Analytical and preparative separation of PEGylated lysozyme for the characterization of chromatography media

The effect of PEGylation on cation exchange chromatography was studied with poly(ethylene glycol) of different chain lengths (5 kDa, 10 kDa and 30 kDa) using lysozyme as a model system. A stable binding via reduction of a Schiff base was formed during random PEGylation on lysine residues with methoxy-PEG-aldehyde. A purification method for PEGylated proteins using cation exchange chromatography was developed, and different isoforms of mono-PEGylated lysozyme were isolated. TSKgel SP-5PW and Toyopearl GigaCap S-650M showed the best performance of all tested cation exchange resins, and the separation of PEGylated lysozyme could be also scaled up to semi-preparative level. Size-exclusion chromatography, SDS-PAGE and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry were used for analysis. Separated mono-PEGylated lysozyme of different sizes was used to determine dynamic binding capacities (DBC) and selectivity of cation exchange chromatography resins. An optimization of binding conditions resulted in a more than 20-fold increase of DBC for Toyopearl GigaCap S-650M with 30 kDa mono-PEGylated lysozyme.     

Chromatographic separation and mass spectrometric identification of positional isomers of polyethylene glycol-modified growth hormone-releasing factor (1-29)

A one-step chromatographic method capable of separating all isomers of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) (1-29) conjugates was developed. The unmodified GRF (1-29) and seven different isomers of PEG-GRF (1-29) conjugates were separated by using a simple reversed-phase HPLC method depending on the differences of hydrophobicity due to the number and site of PEG attachment. The PEGylation sites of all isomers of PEG-GRF (1-29) conjugates were identified by determining the molecular masses of the Lys-C digested fragments with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. This study is a first report for the separation of all PEG-conjugate isomers and would be useful for further studies to find the promising conjugate by evaluating biological activity and stability of each isomer.     

Separation of positional isomers of mono-poly(ethylene glycol)-modified octreotides by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

The purpose of this study was to develop a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method (RP-HPLC) for separating each positional isomer from low- to high-molecular-weight mono-PEGylated octreotides prepared by polyethylene glycol (PEG) derivatives with various molecular weights (2, 5, or 20 kDa). In the gradient elution using acetonitrile and 10 mM phosphate buffer at pH 7.0 on a Phenomenex Gemini C-18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm id, 5 μm), each positional isomer of the mono-PEGylated octreotides was completely resolved with good resolution (PEG-2K: 7.6, PEG-5K: 6.6, and PEG-20K: 3.1). The optimal RP-HPLC condition also resolved the degradation products of mono-PEG-octreotide isomers in thermal stability studies at 55 °C and enzymatic stability studies with trypsin. In conclusion, the developed RP-HPLC method will be valuable for studying the effect of PEGylation site and the attached PEG size on the physicochemical and pharmacological properties of PEGylated octreotides.     

Fractionation of different PEGylated forms of a protein by chromatography using environment-responsive membranes

PEGylation of therapeutic proteins can enhance their efficacy as biopharmaceuticals through increased stability and hydrophilicity, and decreased immunogenicity. A site-specific PEGylated protein (e.g. mono-PEGylated at N-terminus) is frequently desirable as a product. However, multiple-PEGylated forms are frequently produced as byproducts. In this paper we discuss the fractionation of the different PEGylated forms of a protein by hydrophobic interaction chromatography using a stack of hydrophilized PVDF membrane, which has been shown to be environment responsive, as stationary phase. With the model protein examined in this study (i.e. lysozyme), the apparent hydrophobicity in the presence of a lyotropic salt increased with the degree of PEGylation. Based on this, unmodified lysozyme and its mono-, di- and tri-PEGylated forms could each be resolved into separate chromatographic peaks. Such fractionation was not feasible using conventional hydrophobic interaction chromatography using a butyl column. The use of membrane chromatography also ensured that the fractionation was fast and hence suitable for analytical applications such as product purity determination and monitoring of the extent of PEGylation reactions.     

