Phospholipids are a key component of cell membranes. Commercially produced phospholipids can be applied e.g., in nanotechnology. The phosphate group which is contained in the hydrophilic head of the lipid poses a major challenge for chromatographic analyses. Phosphate containing compounds tend to be adsorbed on metallic surfaces such as the column body, frits, and tubing made from stainless steel due to ionic interactions with the electron-rich phosphate group. This effect is enhanced when working at low to neutral pH as metals become more electropositive. To overcome these challenges bioinert systems and columns such as the recently introduced YMC-Accura Triart columns are beneficial. YMC-Accura Triart columns have a bioinert coating on all surfaces, including the frits, to prevent any unwanted ionic interactions.
This application shows the reversed phase chroma– tography-mass spectrometry analysis of two phospholipids: LPC (16:0) and PC (34:2) using a bioinert coated YMC-Accura Triart C18 UHPLC column in comparison with a regular stainless steel column. Figure 2 shows that the bioinert coated YMC-Accura Triart C18 column provides excellent peak shapes while using a regular stainless steel column results in massive peak tailing. The two phospholipids are further analysed in precipitated plasma, which requires a quite matrix tolerant column. YMC-Triart columns are also ideal for such purposes, due to their large surface area of 360 m²/g and their high robustness.
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