Capillary electrophoresis for characterization of low molecular weight heparins

In many instances, low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) have replaced unfractionated heparins for prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism. Each LMWH is a specific compound with its own physicochemical and pharmacological properties. These properties are critical in determining the therapeutic efficacy of the product. In recent times, capillary electrophoresis (CE) has emerged as a means of analytical separation of biological molecules. There are few reports, however, detailing the separation of whole heparins by capillary electrophoresis. This paper reports the use of CE to characterize LMWH without prior oligosaccharide release, labeling, or derivatization. The paper also focuses on the advantages of CE separation for the monitoring of product consistency.