suppressed by the inclusion in the separation medium of a dissolved hydrophilic polymer which has been modified by amine groups covalently bonded thereto, in a controlled proportion relative to the polymer. This modified polymer suppresses electroendosmosis in both flee zone electrophoresis and molecular sieve electrophoresis. When this modified polymer is used in a capillary, the reduction which it produces in the electroendosmosis is the same as that achieved by coating the capillary wall with a neutral polymer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for deactivating the inner surfaces of capillaries for capillary zone electrophoresis and capillary gel electrophoresis. The deactivation is effected by coating the inner surface with polar polymers which initially are water-soluble, whereupon the polymers are subsequently thermally fixed by a formation of water-insoluble polymers. The invention further relates to the capillaries thus produced and to the use thereof for the separation of oligonucleotides, peptides and proteins.