Analysis of reduced monoclonal antibodies using size exclusion chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry

Size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) has been widely used to detect antibody aggregates, monomer, and fragments. SEC coupled to mass spectrometry has been reported to measure the molecular weights of antibody; antibody conjugates, and antibody light chain and heavy chain. In this study, separation of antibody light chain and heavy chain by SEC and direct coupling to a mass spectrometer was further studied. It was determined that employing mobile phases containing acetonitrile, trifluoroacetic acid, and formic acid allowed the separation of antibody light chain and heavy chain after reduction by SEC. In addition, this mobile phase allowed the coupling of SEC to a mass spectrometer to obtain a direct molecular weight measurement. The application of the SEC-MS method was demonstrated by the separation of the light chain and the heavy chain of multiple recombinant monoclonal antibodies. In addition, separation of a thioether linked light chain and heavy chain from the free light chain and the free heavy chain of a recombinant monoclonal antibody after reduction was also achieved. This optimized method provided a separation of antibody light chain and heavy chain based on size and allowed a direct measurement of molecular weights by mass spectrometry. In addition, this method may help to identify peaks eluting from SEC column directly.     

Determination of tryptophan oxidation of monoclonal antibody by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography

A pre-peak was separated from the main peak of a monoclonal antibody by size exclusion HPLC (SE-HPLC) analysis using two TSK-Gel G3000SWXL columns connected in series. When compared with molecular weight markers, the product peak elutes as a molecule with apparent molecular weight of 44 kDa, indicating that separation is not strictly on the basis of size exclusion and that longer retention of the antibody by this column probably results from interaction between the stationary phase and the protein molecules during separation. The pre-peak has been characterized as due to the oxidation of one of tryptophan residues on the heavy chains of this monoclonal antibody. Because the SE-HPLC method using tandem TSK-Gel G3000SWXL columns showed unsatisfactory reproducibility amongst column lots, a more reliable and accurate reversed phase HPLC (RP-HPLC) method was developed to detect the tryptophan oxidation on the heavy chains of the monoclonal antibody. The level of tryptophan oxidation determined by the reversed phase method was correlated with the amount of tryptophan oxidation observed as a pre-peak by SE-HPLC. The RP-HPLC method was qualified for precision, accuracy, linearity of the main peak and the minor peak (oxidized isoforms of the heavy chain), detection limit and quantitation limit.     

The use of multidimensional chromatography for the isolation of synthetic oligodeoxyribonucleotides on a preparative scale

Summary A critical step in the chemical preparation of oligonucleotides is the chromatographic purification of the deprotected oligomers. In case of large quantities of reaction products, the oligonucleotides are first enriched on a QAE-Sephadex column at low pressure. The obtained fractions are then purified by multidimensional chromatography making use of three independent physical properties of the solutes: molecular size, ionic net charge and hydrophobicity. In the first dimension size exclusion chromatography (Sephadex G-15) is used. In the second dimension the high molecular weight fraction from the size exclusion chromatography is applied to a HPLC ion-exchange column (Partisil-10 SAX). Usually the last peak is collected and transferred to a HPLC reversed phase column (Nucleosil C18) where the components are separated according to their hydrophobicity in the third dimension. The efficiency of this multi-dimensional chromatographic procedure is demonstrated by the unequivocal fingerprints after radioactive labelling of the isolated oligonucleotides. Presented at the 15th International Symposium on Chromatography, Nürnberg, October 1984     

Arginine as an effective additive in gel permeation chromatography

A major problem in gel permeation chromatography (GPC) or size exclusion chromatography is non-specific binding of applied proteins to the column matrix (stationary phase). We have tested an aqueous arginine solution as the GPC mobile phase on silica-based and polymer-based columns, using mouse monoclonal antibody and recombinant human activin, interleukin-6, basic fibroblast growth factor, and interferon-gamma as model proteins. We observed that addition of arginine to the mobile phase improves separation of the proteins and their soluble aggregates from the GPC columns, which suggests that arginine is an effective additive for the GPC mobile phase.     

