Isolation of Structurally Related Components in Natural Product Extracts Using the RegisPack and Whelk-O1 Chiral Selectors
Chiral separations of multi-component natural product mixtures comprised of enantiomers, diastereomers, and unrelated molecules are often difficult to resolve in a single isocratic method.
Chiral separations of multi-component natural product mixtures comprised of enantiomers, diastereomers, and unrelated molecules are often difficult to resolve in a single isocratic method. Utilizing different chiral stationary phases can often provide the selectivity needed for a multiple pass isolation approach.
A proprietary compound mixture recently screened consisted of multiple isomers and structurally similar components. Even though this was not specifically an enantiomeric separation, we desired to develop chiral analytical and preparative methods under SFC mobile phase. Upon initial screening, distinct differences between RegisPack® and Whelk-O1® were noted. Major differences in retention times between key peaks of interest indicated a multi-pass method was needed.
Figure 1: Sample: proprietary. Column: (R,R) Whelk-O1, 25 cm à 4.6 mm, 5 µm. Mobile phase: CO2/Ethanol 80:20. Flow rate: 4.0 mL/min.
Under analytical SFC conditions the multi-component mixture resolved somewhat but not sufficient for a preparative separation (Figure 1).
Figure 2: Sample: proprietary. Column: RegisPack 25 cm à 4.6 mm, 5 µm. Mobile phase: CO2/Methanol 80:20. Flow rate: 4.0 mL/min.
Due to interfering peaks, isolation of the desired peaks at tr = 5.9 min and tr = 8.8 min would require a multiple chiral stationary phase approach. Upon rescreening with the amylose based RegisPack chiral stationary phase we found enhanced resolution and a much higher retention of the minor desired component now at tr = 14 min (Figure 2).
Figure 3: Sample: proprietary. Column: (R,R) Whelk-O1, 25 cm à 4.6 mm, 5 µm. Mobile phase: CO2/Ethanol 80:20. Flow rate: 4.0 mL/min.
Using a multiple pass approach, the minor desired peak was isolated in high efficiency using RegisPack with its purity confirmed on Whelk-O1 (Figure 3). Reprocessing of the balance of the multi-component mixture using (R,R) Whelk-O1 allowed for the clean isolation of the remaining desired major component at tr = 8.8 min.
Figure 4: Sample: proprietary. Column: (R,R) Whelk-O1 25 cm à 4.6 mm, 5 µm. Mobile phase: CO2/Ethanol 80:20. Flow rate: 4.0 mL/min.
Conclusion
Although SFC systems are optimally designed for collecting relatively pure binary mixtures, creative applications of multiple chiral stationary phases can often allow one to isolate complex mixture components that would otherwise be isolated in poor yield and purity. This application to a crude botanical extract is a typical example of how a comprehensive chiral screening layout can help design an optimal preparative separation process.
Regis Technologies, Inc.
8210 Austin Ave., Morton Grove, IL 60053
tel. (847) 583-7661, fax (847) 967-1214
Website: www.registech.com
SEC-MALS of Antibody Therapeutics—A Robust Method for In-Depth Sample Characterization
June 1st 2022Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are effective therapeutics for cancers, auto-immune diseases, viral infections, and other diseases. Recent developments in antibody therapeutics aim to add more specific binding regions (bi- and multi-specificity) to increase their effectiveness and/or to downsize the molecule to the specific binding regions (for example, scFv or Fab fragment) to achieve better penetration of the tissue. As the molecule gets more complex, the possible high and low molecular weight (H/LMW) impurities become more complex, too. In order to accurately analyze the various species, more advanced detection than ultraviolet (UV) is required to characterize a mAb sample.
