Electrophoretic method, devices and systems

The present disclosure relates to a method of separation of charged substances by electrophoresis by using an inorganic thread. It includes contacting an electrolyte with an outer surface of the inorganic thread to cause wetting the outer surface of the inorganic thread and wicking along the inorganic thread, loading the charged substances into the electrolyte wetting the outer surface of the inorganic thread in the region of a loading zone portion of the inorganic thread and applying an electric field across the length of inorganic thread to cause the charged substances to be separated along the inorganic thread under the influence of the electric field. The present disclosure also relates to a method for the electrophoretic transfer of a charged substance from a sample on a sample applicator to an inorganic thread and to a method of stripping an outer surface coating from an inorganic thread having an outer surface coating. Related systems and components are also disclosed.