烷基酚聚氧乙烯醚在不同液相色谱分离模式中的分离研究

考察了烷基酚聚氧乙烯醚在反相色谱、正相键合色谱、硅胶吸附色谱、体积排阻色谱4种不同液相色谱分离模式中的分离效果,分别采用Kromasil C_(18)(250 mm× 4.6 mm,5 μm)、Agilent ZORBAX NH2(250 mm× 4.6 mm,5 μm)、Waters Spherisorb S3W(150 mm×2.0 mm,3 μm)和Shodex MSpak GF-310 2D(150 mm×2.0 mm,5 μm)色谱柱,以225 nm为紫外检测波长,对不同液相色谱分离模式的流动相组成、梯度洗脱条件、柱温、流速等进行了优化,并对烷基酚聚氧乙烯醚在不同液相色谱分离模式中的保留机理进行了初步探讨.结果表明,正相键合色谱实现了烷基酚聚氧乙烯醚的最佳分离;硅胶吸附色谱和体积排阻色谱的分离效果较正相键合色谱稍差.     

Detailed characterization of cationic hydroxyethylcellulose derivatives using aqueous size-exclusion chromatography with on-line triple detection

A more complete understanding of polymeric, cationic cellulose derivatives, including polyquaterium-10 (Polymer JR), has become increasingly important in the eye care industry as thorough characterization of raw materials helps promote product quality and process control. Often such detailed information requires utilization of a combination of analytical techniques. In this work three Polymer JR samples with different viscosities were characterized using aqueous size exclusion chromatography (SEC) with a light scattering detector, a differential viscometer, and a differential refractometer (triple detection). Detailed molecular information such as absolute molecular weights, molecular weight distributions, intrinsic viscosities, and molecular conformations were obtained. One major challenge of analyzing cationic polymers is abnormal size exclusion separation, which could be caused by the ionic interaction between sample molecules and the column packing material. A selection of mobile phases varying in pH, buffer, organic solvent content, and molar concentration of salts was employed to evaluate the correlation of obtained molecular weight values and mobile phase composition. Universal calibration concept was used to examine the abnormal size exclusion separation phenomenon of Polymer JR samples when using different mobile phases. It was observed that the abnormal size exclusion was dependent on both the separation conditions and molecular weights of the samples. Despite the changes in separation parameters and uncharacteristic polymeric structure compared to conventional SEC samples, the use of aqueous SEC with triple detection provided reproducible and valuable molecular information of Polymer JR samples with low to medium molecular weights. By using a combination of high buffer content and adding organic solvent, the abnormal exclusion separation of high molecular weigh Polymer JR could be considerably reduced.     

Analysis of global components in Ganoderma using liquid chromatography system with multiple columns and detectors

In present study, a multiple columns and detectors liquid chromatography system for analysis of global components in traditional Chinese medicines was developed. The liquid chromatography system was consist of three columns, including size exclusion chromatography column, hydrophilic interaction chromatography column, and reversed phase chromato‐graphy column, and three detectors, such as diode array detector, evaporative light scattering detector, and mass spectrometry detector, based on column switching technique. The developed multiple columns and detectors liquid chromatography system was successfully applied to the analysis of global components, including macromolecular (polysaccharides), high (nucleosides and sugars)‐, and low (triterpenes)‐polarity small molecular compounds in Ganoderma, a well‐known Chinese medicinal mushroom. As a result, one macromolecular chromatographic peak was found in two Ganoderma species, 19 components were identified in Ganoderma lucidum (two sugars, three nucleosides, and 14 triterpenes), and four components (two sugars and two nucleosides) were identified in Ganoderma sinense. The developed multiple columns and detectors liquid chromatography system was helpful to understand comprehensive chemical characters in TCMs.     

Advances in native high‐performance liquid chromatography and intact mass spectrometry for the characterization of biopharmaceutical products

The characterization of biotherapeutics represents a major analytical challenge. This review discusses the current state‐of‐the‐art in analytical technologies to profile biopharma products under native conditions, i.e., the protein three dimensional conformation is maintained during liquid chromatographic analysis. Native liquid‐chromatographic modes that are discussed include aqueous size‐exclusion chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, and ion‐exchange chromatography. Infusion conditions and the possibilities and limitations to hyphenate native liquid chromatography to mass spectrometry are discussed. Furthermore, the applicability of native liquid‐chromatography methods and intact mass spectrometry analysis for the characterization of monoclonal antibodies and antibody–drug conjugates is discussed.     

Size exclusion chromatography of aluminium species in natural waters

Size exclusion chromatography was used in order to characterize organically bound aluminium in natural water samples. A Superose column was used, with 0.1 M acetate buffer (pH 4.6) as mobile phase. Three detection systems were used; graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, post-column reaction with pyrocatechol violet and UV spectrometry at 254 nm. A single peak was obtained for organic aluminium in natural waters. The results indicated that aluminium binds with a broad size range of humic substances, and that the inorganic aluminium was present in polymeric form.     

