Electrophoretic methods for the analysis of nanoparticles

With the development of nanotechnology, there is a need for methodologies to determine and characterize nanomaterials. Electrophoresis has emerged as a useful tool, which has been employed in various formats (e.g., capillary-zone electrophoresis, gel electrophoresis or isotachophoresis) for the size- or shape-based separation of different types of nanoparticle (NP) (e.g., metallic, semi-metallic or carbon). This article reviews the main progress in electrophoresis techniques in order to achieve separation of NPs. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.