一种新的改性聚乙二醇毛细管气相色谱固定相

合成了一种新的聚乙二醇衍生物，将其用作毛细管气相色谱固定相，研究了其色谱性能，并成功地分离了二甲苯、氯甲苯、溴甲苯、二氯苯等二取代苯位置异构体；并对其手性分离能力进行了初步研究和讨论。     

Comparative study of capillary zone electrophoresis and micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography for the separation of naphthalenedisulfonate isomers

We investigated the separation of a test mixture of nine substituted and unsubstituted naphthalenedisulfonate isomers by capillary electrophoresis with a UV diode array detector. In particular, we focused on how the composition of the running buffer affected the separation selectivity. When capillary zone electrophoresis was carried out, the best results were obtained when organic solvents such as ethanol or propan-2-ol were added. Eight peaks were baseline separated but in no case were all the unsubstituted isomers separated. Therefore, capillary electrophoretic separation of the compounds was examined in the presence of micellar agents, such as sodium dodecyl sulfate, polyethylene glycol dodecyl ether (Brij 35) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide. All the substituted isomers and two of the unsubstituted isomers were well resolved within 20 min by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography when Brij 35 was used as micellar agent. Separations were reproducible, in terms of peak area and migration time, under these conditions.     

A Simple Method for Controlling the Degree of PEGylation of Dynorphin A (1-13)

Dynorphin A (1–13) was chemically modified by reaction with succinimidyl propionate‐monomethoxy polyethylene glycol (mPEG‐SPA). To determine the degree and the optimized condition for PEGylation of dynorphin A, the reactions were monitored in different pH buffers at different molar ratios by reversed‐phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP‐HPLC) and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐?ight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF MS). The results showed that the degree of PEGylation for dynorphin A could easily be controlled through adjustment of the molar ratios and the pH. The degree of PEGylation of dynorphin A increased as the molar ratio of dynorphin to MPEG‐SPA and the pH increased.     

Open tubular supercritical fluid chromatography of triterpene acids from Dysoxylum pettigrewianum (Meliaceae)

Open tubular supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) with carben dioxide as the mobile phase has been investigated for the separation of four triterpene acids, two of which were structural isomers. These compounds, isolated from Dysoxylum pettigrewianum (Meliaceae), were chromatographed on three stationary phases with different selectivities. 30%-biphenylmethylpolysiloxane and polyethylene glycol (Carbowax 20M) phases exhibited poor chromatographic selectivity for the compounds. The separation was improved by employing the shape selectivity of a liquid crystalline biphenylcarboxylate ester polysiloxane and utilizing simultaneous temperature and pressure programming. The elution order was explained on the basis of the molecular structures of the triterpene acids, and their interaction with the liquid crystal phase.     

Capillary gas chromatographic separation of C10–C12 secondary phenylalkanes on modified cyclodextrin stationary phases

The separation of isomers and enantiomers of branched C₁₀-C₁₂ phenylalkanes by gas chromatography on fused silica capillary columns coated with some modified β- and γ-cyclodextrins was studied. It was shown that the separation of positional isomers of C₁₀-C₁₂ phynylalkanes on modified cyclodextrin capillary columns is not better than that on a column coated with modified polyethylene glycol. Differences were found in the enantioselectivity of modified β- and γ-cyclodextrins for the separation of C₁₀-C₁₂ secondary phenylalkane enantiomers. While alkylderivatives of β-CDs resolve enantiomers of 3-phenylalkanes, alkyl derivatives of γ-CD resolve enantiomers of 2-phenylalkanes. Since shape selectivity factors of modified cyclodextrins have indicated no inclusion of the considered solutes in cyclodextrin cavities, enantioselective interactions most probably occur on the outer sphere of cyclodextrins.     

Adsorption of poly(ethylene glycol)-modified lysozyme to silica

Covalent grafting of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) to pharmaceutical proteins, "PEGylation", is becoming more commonplace due to improved therapeutic efficacy. As these conjugates encounter interfaces in manufacture, purification, and end use and adsorption to these interfaces may alter achievable production yields and in vivo efficacies, it is important to understand how PEGylation affects protein adsorption mechanisms. To this end, we have studied the adsorption of unmodified and PEGylated chicken egg lysozyme to silica, using optical reflectometry, total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) under varying conditions of ionic strength and extent of PEG modification. PEGylation of lysozyme changes the shape of the adsorption isotherm and alters the preferred orientation of lysozyme on the surface. There is an abrupt transition in the isotherm from low to high surface excess concentrations that correlates with a change in orientation of mono-PEGylated conjugates lying with the long axis parallel to the silica surface to an orientation with the long axis oriented perpendicular to the surface. No sharp transition is observed in the adsorption isotherm for di-PEGylated lysozyme within the range of concentrations examined. The net effect of PEGylation is to decrease the number of protein molecules per unit area relative to the adsorption of unmodified lysozyme, even under conditions where the surface is densely packed with conjugates. This is due to the area sterically excluded by the PEG grafts. The other major effect of PEGylation is to make conjugate adsorption significantly less irreversible than unmodified lysozyme adsorption.     

