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CE is the English abbreviation for Capillary Electrophoresis.

2024-01-09

CE is the English abbreviation for Capillary Electrophoresis. CE is by no means a new development—Arne Tiselius was awarded the 1948 Nobel Prize for his discovery of interfacial electrophoresis, officially marking the birth of the CE field. Then, in the 1960s, Stellan Hjertén developed the first CE instrument; subsequently, the groundbreaking work published in the 1980s by James Jorgenson and Krynn Lukacs ushered in the commercial application of CE.

As a separation technique akin to chromatography, CE differs from chromatography in its separation mechanism. CE separates molecules based on their net charge and conformation in the solution, thereby providing complementary information on sample component separation that complements chromatographic methods. CE can be applied to analytical challenges where conventional chromatography proves difficult, such as the analysis of large, intact proteins or small polar molecules. Like most separation techniques, CE benefits from coupling with mass spectrometry (MS) detectors, which provide detailed structural information. The analysis of charge variants is an excellent example of this synergy.

Microchip CE

Since the beginning of the 21st century, CE scientists have further developed microchip-based CE platforms. On a single chip, sample injection, electrophoretic separation, and gas-phase ions generated by electrospray ionization (ESI) are directly introduced into the mass spectrometer, eliminating connection points, joints, and dead volumes between different stages and functions. Compared with other liquid separation techniques, microchip CE offers faster analysis times and superior resolution.

In particular, the ZipChip platform device launched by 908Devices provides a compact, versatile CE system that can be seamlessly integrated with today’s mainstream mass spectrometers in a largely plug-and-play manner. Pre-developed analytical protocols for a wide range of applications eliminate the need for chemists to spend time developing methods from scratch. Switching to the ZipChip takes just a few minutes.

CE-MS platform

Building on the foundation of ZipChip, 908Devices has further developed the REBEL analyzer, which integrates microchip capillary electrophoresis and miniaturized mass spectrometry into a single platform. Combined with innovative data acquisition and processing workflows, the REBEL analyzer constitutes a fully automated biochemical analyzer that significantly simplifies the analysis workflow for cell culture media. Leveraging CE’s rapid and high-resolution separation capabilities, the REBEL analyzer can determine the concentrations of nutrients—including multiple amino acids, vitamins, and bioactive amines—in just a short time (<10 minutes). This novel, cost-effective, and user-friendly technology offers numerous conveniences and can substantially reduce the development time required for cell culture media and feed strategies.

Headquartered in Boston, USA, 908Devices is an advanced instrument manufacturer that integrates R&D, design, manufacturing, and application development. 908Devices is making chemical analysis widely accessible through mass spectrometry-based methods, offering on-site, real-time chemical analysis equipment ranging from rugged handheld chemical detection tools (MX908) to compact, miniature cell-culture biochemical analyzers (REBEL) and rapid separation devices (ZipChip). These specialized, user-centric instruments serve a diverse range of industries, including homeland security and public safety, oil and gas, life sciences, and other application markets.

Currently, both ZipChip and REBEL have fully entered the Chinese market. If you’re interested in learning more about the technical features and related applications of CE-MS, please feel free to contact our Shanghai Hanyao Technical Specialist.

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