Reversed-phase Packing Materials Research Articles

Evaluation of separation performance for eggshell-based reversed-phase HPLC columns by controlling particle size and application in quantitative therapeutic drug monitoring.

Eggshell-based reversed-phase packing materials were applied to an analytical column for high-performance liquid chromatography. Commercially available eggshell powder was classified by a cyclone system to obtain three types of particles with different diameters (arithmetic mean ± standard deviation: 4.3 ± 3.8, 5.6 ± 3.3, and 9.5 ± 5.5 μm). Sedimentation separation removed tiny particles from each sample, resulting in particles with arithmetic means of 6.6 ± 5.5, 7.3 ± 4.5, and 10.2 ± 5.0 μm, respectively. The unclassified particles and three particle types treated with sedimentation separation were subsequently packed into analytical columns (150 mm × 4.6 mm I.D.), and their separation efficiencies were evaluated by comparing their height equivalent to a theoretical plate (HETP). The column without sedimentation separation exhibited the highest HETP, whereas the columns with sedimentation separation showed better separation efficiency and lower back pressure. The column with the best separation efficiency was applied for the separation of 10 alkylbenzenes and 5 steroids, and all peaks were observed with complete separation (peak resolution: RS > 1.5). Finally, the column was used for quantitative analysis of voriconazole, an azole antifungal agent, and imatinib, a first-generation molecularly targeted drug for cancer treatment, in spiked whole blood. Excellent accuracy (99.1-102.8%) and precision (0.6-1.9%) were observed for the spiked drugs and long-term stability (>3000 column volumes of mobile phase flow) indicated good applicability of the developed eggshell-based column as an analytical column for routine analyses of therapeutic drugs in blood.

Fabrication process development and basic evaluation of eggshell-based column packing material for reversed-phase preparative separation

Purification of basic drugs in reversed-phase mode is often difficult, mainly due to adsorption of positively charged compounds to the silica gel-based stationary phase. Since this adsorption can be suppressed under alkaline condition, columns with alkali-resistance are required. In addition, compounds with acid-sensitive structures are sometimes degraded during separation on silica gel-based columns which exhibit acidity due to their surface structure. We prepared an alkali-resistant reversed-phase packing material, Eggshell-PMAcO based on eggshells modified with an amphiphilic copolymer, poly(maleic acid-alt-1-octadecene) (PMAcO). The height equivalent to a theoretical plate (HETP) of the Eggshell-PMAcO column was improved by surface treatment with ammonium acetate buffer (900 mM, pH = 3.7), which is an inexpensive reagent, and the retention behavior for hydrophobic compounds was compared to a typical ODS column based on silica gel, resulting in sufficient selectivity of the eggshell-based column for hydrophobic compounds, as indicated by the ratio of retention factors of pentylbenzene and butylbenzene (Eggshell-PMAcO column: 1.55, ODS column: 1.65). Column temperature-dependent retention behavior of naphthalene was investigated in the temperature range from 25 °C to 45 °C, followed by the calculation of thermodynamic parameters. There was little difference in the standard molar enthalpy (Eggshell-PMAcO: −19.6 kJ/mol, ODS: −21.7 kJ/mol). The absolute value of the standard free Gibbs energy for the Eggshell-PMAcO column was much smaller than that of the ODS column (Eggshell-PMAcO: −0.284 kJ/mol, ODS: −13.0 kJ/mol), indicating that the Eggshell-PMAcO column had a weaker retention strength for naphthalene than the ODS column mainly due to the large difference in the standard molar entropy (Eggshell-PMAcO: −64.9 J/mol K, ODS column: −29.2 J/mol K). The retention capacities for imipramine under neutral (water/methanol) and alkaline (0.1% triethylamine water/methanol) conditions were 0.2 mg and 5 mg, respectively, based on injection mass-dependent HETP, retention factor and symmetry factor. Finally, the prepared column was applied to the purification of a building block for nucleic acid drugs. This study demonstrated that reversed-phase columns, which can be fabricated from eggshells and an amphiphilic copolymer in an inexpensive and eco-friendly way, have the ability to purify basic compounds and acid-sensitive compounds.

