Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Frantisek Svec

Publications and source records attributed to Frantisek Svec.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Recent developments in the field of monolithic stationary phases for capillary electrochromatography.

This review summarizes the contributions to the rapidly growing area of monolithic columns based on both silica and synthetic polymers for capillary electrochromatography and chip electrochromatography, with a focus on those published during the year 2004. A wide variety of both modified approaches to the "old" monoliths and new monoliths have been reported despite the very short period of time covered. This demonstrates that monolithic stationary phases have become a well-established format in the field of electrochromatography. The simplicity of their preparation as well as the good control over their porous properties and surface chemistries make the monolithic separation media an attractive alternative to capillary columns packed with particulate materials.

Chromatography, Affinity↗
PubMed2004

Latex-functionalized monolithic columns for the separation of carbohydrates by micro anion-exchange chromatography.

A novel stationary phase for micro ion chromatography has been prepared by coating a porous poly(butyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate-co-2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid) monolith with quaternary amine-functionalized latex particles via simple electrostatic binding. This stationary phase enabled the separation of saccharides in the mobile phase with a high-pH value consisting of aqueous ammonia solution in anion-exchange mode using evaporative light scattering for detection. Effects of both porous properties of the monolithic stationary phase and chromatographic conditions on the separation ability were studied. Under optimized conditions, an efficient separation of seven saccharides was achieved in less than 10 min. The stationary phase also enables the separation of saccharides obtained by the enzymatic hydrolysis of corn starch.

Anion Exchange Resins↗
PubMed2004

Photopolymerized monolithic capillary columns for rapid micro high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of proteins.

The preparation of monolithic poly(butyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) capillary columns using photoinitiated in situ polymerization within 200 microm i.d. capillaries and their application for microHPLC separations of proteins have been studied. The low resistance to flow characteristic of monolithic columns, enabled the use of very high flow rates of up to 100 microL/min representing a flow velocity of 87 mm/s. Very good separations of a model protein mixture consisting of ribonuclease A, cytochrome c, myoglobin, and ovalbumin was achieved in less than 40 s using a very simple single step gradient of the mobile phase. Interestingly, no effect of the pore size on the separations of proteins was observed for these monolithic columns within the size range of 0.66-2.2 microm. The monolithic microHPLC columns are found very robust and no changes in the long term separation performance and back pressure were observed.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed2004

Development and application of polymeric monolithic stationary phases for capillary electrochromatography.

Monolithic columns for capillary electrochromatography are receiving quite remarkable attention. This review summarizes results excerpted from numerous papers concerning this rapidly growing area with a focus on monoliths prepared from synthetic polymers. Both the simplicity of the in situ preparation and the large number of readily available chemistries make the monolithic separation media a vital alternative to capillary columns packed with particulate materials. Therefore, they are now a well-established stationary phase format in the field of capillary electrochromatography. A wide variety of synthetic approaches as well as materials used for the preparation of the monolithic stationary phases are presented in detail. The analytical potential of these columns is demonstrated with separations involving various families of compounds and different chromatographic modes.

Electrophoresis, Capillary↗
PubMed2004

Chip electrochromatography.

Electrochromatography (EC) in microfluidic chips is emerging as an attractive alternative to capillary electrophoresis (CE) for on-chip separations. This review summarizes recent developments in the rapidly growing area of chip electrochromatography with a focus on "column" technologies. Relevant achievements are summarized according to the types of stationary phase used for the separations including open channels, microfabricated structures, and channels packed with beads or containing a porous monolith. The advantages and disadvantages of each, as well as practical aspects of their application, are discussed. The analytical performance of these devices is demonstrated with separations involving various families of compounds mostly in the reversed-phase chromatographic mode.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Shielded stationary phases based on porous polymer monoliths for the capillary electrochromatography of highly basic biomolecules.

A novel stationary phase for capillary electrochromatography has been prepared via photoinitiated grafting of two layers of polymer chains onto the pore surface of a porous polymer monolith. To achieve the desired retention, the original monolith with optimized porous properties was grafted with an "interior" layer consisting of the ionizable monomer, 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid, followed by a "covering" layer of hydrophobic polymer chains. This technique affords monolithic CEC columns that facilitate electroosmotic flow (EOF) while preventing ionized analytes from interacting with the charged surface functionalities. Grafting of the second layer does not adversely affect the EOF. Grafting times of 30 and 60 s for AMPS and butyl acrylate, respectively, enabled the preparation of a monolith with full shielding of the analytes from the ionizable functionalities and excellent chromatographic performance. This approach allows for the first time the independent optimization of both electroosmotic flow and retention properties in CEC columns. The efficient isocratic separations of mixtures of peptides, including some that are highly basic and would be affected by unshielded charges, were routinely achieved in 40-90 s using a simple MS compatible mobile phase consisting of 20 mmol/L ammonium acetate in a 1:1 water-acetonitrile mixture.

