Journal of Chromatography A

The review article entitled "Advances in Analytical Technologies for Emerging Drug Modalities and Their Separation Challenges in LC-MS Systems," published in the Journal of Chromatography A (Journal of Chromatography A 1732 (2024) 465226), describes the latest advances in LC-MS, focusing on the challenges associated with the analysis of new biotherapeutics, also known as “new modalities”. The paper outlines the growing complexity of biopharmaceutical products such as antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), and gene therapy products, which require state-of-the-art analytical methods, due to their complex structures. The review highlights the rapid development of novel LC-MS methodologies adapted for these complex modalities, including AEX-MS, RP-IP-LC-MS, HILIC-MS, and microflow-LC-MS. Each method presents unique advantages, but also specific challenges, particularly in the separation and quantification of biomolecules at low concentration. The paper highlights the importance of sample preparation, with various techniques such as enzyme digestion, denaturation, and solid-phase extraction, which are critical to enahnce sensitivity and reproducibility. This work is a comprehensive guide for researchers navigating in the complex landscape of biotherapeutics analysis, offering interesting perspectives into the current state and future directions of LC-MS technologies. Congratulations to the authors for their interesting contribution to the field!

Improving Retention Time Repeatability in Gradient Mode under HILIC Conditions with a Simple Solution ! We are happy to share a significant advancement in the field of liquid chromatography, recently published in the Journal of Chromatography A. The group of Prof. Michael Laemmerhofer from the University of Tübingen has addressed a longstanding challenge in hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC). Challenge: HILIC, despite its widespread use for the separation of hydrophilic analytes, has faced issues with poor retention time repeatability. This problem is often attributed to slow equilibration and re-equilibration times in gradient mode. Solution: The study compared the use of borosilicate glass and PFA (perfluoroalkoxy) bottles as solvent reservoirs. The findings were very interesting: retention time variability for metabolites was reduced from an average of 8.4% RSD with glass bottles to just 0.14% RSD with PFA bottles. Similar improvements were observed for peptides and oligonucleotides. Explanation: The release of ions from borosilicate glass bottles was found to alter the semi-immobilized water layer at the stationary phase interface, affecting retention times. PFA bottles, which do not release such ions, maintained consistent retention times, providing a simple and effective solution. Impact: These findings can significantly enhance the reliability and acceptance of HILIC, particularly in metabolomics, peptide, and oligonucleotide analyses. Read the full open access manuscript entitled ‘Solving the retention time repeatability problem of hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography’for a detailed look at the methods and findings: https://lnkd.in/eRf-6X9c Thanks to the authors Kristian Serafimov, Cornelius Knappe, Feiyang Li, Adrian Sievers-Engler, and Michael Lämmerhofer for their contributions to this excellent work.

We are happy to announce that our CiteScore for 2023 has gone up to 7.9 (CiteScore 2022: 7.4). Journal of Chromatography A is also back into the top 25% journals in Analytical Chemistry (Q1). The impact factor for 2023 is 3.8. We want to thank all our authors, reviewers and readers for their continuous support!

A Powerful Chromatographic Strategy for the Analysis of Large DNA Molecules We are excited to highlight a valuable study by Fabrice Gritti and Kevin Wyndham (scientists at Waters Corporation) recently published in the Journal of Chromatography A. The study describes the retention mechanism in combined hydrodynamic and slalom chromatography for the analysis of large nucleic acid biopolymers, which are essential in emerging cell and gene therapies. What is the challenge? Traditional methods like hydrodynamic chromatography (HDC) and size exclusion chromatography (SEC) often offer inadequate resolution and practical issues when analyzing large double-stranded DNA molecules. How to avoid this issue? The recently published study explores the unique retention mechanisms of slalom chromatography (SC), where larger DNA molecules are more retained than smaller ones – this is opposite to what is observed in HDC. This phenomenon is crucial for the efficient separation and analysis of large DNA molecules. What are the main findings of this work? - SC and HDC coexist, with SC dominating when the Weissenberg number (a dimensionless number representing the polymer relaxation time and shear rate) is much larger than 10. - Maximum DNA resolution is achieved in a mixed HDC-SC retention mode - The study presents a comprehensive physico-chemical model explaining the transition from HDC to SC, incorporating factors like DNA stiffness and shear stress. What is the potential impact? A robust chromatographic method can be used for characterizing various plasmid DNA mixtures, essential for the development and quality control of gene therapies. Read the full open access manuscript entitled “Retention mechanism in combined hydrodynamic and slalom chromatography for analyzing large nucleic acid biopolymers relevant to cell and gene therapies’ here: https://lnkd.in/e-jk26ZN Congratulations to the authors Fabrice Gritti and Kevin Wyndham for their interesting contribution to the field!  

At the upcoming HTC-18 conference (28 to 31 May, 2024 in Leuven, Belgium), Journal of Chromatography A and Journal of Chromatography Open will sponsor the HTC Academy. Send your contribution via Wetransfer to info@htc-18.com until 17-05-2024! Participants are invited to create a video lasting up to 5 min., wherein they deliver a didactic explanation on one of the following pre-defined topics: 1. Selectivity in chromatography 2. The van Deemter equation 3. Ionization principles in mass spectrometry 4. Injection techniques in gas chromatography 5. Modulation techniques in two-dimensional chromatography Videos will be judged by an expert panel and rated according to didactic clarity, scientific correctness, focus, originality, and technical quality. The three best videos will receive 750 Euro, 500 Euro and 250 Euro for the first, second and third place, respectively. We encourage everyone to participate, there is no limit on age or seniority!

