Capillary Gel Electrophoresis (CGE) Technology

Capillary gel electrophoresis (CGE), a high-resolution variant of SDS-PAGE separation technology, is a powerful, rapid, and reliable analytical tool for evaluating protein and peptide drugs. This technology can qualitatively analyze the molecular weight of proteins and peptides as well as quantitatively analyze protein aggregates and fragments. CD Formulation integrates cutting-edge CGE technology into our protein characterization technology platform to provide reliable analytical support for all stages of the development and production of your protein/peptide drugs, including formulation development, process development, drug release testing, and stability testing.

What is Capillary Gel Electrophoresis (CGE) Technology?

CGE is a powerful analytical technique that combines the principles of capillary electrophoresis (CE) and gel electrophoresis (GE) to separate macromolecules based on their size and charge. In CGE analysis, SDS-CGE, as a variant of SDS-PAGE, has higher resolution, faster analysis speed, and lower detection limit, which makes it attractive for protein and peptide formulation development, stability studies and forced degradation studies. SDS-CGE involves the use of SDS to denature and uniformly charge proteins prior to CGE separation, allowing for more accurate size determination.

Fig. 1 Protein separation by capillary gel electrophoresis (CGE)-based sizes. (CD Formulation)

Capillary Gel Electrophoresis (CGE) Principle

CGE is also based on the principle that charged molecules migrate towards an electrode of opposite charge under the influence of an electric field. In CGE, thin capillaries filled with a gel matrix (such as polyacrylamide or agarose) are used as the separation medium. The gel has a sieving effect, allowing smaller molecules to migrate more easily than larger molecules. When an electric field is applied. The charged molecules move through the gel at a rate that depends on their size and charge - smaller, more charged molecules generally migrate faster than larger, less charged molecules. The larger the molecular weight, the longer the migration time.

The inner diameter of the capillaries used in CGE is usually small (usually about 20-100 microns), which helps to improve separation efficiency and sensitivity, reduce sample and reagent consumption, and shorten analysis time. CGE systems typically use various detection methods, such as laser-induced fluorescence (LIF), UV absorbance, or conductivity detection, to quantify the migrating molecules.

Our Services Related to Capillary Gel Electrophoresis (CGE)

Thanks to decades of experience in supporting protein/peptide biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing using CGE technology, our team of highly qualified experts offers a range of CGE-related services to accelerate the implementation and success of your projects.

Our experienced team of experts has completed hundreds of protein and peptide CGE analysis projects, allowing support for all stages of your protein/peptide drug development and manufacturing - from early studies to downstream process monitoring and GMP batch release testing.

Utilizing cutting-edge CGE technology, we support the following protein/peptide characterization plans, including but not limited to:

Protein and Peptide Molecular Weight (MW) Determination

CGE is particularly effective in determining the size of proteins and their complexes. Separation is typically based on the protein's molecular weight, which can be estimated by comparison to a standard marker.

Protein and Peptide Purity Analysis

CGE can be used to assess the purity of a protein sample by separating the target protein from impurities such as aggregates, denatured proteins, and other contaminants. This is critical for quality control in protein and peptide biopharmaceutical production.

Glycoprotein Characterization

CGE is an ideal tool for characterizing glycoproteins, separating glycosylated proteins based on size and charge differences caused by glycosylation.

Post-Translational Modifications (PTMs) Analysis

CGE can be used to analyze proteins for various post-translational modifications (PTMs), such as phosphorylation, methylation, ubiquitination, and acetylation. These modifications play an important role in regulating protein function, stability, and their interactions with other molecules. CGE technology enables our scientists to separate and quantify these modifications to reveal their important effects on protein function and biological activity.

Protein Stability Studies

CGE can be used to assess protein stability. Our scientists use CGE to monitor changes in the migration pattern of a protein or peptide sample over time under different conditions, such as temperature, pH, or the presence of chemicals.

Protein-Protein Interactions

CGE is used to study interactions between proteins. Changes in migration patterns can indicate binding events or conformational changes when complexes are formed.

Advantages of Capillary Gel Electrophoresis (CGE)

• High throughput.
• Automated analysis.
• Small sample size.
• High-throughput screening, shortening method development, and optimization time to accelerate experimental design (DOE).
• Compatible with multiple online detection strategies, including laser-induced fluorescence (LIF), UV absorbance, or conductivity detection, with inherently high levels of quantification.
• Wide dynamic range, with LOD as low as 4 ng/mL and LOQ as high as 5 μg/mL, respectively.
• Sufficient stability and quantitative reproducibility.
• Shorter analysis time, running CGE takes 10 to 100 times less time than slab gel electrophoresis.
• CGE is also more suitable for small proteins than traditional SDS-PAGE.

Custom Capillary Gel Electrophoresis (CGE) Services

Why Choose Our Capillary Gel Electrophoresis (CGE) Technology?

• We have a team of experts with rich experience in CGE analytical method development and validation.
• We have accumulated decades of expertise and successful project experience using CGE technology to support protein/peptide biopharmaceutical development.
• Our laboratories are equipped with the latest CGE equipment and technology, enabling innovative methods and high-quality data generation.
• We provide end-to-end support, from sample preparation to data interpretation, to help you make informed decisions based on our results.
• We adhere to strict quality control and regulatory standards to ensure the integrity and compliance of your data.
• We provide flexible experimental design and customized solutions.

Publication

CD Formulation aims to provide a powerful analytical tool for the separation, purification, and characterization of proteins and peptides. Please feel free to contact us if you are interested in our services. Learn how our CGE technology can support the smooth implementation of your protein/peptide biopharmaceutical program.

How It Works

STEP 1

Submit a service request describing your specific research or development need.

STEP 2

We'll email you to provide your quote and confirm order details if applicable.

STEP 3

Execute the project with real-time communication, and deliver the final report promptly.