Acrylamides↗
PubMed2004

Preparation and HPLC applications of rigid macroporous organic polymer monoliths.

Rigid porous polymer monoliths are a new class of materials that emerged in the early 1990s. These monolithic materials are typically prepared using a simple molding process carried out within the confines of a closed mold. For example, polymerization of a mixture comprising monomers, free-radical initiator, and porogenic solvent affords macroporous materials with large through-pores that enable applications in a rapid flow-through mode. The versatility of the preparation technique is demonstrated by its use with hydrophobic, hydrophilic, ionizable, and zwitterionic monomers. Several system variables can be used to control the porous properties of the monolith over a broad range and to mediate the hydrodynamic properties of the monolithic devices. A variety of methods such as direct copolymerization of functional monomers, chemical modification of reactive groups, and grafting of pore surface with selected polymer chains is available for the control of surface chemistry. Since all the mobile phase must flow through the monolith, the convection considerably accelerates mass transport within the molded material, and the monolithic devices perform well, even at very high flow rates. The applications of polymeric monolithic materials are demonstrated mostly on the separations in the HPLC mode, although CEC, gas chromatography, enzyme immobilization, molecular recognition, advanced detection systems, and microfluidic devices are also mentioned.

Chemistry, Organic↗
PubMed2004

Organic polymer monoliths as stationary phases for capillary HPLC.

Modern rigid porous polymer monoliths were conceived as a new class of stationary phases in classical columns in the early 1990s and later extended to the capillary format. These monolithic materials are typically prepared using a simple molding process carried out within the confines of the capillary. Polymerization of a mixture comprising monomers, initiator, and porogenic solvent affords macroporous materials with large through-pores that enable applications in a rapid flow-through mode. Since all the mobile phase must flow through the monolith, convection considerably accelerates mass transport within the monolithic separation medium and improves the separations. As a result, monolithic columns perform well even at very high flow rates. Various mechanisms including thermally and UV initiated free radical polymerization as well as ring opening metathesis copolymerizations were demonstrated for the preparation of monolithic capillary columns. The versatility of these preparation techniques was demonstrated by their use with hydrophobic (styrene, divinylbenzene, butyl methacrylate, ethylene dimethacrylate), hydrophilic (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, methacrylamide, methylenebisacrylamide), ionizable (vinylsulfonic acid, 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-propanesulfonic acid), and tailor-made (norborn-2-ene, 1,4,4a,5,8,8a-hexahydro-1,4,5,8-exo,endo-dimethanonaphthalene) monomers. Variation of polymerization conditions enables control of the porous properties of the monolith over a broad range and mediates the hydrodynamic properties of the monolithic columns. The applications of polymer-based monolithic capillary columns are demonstrated for numerous separations in the microHPLC mode.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed2004

Monolithic columns with a gradient of functionalities prepared via photoinitiated grafting for separations using capillary electrochromatography.

Stationary phases for capillary electrochromatography with a longitudinal gradient of functionalities have been prepared via photoinitiated grafting of polymer chains onto the pore surface of a porous polymer monolith. In order to achieve the desired retention and electroosmotic flow, the hydrophobic poly(butyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) monolith with optimized porous properties was grafted with a layer of ionizable polymer, poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid). A moving shutter and a neutral density filter were used to control the dose of UV light received at different locations along the monolith in order to create the longitudinal gradient of functionalities. Formation of the desired gradients was confirmed using electron probe microanalysis of different locations along the column. The preparation technique significantly affects performance in the CEC mode as demonstrated on the separations of a model mixture using columns both with homogeneous distribution of grafts and with a gradient of functionality. Columns grafted with the gradient of functionalities were found superior to those functionalized uniformly. A comparison of the performance of the gradient column with another containing evenly distributed functionalities showed the performance benefits of the "gradient" column.

Electrochemistry↗
PubMed2004

Csaba Horváth's contribution to the theory and practice of capillary electrochromatography.

