Nanoparticle-based stationary phases for pharmaceutical and biomolecule separations

Because of impossibility to achieve a general column for separation purposes, columns must be amended in order to acquire specific chemical characteristics such as hydrophobic, hydrophilic or ionic interactions. In this regard, particular properties of nanoparticles such as large specific surface, high pore volume, narrow particle size- and pore size distribution, and excellent stability introduce them as perfect supports for electrochromatography and chromatographic applications, which enhance the retention and separation efficiency. On the other hand, because of disadvantages of silica stationary phases, it is noteworthy to design new stationary phases for the separation process. Apart from that, the applications of nanoparticles in separation process give rise to reach a suitable mass transfer, which is significant in chromatographic science. Hence, the present report studies various stationary phases based on the nanoparticles for the analysis of biomolecules and chiral drugs using capillary electrochromatography and liquid chromatography techniques, which provide rapid and efficient separations, short run time, high enantioseparation, and less consumption of expensive stationary phases.