To use an analogy-if you think of chromatographic operation as the Earth, RP operation may be seen as lying roughly at the equator. In quantitative bioanalysis, the well-trodden path is in applying non-polar, better known as reversed-phase (RP) operation. In my field of quantitative bioanalysis, which includes biopharmaceuticals to a continually increasing extent (in contrast to the world dominated by small-molecule therapeutic candidates of around 30 years ago), there is a limited range of options for liquid chromatography (LC) operation, and these options may be broadly classified simply as polar and nonpolar. We want something that works as best as it can and arrives at a functional situation as soon as possible. The world of analytical chromatography is no exception, especially in the regulated space with the associated pressures for quality and timeliness. An Earth-based figurative analogy is used to help highlight several popular LC techniques.įavoritism in daily decision-making has a profound influence in our lives as humans. Because having a flexible perspective is particularly important for biotherapeutics, it is important that choosing which technique to use is determined based on good science and begins with a physicochemical property assessment of the analytes, followed by subsequent alignment with the most appropriate retentive mode. To help balance the choice of chromatographic technique, a discussion of the merits of being flexible when making the choice of LC technique for a given application is presented.

Reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) may have historical popularity, but it is not the only LC technique available to chromatographers.

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