This overview has been written as a tribute to a luminary of chromatography--Csaba Gyula Horváth, who passed away earlier this year. Since the scope of his work was enormous, the following pages focus only on one single aspect of his scientific activities, capillary electrochromatography. He was a visionary, recognizing the great potential of this method and devoted a large part of his efforts to studies of problems related to CEC, covering a huge variety of issues embracing the theoretical foundation, instrumentation, and column technology. During the period of time from 1996 to 2004, Csaba Horváth published almost 30 excellent papers concerning capillary electrochromatography, which are reviewed in this article.

Chromatography↗
PubMed2004

Porous polymer monolith for surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry of small molecules.

Porous poly(butyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate), poly(benzyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate), and poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) monoliths have been prepared on the top of standard sample plates used for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry and the modified plates were used for laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS). The hydrophobic porous surface of these monoliths enables the transfer of sufficient energy to the analyte to induce desorption and ionization prior to TOFMS analysis. Both UV and thermally initiated polymerization using a mask or circular openings in a thin gasket have been used to define spot locations matching those of the MALDI plates. The desorption/ionization ability of the monolithic materials depends on the applied laser power, the solvent used for sample preparation, and the pore size of the monoliths. The monolithic matrices are very stable and can be used even after long storage times in a typical laboratory environment without observing any deterioration of their properties. The performance of the monolithic material is demonstrated with the mass analysis of several small molecules including drugs, explosives, and acid labile compounds. The macroporous spots also enable the archiving of samples.

Acids↗
PubMed2003

Dual-function microanalytical device by in situ photolithographic grafting of porous polymer monolith: integrating solid-phase extraction and enzymatic digestion for peptide mass mapping.

Microfluidic devices with a dual function containing both a solid-phase extractor and an enzymatic microreactor have been prepared, and their operation has been demonstrated. The devices were fabricated from a 25-mm-long porous poly(butyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) monolith prepared within a 50-microm-i.d. capillary. This capillary with a pulled 9-12-microm needle tip was used as a nanoelectrospray emitter coupling the device to a mass spectrometer. Photografting with irradiation through a mask was then used to selectively functionalize a 20-mm-long portion of the monolith, introducing reactive poly(2-vinyl-4,4-dimethylazlactone) chains to enable the subsequent attachment of trypsin, thereby creating an enzymatic microreactor with high proteolytic activity. The other 5 mm of unmodified hydrophobic monolith served as micro solid-phase extractor (microSPE). The dual-function devices were used in two different flow directions; concentration of myoglobin that was absorbed from its dilute solution, followed by elution and digestion or digestion, followed by concentration. Operations in both directions afforded equal sequence coverage. Different volumes of myoglobin solution ranging from 2 to 20 microL were loaded on the device. Very high sequence coverages of almost 80% were achieved for the highest loading. Despite the very short length of the extractor unit, the device operated in the digest-solid-phase extraction direction also enabled the separation of peaks that mostly contained undigested protein and peptides.

Boron Compounds↗
PubMed2003

Flow control valves for analytical microfluidic chips without mechanical parts based on thermally responsive monolithic polymers.

Monolithic plugs of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) cross-linked with 5% methylenebisacrylamide have been prepared by photoinitiated polymerization within the channel of a microfluidic device. The volume change associated with the polymer phase transition at its lower critical solution temperature of 32 degrees C allows both the rapid swelling and the deswelling of the monoliths enabling the polymer to close or open the channel as it functions as a nonmechanical valve. Thermoelectric elements capable of changing the temperature of the system between 17 and 57 degrees C were used to actuate the valve. Flow through the device was monitored by fluorescence measurements via the laser-triggered photobleaching of a dye contained in the liquid phase. Photobleaching occurs quickly once the flow is stopped, and the time required to open and close the valve was 3.5 and 5.0 s, respectively. No changes in function were observed even after 120 open-close cycles. Although the 2-mm-long valve was prepared from a polymerization mixture consisting of only a 5% aqueous solution of monomers, it resists pressures of up to 1.38 MPa (200 psi) without observable structural damage.

Acrylic Resins↗
PubMed2003

Polar polymeric stationary phases for normal-phase HPLC based on monodisperse macroporous poly(2,3-dihydroxypropyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) beads.

