Nanoparticle-based pseudostationary phases in CEC: A breakthrough in protein analysis?

This review focuses on major trends in nanoparticle-based pseudostationary phase (PSP) CEC since the publication of our previous reviews within nanoparticle-based CEC [Nilsson, C., et al., Electrophoresis 2006, 27, 76-83; Nilsson, C., et al., J. Chromatogr. A 2007, 1168, 212-224.]. Special attention is given to the development toward protein analysis, which is driven by the strong emergence of protein drug development in the pharmaceutical industry. Furthermore, we discuss the development in coupling different detection techniques with nanoparticle-based PSP CEC, which were originally predicted to be particularly cumbersome. However, at present, direct UV, LIF and ESI-MS have been used without any severe complications. Different types of nanoparticles used as PSP during the period include gold nanoparticles, carbon nanostructures and lipid-based nanoparticles. New materials (for example, different types of carbon nanostructures and self assembled lipid-based nanostructures) are a strong driving force for development in separation science. Finally, future trends in nanoparticles-based CEC are envisioned.