Stepwise Elution Research Articles

One-Step Separation of Four Flavonoids from Herba Salviae Plbeiae by HSCCC

High-speed countercurrent chromatography (HSCCC) was successfully applied to the isolation and purification of four flavonoids from Herba Salviae Plbeiae using stepwise and dual-mode elution with a pair of two-phase solvent systems. The systems composed of n-hexane-chloroform-methanol-water (0.5 : 4 : 3 : 2, v/v/v/v) and chloroform-methanol-water (4 : 3 : 2, v/v/v). Analytical HSCCC was used for the preliminary selection of a suitable system, and a linear scale-step procedure was performed at a preparative grade. Hispidulin (91 mg), nepetin (148 mg), homoplantaginin (405 mg) and nepetin-7-glucoside (192 mg) could be obtained from 1,500-mg crude sample in a one-step separation, with purities >95% as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Their chemical structures were identified by (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and (13)C NMR.

Purification of papain from unclarified papaya juice using reversed phase expanded bed adsorption chromatography (RP-EBAC)

The purification of papain using a reversed phase expanded bed adsorption chromatography (RP-EBAC) using a Fastline™ 10 EBAC column packed with Amberlite™ XAD7HP has been carried out in this study. An efficient large scale direct recovery of papain was developed and optimized from unclarified papaya juice feedstock in batch adsorption system. Enhancement of papain purity was further investigated in EBAC by stepwise elution strategy. High papain purity of 74.98% and high purification factor of 7.04 were obtained. This study shows a great potential of using two step elution RP-EBAC system to purify papain from unclarified papaya juice.

Chromatographic Separation of Nuclear Rare Metals by Highly Functional Xerogels

The uptake behavior of Cs, Pd, Mo, Re and Tc on highly functional xerogels (microcapsules: MCs), the characterization of MCs and the chromatographic separation for the simulated HLLW (28 components) and the spent fuel solution were examined by batch and column methods. Granular MCs of ammonium tungstophosphate (AWP) encapsulated with calcium alginate (CaALG) matrices exhibited a high selectivity towards Cs+, and a relatively large separation factor (α) of Cs+/Rb+ above 10 was obtained. The mutual separation of Cs+/Rb+ was thus accomplished through the packed column. The novel MCs of insoluble ferrocyanides (CuFC) prepared by direct method had an excellent selectivity towards Pd2+; relatively large Kd values above 105 cm3/g were obtained. The chromatographic separation of Pd2+/Rh3+/RuNO3+ in simulated HLLW was accomplished using thiourea-HNO3 eluent. The extractants (LIX63, MIDOA and TOA) can be encapsulated with the alginate polymer gels. The MCs enclosing the above extractants exhibited high selectivity towards Mo(VI), Re(VII) and Tc(VII) ions, and the chromatographic separation for simulated HLLW and spent fuel solutions was accomplished by using stepwise elution methods. The precise separation system combined the above processes is effective for the recovery of nuclear rare metals from HLLWs.

Facile removal of high mannose structures prior to extracting complex type N‐glycans from de‐N‐glycosylated peptides retained by C18 solid phase to allow more efficient glycomic mapping

The relative amount of high mannose structures within an N-glycomic pool differs from one source to another, but quite often it predominates over the larger size complex type structures carrying biologically important glyco-epitopes. An efficient method to separate these two classes of N-glycans would significantly aid in detecting the lower abundant components by MS. Capitalizing on an initial observation that only high mannose type structures were recovered in the flow-through fraction when peptide-N-glycosidase F digested peptides were passed through a C18 cartridge in 0.1% formic acid, we demonstrated here that native complex type N-glycans can be retained by C18 cartridge and to be efficiently separated from both the smaller high mannose type structures, as well as de-N-glycosylated peptides by stepwise elution with increasing ACN concentration. The weak retention of the largely hydrophilic N-glycans on C18 resin is dependent not only on size but also increased by the presence of α6-fucosylation. This was shown by comparing the resulting N-glycomic profiles of the washed and low-ACN eluted fractions derived from both a human cancer cell line and an insect cell line.