Separation of polyethylene glycols and maleimide‐terminated polyethylene glycols by reversed‐phase liquid chromatography under critical conditions

The separation of polyethylene glycols and maleimide‐substituted polyethylene glycol derivatives based on the number of maleimide end‐groups under critical liquid chromatography conditions has been investigated on a reversed‐phase column. The critical solvent compositions for nonfunctional polyethylene glycols and bifunctional maleimide‐substituted polyethylene glycols were determined to be identical at about 40% acetonitrile in water on a reversed‐phase octadecyl carbon chain‐bonded silica column using mixtures of acetonitrile and water of varying composition as the mobile phase at 25°C. The maleimide‐functionalized polyethylene glycols were successfully separated according to maleimide functionality (with zero, one, two, or three maleimide end‐groups, respectively) under the critical isocratic elution conditions without obvious effect of molar mass. The separation was mainly due to the hydrophobic interaction between the maleimide end‐groups and the column packing. Off‐line matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry was used to identify the repeating units and, especially, the end‐groups of the maleimide‐substituted polyethylene glycols. Liquid chromatography analysis at critical conditions could provide useful information to optimize the synthesis of functional polyethylene glycols. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the baseline separation of maleimide‐functionalized polyethylene glycols based on the functionality independent of the molar mass without derivatization by isocratic elution.     

Separation behaviour of nitroxylene isomers on polyols and polyethers in gas-liquid chromatography

Of the six nitroxylene isomers, 2,4- and 2,3-nitroxylene are the most difficult to separate by GLC, but they have been effectively separated on various acidic polyols as stationary phases. Although polyethylene glycol could not generally separate the 2,4- and 2,3-nitroxylene isomers, polyethylene glycol 20M could, and polypropylene glycol could separate all the six isomers effectively.     

Separation behaviors of xylenol isomers by gas chromatography with helps of hydrogen bonding

Summary Xylenol isomers can be resolved on most polyols (sugars or sugar alcohols) and polyethers (polyethylene glycol or polypropylene glycol) with hydrogen-bonding interaction. They are separated on vinical polyols which have more hydroxy hydrogen than tetrol, and even on vicinal triol when its hydroxy hydrogen is acidic (stronger proton donor). The stronger is the hydrogen bonding interaction between xylenols and the liquid phase, the better is the separation of 2,4- and 2,5-xylenol, and the poorer the separation of 2,4-and 2,3-xylenol.     

Simultaneous separation of nonionic surfactants and polyethylene glycols by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography

Summary The simultaneous separation of polyethylene glycol and its derivatives such as the lauryl alcohol and lauric acid ethoxylate oligomers was carried out by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography. Branched fluorinated silica gel columns combined with evaporative light scattering detection were used for the characterization of nonionic surfactants. Lauryl alcohol ethoxylate oligomers were separated at 10°C with an isocratic eluent according to ethoxylate number and the retention time of the oligomers decreases with increasing ethoxylate number. The Van’t Hoff plots of retention factor of lauryl alcohol ethoxylate gave a complex cure, which is anomalous behavior for reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography. The anomalous Van’t Hoff plots were explained by a partial conformational change from polar to less polar conformers with increasing temperature. The most significant features for the analysis of the lauryl alcohol ethoxylate were the use of acetonitrile as mobile phase and operating temperature. The polyethylene glycol was separated according to ethoxylate number and the retention time of oligomers increased with increasing ethoxylate number. The Van’t Hoff plots of retention factor of polyethylene glycol had negative slopes. It was presumed that the polar conformation of the ethylene oxide chain decreased with increasing temperature. The lauryl alcohol ethoxylate and polyethylene glycol were separated simultaneously in gradient elution as a result of the conformational change of the ethylene oxide chain. As a practical example, lauric acid ethoxylate simultaneously separated into free polyethylene glycol, ethoxylate monolaurate and ethoxylate dilaurate in gradient elution.     

Separation of naphthoquinones and lipophilic vitamins by gel and thin-layer chromatography.

