Both glucosamine and calcium nitrate were purchased from Merck KGaA (Germany). The stock solutions of glucosamine (1000 mg/L) and Ca2+ (1000 mg/L) and standard solutions of calibration curves were prepared with deionized water in volumetric flasks and stored at 4°C before further use.
L-arginine (Arg), N-cyclohexyl-3-aminopropanesulfonic acid (CAPS), L-histidine (His), and tris (hydroxymethyl) aminomethane (Tris) used for background electrolyte (BGE) and sample preparation were purchased from Sigma–Aldrich (Singapore). Otherwise, acetic acid (Ace) and trichloroacetic acid (TCA) were purchased from Merck KgaA, Germany. The BGEs were prepared by adding Ace into Arg, Tris, His, and CAPS solutions, followed by pH adjustment with acetic acid using a HI 2215 pH meter (Hanna Instruments, Woonsocket, RI, USA).
Fused silica capillaries (50 μm i.d., 365 μm OD) were purchased from BGB Analytik AG (Böckten, Switzerland). Before use, the capillaries were conditioned by flushing with 1 M NaOH solution, deionized water, and then the BGE.