Speciation of iron in breast milk and infant formulas whey by size exclusion chromatography-high performance liquid chromatography and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Speciation of iron in milk was carried out by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). Milk whey was obtained and low molecular weight protein separation was performed by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) with a TSK Gel SW glass guard (Waters) pre-column and a TSK-Gel G2000 glass (Toso Haas) column. After studying water as a possible mobile phase, this mobile phase was carefully selected in order to avoid alterations of the sample and to make subsequent iron determination in the protein fractions easier by ETAAS. The proposed method is sensitive (limit of detection [LOD] and LOQ 1.4 and 4.7 μg l⁻¹, respectively) and precise (relative standard deviation [RSD]<10%). Iron is principally found in the proteins of 3 and 76 kDa in breast milk, and it is irregularly distributed in infant formulas.     

Selective on-line serum peptide extraction and multidimensional separation by coupling a restricted-access material-based capillary trap column with nanoliquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

As the serum peptidome gets increasing attention for biomarker discovery, one of the important issues is how to efficiently extract the peptides from highly complex human serum for peptidome analysis. Here we developed a fully automated platform for direct injection, on-line extraction, multidimensional separation and MS detection of peptides present in human serum. A capillary SPE column packed with a novel mix mode restricted access material (RAM) exhibiting strong cation exchange and size exclusion chromatography (SCX/SEC) properties were coupled with a nanoliquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (nanoLC-MS) system. The capillary SPE column excludes the high abundant serum proteins such as HSA by size exclusion chromatography and simultaneously extracts the low molecular weight peptides by binding to sulfonic acid residues. Subsequently, the trapped peptides are eluted to a capillary LC column packed with a RP-C18 stationary phase. After injection of only 2 μL human serum to the one-dimensional nanoLC-MS system around 400 peptides could be identified. When conducting a multidimensional separation, the described SCX/SEC/RP-MS platform allows the separation and identification of 1286 peptides present in human serum by the injection and on-line processing of 20 μL human serum sample.     

Pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of a coal extract and its fractions separated by planar chromatography: correlation of structural features with molecular mass

The structural characterisation of a coal liquefaction extract and its three fractions separated by planar chromatography has been described. Size exclusion chromatography showed the molecular mass distributions to become progressively larger with decreasing mobility on the plate. UV-fluorescence spectroscopy of the fractions indicated parallel increases in the sizes of polynuclear aromatic ring systems. Analysis by probe-mass spectrometry of the 'whole' coal extract showed the expected array of small polynuclear aromatic groups extending to m/z 450. The probe mass spectra of the lightest fraction ('mobile in pyridine and acetonitrile') showed similar features, except for effects due to vacuum drying to remove solvent. In sharp contrast, the two heaviest fractions ('mobile in pyridine and immobile in acetonitrile' and 'immobile in pyridine') showed no significant ions other than those from residual NMP solvent (m/z 98 and 99). Pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of these two heaviest fractions showed only traces of aromatic compounds or fragments. The aromatic pyrolysis products of these fractions were too large and involatile to pass through the GC column. The major components observed in the pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of the two heavy fractions were alkanes and alkenes, ranging between C10-C25. Since none of the samples contained free alkanes, alkenes or cycloalkanes before pyrolysis, they were generated during the pyrolysis step. The shifts of UV-fluorescence spectral intensity to shorter wavelengths with decreasing size indicated by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) provide direct evidence of differences in structure with changing molecular mass. This evidence strongly suggests that species identified as being of large molecular mass in this extract sample are not composed of molecular aggregates. It remains difficult to establish whether and when it would be legitimate to invoke molecular aggregates to explain the large molecular masses (MMs) identified here and in other work. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Enthalpic Partition-Assisted Size Exclusion Chromatography: 1. Principle of Method

