A New Choice for Capillary Electrophoresis: How TAPS Buffer 29915-38-6 Optimizes Nucleic Acid Separation

The working principle of capillary zone electrophoresis

Capillary zone electrophoresis is a highly efficient separation and analysis technique. This method employs an elastic quartz capillary tube with an inner diameter typically ranging from 50 to 75 micrometers as the separation channel, utilizing a high-voltage direct current electric field to drive sample migration. Its separation principle relies on the differences in mobility and partitioning behavior among various components, enabling precise separation without the need for traditional gel media.

Inside the quartz capillary, when the pH value of the buffer solution is higher than 3, the surface of the tube wall carries a negative charge and forms a double layer upon contact with the solution. After applying a high voltage electric field, the cation layer in the double layer drives the overall buffer solution to move towards the negative electrode direction, which is called electroosmotic flow. At the same time, charged particles migrate towards the opposite electrode direction under the action of an electric field, forming electrophoretic motion. The actual migration speed of particles is determined by both electrophoresis and electroosmotic flow, and each component is effectively separated due to differences in charge, mass, volume, and shape.

TAPS buffer

Advantages of TAPS buffer in nucleic acid electrophoresis

TAPS buffer has shown good applicability in nucleic acid experiments, especially for capillary zone electrophoresis analysis of DNA and RNA. Its stable pH range and buffering capacity help maintain constant separation conditions during electrophoresis, thereby improving the reproducibility of results. For nucleic acid charged biomolecules, TAPS buffer system can provide a suitable conductive environment and optimize separation efficiency.

In electrophoresis buffer, in addition to TAPS buffer, an appropriate amount of organic solvent or surfactant can be added for modification according to separation requirements. These additives can further regulate separation selectivity and improve peak shape. It should be noted that all running buffers should be degassed before use to eliminate bubbles that may interfere with separation.

Technological progress of capillary electrophoresis

Different from traditional gel electrophoresis, capillary zone electrophoresis does not rely on agarose or polyacrylamide gel as the separation medium. This feature simplifies the experimental process and enables fast and efficient online detection. Capillary electrophoresis technology can also be combined with chromatographic principles, such as filling the tube with a stationary phase or coating the tube wall with a stationary phase to form a capillary electrochromatographic mode, which combines the dual separation mechanism of electrophoresis and liquid chromatography, expanding its application range.

In order to reduce wall adsorption and control the strength of electroosmotic flow, the inner wall of the capillary tube is often coated. This modification technique can significantly improve separation performance, especially for the analysis of biomolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids. The capillary length is usually between 30 and 100 centimeters, which balances separation efficiency and analysis speed.

Key points of experimental operation

Before conducting capillary electrophoresis, it is necessary to ensure that the tube is completely filled with the buffer system. Good buffer filling not only maintains stable conduction of the electric field, but also helps with the focusing and separation of the sample. Quartz capillary has become the standard material for this technology due to its excellent electrical insulation and optical transparency.

TAPS buffer is provided in powder form for precise preparation of buffer solutions of different concentrations. Its chemical properties can be compatible with multiple detection methods, including UV absorption and fluorescence detection, providing reliable support for nucleic acid quantification and qualitative analysis. In the field of nucleic acid separation, selecting a suitable buffer system is an important step in obtaining high-resolution results, and the application of TAPS provides researchers with an effective choice.

Capillary zone electrophoresis technology has been widely used in the field of life sciences due to its efficient and rapid separation characteristics. TAPS buffer, as a key reagent in this technology, provides a stable and reliable buffering environment for nucleic acid separation. With the continuous development of technology, optimizing buffer composition and capillary modification methods will further expand their potential in complex biological sample analysis, creating more value for scientific research and diagnostic fields.

Product packaging

As an advantageous supplier of biological buffering agents, Desheng's products have a purity of up to 99%, which can meet the vast majority of experimental needs. The company strictly controls the quality of its products, and each batch of products is repeatedly sampled and tested to be qualified before being sold. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us at any time to make a purchase!