Labeling strategies for analysis of oligosaccharides and glycans by capillary electrophoresis

Capillary electrophoresis represents a powerful separation technique that has been widely accepted in oligosaccharide and glycan analysis. However, due to their low electrophoretic mobility as well as the lack of chromophore or fluorophore in their native structure, appropriate modification of the saccharide molecule is required before separation and detection. In this review, we summarize the labeling strategies used for oligosaccharide/glycan analysis followed by electrophoretic separation published between 2010 and mid-2022. The review is divided by the labeling mechanism and part of the saccharide molecule used for modification. Although most labeling for CE-based applications is done with 8-aminopyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid trisodium salt, we have also summarized less common, rare, and very recently developed tags with applicability in glycomics.