[Electrophoresis applied to the analysis and separation of cells]

The present paper describes the theory and practice of cell/particle electrophoresis: the migration of cells/particles free to move in suspension under the influence of an applied electrical field, without any undue damage of cell membranes. The technique is quite different from high voltage electrophoresis on gels and paper. The quantitative biophysical parameter, never likely to be zero, is the electrophoretic mobility, experimentally determined by the cell electrophoresis apparatus, and mathematically related to the electrokinetic or the zeta potential. A detailed description of the analytical and preparative electrophoresis is given. Data are presented on the electrophoretic properties of bone tissue cells and cells of the immune system.