Quantitative evaluation of reversed-phase packing material based on calcium carbonate microspheres modified with an alternating copolymer

Considering the vulnerability of silica gel to alkaline mobile phases, a highly alkaline stable stationary phase for HPLC is required to separate basic compounds with high separation efficiency. To address this issue, we have developed a high alkaline stable packing material (CaCO3-PMAcO) based on mesoporous calcium carbonate microspheres modified with poly(maleic acid-alt-1-octadecene). In this study, we report further investigation of the separation performance of CaCO3-PMAcO column by systematically evaluating the effects of particle size and chromatographic conditions. Based on the theory of the van Deemter equation, the separation efficiency was related to the size of CaCO3-PMAcO particles (2.9 - 5.7 µm). The evaluation of thermodynamics of retention by changing the column temperature from 20 °C to 45 °C implied that the retention mode was dominated by hydrophobic interaction associated with the exothermic enthalpy changes (-11.1 to -12.5 kJ/mol). The results of column selectivity tests revealed that the CaCO3-PMAcO column had hydrophobic selectivity comparable to C18 silica gel columns (αP/B; CaCO3-PMAcO column: 1.53, C18 column: 1.69), and higher shape/steric selectivity (αTri/Ter; CaCO3-PMAcO column: 1.56, C18 column: 0.955). In practice, the CaCO3-PMAcO column could be applied to the separation of not only alkylbenzenes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, but also to basic tricyclic antidepressants by using an alkaline mobile phase (pH 12).

Quantitative Evaluation of Reversed-Phase Packing Material Based on Calcium Carbonate Microspheres Modified with an Alternating Copolymer

Quantitative Evaluation of Reversed-Phase Packing Material Based on Calcium Carbonate Microspheres Modified with an Alternating Copolymer

A new sample preparation method for the absolute quantitation of a target proteome using (18)O labeling combined with multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry.

A key step in the workflow of bottom-up proteomics is the proteolysis of proteins into peptides with trypsin. In addition, enzyme-catalytic (18)O labeled peptides as internal standards coupled with multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (MRM MS) for the absolute quantitation of the target proteome is commonly used for its convenient operation and low cost. However, long digestion and labeling times, incomplete digestion and (18)O to (16)O back exchange limit its application, therefore, we developed a rapid and efficient digestion method based on a high ratio of trypsin to protein. In addition, after separation of the digested samples using pipette tips packed with reversed-phase packing materials in house, the trypsin can be separated, collected and reused at least four times. Based on this approach, a novel protein quantification method using (18)O-labeled QconCAT peptides as internal standards combined with MRM MS for the absolute quantitation of a target proteome is established. Experimental results showed that the novel method had high digestion and (18)O labeling efficiencies, and no (18)O to (16)O back-exchange occurred. A linear range covering 2 orders of magnitude and a limit of quantification (LOQ) as low as 5 fmol were achieved with an RSD below 10%. Then, the quantitative method is used for the absolute quantitation of drug metabolizing enzymes in human liver microsomes. The results are in good agreement with the previously reported data, which demonstrates that the novel method can be used for absolute quantitative analyses of target proteomes in complex biological samples.

1.9 μm superficially porous packing material with radially oriented pores and tailored pore size for ultra-fast separation of small molecules and biomolecules

In this work, 1.9μm reversed-phase packing materials with superficially porous structure were prepared to achieve the rapid and high efficient separation of peptides and proteins. The silica particles were synthesized via three steps, nonporous silica particle preparation by a modified seeded growth method, mesoporous shell formation by a one pot templated dissolution and redeposition strategy, and pore size expansion via acid-refluxing. By such a method, 1.9μm superficially porous materials with 0.18μm shell thickness and tailored pore diameter (10nm, 15nm) were obtained. After pore enlargement, the formerly dense arrays of mesoporous structure changed, the radially oriented pores dominated the superficially porous structure. The chromatographic performance of such particles was investigated after C18 derivatization. For packing materials with 1.9μm diameter and 10nm pore size, the column efficiency could reach 211,300 plates per m for naphthalene. To achieve the high resolution separation of peptides and proteins, particles with pore diameter of 15nm were tailored, by which the baseline separation of 5 peptides and 5 intact proteins could be respectively achieved within 1min, demonstrating the superiority in the high efficiency and high throughput analysis of biomolecules. Furthermore, BSA digests were well separated with peak capacity of 120 in 30min on a 15cm-long column. Finally, we compared our columns with a 1.7μm Kinetex C18 column under the same conditions, our particles with 10nm pore size demonstrated similar performance for separation of the large intact proteins. Moreover, the particles with 15nm pore size showed more symmetrical peaks for the separation of large proteins (BSA, OVA and IgG) and provided rapid separation of protein extracts from Escherichia coli in 5min. All these results indicated that the synthesized 1.9μm superficially porous silica packing materials would be promising in the ultra-fast and high-resolution separation of biomolecules.

