Capillary Electrophoresis

Capillary electrophoresis is a rapid and automated technique for carbohydrate analyses. This review outlines separation-based assays involving electro-migration in commercial capillary electrophoresis systems as well as microfluidics. The methods developed in these platforms are integrated with detection based on fluorescence or mass spectrometry. Different separation mechanisms are discussed. A variety of approaches which are used to identify and quantify peaks in complex mixtures and even to determine positional and linkage isomers are reviewed. Capillary electrophoresis is widely applied to N-glycans cleaved from proteins. As a result, this separation technique continues to play a pivotal role in the analysis of therapeutic proteins. Separations of complex glycosaminoglycans are also achievable. Emerging applications in glycopeptides and glycoproteins are highlighted.