Journal of Chromatography A publishes different types of manuscripts: full-length research papers, short communications, concept papers, review articles, discussions and tutorials. New in our portfolio are technical notes! Technical notes focus on the development, construction or modification of novel separation (preferably chromatographic) or sample preparation equipment/instrumentation, to address a specific research question. A clear advantage over the current state-of-the-art should be introduced. Technical notes are from three to five pages in length. 

We are preparing a Special Issue on Supercritical Fluid Chromatography (SFC) and related techniques. The portal for the Special Issue will open on 15-03-2024 with submission deadline on 30-09-2024. Authors who are interested in contributing to this Special Issue are kindly invited to contact the Executive editor Marja-Liisa Riekkola and/or the Guest editors Caroline West and Torgny Fornstedt for more information. Initially SFC using capillary columns gained popularity in the 1990s for both achiral and chiral separations. Thanks to the introduction of packed columns and the addition of co-solvents, it quickly became a preferred method for isolating optical isomers of drugs during the discovery phase, being faster and eco-friendlier than preparative LC. However, the compressibility of the eluent rendered SFC less stable compared to LC, leading to a lack of fundamental understanding. Efforts over the past few decades, through academic and industrial collaboration, have addressed this issue, resulting in more reliable scaling up and improved analytical and preparative instrumentation. More recently, SFC has again drawn the attention of chromatographers. This resurgence is due to a diversification in related techniques and addressing new separation challenges that remained unsolved with existing techniques or by seeking complementary separation methods. While carbon dioxide may still be the primary fluid used, the exact state of the fluid is not necessarily supercritical anymore. As a result, studies carried out with “SFC instruments” today might use subcritical fluids, or so-called “enhanced-fluidity liquids” when the proportion of pressurized CO2 is low compared to the organic co-solvent. Another recent evolution is the integration of wide elution gradients, starting in supercritical conditions and ending in liquid conditions. Altogether, the fundamental issues, as well as the new, more esoteric techniques related to SFC, require a wide range of academic and industrial expertise, whether studying fundamental issues or introducing new applications – analytical, preparative, chiral, or achiral. In this Special Issue, we hope to show the diversity of questions and challenges addressed by SFC and related techniques.  

Check out our updated Aims & Scope at: https://lnkd.in/efrTuZmz We are introducing a new type of Manuscript: the Technical Note. Technical Notes focus on the development, construction or modification of novel separation (preferably chromatographic) or sample preparation equipment/instrumentation, to address a specific research question. A clear advantage over the current state-of-the-art should be introduced. Technical Notes are from three to five pages in length.  

CHANGES IN THE EDITORSHIP OF J. CHROMATOGRAPHY A SINCE 2024 · Dr. Salvatore Fanali’s years of fruitful commitment as Editor in J. Chromatography A are ending, but his position as Editor-in-Chief of J. Chromatography Open continues · Prof. Hian Kee Lee, a highly appreciated Editor in J. Chromatography A, continues his dedication to the journal as Review Editor, responsible for review papers · Dr. Davy GUILLARME is a new Editor in J. Chromatography A   Dr. Salvatore Fanali stepped down from January 2024 after many years as Editor in J. Chromatography A and will in the future only concentrate on J. Chromatography Open as Editor-in-Chief.  Our heartfelt thanks for his highly recognized expertise in the Editors’ team of J. Chromatography A, especially on capillary electromigration techniques and chiral separations by miniaturized techniques, as well as on nano-liquid chromatography, hyphenated with mass spectrometry. J. Chromatography A dedicated a Special Issue on Electromigration and Related Liquid-Phase Separation Techniques to honor his superb service as Editor and to celebrate his 70 years birthday in 2021. Prof. Hian Kee Lee, having many years’ competence as Editor in J. Chromatography A and a strong scientific background and professional accomplishments, pursues his valuable dedication to the journal as a new Review Editor, taking care of all review papers. The position is installed for the first time in J. Chromatography A. Dr. Davy GUILLARME (School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Switzerland) joins us as a new Editor in J. Chromatography A. His earlier experience as Editor in J. Chromatography B and his comprehensive expertise in fundamental studies and pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical applications of liquid chromatography, guarantee a great scientific value for our Editors’ team.

Field-Flow Fractionation (FFF) is among the most important analytical separation methodologies for the fractionation, isolation and characterization of macromolecules, biopolymers and nano- and micro-particles, and FFF techniques are increasingly being used. In view of this increasing interest in FFF, Journal of Chromatography A again dedicates a Virtual Special Issue to this technique. This Special Issue will also include manuscripts of the 23rd International Symposium on Field- and Flow-based Separations (FFF 2024) that will take place in Nantes from June 3rd to 6th, 2024. The Special Issue on Field-Flow Fractionation consist of invited review articles and research papers covering various aspects of FFF, such as fundamental studies, methodological configurations and the applications to different fields. The VSI is being organized by Professor Marja-Liisa Riekkola, managing editor, and Professor Michel Martin, as guest editor. Submitted manuscripts will be handled expeditiously in the usual way by the editors and accepted manuscripts published in the first available issue of the Journal. After closure of the submission window all accepted manuscripts for the special issue will be aggregated as a titled VSI and hosted on the Journal’s home page in perpetuity. The submission window has been set for 15 February 2024 to 31 July 2024. When submitting a manuscript for the VSI (https://lnkd.in/ek6Ct_fP) in your cover letter be sure to indicate that your manuscript is a contribution for the VSI: Field Flow Fractionation and from the article type drop down box in editorial manager choose VSI: FFF to ensure that your contributions enters the correct work flow.