A novel high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method viz. “enthalpic partition assisted size exclusion chromatography” deliberately combines entropic and enthalpic partition mechanisms. It enables separation of homopolymers according to their molar mass with increased selectivity, as well as discrimination of polymer species differing in their nature/composition. Enthalpic partition of macromolecules takes place between the mobile phase and the stationary “liquid” of a different chemical nature, which is immobilized within pores of an appropriate carrier (a bonded phase). The extent of enthalpic partition depends on the accessibility of bonded phase for macromolecules and on the difference of polymer solubility in the mobile phase and in the solvated bonded phase. The enthalpic partition in favor of column packing arises from better solubility of polymer solutes in the solvated stationary phase compared to the mobile phase. Macromolecules are “pushed” into the solvated stationary phase and their retention volumes (V_R) increase. In the area of high molar masses, the extent of enthalpic partition as rule raises with the increasing size of macromolecules. However, under properly chosen experimental conditions the enthalpic partition may rapidly diminish with the sample molar mass (M), likely due to the solubility changes and/or due to partial exclusion of macromolecules from the pores. As result, the corresponding retention volumes sharply drop within a narrow range of M with the increasing size of macromolecules. This results in the log M vs. V_R dependences, which resemble in their form that for size exclusion chromatography but are much more flat indicating highly selective separations of homopolymers according to their molar masses. In this way, enthalpic partition “assists” entropic partition (size exclusion). Polymer species, which do not undergo enthalpic partition, elute from the HPLC column in the conventional size exclusion mode and can be discriminated from the partitioning species. Enthalpic partition assisted size exclusion chromatography can be utilized in separation and characterization of various homopolymers, and polymer blends.     

基于色谱方法的煤沥青指纹图谱构建

煤沥青成分极其复杂,其中含有分子量较大的多环芳烃及其氧化产物等组分。不同来源的原料煤及生产工艺得到的煤沥青在芳构化程度、组成、性质、分子结构等方面皆差别很大。该文分别采用气相色谱-质谱(GC-MS)、裂解/气相色谱-质谱(Py/GC-MS)和高效液相色谱(HPLC)手段,为煤沥青指纹图谱库的构建发展了普适、稳定、简单的分析方法。在GC-MS方法中采用常用的HP-5MS柱,在线性温度梯度条件下分析,得到33个组分的色谱图,方法对不同样品的稳定性良好。采用裂解/气相色谱-质谱方法研究探讨了较高温度下组分结构和组成的变化,对于沥青产品的加工以及老化研究具有借鉴意义。在HPLC方法建立过程中,采用最常用的C_(18)柱反相色谱分离模式,以甲醇/水为流动相,在线性梯度条件下建立方法,针对不同样品可以得到41个组分的稳定色谱峰。基于该文的方法,可为进一步建立煤沥青的指纹谱图库,以及进一步完善煤沥青的评价方法,开发煤沥青的新用途提供理论基础数据。     

Liquid chromatography at the critical condition: Thermodynamic significance and influence of pore size

Liquid chromatography at the critical condition (LCCC) is a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique that lies between size exclusion chromatography and adsorption-based interaction chromatography, where the elution of polymers becomes independent of polymer molecular weight. At LCCC, the balance between the entropic exclusion and the enthalpic adsorption interactions between polymers and stationary phases results in the simultaneous HPLC elution of polymers regardless of molecular weight. Using C18-bonded silica chromatographic columns with 5 μm particle size and different average pore size (diameter = 300 Å, 120 Å, 100 Å, and 50 Å), we report (1) the thermodynamic significance of LCCC conditions and (2) the influence of column pore size on the determination of critical conditions for linear polymer chains. Specifically, we used mixtures of monodisperse polystyrene samples ranging in molecular weight from 162 to 371,100 g/mol and controlled the temperature of the HPLC columns at a fixed composition of a mobile phase consisting of 57(v/v)% methylene chloride and 43(v/v)% acetonitrile. It was found that, at the fixed mobile phase composition, the temperature of LCCC (T_LCCC) is higher for C18-bonded chromatographic columns with larger average pore size. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 2533–2540, 2009     

The use of online heart‐cutting high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with linear ion trap mass spectrometry in the identification of impurities in vidarabine monophosphate

It is difficult to identify unknown impurities in nucleotide analogues by mass spectrometry because mass‐spectrometry‐incompatible mobile phases need to be used to separate the major ingredient from impurities. In this study, vidarabine monophosphate was selected, and unknown impurities were identified by online heart‐cutting two‐dimensional high‐performance liquid chromatography and linear ion trap mass spectrometry. The one‐dimensional reversed‐phase column was filled with a mobile phase containing nonvolatile salt. In two‐dimensional high‐performance liquid chromatography, we used an Acclaim Q1 column with volatile salt, and the detection wavelength was 260 nm. The mass spectrum was scanned in positive‐ and negative‐ion mode. The online heart‐cutting and online demineralization technique ensured that the mobile phase was compatible with mass spectrometry; seven impurities were identified by MS² and MS³ fragments. The mass fragmentation patterns of these impurities were investigated. The two isomers were semiprepared and complemented by nuclear magnetic resonance. The results were further compared with those of normal‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry. The online heart‐cutting two‐dimensional high‐performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry was superior in identifying more impurities. The method solves the problem of incompatibility between the mobile phase and mass spectrometry, so it is suitable for identifying unknown impurities. This method may also be used for investigating impurities in other nucleotide analogues.     