Inducement of Cytokine Release by GFPBW2, a Novel Polysaccharide from Fruit Bodies of Grifola frondosa, through Dectin-1 in Macrophages

Polysaccharides, especially β-glucans isolated from various species of mushrooms, are considered as biological response modifiers (BRMs) to be widely used in the treatment of cancer, especially due to their immunostimulatory activity. We herein characterized the structure of a novel water-soluble homogeneous polysaccharide (GFPBW2) from the fruit bodies of mushroom Grifola frondosa and investigated its immunomodulatory activity in vitro. GFPBW2 was purified from the alkali-extracted fractions by stepwise elution with a molecular weight of 26.2 kDa. On the basis of infrared and NMR spectroscopy, methylation and monosaccharide composition analysis, partial acid hydrolysis, and Smith degradation, its structure was elucidated to possess a backbone consisting of β-d-1,3- and β-d-1,4-linked glucopyranosyl residues, with branches attached to O-6 of β-d-1,3-linked glucopyranosyl residues. Functionally, it is an effective inducer of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) secretion in murine resident peritoneal macrophages. Using quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) analysis, we found that GFPBW2 could bind dendritic cell-associated C-type lectin-1 (Dectin-1) with an affinity constant (Kd) value of 1.08 × 10 (-7) M, while it could activate Syk and enhance TNF-α production in RAW264.7 cells overexpressing wild type but not mutant Dectin-1. Furthermore, Syk, NF-κB signaling, and cytokine release in resident peritoneal macrophages induced by GFPBW2 could be significantly inhibited by a specific Dectin-1 blocking reagent, Laminarin. These data suggested that GFPBW2 might be a potential ligand of Dectin-1, and the potential of GFPBW2 to activate macrophage through triggering cytokine secretion might be attributed, at least in part, to the involvement of Dectin-1.

An efficient strategy for the extraction and purification of lignans fromSchisandra chinensisby a combination of supercritical fluid extraction and high-speed counter-current chromatography

An efficient strategy for extracting and separating five lignans from Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill has been developed using supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) in the present study. First, the extraction was performed by a preparative SFE system under 15 MPa of pressure at 36°C for 4 h. Then, the SFE extract was successfully separated and purified by HSCCC with a two-phase solvent system composed of n-hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water (6:4:5:5, 6:4:6:4, 6:4:8:2, v/v) in a stepwise elution mode. The fractions were analyzed by HPLC, and the chemical structures of the products were identified by ESI-MS and 1H NMR spectroscopy. As a result, a total of 12.5 mg of schisandrin at 98.0% purity, 7.1 mg of gomisin A at 98.1% purity, 1.8 mg of schisantherin B at 93.3% purity, 4.4 mg of deoxyschisandrin at 92.9% purity, and 6.8 mg of γ-schisandrin at 89.1% purity were obtained from 300 mg crude extract in a one-step purification.

Suppression of severe lesions, myonecrosis and hemorrhage, caused by Protobothrops flavoviridis venom with its serum proteins

Protobothrops flavoviridis serum proteins precipitated with ammonium sulfate were chromatographed on a DEAE-Toyopearl 650M column at pH 7.5 with stepwise increase or with linear gradient of NaCl concentration. Peaks 3 and 4 serum proteins, obtained by linear gradient elution and named Frde3 and Frde4, contained Habu serum factors (HSF) and phospholipase A2 (PLA2) inhibitors (PfPLI), respectively. The serum proteins eluted at 0.2 M NaCl by stepwise elution, named Fr0.2NaCl, effectively suppressed myonecrosis and hemorrhage caused by P. flavoviridis venom in rat or mouse thigh muscles. The Fr0.2NaCl were fractionated by HPLC and the fractions, after SDS-PAGE, underwent far-western blot analysis with PLA2 ([Asp49]PLA2) and BPI ([Lys49]PLA2) as the probes. Four PfPLIs, namely, PfαPLI-A, PfαPLI-B, PfγPLI-A and PfγPLI-B, were identified together with their selective binding specificities to PLA2 species. In addition, a new 9 kDa protein, which is specifically bound to BPI, was found. Suppression of P. flavoviridis venom-induced severe lesions, such as myonecrosis, hemorrhage and edema, with its serum proteins was histopathologically observed in the present work for the first time. The cooperative use of P. flavoviridis antivenom and its serum proteins as medication for P. flavoviridis snake bites is discussed.

