Electrochromatographic studies of etched capillaries modified with a cyano pentoxy biphenyl liquid crystal.

A liquid crystal stationary phase for open tubular capillary electrochromatograpy (OTCEC) is fabricated by etching a fused silica tube and then bonding 4,4'-cyanopentoxy biphenyl by a silanization/hydrosilation process. The versatility of this electrophoretic capillary is demonstrated by separations of proteins, peptides, basic pharmaceuticals and the metabolites of tryptophan. Chromatographic interactions are verified by resolution of two neutral peptides. Variable temperature studies are used to understand the liquid crystal properties of the bonded moiety. EOF measurements as a function of pH and temperature further characterize this unique separation media.

Open-tubular electrochromatographic characterization of synthetic peptides.

The open-tubular electrochromatographic (OT-CEC) migration behavior of a series of peptides, based on a common structural feature, has been characterized using two different types of chemically modified etched capillaries. The organic moieties immobilized onto the capillary inner surface were n-butylphenyl and cholesterol-10-undecenaoate, respectively. The structure-migration behavior of this set of peptides has been studied at several pH values and with methanol at different concentrations as an organic solvent modifier of the buffer electrolyte composition. By comparing the structural properties of the peptides, such as their amino acid sequences, charge-to-mass ratios and intrinsic hydrophobicities to their migrational behavior, the relative contribution of electrophoretic and chromatographic mobility to the overall migration times, elution order, and selectivity has been determined. Moreover, the experimental data provide important insight into procedures that can be used to modulate the separation of peptides in OT-CEC through variation of the composition of the electrolyte buffer as well as via the properties of the bonded organic moiety.

Open tubular capillary electrochromatography of synthetic peptides on etched chemically modified columns.

Two sets of peptides, each having structurally similar amino acid sequences, have been investigated by capillary electrochromatography (CEC) using etched chemically modified capillaries as the separation medium. In comparison to gradient RP-HPLC, the resolving power of the described CEC methods has been found to be superior. A number of variables have been examined with respect to optimization of the separation of these closely related peptides with several different etched chemically modified capillaries. These experimental variables included the nature of the bonded moiety, the pH, the organic modifier type, and the amount of organic modifier in the buffer electrolyte. Systematic variation of these parameters results in significant changes in the migrational behavior of the investigated peptides and provides important insight into the underlying molecular separation processes that prevail in open tubular CEC. Moreover, under optimized conditions, efficient separations characterized by highly symmetrical peaks were achieved. In addition, this study has permitted the long-term stability as well as the short-term and long-term reproducibility of the etched chemically modified capillaries to be documented.

Cholesterol bonded phase as a separation medium in liquid chromatography. Evaluation of properties and applications.

An extensive survey of the properties and separation capabilities of a cholesterol bonded phase is reported. The intermediate hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties of the bonded cholesterol material allows this stationary phase to be used for both reversed-phase and aqueous normal-phase separations. Interesting high selectivity is reported for the structural isomers of some antibiotics. The cholesterol bonded material does not display "phase collapse" in high aqueous content mobile phases. Variable temperature studies demonstrate that substantial structural changes of the bonded moiety occur that might be used to control selectivity. Finally, separation of some enantiomers of compounds with a variety of chemical structures is reported under reversed-phase conditions indicating that the cholesterol material may be chiral stationary phase with a broad range of applicability.