Analysis of the Apollo 16 Free-Fluid Electrophoresis Experiment

The Apollo 16 free-fluid electrophoresis experiment attempted the separation in microgravity of two different-size monodisperse polystyrene latexes under conditions that would give a completely roiled sample on earth because of the thermal convection. The instrument comprised three parallel 0. 63-cm inside diameter 10. 2-cm long Lexan polycarbonate electrophoresis channels, with ted from the channel by semipermeable membranes. The latex samples were contained in cylindrical chambers separated from the electrode by a fixed semipermeable membrane and from the Lexan tube by a movable Kapton polyimide film. Two channels contained 0. 80μm- and 0. 23μ-diameter monodisperse polystyrene latexes and the third, a mixture of the two sizes. The experiment was initiated in microgravity by removing the Kapton films which separated the latex samples from the electrophoresis channels and applying a potential of 300 volts across the electrodes. The results were recorded by photographs taken every 20 seconds.     

Cover Picture: Electrophoresis 16'2011

Issue no. 16 is a regular issue with “Emphasis on Sensitivity Enhancement and Detection” consisting of 18 contributions distributed over 5 distinct parts and a Fast Track paper. The Fast Track paper is on “Barcoding of Giardia duodenalis isolates and derived lines from an established cryobank by a mutation scanning‐based approach”. The remaining 18 papers are grouped into 5 different parts. Part I and Part II represent the emphasis of this issue which involves “Sample Extraction and Enrichment and Sensitivity Enhancement” and “Detection Approaches” based on coupling CE with EC, ECL and MS. Part I has a series of 6 research papers on multifunctional magnetic nanoparticles for the enrichment of proteins, magnetic microspheres solid phase extraction of eight illegal drugs in human urine, hollow‐fiber liquid phase microextraction of nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs in wastewater, solid phase extraction to enhance sensitivity of CE for the determination of pharmaceuticals in river water, in‐line preconcentration CZE for the analysis of haloacetic acids in water, and dispersive liquid‐liquid microextraction coupled with CE for the determination of sulfonamides. Part II has 5 papers concerned with CE coupled with EC and ECL detection for the analysis of beta‐blockers, determination of nicotine and its metabolite cotinine in urine and cigarette samples by CE coupled with ECL, CE‐ECL detection for the analysis of ibandronate in drug formulation and human urine, CE‐ESI‐MS method for carbohydrate analysis, and analysis of phospholipids using MIP‐OTC in CEC‐ESI‐MS. Part III has 3 contributions on binding interaction and affinity capillary electrophoresis involving mobility shift assay for binding of DNA with NFAT3, rapid CE‐UV binding tests of environmentally hazardous compounds with polymer‐modified magnetic nanoparticles, and quantitative evaluation of lectin‐reactive glycoforms of alpha1‐acid glycoprotein using affinity CE with fluorescence detection. Part IV is on protein analysis by gel electrophoresis and has 2 contributions while Part V has 2 research papers on rice genotyping and determination of contrast agents by MEKC in urine and serum samples. Featured articles include: FAST TRACK: Barcoding of Giardia duodenalis isolates and derived lines from an established cryobank by a mutation scanning‐based approach. (( 10.1002/elps.201100283 )) Applications of multifunctional magnetic nanoparticles for the enrichment of proteins for PAGE separation. (( 10.1002/elps.201000657 )) Dispersive liquid‐liquid microextraction coupled with capillary electrophoresis for simultaneous determination of sulfonamides with the aid of experimental design. (( 10.1002/elps.201100142 )) Carbohydrate analysis by capillary electrophoresis‐microelectrospray ionization‐mass spectrometry. (( 10.1002/elps.201100027 )) Quantitative evaluation of lectin‐reactive glycoforms of α1‐acid glycoprotein using lectin affinity capillary electrophoresis with fluorescence detection. (( 10.1002/elps.201100146 )) High throughput functional marker assay for detection of Xa/xa and fgr genes in rice (Oryza sativa L.). (( 10.1002/elps.201100196 ))