Development and Validation of Stability-Indicating RP-UPLC Method for the Determination of Methdilazine in Bulk Drug and in Pharmaceutical Dosage Form

A simple, precise, and accurate, and stability-indicating isocratic Ultraperformance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) method was developed for the determination of methdilazine hydrochloride (MDH) in bulk drug and in its tablets. The use of UPLC, with a rapid 5-minute-reversed-phase isocratic separation on a 1.7 μm reversed-phase packing material to provide rapid ‘‘high throughput’’ support for MDH, is demonstrated. The method was developed using Waters Acquity BEH C18 column (100 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm) with mobile phase consisting of a mixture of potassium dihydrogenorthophosphate and 1-pentane sulphonic acid buffer of pH 4.0 and acetonitrile (60 : 40 v/v). The eluted compound was detected at 254 nm with a UV detector. The standard curve of mean peak area versus concentration showed an excellent linearity over a concentration range 0.5–80 μg mL−1 MDH with regression coefficient () value of 0.9999. The limit of detection () was 0.2 μg mL−1 and the limit of quantification () was 0.5 μg mL−1. Forced degradation of the bulk sample was conducted in accordance with the ICH guidelines. Acidic, basic, hydrolytic, oxidative, thermal, and photolytic degradations were used to assess the stability indicating power of the method. The drug was found to be stable in acidic, basic, thermal, hydrolytic, and photolytic stress conditions and showed slight degradation in oxidative stress condition.

A Stability Indicating UPLC Method for the Determination of Tramadol Hydrochloride: Application to Pharmaceutical Analysis

The use of Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC), with a rapid 5-minute reversed phase isocratic separation on a 1.7 μm reversed-phase packing material to provide rapid ‘‘high throughput’’ support for tramadol hydrochloride (TMH) is demonstrated. A simple, precise and accurate stability-indicating isocratic UPLC method was developed for the determination of TMH in bulk drug and in its tablets. The method was developed using Waters Aquity BEH C18 column (100 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm) with mobile phase consisting of a mixture of potassium dihydrogen phosphate buffer of pH 2.8 and an equal volume of acetonitrile (60 : 40 v/v). The eluted compound was detected at 226 nm with a UV detector. The standard curve of mean peak area versus concentration showed an excellent linearity over a concentration range 0.5–300 μg mL−1 TMH with regression coefficient (r) value of 0.9999. The limit of detection (S/N =3) was 0.08 μg mL−1 and the limit of quantification (S/N =10) was 0.2 μg mL−1. Forced degradation of the bulk sample was conducted an accordance with the ICH guidelines. Acidic, basic, hydrolytic, oxidative, thermal and photolytic degradation were used to assess the stability indicating power of the method. TMH was found to degrade significantly in acidic, basic and oxidative stress conditions and stable in thermal, hydrolytic and photolytic conditions.

Excess adsorption of binary aqueous organic mixtures on various reversed-phase packing materials

Excess adsorption isotherms of acetonitrile and methanol from water were measured on eight commercial columns. Columns used in this study represent latest examples in column development and include three different poroshell columns (Kinetex-C18, Acsentis-C18 and Halo-C18) as well as conventional columns with significantly different adsorbent geometry (Allure-C18, YMC-C18) and various hybrid-silica columns (Gemini-C18, Xterra-C18 and XBridge-C18). Comparison of the excess adsorption isotherms measured on all these columns and expressed in surface specific form demonstrated significant similarity of the adsorption properties of all columns, which allows us to introduce the “standard adsorption isotherm” for reversed-phase C18-type columns. The methodology of the evaluation of the total amount of adsorbent in the column and effective surface area of the C18 modified adsorbent is also discussed. These terms are critical for successful evaluation of surface specific parameters.

