A protocol for fabrication of polymer monolithic capillary columns and tuning the morphology targeting high-resolution bioanalysis in gradient-elution liquid chromatography

Polymer monolithic stationary phases are designed as a continuous interconnected globular material perfused by macropores. Like packed column, where separation efficiency is related to particle diameter, the efficiency of monoliths can be enhanced by tuning the size of both the microglobules and macropores. This protocol described the synthesis of poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) monolithic stationary phases in capillary column formats. Moreover, guidelines are provided to tune the macropore structure targeting high-throughput and high-resolution monolith chromatography. The versatility of these columns is exemplified by their ability to separate tryptic digests, intact proteins, and oligonucleotides under a variety of chromatographic conditions. The repeatability of the presented column fabrication process is demonstrated by the successful creation of 12 columns in three different column batches, as evidenced by the consistency of retention times (coefficients of variance [c.v.] = 0.9%), peak widths (c.v. = 4.7%), and column pressures (c.v. = 3.1%) across the batches.     

Capillary high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry using monolithic columns and carbon fiber electrospray ionization emitters

Monolithic columns having long hydrocarbon chains were prepared by in-situ polymerization in capillary fused silica tubing. The capillary columns were coupled with a newly developed carbon fiber electrospray ionization (ESI) emitter for proteomic analysis using sheathless capillary HPLC-ESI mass spectrometry (MS). The sample loading capacity and chromatographic performance of the styrene-based monolithic column, which was prepared by photo-polymerization of octylstyrene (OS) and divinylbenzene (DVB) were compared with that of the methacrylate-based monolithic column composed of lauryl methacrylate (LMA) and ethylene dimethacrylate (EDMA). The sample loading ability of tryptic digested protein in poly-OS (POS)-DVB column was higher than that of poly-LMA (PLMA)-EDMA column, possibly due to the irregular and rugluous surface offering a greater surface area of POS-DVB stationary phase. The POS-DVB column also provided better separation efficiency in the separation of high concentration (10 microg) of tryptic digested albumin bovine serum (BSA). Due to the successful interface of a highly efficient monolithic column and a stable, durable carbon fiber emitter, low femtomole levels of peptides were successfully separated and identified in the presence of large amounts of tryptic digested protein.     

Monolithic silica columns with various skeleton sizes and through-pore sizes for capillary liquid chromatography

Reduction of through-pore size and skeleton size of a monolithic silica column was attempted to provide high separation efficiency in a short time. Monolithic silica columns were prepared to have various sizes of skeletons (approximately 1-2 microm) and through-pores (approximately 2-8 microm) in a fused-silica capillary (50-200 microm I.D.). The columns were evaluated in HPLC after derivatization to C18 phase. It was possible to prepare monolithic silica structures in capillaries of up to 200 microm I.D. from a mixture of tetramethoxysilane and methyltrimethoxysilane. As expected, a monolithic silica column with smaller domain size showed higher column efficiency and higher pressure drop. High external porosity (> 80%) and large through-pores resulted in high permeability (K = 8 x 10(-14) -1.3 x 10(-12) m2) that was 2-30 times higher than that of a column packed with 5-mirom silica particles. The monolithic silica columns prepared in capillaries produced a plate height of about 8-12 microm with an 80% aqueous acetonitrile mobile phase at a linear velocity of 1 mm/s. Separation impedance, E, was found to be as low as 100 under optimum conditions, a value about an order of magnitude lower than reported for conventional columns packed with 5-microm particles. Although a column with smaller domain size generally resulted in higher separation impedance and the lower total performance, the monolithic silica columns showed performance beyond the limit of conventional particle-packed columns under pressure-driven conditions.     