Impact of plasmid size on the purification of model plasmid DNA vaccines by phenyl membrane adsorbers

Plasmid DNA (pDNA) offers a versatile platform for the development of new pharmaceuticals. This versatility also adds in variability among plasmid products most of the times sharing only the same basic molecular structure. Membrane chromatography experiments performed with a Sartorius® Phenyl 3mL spiral cartridge and differently sized plasmids (3.70kbp, 6.05kbp and 10.4kbp) show that the strength of interaction of pDNA isoforms with HIC membrane adsorbers depends on size. These differences in relative binding strength were explored using a stepwise elution strategy of decreasing buffer conductivities in order to increase the purity of supercoiled (SC) pDNA isoforms. The open circular (OC) isoforms of all plasmids eluted earlier at a similar conductivity of 190mS/cm, independently of the hydrodynamic diameter (Dh). A drop in conductivity of 16.0mS/cm, 23mS/cm and 19mS/cm had to be imposed to elute the supercoiled (SC) counterparts of the 3.70kbp, 6.05kbp and 10.4kbp, respectively. This corresponds to relative binding strengths of the SC over OC isoforms of 1.09, 1.14 and 1.11. Unlike the OC isoforms, the behavior of SC isoforms was dependent of the Dh. The purified and pooled plasmid fractions were assayed and demonstrated high degree of purity, compliant with regulatory agencies criteria: over 99% RNA removal, endotoxin levels below 0.001EU/μg pDNA and undetectable protein content by BCA assay.

Online Sequential-Injection Chromatography with Stepwise Gradient Elution: A Tool for Studying the Simultaneous Adsorption of Herbicides on Soil and Soil Components

The adsorption of triazine herbicides simazine (SIM), atrazine (ATR), and propazine (PRO) as well as the metabolites deisopropylatrazine (DIA), deethylatrazine (DEA), and 2-hydroxyatrazine (HAT) on soil, humic acid, and soil modified with humic acidic was studied by sequential-injection chromatography with UV detection at 223 nm. An online monitoring system was assembled, which was composed of a tangential filter and a peristaltic pump for the circulation of the soil (25 g L(-1)) or humic acid (2.5 g L(-1)) suspensions. A stepwise gradient elution separated the compounds using three mobile phases whose compositions were 28, 40, and 50% (v v(-1)) methanol in 1.25 mmol L(-1) ammonium acetate buffer, pH 4.7. The sampling throughput was about six analyses per hour; the linear dynamic range was between 100 and 1000 μg L(-1) for all of the studied compounds. The detection limits varied from 9 μg L(-1) for ATR to 36 μg L(-1) for DEA. At contact times <2 h, humic acid was the material with a higher adsorptive capacity (from 1470 ± 43 μg g(-1) for DIA to 2380 ± 51 μg g(-1) for PRO). In soil, HAT exhibited the highest adsorption (23.8 ± 0.2 μg g(-1)). The presence of humic acid in the soil increased the adsorption of ATR (14 ± 1 to 23 ± 2 μg g(-1)) and PRO (21.5 ± 0.5 to 24.0 ± 0.2 μg g(-1)), decreased the adsorption of HAT (23.8 ± 0.2 to 18 ± 2 μg g(-1)), and did not affect DIA and DEA. The adsorption of SIM was negligible in all of the sorbents studied. Simazine is the herbicide with the greatest potential for leaching to water bodies followed by DEA and DIA.

Evaluation of mixed-mode chromatographic resins for separating IgG from serum albumin containing feedstock

Mixed-mode chromatography has been focused as a cost-effective new technique for antibody purification. In this study, four mixed-mode resins with N-benzyl-N-methyl ethanol amine, 2-benzamido-4-mercaptobutanoic acide, 4-mercapto-ethyl-pyridine and phenylpropylamine as the ligands were tested and the multi-functional interactions between ligand and protein were discussed. Immunoglobulin G (IgG), bovine serum albumin (BSA) and the binary mixture of BSA and IgG were used as the model feedstock to compare the separation behaviors by pH gradient elution. The comparison analysis showed mixed-mode resin with N-benzyl-N-methyl ethanol amine as the ligand had the best ability to separate IgG and BSA. The results indicated that for four resins tested ionic interaction might play the dominant role in the separation of IgG and BSA while the hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding have some subsidiary effects. The pH stepwise elution and sample loading were optimized to improve the IgG purification from serum albumin containing feedstock. High purity (92.3%) and high recovery (95.6%) of IgG were obtained. The results indicated that mixed-mode chromatography would be a potential option for antibody purification with the control of loading and elution conditions.