Design of peptide standards with the same composition and minimal sequence variation to monitor performance/selectivity of reversed-phase matrices

The present manuscript extends our de novo peptide design approach to the synthesis and evaluation of a new generation of reversed-phase HPLC peptide standards with the same composition and minimal sequence variation (SCMSV). Thus, we have designed and synthesized four series of peptide standards with the sequences Gly-X-Leu-Gly-Leu-Ala-Leu-Gly-Gly-Leu-Lys-Lys-amide, where the N-terminal is either Nα-acetylated (Series 1) or contains a free α-amino group (Series 3); and Gly-Gly-Leu-Gly-Gly-Ala-Leu-Gly-X-Leu-Lys-Lys-amide, where the N-terminal is either Nα-acetylated (Series 2) or contains a free α-amino group (Series 4). In this initial study, the single substitution position, X, was substituted with alkyl side-chains (Ala<Val<Ile, in order of increasing hydrophobicity) or aromatic side-chains (Phe, Tyr). Peptide series pairs 1/2 and 3/4 thus represent SCMSV peptides, with the substitution site, X, being towards the N- or C-terminal, albeit with identical adjacent residues (Gly-X-Leu) to maintain the same environment around position X. In addition, peptide series pairs 1/3 and 2/4 enable an examination of the effect of a free, positively charged α-amino group on peptide retention behaviour relative to a blocked N-terminus. Peptide mixtures were run at pH 2 on columns with a variety of stationary phase selectivity (C8, C18, polar endcapped, polar embedded, ether-linked phenyl and Phenyl-Hexyl) under linear gradient conditions with acetonitrile or methanol as organic modifier. It was interesting to note that the addition of the hydroxyl group to the aromatic ring in a 12-residue Tyr SCMSV peptide pair had a dramatic effect on resolution compared to the Phe peptide pair. In addition, SCMSV peptide pairs with the β-branched Val and Ile side-chains at position X were the most difficult to separate compared to SCMSV peptides containing the aromatic side-chains Tyr and Phe. In this initial study, SCMSV peptide pairs proved to be a potent test of the selectivity of reversed-phase packing materials. In addition, mixtures of SCMSV peptide standards to assess overall capabilities of stationary phases to resolve complex peptide mixtures underlined the useful complementarity of combinations of different columns and elution conditions to maximize flexibility in peptide applications. Finally, our controlled, de novo designed peptide approach should spur the development of more quantitative selectivity parameters for peptide separations, such as those already available for small molecules, enhancing further the universal value of utilizing peptide standards to compare column performances in the separation of peptide mixtures.

Preparation and evaluation of 1, 3- alternate 25,27-bis-(pentafluorobenzyloxy)-26,28-bis-(3-propyloxy)-calix[4]arene-bonded silica gel high performance liquid chromatography stationary phase

A 1, 3- alternate 25,27-bis-(pentafluorobenzyloxy)-26,28-bis-(3-propyloxy)-calix[4]arene-bonded silica gel stationary phase (CalixBzF 10) was synthesized, structurally characterized, and used as a selector in liquid chromatography. The selectivity study of this phase was done by using fluorine-containing compounds (fluorobenzenes, fluoro-pyrimidine bases), as well as non-fluorinated analytes (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, sulfonamides, xanthines and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons). The effects of organic modifiers on the retention of various compounds possessing basic, acidic and neutral characteristics were studied. It was shown that only basic analytes exhibit a “U-shaped” retention profile and that retention depends on the mobile phase pH. Selectivity comparisons of the novel phase vs. the 1, 3- alternate 25,27-bis-(benzyloxy)-26,28-bis-(3-propyloxy)-calix[4]arene phase (CalixBz) were performed. The retention mechanism is also discussed. The results indicate that the fluorinated calixarene stationary phase behaves like reversed-phase packing material; however, fluorine–fluorine interactions seem to be involved in the separation process of fluorine-containing analytes.

