Electrophoresis of cells and the biological relevance of surface charge.

Recent developments in electrophoresis of cells are reviewed. Problems and progress in automation and miniaturization of analytical electrophoresis instruments as well as in the interpretation of experimentally determined electrophoretic mobility (EPM) data are summarized: In recent times, the EPM determination techniques not only became more reliable and faster, but also more knowledge could be gained about the cell surface electrical properties, the structure of the glycocalyx as well as its influence on the cell peripheral regions and microenvironment by applying cell electrophoresis. In addition, ways are shown to solve discrepancies between physical requirements of a preparative cell electrophoresis procedure and the quantities of ions, which have to be dissolved in cell suspension media. As the modern machines allow the purification of untagged cells suspended in more cell friendly and physiological media, they are likely to be valuable tools in several useful practical applications in clinical transplantation, gene therapy and treatment of disease states.