CAPILLARY ELECTROPHORESIS OF OLIGONUCLEOTIDES - MICELLAR SYSTEM OR ENTANGLED POLYMERS

The capillary electrophoretic separation of oligonucleotides (12-24 ba ses in length) using a micellar system or an entangled polymer solutio n was compared. Micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography was p erformed using a fused-silica capillary whereas a J & W DB-17-coated c apillary was used for capillary electrophoresis in entangled polymer s olution. In both cases, a number of parameters were evaluated to impro ve separation. For example, the influence of concentration of copper(I I) ions and sodium dodecyl sulfate, variation in applied voltage and t emperature were investigated in the micellar system. The influence of variation in pH was also studied. The two methods were also compared w ith respect to their efficiencies. The results of quantitation showed better within-day and day-to-day repeatability for the entangled polym er solution. Both methods gave a comparable limit of detection of abou t 30 pg at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3.