A separation of naphthoquinones on silica gel and on silica gel impregnated with polyethylene glycol 200 by thin-layer chromatography was compared with gel permeation chromatography (GPC) on styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer S-832-gel using tetrahydrofuran as mobile phase. Factors affecting the separations attainable are discussed, and it is concluded that GPC is a suitable method for the determination of K vitamins in natural materials.     

Characterization of poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐ poly(ε‐caprolactone) by two‐dimensional liquid chromatography

Block copolymers of ethylene oxide and ε‐caprolactone were synthesized by microwave‐assisted polymerization of ε‐caprolactone with polyethylene glycol monomethyl ethers as initiator. The samples thus obtained were characterized by two‐dimensional liquid chromatography with liquid chromatography at critical conditions as the first and liquid exclusion adsorption chromatography as the second dimension. A full baseline separation of all oligomers could be achieved in both dimensions.     

Size-exclusion separation of proteins using a biocompatible polymeric monolithic capillary column with mesoporosity

Biocompatible poly(ethylene glycol methyl ether acrylate-co-polyethylene glycol diacrylate) monoliths were prepared for size exclusion chromatography (SEC) of proteins in the capillary format using Brij 58P in a mixture of hexanes and dodecanol as porogens. The monolithic columns provided size separation of four proteins in 20 mM sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) containing 0.15 M NaCl, and there was a linear relationship between the retention times and the logarithmic values of the molecular weights. Compared to SEC monoliths previously synthesized using a triblock copolymer of polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide, an increase in mesoporosity was confirmed by inverse size exclusion chromatography. As a result, improved protein separation in the high molecular weight range and reduced column back-pressure were observed.     

Sodium dodecyl sulfate-capillary gel electrophoresis of polyethylene glycolylated interferon alpha

Sodium dodecyl sulfate-capillary gel electrophoresis (SDS-CGE) using a hydrophilic replaceable polymer network matrix was applied to characterize the polyethylene glycol(PEG)ylated interferon alpha (PEG-IFN). The SDS-CGE method resulted in a clearer resolution in both the PEG-IFN species and the native IFN species. The distribution profile of PEGylation determined by SDS-CGE was consistent with that obtained by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) with Coomassie blue or barium iodide staining. The result was also compared using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry. SDS-CGE was also useful for monitoring the PEGylation reaction to optimize the reaction conditions, such as reaction molar ratio. This study shows the potential of SDS-CGE as a new method for characterizing the PEGylated proteins with advantages of speed, minimal sample consumption and high resolution.     

Using Hydrogen/Deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry to Study Conformational Changes in Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor upon PEGylation

PEGylation is the covalent attachment of polyethylene glycol to proteins, and it can be used to alter immunogenicity, circulating half life and other properties of therapeutic proteins. To determine the impact of PEGylation on protein conformation, we applied hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX MS) to analyze granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) upon PEGylation as a model system. The combined use of HDX automation technology and data analysis software allowed reproducible and robust measurements of the deuterium incorporation levels for peptic peptides of both PEGylated and non-PEGylated G-CSF. The results indicated that significant differences in deuterium incorporation were induced by PEGylation of G-CSF, although the overall changes observed were quite small. PEGylation did not result in gross conformational rearrangement of G-CSF. The data complexity often encountered in HDX MS measurements was greatly reduced through a data processing and presentation format designed to facilitate the comparison process. This study demonstrates the practical utility of HDX MS for comparability studies, process monitoring, and protein therapeutic characterization in the biopharmaceutical industry.     

Novel Polymer Monolithic Column for Hydrophilic Compounds

A hydrophilic polymer-based monolithic column was prepared from water-soluble crosslinking agents for liquid chromatography. The column media were prepared with a diacrylate monomer, aqueous polyethylene glycol, methanol, and a water-soluble radical initiator. A fused silica capillary column, which was significantly modified by vinyl groups, was utilized as the outer column in order to control polymer shrinkage. We optimized the modification of the capillary column, composition of the monomer and porogen, and polymerization condition. The optimized column exhibited high hydrophilicity and achieved the baseline separation of nucleobases by using only a buffered solution as the mobile phase. Additionally, another column prepared from binary water-soluble crosslinking agents exhibited lower nonspecific adsorption of several proteins. Basically, we would show the possibility of a new type of polymer monolith prepared from water-soluble crosslinker and water-soluble porogenic solvent, and they can be used for chromatographic separation without non-specific hydrophobic interaction.