Short communication performance of octadecylsilylated monolithic silica capillary columns of 530 microm inner diameter in HPLC

Monolithic silica capillary columns were successfully prepared in a fused silica capillary of 530 microm inner diameter and evaluated in HPLC after octadecylsilylation (ODS). Their efficiency and permeability were compared with those of columns pakked with 5-microm and 3-microm ODS-silica particles. The monolithic silica columns having different domain sizes (combined size of through-pore and skeleton) showed 2.5-4.0-times higher permeability (K= 5.2-8.4 x 10(-14) m2) than capillary columns packed with 3-mm particles, while giving similar column efficiency. The monolithic silica capillary columns gave a plate height of about 11-13 microm, or 11 200-13 400 theoretical plates/150 mm column length, in 80% methanol at a linear mobile phase velocity of 1.0 mm/s. The monolithic column having a smaller domain size showed higher column efficiency and higher pressure drop, although the monolithic column with a larger domain size showed better overall column performance, or smaller separation impedance (E value). The larger-diameter (530 microm id) monolithic silica capillary column afforded a good peak shape in gradient elution of proteins at a flow rate of up to 100 microL/min and an injection volume of up to 10 microL.     

State-of-the-art of the hyphenation of capillary electrochromatography with mass spectrometry

The high separation efficiency and loading capacity of capillary electrochromatography (CEC) make it an attractive separation mode for coupling with mass spectrometry (MS), which has the ability to unambiguously identify analytes with high selectivity and sensitivity. We present an overview of recent advances on both instrumentation and separation columns employed in CEC-MS systems. In particular, the main characteristics of the stationary phases, as well as the configurations of the column outlet that are related with the coupling arrangements of the MS ionization sources, are reported. At present, packed columns and conventional electrospray ionization (ESI) sources are mainly employed in CEC-MS. Nevertheless, the use of monolithic capillary columns and nanoelectrospray sources has the potential for wide acceptance in the next future. Moreover, the main features of several mass analyzers including ion trap, quadrupole, time-of-flight, magnetic sector, and Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance are examined. Finally, current applications of this technology, mainly in the pharmaceutical field and proteomics, are reviewed.     

Chromatographic selectivity of poly(alkyl methacrylate-co-divinylbenzene) monolithic columns for polar aromatic compounds by pressure-driven capillary liquid chromatography

In this study, divinylbenzene (DVB) was used as the cross-linker to prepare alkyl methacrylate (AlMA) monoliths for incorporating π-π interactions between the aromatic analytes and AlMA-DVB monolithic stationary phases in capillary LC analysis. Various AlMA/DVB ratios were investigated to prepare a series of 30% AlMA-DVB monolithic stationary phases in fused-silica capillaries (250-μm i.d.). The physical properties (such as porosity, permeability, and column efficiency) of the synthesized AlMA-DVB monolithic columns were investigated for characterization. Isocratic elution of phenol derivatives was first employed to evaluate the suitability of the prepared AlMA-DVB columns for small molecule separation. The run-to-run (0.16–1.20%, RSD; n = 3) and column-to-column (0.26–2.95%, RSD; n = 3) repeatabilities on retention times were also examined using the selected AlMA-DVB monolithic columns. The π-π interactions between the aromatic ring and the DVB-based stationary phase offered better recognition on polar analytes with aromatic moieties, which resulted in better separation resolution of aromatic analytes on the AlMA-DVB monolithic columns. In order to demonstrate the capability of potential environmental and/or food safety applications, eight phenylurea herbicides with single benzene ring and seven sulfonamide antibiotics with polyaromatic moieties were analyzed using the selected AlMA-DVB monolithic columns.     

Simple 2D-HPLC using a monolithic silica column for peptide separation

Separation of peptides by fast and simple two-dimensional (2D)-HPLC was studied using a monolithic silica column as a second-dimension (2nd-D) column. Every fraction from the first column, 5 cm long (2.1 mm ID) packed with polymer-based cation exchange beads, was subjected to separation in the 2nd-D using an octadecylsilylated (C18) monolithic sillica column (4.6 mm ID, 2.5 cm). A capillary-type monolithic silica C18column (0.1 mm ID, 10 cm) was also employed as a 2nd-D column with split flow/injection. Effluentof the first dimension (1st-D) was directly loaded into an injector loop of 2nd-D HPLC. UV and MS detection were successfully carried out at high linear velocity of mobile phase at 2nd-D using flow splitting for the 4.6 mm ID 2nd-D column, or with directconnection of the capillary column to the MS interface. Two-minute fractionation inthe 1st-D, 118-second loading, and 2-second injection by the 2nd-D injector, allowed one minute for gradient separation in the 2nd-D, resulting in a maximum peak capacity of about 700 within 40 min. The use of a capillary column in solvent consumption and better MS detectability compared to a larger-sized column. This kind of fast and simple 2D-HPLC utilizing monolithic silica columns will be useful for the separation of complex mixtures in a short time.     