Separation of Cinchona alkaloids on a novel strong cation-exchange-type chiral stationary phase—comparison with commercially available strong cation exchanger and reversed-phase packing materials

A recently reported chiral strong cation exchanger (cSCX) type stationary phase was investigated for the LC separation of a series of Cinchona alkaloids and synthetic derivatives thereof to test its usefulness as alternative methodology for the separation of those important pharmaceuticals. The cSCX column-packing material was qualitatively compared on the one hand against a commercially available non-enantioselective SCX-material, PolySulfoethyl-A, and, on the other hand, against a modern C18 reversed-phase stationary phase which is commonly employed for Cinchona alkaloid analysis. Both SCX columns showed no pronounced peak-tailing phenomena which typically hamper Cinchona alkaloid RP analysis and require specific optimization. Thus, the cSCX-based assay provided new feasibilities for the separation of the Cinchona alkaloids in polar organic mode as opposed to conventional reversed-phase methodologies. In particular, a method for the simultaneous determination of eight Cinchona alkaloids (quinine, quinidine, cinchonine, cinchonidine, and their corresponding dihydro analogs) using the cSCX column in HPLC has been developed and exemplarily applied to impurity profiling of a commercial alkaloid sample. Furthermore, both SCX materials allowed successful separation of C9-epi and 10,11-didehydro derivatives from their respective educts in an application in synthetic Cinchona alkaloid chemistry.

Comparison of Different Reversed-Phase Packing Materials Based on Higher Organic Hybrid Particles

ABSTRACTAs part of our ongoing exploration into the field of hybrid organic/inorganic particles as HPLC packing materials, we have recently evaluated the use of porous particles synthesized from the co-condensation of ethylene-bridged alkoxysilanes with tetraethoxysilane [1,2]. By employing 4-100 mol% of hybrid organic/inorganic groups (i.e., O1.5SiCH2CH2SiO1.5) to 96-0 mol% inorganic groups (i.e., SiO2), novel hybrid particles have been prepared and shown to be excellent materials for the preparation of efficient and chemically resilient reversed-phase packing materials.

High Resolution “Ultra Performance” Liquid Chromatography Coupled to oa-TOF Mass Spectrometry as a Tool for Differential Metabolic Pathway Profiling in Functional Genomic Studies

The combination of a new 1.7 mum reversed-phase packing material, and a chromatographic system, operating at ca. 12,000 psi, (so-called ultra performance liquid chromatography, UPLC) has enabled dramatic increases in chromatographic performance to be obtained for complex mixture separation. This increase in performance is manifested in improved peak resolution, together with increased speed and sensitivity. Here, we show that UPLC offers significant advantages over conventional reversed-phase HPLC amounting to a more than doubling of peak capacity, an almost 10-fold increase in speed and a 3- to 5-fold increase in sensitivity compared to that generated with a conventional 3.5 microm stationary phase. The first functional genomic application of UPLC-MS technology is illustrated here with respect to multivariate metabolic profiling of urines from males and females of two groups of phenotypically normal mouse strains (C57BL19J and Alpk:ApfCD) and a "nude mouse" strain. We have also compared this technology to conventional HPLC-MS under similar analytical conditions and show improved phenotypic classification capability of UPLC-MS analysis together with increased ability to probe differential pathway activities between strains as a result of improved analytical sensitivity and resolution.

High performance liquid chromatography in pharmaceutical analyses

High performance liquid chromatography in pharmaceutical analyses

Novas fases estacionárias à base de sílica para cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência

The present work reviews recent advances in the preparation of new reversed phase packing materials such as sterically protected, bidentate, hybrid organic-inorganic and monolithic phases and phases containing embedded polar groups. The bonding chemistry involved in the preparation of these phases as well as their advantages over conventional C8 and C18 reversed phases are discussed. Understanding the reasons behind the development of these newer column packings helps analysts select the best stationary phase for a given application.

