Sphingolipids are major components forming biological membranes, and they serve as intracellular signalling molecules. It is important to measure the amount of these molecules in biological samples because they have massive influence on various metabolic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. However, in LC analyses of sphingophospholipids, such as sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and ceramide-1-phosphate (C1P), a phosphate group in these molecules causes significant peak tailing, and therefore loss of sensitivity and reproducibility. Recently, an improved method using a YMC-Triart C18 metal-free column was reported by Dr. Gowda et al. 1)
Adsorption of Compounds with Phosphate Groups
In LC analysis, compounds containing phosphate groups tend to be adsorbed on the metallic surfaces in the flow path of the LC system. This results in peak tailing, carryover, and insufficient sensitivity. It is important to use a column packed with a packing material containing less metal impurities to prevent these problems. Material used for the column hardware is also important. Stainless steel-free column hardware is effective to improve peak shapes, especially for highly sensitive analyses such as LC/MS.
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