What are the principles of capillary electrophoresis?

In capillary electrophoresis, the fundamental principle is that charged particles or ions migrate towards opposite poles when subjected to an electric current. The movement and separation of molecules in the capillary is influenced by their electrophoretic mobility, which is determined by their charge and size. This separation allows for the precise analysis and characterization of the particles present in the sample. Higher electric fields lead to faster separation of molecules. In capillary electrophoresis, positively charged molecules move towards the cathode, while negatively charged ones migrate towards the anode. Neutral molecules travel at the same rate as electroosmotic flow but can interact with a pseudo-stationary phase (e.g. micelles) leading to a technique known as micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC).