Theoretical background for clinical and biomedical applications of electromigration techniques.

This review presents the theoretical principles of analytical electrophoresis. The basic rules which control the movement of ionic species in electrostatic fields, together with the phenomenological theory of the resulting mass transport are analysed. The separation principles and capabilities of zone electrophoresis, isotachophoresis, isoelectric focusing, micellar electrokinetic chromatography and gel electrophoresis are evaluated. The most important effects accompanying electrophoresis, such as the production of Joule heat, electroosmosis and diffusion are discussed.