Fabrication of a poly(styrene-octadecene-divinylbenzene) monolithic column and its comparison with a poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) monolithic column for the separation of proteins

In this paper, a poly(styrene-octadecene-divinylbenzene) (PS-OD-DVB) monolithic column was prepared in one step by introducing a C18 carbon chain as monomer. N,N-Dimethylformamide and decanol served as porogens to make a homogeneous polymerization mixture in a fused silica capillary (320 microm inner diameter). Its physical and chromatographic properties were compared with those of poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) (PS-DVB) monolithic column, which was also fabricated by in-situ polymerization in a fused silica capillary with the same inner diameter. Six standard proteins were used to evaluate the columns and their potential application for the separation of human hemoglobin was also discussed. It was shown that the PS-OD-DVB and PS-DVB monoliths appeared to have similar efficiency for rapid separation of six proteins within 3.5 min. The PS-OD-DVB monolith was found to have higher loading capacity and higher resolution for the separation of alpha and beta chains of hemoglobin because of the introduction of C18 carbon chains, and shows great potential for the separation of bio-macromolecules.     

Capillary monolithic titania column for miniaturized liquid chromatography and extraction of organo-phosphorous compounds

A new sol?Cgel protocol was designed and optimized to produce titanium-dioxide-based columns within confined geometries such as monolithic capillary columns and porous-layer open-tubular columns. A surface pre-treatment of the capillary enabled an efficient anchorage of the monolith to the silica capillary wall during the synthesis. The monolith was further synthesized from a solution containing titanium n-propoxide, hydrochloric acid, N-methylformamide, water, and poly(ethylene oxide) as pore template. The chromatographic application of capillary titania-based columns was demonstrated with the separation of a set of phosphorylated nucleotides as probe molecules using aqueous normal-phase liquid chromatography conditions. Capillary titania monoliths offered a compromise between the high permeability and the important loading capacity needed to potentially achieve miniaturized sample preparations. The specificity of the miniaturized titania monolithic support is illustrated with the specific enrichment of 5??-adenosine mono-phosphate. The monolithic column offered a ten times higher loading capacity of 5??-adenosine mono-phosphate compared with that of the capillary titania porous-layer open-tubular geometry.     

Loading capacities of monolithic capillary columns in gas chromatography

The loading capacities of monolithic capillary columns based on silica gel and divinylbenzene are studied for two carrier gases, CO₂ and N₂. It is shown that the efficiency of the column is more sensitive to the overload of the column than the retention time of the sorbate is, especially for the CO₂ carrier gas. It is established that the loading capacity of a monolithic column based on silica gel decreases significantly in going from N₂ to CO₂. For columns based on divinylbenzene, the loading capacity is found to be virtually the same for both carrier gases. For monolithic columns, the loading capacity per one meter of column length is found to be 10 and more times higher than that for a standard open capillary column.     

Polymetacrylate and hybrid interparticle monolithic columns for fast separations of proteins by capillary liquid chromatography

Preparation of organic polymer monolithic columns in fused silica capillaries was aimed at fast gradient separation of proteins. For this purpose, polymerization in situ procedure was optimized, using ethylene dimetacrylate and butyl metacrylate monomers with azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator of the polymerization reaction in presence of non-aqueous porogen solvent mixtures composed of 1-propanol and 1,4-butanediol. The separation of proteins in totally monolithic capillary columns was compared with the chromatography on a new type of "hybrid interparticle monolithic" capillary columns, prepared by in situ polymerization in capillary packed with superficially porous spherical beds, 37-50 microm. The "hybrid" columns showed excellent stability and improved hydrodynamic flow properties with respect to the "totally" monolithic capillary columns. The separation selectivity is similar in the two types of columns. The nature of the superficially porous layer (bare silica or bonded C18 ligands) affects the separation selectivity less significantly than the porosity (density) of the monolithic moiety in the interparticle space, controlled by the composition of the polymerization mixture. The retention behaviour of proteins on all prepared columns is consistent with the reversed-phase gradient elution theory.     