Isolation of terpenoids from Pimpinella anisum essential oil by high‐performance counter‐current chromatography

High-performance counter-current chromatography was successfully used for the isolation and purification of terpenoid compounds from the essential oil of Pimpinella anisum L. A two-phase solvent system composed of n-heptane/methanol/ethyl acetate/water (5:2:5:2, v/v/v/v) was suitable for the purification of linalool, terpinen-4-ol, α-terpineol, p-anisaldehyde, while n-heptane/methanol (1:1, v/v) was used for the isolation of anethole and foeniculin. A scale-up process from analytical to preparative was developed. Additionally, a stepwise gradient elution was applied and instead of two different runs, 40 min each, one 80 min separation was performed; although the time of separation remains the same, it was possible to repeat the efficiency even if the water-containing mobile phase was changed to a nonaqueous system. The obtained essential oil, as well as purified compounds, was analyzed by GC. A total of 0.64 mg of linalool, 0.52 mg of terpinen-4-ol, 0.10 mg of α-terpineol, 0.62 mg of p-anisaldehyde, 15 mg of anethole, and 2.12 mg of foeniculin were obtained from 210 mg of the essential oil of P. anisum L. in a short time with purities of 99, 98, 94, 93.54, 93, and 93.6%, respectively.

Changes in the mobile phase composition on a stepwise counter-current chromatography elution for the isolation of flavonoids from Siparuna glycycarpa

This paper describes the isolation of flavonoids and other aromatic compounds from an ethyl acetate extract of leaves of Siparuna glycycarpa using stepwise elution counter-current chromatography (CCC). The elution profile yielded the following compounds: diglycosylated flavonoids, quercetin 3-O-rutinoside and quercetin 7-O-rutinoside, followed by monoglycosylated flavonoids, kaempferol-3-O-β-glucopyranoside, kaempferol-3-O-β-rhamnopiranoside, kaempferol-3-O-β-6''(p-coumaroyl) glucopyranoside, and quercetin-3-O-β-glucopyranoside, and then free phenolics, protocatechuic acid, and 2',6'-dihydroxy-4, 4'-dimethoxydihydrochalcone, which shows that this type of elution covers a broader range of polarity than the traditional isocratic mode. This makes it more suitable to perform separations of mixtures containing large differences in hydrophobicity. A GC analysis of a blank CCC run was performed to determine if changes in the mobile phase composition affect the chromatographic process. Results showed a gradual variation of the composition of the mobile phase emerging after the step gradient, favoring the selectivity of the solvent system.

Microchip Emitter for Solid-Phase Extraction–Gradient Elution–Mass Spectrometry

A microchip electrospray emitter with a magnetic bead trap has been designed for solid-phase extraction-gradient elution-mass spectrometry (SPE-GEMS). The goal of this method is the detection of analytes at low concentrations and it is here demonstrated using reverse phase coated magnetic beads (Mbs) for the preconcentration and detection of the peptides. The sample is passed through the chip, and the peptides are retained and enriched in the trap. After washing, the peptides are released sequentially by stepwise gradient elution and electrosprayed for mass spectrometry analysis. This approach allows effective sample desalting, enrichment, sequential elution, and MS detection without the introduction of an additional separation step after SPE. Efficient preconcentration of model peptides by SPE and sequential release and analysis of peptides by GEMS were demonstrated for diluted sample solutions within the range of 1 μM to 10 nM. Fortified human blood serum, protein digest and fractions collected after protein digest OFFGEL separation were analyzed by SPE-GEMS allowing the detection of low abundance peptides usually not observed by direct mass spectrometry analysis. A mathematical model for gradient elution is proposed.

Application of a rapid and efficient quantitative analysis method for traditional Chinese medicines: the case study of quality assessment of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge.

A reference extractive, containing multiple active known compounds, has been considered to be an alternative to individual reference standards. However, in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (ChP) the great majority of reference extractives have been primarily used for qualitative identification by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and few studies on the applicability of reference extractives for quantitative analysis have been presented. Using Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge as an example in this paper, we first present a preliminary discussion on the feasibility and applicability of reference extractives for the quantitative analysis of TCMs. The reference extractive of S. miltiorrhiza Bunge, comprised of three pharmacological marker compounds, namely cryptotanshinone, tanshinone I and tanshinone IIA, was prepared from purchased Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge by extraction with acetone under reflux, followed by silica gel column chromatography with stepwise elution with petroleum ether-ethyl acetate (25:1, v/v, 4.5 BV) to remove the non-target components and chloroform-methanol (10:1, v/v; 3 BV) to yield a crude reference extractive solution. After concentration, the solution was further purified by preparative reversed-phase HPLC on a C18 column with isocratic elution with 77% methanol aqueous solution to yield the total reference extractive of S. miltiorrhiza Bunge. Thereafter, the reference extractive was applied to the quality assessment of S. miltiorrhiza Bunge using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with diode array detection (DAD). The validation of the method, including linearity, sensitivity, repeatability, stability and recovery testing, indicated that this method was valid, reliable and sensitive, with good reproducibility. The developed method was successfully applied to quantify seven batches of samples collected from different regions in China and the results were also similar to those obtained using reference standards, with relative standard deviation (RSD) <3%. Preparation of a reference extractive of S. miltiorrhiza Bunge was significantly less expensive and time consuming than preparation of a corresponding reference standard. Quantitative analysis using a reference extractive was shown to be simple, low-cost, time-saving and practical, with high sensitivity and good stability; and is, therefore, a strong alternative to the use of reference standards.

