The LCGC Blog: How Should Gender Equity Be Addressed at Conferences?
October 2nd 2018For an international conference, highlighting the diversity of research, and the people performing it, is important. Diversity comes in a lot of different flavors: Industrial vs. academic; different cultures, values, needs, and resources; age and gender; among others. Representatives from all different backgrounds and experiences should be given a voice.
The structural complexity of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) challenges the capabilities of even the most advanced chromatography and mass spectrometry techniques. This study examines the use of micro-pillar array columns in combination with mass spectrometry for peptide mapping of both mAbs and antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs).
Modern Trends and Best Practices in Mobile-Phase Selection in Reversed-Phase Chromatography
October 1st 2018This instalment provides an overview of the modern trends and best practices in mobile-phase selection for reversed-phase liquid chromatography (LC). In particular, we focus on selection criteria and rationales for enhancing analytical performance and ease of preparation.
Highlights from the HPLC 2018 Symposium
October 1st 2018Topics that stood out at HPLC 2018 include advances in large-molecule separations, multidimensional separations, 3D printing, chiral separations, and HILIC. Also, many speakers addressed separation fundamentals, including ways to increase speed, generate higher throughput, and add selectivity.
Mixing and Mixers in Liquid Chromatography—Why, When, and How Much? Part I, The Pump
October 1st 2018Many LC users are unclear what happens when we combine two (or more) flow streams in LC systems, and when mixers are needed to blend the fluids. This discussion explains why mixers are needed, and when and how you might consider using something other than the default mixer setting.
Modern Trends and Best Practices in Mobile-Phase Selection in Reversed-Phase Chromatography
October 1st 2018Modern trends in LC mobile-phase selection and preparation include using simpler mobile phases, increased use of MS-compatible mobile phases, and eliminating filtration and certain mobile-phase additives. Here, we discuss those and other trends and best practices, as well as the fundamentals behind them.
Molecular Imprinting for Sample Preparation
October 1st 2018Molecularly imprinted polymers can replace conventional sorbent materials in sample preparation techniques such as solid-phase extraction (SPE), solid-phase microextraction (SMPE), and matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD), offering increased selectivity over the target analytes.
The Quest for Greener Sample Preparation in Food Analysis
October 1st 2018Elena Ibañez is determined to make sample preparation for food analysis not only more environmentally friendly but also more efficient, as she explores approaches that simplify solvent selection, increase solvent selectivity, and lessen the role of chemical solvents.
Enhancing PLGA Characterization with Multi-Angle Light Scattering and Differential Viscometry
September 21st 2018The functional properties of polymers, such as poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), relevant to drug delivery and biomedical devices, are governed by the molecular properties of molar mass, composition, conformation, and branching. This article demonstrates how such polymers are fully characterized, quickly and absolutely, using gel permeation chromatography (GPC) with multi-angle light scattering (MALS) and online viscometry.
Automated Multicolumn Purification of a Histidine-Tagged Protein
September 21st 2018Approximately 40% of recombinant proteins that are purified use a histidine tag for easy capture. This article covers how to automate the purification of histidine-tagged proteins and how purification conditions can be optimized to an automated four-step purification scheme that uses affinity-, ion exchange-, and size-exclusion columns. Using a multistep purification scheme removes the manual steps that cause loss of precious proteins and take more time, like dialysis, collection, and reinjecting samples. The final purification scheme reduces a 3–4-day process to 11.5 h from start to finish, all while improving reproducibility, yield, and comparable purity.