Comprehensive two‐dimensional monolithic liquid chromatography of polar compounds

Two‐dimensional liquid chromatography largely increases the number of separated compounds in a single run, theoretically up to the product of the peaks separated in each dimension on the columns with different selectivities. On‐line coupling of a reversed‐phase column with an aqueous normal‐phase (hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography) column yields orthogonal systems with high peak capacities. Fast on‐line two‐dimensional liquid chromatography needs a capillary or micro‐bore column providing low‐volume effluent fractions transferred to a short efficient second‐dimension column for separation at a high mobile phase flow rate. We prepared polymethacrylate zwitterionic monolithic micro‐columns in fused silica capillaries with structurally different dimethacrylate cross‐linkers. The columns provide dual retention mechanism (hydrophilic interaction and reversed‐phase). Setting the mobile phase composition allows adjusting the separation selectivity for various polar substance classes. Coupling on‐line an organic polymer monolithic capillary column in the first dimension with a short silica‐based monolithic column in the second dimension provides two‐dimensional liquid chromatography systems with high peak capacities. The silica monolithic C₁₈ columns provide higher separation efficiency than the particle‐packed columns at the flow rates as high as 5 mL/min used in the second dimension. Decreasing the diameter of the silica monolithic columns allows using a higher flow rate at the maximum operation pressure and lower fraction volumes transferred from the first, hydrophilic interaction dimension, into the second, reversed‐phase mode, avoiding the mobile phase compatibility issues, improving the resolution, increasing the peak capacity, and the peak production rate.     

Characterization of polymer monolithic stationary phases for capillary HPLC

Monolithic capillary columns have been prepared in fused‐silica capillaries by radical co‐polymerization of ethylene dimethacrylate and butyl methacrylate in the presence of porogen solvent mixtures containing various concentration ratios of 1‐propanol, 1,4‐butanediol, and water with azobisisobutyronitrile as the initiator of the polymerization reaction. The through pores in organic polymer monolithic columns can be characterized by “equivalent permeability particle size”, and the mesopores with stagnant mobile phase by “equivalent dispersion particle size”. Increasing the concentration of propanol in the polymerization mixture diminishes the pore volume and size in the monolithic media and improves the column efficiency, at a cost of decreasing permeability. Organic polymer monolithic capillary columns show similar retention behaviour to packed alkyl silica columns for compounds with different polarities characterized by interaction indices, I_x, but have different methylene selectivities. Higher concentrations of propanol in the polymerization mixture increase the lipophilic character of the monolithic stationary phases. Best efficiencies and separation selectivities were found for monolithic columns prepared using 62–64% propanol in the porogen solvent mixture. To allow accurate characterization of the properties of capillary monolithic columns, the experimental data should be corrected for extra‐column contributions.     

HILIC mode separation of polar compounds by monolithic silica capillary columns coated with polyacrylamide

HILIC mode columns were prepared by an on-column polymerization of acrylamide on a monolithic silica capillary column modified with N-(3-trimethoxysilylpropyl)methacrylamide as the anchor group. The products showed HILIC mode retention characteristics with three times greater permeability and slightly higher column efficiency compared to a commercially available amide-type HILIC column packed with 5-μm particles. The selectivity of the monolithic silica-based column was similar to that of the particulate column for each group of solutes towards nucleosides, nucleic bases and carbohydrate derivatives, although a considerable difference was observed in the selectivity for the solute groups. Although the retention of solutes based on the polar functionality was much smaller with the monolithic silica columns, which had a smaller phase ratio, than with the particle-packed column, the former can achieve better separation utilizing the high permeability and higher column efficiencies of a longer column.     

