Review on isotachophoresis in trace biochemical sample analysis: state of art and future prospects

Isotachophoresis (ITP) is a green, efficient, and convenient technology for online sample purification and enrichment. Sample concentration is accomplished by leveraging differences in ion mobility within an electric field between the leading electrolyte and the trailing electrolyte. Over time, ITP devices have shown substantial improvements in sensitivity and detection limits for nucleic acid analysis. Additionally, the range of biological samples tested and disease-related applications has expanded considerably. This review principally emphasizes application progress of ITP in trace biochemical sample analysis especially nucleic acids. In particular, it provides an overview of common coupling techniques. Furthermore, the key parameters for ITP implementation in trace biochemical sample purification and enrichment are comprehensively summarized.