Molecular heterogeneity of arabinogalactan-protein from Coffea arabica instant coffee

Arabinogalactan-protein complex (AGP), isolated from freeze-dried instant coffee powder of Coffea arabica beans, was subjected to ion-exchange chromatography. Stepwise elution with water and solutions of sodium chloride with increasing ionic strength afforded eight fractions (F1–F8). Chemical analyses have shown that compositions of individual conjugates varied in carbohydrate and protein contents, molecular mass and slightly in monosaccharide composition. Protein content was increasing by increasing ionic strength of the eluent and it was confirmed also by FT-IR spectra. NMR study has shown that carbohydrate moieties in individual ion exchange fractions differed in the degree of backbone and side chains branching. Performed study has confirmed a molecular heterogeneity of arabinogalactan-protein complex present in a commercial instant coffee.

RAPID SEPARATION OF FLAVONOIDS FROM HYDROLYSIS PRODUCTS OF Epimedium koreanum

A successful method of preparative high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) was established for direct isolation and purification of hydrolysis products of Epimedium koreanum Nakai to obtain the secondary glycosides and aglycons of flavonoids in E. koreanum. The two-phase solvent systems of HSCCC composed n-hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-water at the ratios of 6:3.5:6:5 (v/v) and 6:3.5:8:5 (v/v) were used in a stepwise elution. Totally, 60.1 mg of Fraction I that would be isolated and purified by preparative HPLC, 9.4 mg of icartin (4), 3.5 mg of desmethylicartin (5), 4.7 mg of 3′′-ethyoxyl-icartin (6), 7.3 mg of anhydroicaritin (7), and 10.1 mg of β-anhydroicaritin (8) were obtained in one-step separation from 100 mg of the crude materials with purities of 97.7%, 96.2%, 99.2%, 99.5%, and 91.0%, respectively. And Fraction I of HSCCC was purified by the preparative HPLC to obtain 12.7 mg of pletypetaloside (I-1), 6.8 mg of icariside I (I-2) and 16.3 mg of 3′′-ethyoxyl-pletypetaloside (I-3) with purities of 90.8%, 93.4%, and 99.2%. All of the chemical structures were identified on the basis of widely spectral technology including 2D-NMR. Among them, compounds I-3 and 6 are novel.

Stepwise Elution of a Three‐phase Solvent System in Centrifugal Partition Extraction: A New Strategy for the Fractionation and Phytochemical Screening of a Crude Bark Extract

Tree bark represents an interesting source of bioactive molecules for the discovery of new pharmaceutical agents. However, the detailed screening of secondary metabolites in crude bark extracts is often hampered by the presence of tannins, which are difficult to separate from other plant constituents. In the present study, a new centrifugal partition extraction (CPE) method was developed in order to fractionate a crude bark extract of Anogeissus leiocarpus Guill. & Perr. (Combretaceae). A three-phase solvent system composed of n-heptane, methyl tert-butyl ether, acetonitrile and water was optimised for the stepwise elution at 20 mL/min of different phytochemical classes according to their hydrophobicity. Onedimensional and two-dimensional NMR analyses of the simplified fractions were then performed in order to characterise potentially interesting metabolites. In one step, 5 g of the initial crude extract were efficiently fractionated to yield highly simplified fractions that contained triterpenes, ellagic acid derivatives, flavonoids and phenolic compounds. All undesired compounds, that is, the highly abundant water-soluble tannins (78.8%), were totally removed and each run was rapidly achieved in 90 min on a the multi-gram scale and with low solvent volumes. Centrifugal partition extraction in the elution mode using a three-phase solvent system can thus be proposed as an efficient and cost-effective alternative for a rapid fractionation of crude bark extracts and for an effective screening of potentially active secondary metabolites.