Silica-based monoliths for rapid peptide screening by capillary liquid chromatography hyphenated with electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Capillary liquid chromatography based on particulate and monolithic stationary phases was used to screen complex peptide libraries by fast gradient elution coupled on-line to electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI-FTICRMS). A slightly modified commercial electrospray interface consisting of a fused-silica transfer capillary and low dead volume stainless steel union at which the electrospray voltage was grounded enabled the effluent of all the capillary columns to be directly sprayed into the mass spectrometer. Stable electrospray conditions were generated over a wide range of mobile phase compositions, alleviating the need for a tapered end of the spray capillary, pneumatic assistance or preheated nebulizer gas. Since the identification of complex samples containing numerous isobaric substances is facilitated by chromatographic separation prior to mass spectrometry, stationary phase materials have been employed which offer a fast, efficient elution and, due to the complexity of samples, a high loading capacity. Silica-based monolithic capillary columns combine these three characteristics in a unique manner due to a tailored adjustment of both macro- and mesopore sizes in the highly porous silica structure. As we demonstrate by a comparative study of the silica-based monolithic and packed capillaries for LC/MS analysis of complex peptide libraries, silica monoliths show superior performance over packed beds of small-diameter particles with respect to analysis time and separation efficiency. Libraries with more than 1000 different peptides could be screened in less than 20 min.     

Optimization of binary porogen solvent composition for preparation of butyl methacrylate monoliths in capillary liquid chromatography

Butyl methacrylate monolithic columns in 320 microm i.d. fused silica capillaries for reversed-phase capillary liquid chromatography were prepared by radical polymerization initiated thermally with azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN). Polymerization mixture contained butyl methacrylate (BMA) as the function monomer and ethylene dimethacrylate (EDMA) as the crosslinking agent with 1,4-butanediol and 1-propanol as a binary porogen solvent. Ratio of 1,4-butanediol to 1-propanol in the porogen solvent was optimized regarding the monolithic column efficiency and performance. Total porosity, column permeability, separation impedance, Walters hydrophobicity index, retention factors, peak asymmetry factors, height equivalents to a theoretical plate and peak resolutions were used for characterization of the prepared monolithic columns. The polymerization mixture consisting of 17.8% of BMA, 21.8% of EDMA, 18.0% of 1,4-butanediol, 42.0% of 1-propanol and 0.4% AIBN generated monolithic columns of the best performance having a sufficient permeability and the lowest separation impedance. It was also demonstrated that monolithic columns of this composition exhibited good preparation reproducibility and an excellent pressure resistance when applied in capillary liquid chromatography.     

Study of a monolithic silica capillary column coated with poly(octadecyl methacrylate) for the reversed-phase liquid chromatographic separation of some polar and non-polar compounds

The performance of a monolithic silica capillary column coated with poly(octadecyl methacrylate) (ODM column) for the reversed-phase liquid chromatographic separation of some polar and non-polar compounds was studied, and the results were compared to those obtained by using a monolithic silica capillary column modified with octadecylsilyl-(N,N-diethylamino)silane (ODS column). Benzene and naphthalene derivatives, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), steroids, alkyl phthalates, and tocopherol homologues were used as test samples. In general, compounds with aromatic character, rigid and planar structures, and lower length-to-breadth ratios (more compacted structures) seem to have more preference for the polymer coated stationary phase (ODM). Compounds with acidic character have also a higher retention on ODM columns because of the presence of ester groups in the stationary phase. The polymer coated column allowed the separation of some PAHs, alkyl phthalates, steroids, and of beta- and gamma-tocopherol isomers which cannot be separated under the same conditions on ODS columns, while keeping similar column efficiency. These results allowed to suggest ODM columns as a good alternative to conventional ODS columns for reversed-phase liquid chromatography.     