General method allowing the use of 100% aqueous loading conditions in reversed-phase liquid chromatography

Reversed-phase HPLC purification of peptides, using n-alkyl modified spherical silica, has become a widely used technique within the pharmaceutical industry. One drawback of these materials is the necessity of having at least 5% organic modifier in the mobile phase, in order to avoid de-wetting of the porous stationary phase. For some preparative reversed-phase separations, it is an advantage if the feed solution can be loaded onto the column under 100% aqueous conditions. This study describes the use of post-column pressure control to avoid de-wetting of regular reversed-phase stationary phases when operated under 100% aqueous conditions. The applicability of post-column pressure control as a means of maintaining the column fully wetted is demonstrated with various buffers and with packing materials having different alkyl-chain lengths. Two peptides, insulin and oxytocin, in overloaded quantities, were loaded under 100% aqueous conditions onto a regular C8 column, and then eluted by a acetonitrile gradient following standard procedures. The retention volume and the peak shape showed that the separation was satisfactory, and proved that post-column pressure control can be used to overcome wettability problems, which are otherwise often observed for reversed-phase packing materials with high ligand density.

Fully automated method for the liquid chromatographic determination of cyproterone acetate in plasma using restricted access material for sample pre-treatment

A new fully automated method for the quantitative analysis of an antiandrogenic substance, cyproterone acetate (CPA), in plasma samples has been developed using on-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) prior to the determination by reversed-phase liquid chromatography (LC). The automated method was based on the use of a precolumn packed with an internal-surface reversed-phase packing material (LiChrospher RP-4 ADS) for sample clean-up coupled to LC analysis on an octadecyl stationary phase using a column-switching system. A 200-μl volume of plasma sample was injected directly on the precolumn packed with restricted access material using a mixture of water–acetonitrile (90:10, v/v) as washing liquid. The analyte was then eluted in the back-flush mode with the LC mobile phase which consisted of a mixture of phosphate buffer, pH 7.0–acetonitrile (54:46, v/v). The elution profiles of CPA and blank plasma samples on the precolumn and the time needed for analyte transfer from the precolumn to the analytical column were determined. Different compositions of washing liquid and mobile phase were tested to reduce the interference of plasma endogenous components. UV detection was achieved at 280 nm. Finally, the developed method was validated using a new approach, namely the application of the accuracy profile based on the interval confidence at 90% of the total measurement error (bias+standard deviation). The limit of quantification of cyproterone acetate in plasma was determined at 15 ng ml −1. The validated method should be applicable to the determination of CPA in patients treated by at least 50 mg day −1.

Retention behaviour of an homologous series of oligodeoxythymidilic acids using reversed-phase ion-pair chromatography

The retention behaviour of an homologous series of phosphorylated oligodeoxythymidylic acid (pd(T)5–18) oligonucleotides was studied using reversed-phase ion-pair chromatography with isocratic elution conditions. The effects of temperature, pH, eluent ionic strength, percentage organic modifier, concentration and alkyl chain length of the ion-pairing reagent were investigated. The retention behaviour was generally explicable by current theoretical models of ion-pair chromatography. However, the marked effect of mobile phase pH on the retention of the oligonucleotides was unexpected, and this was ascribed to the presence of ionisable residual silanols on the surface of the reversed-phase packing material.

COMPARISON OF CHROMATOGRAPHIC PROPERTIES OF LEWIS BASE-MODIFIED MIXED OXIDES AS STATIONARY PHASES FOR HPLC

The chromatographic properties of stationary phases, stearic acid modified ceria-zirconia (SA‒CeO2‒ZrO2), alkylphosphonic acid modified ceria-zirconia (PA‒CeO2‒ZrO2), and alkylphosphonic acid modified magnesia-zirconia (PA‒ MgO‒ZrO2), have been investigated by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and some basic compounds as probes. The retention of PAHs was quasi-homoenergetic on the three stationary phases with methanol/water as mobile phases. The retention of basic solutes was investigated on the three stationary phases over a wide range of pHs. They behave as reversed-phase packing materials at pH10.0. However, PA‒CeO2‒ZrO2 and PA‒MgO‒ZrO2 exhibited dual retention mechanism at pH 4.0. These results strongly suggest that the cation-exchange sites result from the ligand of alkylphosphonic acid, rather than from the mixed oxide supports.