Utilising retention correlation for the separation of oligostyrenes by coupled-column liquid chromatography

The separation of n = 2-5 n-butyloligostyrenes has been illustrated by reversed-phase reversed-phase (RP-RP) coupled-column liquid chromatography. The coupled-column separation has been achieved by use of a C18 column with methanol as the mobile phase followed by a DiamondBond C18 column with acetonitrile (ACN) mobile phase. The DiamondBond C18 is a hybrid carbon clad zirconia (CCZ)-C18 stationary phase. Unlike a C18-carbon clad zirconia two-dimensional liquid chromatographic system, which is orthogonal, the C18 and DiamondBond C18 columns combination exhibit correlations based upon the molecular weight of n-butyloligostyrenes. Using an alternative strategy to two-dimensional liquid chromatography, the molecular weight dependence displayed by both the C18 column and DiamondBond C18 has been used to increase throughput or decrease analysis time in the analysis of the n-butyloligostyrenes. However, this is at the expense of a portion of the two-dimensional peak capacity displayed by the C18-carbon clad zirconia system.     

Characterization of poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone) by liquid chromatography under critical conditions: Influence of catalysts and reaction conditions on product composition

Amphiphilic block copolymers were synthesised by ring opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone with polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether (PEG-MME) using different catalysts (boron trifluoride, sodium hydride, and tin octoate) in a one pot procedure. The products obtained were characterized with respect to their molar mass distribution and content of homopolymers using size exclusion chromatography (SEC), Liquid chromatography under critical conditions (LCCC) and MALDI-TOF-MS. The homopolymers of caprolactone could be separated from the block copolymer by LCCC on a reversed phase column in tetrahydrofurane-water mobile phases with evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD). Residual monomer could be determined under the same conditions using density detection, a separation of the copolymer from residual initiator could be achieved on a normal phase column in acetone-water mobile phases.     

Model reactions of amine curing of glycidylamine epoxy resins: Homopolymerization of N-methylglycidylaniline

The kinetics of homopolymerization of the monofunctional epoxide N-methylglycidylaniline in the presence of a tertiary amine or an amino alcohol has been followed by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography and size exclusion chromatography. The reaction products were identified by mass spectrometry using potassium ionization of desorbed species (K⁺IDS). 1,3-Di-N-methylanilino-2-propanol (P) was the main reaction product and low molecular weight oligomers with M_n > 600 were also formed. The molecular weight and fraction of oligomers decrease with increasing concentration of the initiator. The suggested complex reaction mechanism involves formation of four stable oligomeric series initiated by reaction of the epoxide with either an OH group of (a) the amino alcohol, (b) product P, (c) traces of water, or (d) the tertiary amine to form ionic species resulting in the ionic propagation. Regeneration of the initiator and formation of new initiating centers during the polymerization are the causes of low molecular weights of oligomers. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Investigating effects of sample pretreatment on protein stability using size‐exclusion chromatography and high‐resolution continuum source atomic absorption spectrometry

In this study, size‐exclusion chromatography and high‐resolution atomic absorption spectrometry methods have been developed and evaluated to test the stability of proteins during sample pretreatment. This especially includes different storage conditions but also adsorption before or even during the chromatographic process. For the development of the size exclusion method, a Biosep S3000 5 μm column was used for investigating a series of representative model proteins, namely bovine serum albumin, ovalbumin, monoclonal immunoglobulin G antibody, and myoglobin. Ambient temperature storage was found to be harmful to all model proteins, whereas short‐term storage up to 14 days could be done in an ordinary refrigerator. Freezing the protein solutions was always complicated and had to be evaluated for each protein in the corresponding solvent. To keep the proteins in their native state a gentle freezing temperature should be chosen, hence liquid nitrogen should be avoided. Furthermore, a high‐resolution continuum source atomic absorption spectrometry method was developed to observe the adsorption of proteins on container material and chromatographic columns. Adsorption to any container led to a sample loss and lowered the recovery rates. During the pretreatment and high‐performance size‐exclusion chromatography, adsorption caused sample losses of up to 33%.