Methacrylate monolithic capillary columns for gradient peptide separations

For the separation of peptides with gradient-elution liquid chromatography a poly(butyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) (BMA) monolithic capillary column was prepared and tested. The conditional peak capacity was used as a metric for the performance of this column, which was compared with a capillary column packed with C18-modified silica particles. The retention of the peptides was found to be smaller on the BMA column than on the particulate C18 column. To obtain the same retention in isocratic elution an approximately 15% (v/v) lower acetonitrile concentration had to be used in the mobile phase. The retention window in gradient elution was correspondingly smaller with the BMA column. The relation between peak width and retention under gradient conditions was studied in detail. It was found that in shallow gradients, with gradient times of 30min and more, the peak widths of the least retained compounds are strongly increased with the BMA column. This was attributed to the fact that these compounds migrate and elute with an unfavorable high retention factor. More retained compounds are eluted later in the gradient, but with a lower effective retention factor. With shallow gradients the peak capacity of the BMA column ( approximately 90) was clearly lower than that of a conventional packed column ( approximately 150). On the other hand, with steep gradients, when components elute with a low effective retention factor, the performance of the BMA column is relatively good. With a gradient time of 15min similar peak widths and thus similar peak capacities ( approximately 75) were found for the packed and the monolithic column. Two strategies were investigated to obtain higher peak capacities with methacrylate monolithic columns. The use of lauryl methacrylate (LMA) instead of butyl methacrylate (BMA) gave an increase in retention and narrower peaks for early eluting peptides. The peak capacity of the LMA column was approximately 125 in a 60min gradient. Another approach was to use a longer BMA column which resulted in a peak capacity of approximately 135 could be obtained in 60min.     

Effect of multi-walled carbon nanotubes incorporation into benzyl methacrylate monolithic columns in capillary liquid chromatography

This work describes the preparation of polymer based monolithic materials and their use as stationary phases in capillary liquid chromatography. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were incorporated into a mixture containing benzyl methacrylate (BMA) and ethylene dimethacrylate (EDMA) as co-monomers. The optimized porogenic mixture was a ternary solution composed of cyclohexanol, 1,4-butandiol and butanol which resulted in a stable and homogeneous suspension. Six capillary columns with increasing amounts of MWCNT, from 0 to 0.4 mg mL(-1), were prepared by thermal polymerization in 0.32 mm (i.d.) and 150 mm length fused silica tubing. The chromatographic evaluation showed that the synthesized monolithic beds were mechanically stable while their porosity and permeability increased with the MWCNT content. The prepared capillary columns were tested for the separation of mixtures of ketones and phenols at an optimum flow rate of 2 μL min(-1). The results showed that incorporation of MWCNT slightly affected the retention while it enhanced the column efficiency by increasing the column efficiency by a factor of up to 9. This effect corresponded also to an improved resolution and full separation of the solutes.     

一种多通道匀浆装填毛细管色谱柱的新装置及应用

针对目前毛细管色谱柱装柱效率低、不同批次装填的毛细管色谱柱之间性能差异大的问题,我们发展了一种多通道匀浆装填毛细管色谱柱的新装置。该装置以液相色谱泵提供压力、采用磁力搅拌保持匀浆液均匀分散,一次可装填多达6根毛细管色谱柱。以牛血清白蛋白(BSA)的胰蛋白酶酶切肽段混合物为样本,选择峰容量、蛋白覆盖率、3个特定离子的保留时间以及毛细管色谱柱柱压为指标,在毛细管液相色谱-质谱联用系统上对装填的反相毛细管色谱柱的性能进行了评价。分别考察了一次装填的6根毛细管色谱柱、两次装填的12根毛细管色谱柱以及一次装填1根与一次装填6根毛细管色谱柱的性能及稳定性。实验结果表明:同一批次装填的6根毛细管色谱柱的性能相近;不同批次装填的12根毛细管色谱柱的峰容量和覆盖率没有明显的区别,但保留时间和毛细管色谱柱柱压的稳定性较差;一次装填1根和一次装填6根毛细管色谱柱柱性能的稳定性与两次分别装填6根毛细管色谱柱的稳定性相近,即采用本装置可显著提高毛细管色谱柱的装填效率且每次装填毛细管色谱柱的数量不会对柱性能产生影响。