Adsorption Chromatography Separation of Baicalein and Baicalin Using Collagen Fiber Adsorbent

The separation of baicalein and baicalin, two major flavonoids in Scutellaria, by using collagen fiber adsorbent (CFA), was investigated. Static adsorption and adsorption kinetics indicated that baicalin had stronger hydrogen-bond interaction with CFA in high ethanol concentration solution, while baicalein presented stronger hydrophobic interaction with CFA in low ethanol concentration solution. In CFA column chromatography separation, baicalein and baicalin could be well separated by stepwise elution of 90% and 70% aqueous ethanol solutions, and their recoveries were 83.42% and 94.31%, respectively. The maximum loading mass for separating baicalein and baicalin on a CFA column was higher than 90 mg/g CFA, which is much more than the loading mass on a D101 macroporous resin column. Applications repeated 10 times indicated that the CFA column has satisfactory reusability. Furthermore, the separation of baicalein and baicalin from Scutellaria extracts using CFA was investigated. The purity of baicalein and baicalin obtained was both higher than 98%.

Determination of paroxetine in serum treated with simple pretreatment by pre‐column high‐performance liquid chromatography using 4‐(5,6‐dimethoxy‐2‐phthalimidinyl)‐2‐methoxyphenylsulfonyl chloride as a fluorescent labeling reagent

The therapeutic drug monitoring of paroxetine could be used to optimize the pharmacological treatment of depressed patients. A simple and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography procedure was developed for the determination of paroxetine in serum. After simple pretreatment of serum (50 μL) with acetonitrile and o-phthalaldehyde, paroxetine was derivatized with 4-(5,6-dimethoxy-2-phthalimidinyl)-2-methoxyphenylsulfonyl chloride at 70°C for 20 min in borate buffer (0.1 mol/L, pH 8.0) to produce a fluorescent product. The derivative was separated on a reversed-phase column at 40°C for stepwise elution with (A) acetic acid (10 mmol/L) and (B) acetonitrile. The flow rate was 1.0 mL/min. The fluorescence intensity was monitored at excitation and emission wavelengths of 320 and 400 nm, respectively. The within-day and day-to-day relative standard deviations were 3.0-3.4 and 2.7-8.3%, respectively. The detection limit of paroxetine was 8.3 fmol at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. As the proposed method that only requires a small quantity of serum (50 μL) is simple, sensitive and reproducible, it would be useful for clinical and biochemical research as well as drug monitoring.

Transport Characteristics of Aromatic Acids in the Capillary Electrochromatography with Mixed Magnetic Nanoparticles Coating as Stationary Phase

In this paper, novel open-tubular electrochromatographic system with core/shell magnetic nanoparticles modified by amino and C18 functional groups as mixed stationary phase by using a series of permanent magnets to immobilize nanoparticles into the capillary were investigated. The new system showed high separation ability and efficiency due to high specific surface area of nanomaterial and mixing separation mechanism. The transport equations of aromatic acids using the open-tubular electrochromatographic column with magnetic nanoparticle coating as stationary phases were derived under isocratic and double stepwise gradient elutions, and the retention characteristics of organic acids separated by the columns were further investigated. The results showed that the electroosmotic flow gradually decreased with the increase of Fe3O4@SiO2-NH2 in the mixed stationary phases, and the direction of electroosmotic flow reversed eventually. The capacity factor was relevant to the ratio of ion-exchange and reversed-phase stationary phases. Furthermore, experiments confirmed that the capacity factor of solute had a good linear relationship with the ratio of mixed stationary phases, and the correlation coefficient was greater than 0.9166 after fitting. Under the double stepwise gradient elution condition, the migration time of solute can be predicted by its elution time under isocratic elution. After the solutes were eluted by phosphate buffer stepwise gradient elution, the relative errors between predicted retention time and actual retention time of solute were less than 8.0%. After they were eluted by organic modifier concentration stepwise gradient elution, the relative errors between two values of solute were less than 10%. After they were eluted by pH value stepwise gradient elution, the relative errors between two val- ues of solute were less than 5.8%. Rhizoma gastrodiae was separated by the constructed system under the optimized chroma- tographic condition, the main components of gastrodin, vanilla alcohol and citric acid were identified based on retention time of standards, and the relative errors between predicted value and actual value of citric acid was 11%. The open-tubular elec- trochromatographic system shows great potential in the method development of analysis of complicated samples. Keywords gradient elution; transport characteristic; mixed stationary phase 1 引言