Critical parameters for highly efficient and reproducible polyelectrolyte multilayer coatings for protein separation by capillary electrophoresis

Since the introduction of polyelectrolyte multilayers to protein separation in capillary electrophoresis (CE), some progress has been made to improve separation efficiency by varying different parameters, such as buffer ionic strength and pH, polyelectrolyte nature and number of deposited layers. However, CE is often overlooked as it lacks robustness compared to other separation techniques. In this work, critical parameters for the construction of efficient and reproducible Successive multiple ionic-polymer layers (SMIL) coatings were investigated, focusing on experimental conditions, such as vial preparation and sample conservation which were shown to have a significant impact on separation performances. In addition to repeatability, intra- and inter-capillary precision were assessed, demonstrating the improved capability of poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) / poly(sodium styrene sulfonate) (PDADMAC / PSS) coated capillaries to separate model proteins in a 2 M acetic acid background electrolyte when all the correct precautions are put in place (with run to run%RSD(t(m)) < 1.8%, day to day%RSD(t(m)) < 3.2% and cap to cap%RSD(t(m)) < 4.6%). The approach recently introduced to calculate retention factors was used to quantify residual protein adsorption onto the capillary wall and to assess capillary coating performances. 5-layer PDADAMAC / PSS coatings led to average retention factors for the five model proteins of similar to 4x10(-2). These values suggest a relatively low residual protein adsorption leading to reasonably flat plate height vs linear velocity curves, obtained by performing electrophoretic separations at different electrical voltages (-10 to -25 kV). (c) 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Polyelectrolyte multilayers have been used in capillary electrophoresis for protein separation, and varying different parameters has improved the efficiency of separation. This study investigated critical parameters for constructing efficient successive multiple ionic-polymer layers (SMIL) coatings and found that vial preparation and sample conservation have a significant impact on separation performances. PDADMAC / PSS coated capillaries showed improved capability for protein separation with low residual protein adsorption.