Enhanced Resolution in the Fingerprinting of Short-Chain Oligonucleotides Using the Dodecasodium Salt of Phytic Acid in Capillary Electrophoresis

Abstract
The inclusion of the dodecasodium salt of phytic acid in separation buffers has been found to improve considerably the separation of a number of synthetic short-chain oligonucleotides. A combination of the simplicity and the improved resolving power of this methodology allows the facile analysis of mixtures of such compounds. The presence of a large concentration of sodium ions reduces electroosmotic mobility due to more efficient shielding of negative charges on the inner surface of the capillary wall. This, in turn, leads to a more gradual fall in potential between this surface and the center of the capillary.