The effect of variables such as shape template size, porogen composition and percentage, content of cross-linking monomer, and polymerization temperature on the properties of uniformly sized 3-microm porous poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) beads prepared by the staged templated suspension polymerization technique has been studied. The porous properties of the beads including surface morphology, pore size distribution, and specific surface area have been optimized to obtain highly efficient stationary phases for normal-phase HPLC. A column packed with diol stationary phase obtained by hydrolysis of poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) beads affords an efficiency of 67,000 plates/m for toluene using THF as the mobile phase. The retention properties and selectivity of the diol beads are easily modulated by changes in the composition of the mobile phase. The performance of these beads is demonstrated with the separations of a variety of polar compounds including positional isomers, aniline derivatives, and basic tricyclic antidepressant drugs.

Aniline Compounds↗
PubMed2003

Macroporous monolithic chiral stationary phases for capillary electrochromatography: New chiral monomer derived from cinchona alkaloid with enhanced enantioselectivity.

A new chiral monomer derived from cinchona alkaloid, namely O-9-(tert-butylcarbamoyl)-11-[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethylthio]-10,11-dihydroquinine 1, was employed for the preparation of enantioselective monolithic capillary columns by an in situ copolymerization with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate 2 (HEMA), ethylene dimethacrylate 3 (EDMA) in the presence of cyclohexanol and 1-dodecanol as porogens (UV or thermal initiation of azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as radical initiator). The porous properties and the electrochromatographic behavior of the new chiral monoliths were comparatively evaluated with previously described analogs obtained from O-9-[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethylcarbamoyl]-10,11-dihydroquinidine 4 as chiral monomer. Despite close structural and physicochemical similarities of the both chiral monomers, the pore distribution profiles of the resulting monoliths were shifted typically towards larger pore diameters with the new monomer 1. Once more, it was confirmed that a low cross-linking (10 wt% related to total monomers) and a pore diameter of about 1 microm in the dry state provides the best electrochromatographic efficiency as a result of lower resistance to mass transfer (smaller C-term contribution to peak broadening) and more homogeneous flow profile (smaller A-term). Most importantly, as expected the new poly(1-co-HEMA-co-EDMA) monoliths showed enhanced enantioselectivities and in addition faster separations as compared to poly(4-co-HEMA-co-EDMA) analogs, which represents a significant improvement. Further, the elution order was reversed owing to the pseudoenantiomeric behavior of quinine- and quinidine-derived monomers. Fluorescence-labeled 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (FMOC), dansyl (DNS), 7-dimethylaminosulfonyl-1,3,2-benzoxadiazol-4-yl (DBD), carbazole-9-carbonyl (CC) amino acids could be separated with resolution values between 2 and 4 (with efficiencies typically between 100,000 and 200,000 plates/m) and fluorescence detection (variable wavelength fluorescence detector in-line with UV) yielding routinely a gain in detection sensitivities up to two orders of magnitude without specific optimization of the conditions with regards to fluorescence efficiency.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed2003

Fabrication of porous polymer monoliths covalently attached to the walls of channels in plastic microdevices.

UV-initiated grafting of plastic tubes and microfluidic chips with ethylene diacrylate followed by the preparation of porous polymer monoliths has been studied. The first step affords a thin grafted layer of polymer with a multiplicity of pendent double bonds that are then used in the second step for covalent attachment of the monolith to the wall. As clearly seen on scanning electron micrographs, this procedure prevents the formation of voids at the monolith-channel interface a problem that has always plagued approaches involving bulk polymerization in nontreated channels due to the shrinkage of the monolith during the polymerization process and its lack of compatibility with the material of the device. Irradiation with UV light through a photomask allows precise patterning specifying both the area subjected to surface modification and the location of the monolith within specific areas of the device.

Microfluidics↗
PubMed2003

Monolithic valves for microfluidic chips based on thermoresponsive polymer gels.

The direct preparation of thermoresponsive monolithic copolymers by photopatterning of a liquid phase consisting of an aqueous solution of N-isopropylacrylamide, N-ethylacrylamide, N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide, and 4,4'-azobis(4-cyanovaleric acid) has been studied and the products used as valves within the channels of microfluidic devices. The volume change associated with the polymer phase transition at its lower critical solution temperature (LCST) leads to the rapid swelling and the deswelling of the 2.5% cross-linked monolithic gel thus enabling the polymer to close or open the channel and to function as a nonmechanically actuated valve. The LCST at which the valve switches was easily adjusted within a range of 35 degrees C-74 degrees C by varying the proportions of the monovinyl monomers in the polymerization mixture. The closed valve holds pressures of up to 18 MPa without noticeable dislocation, structural damage, or leakage. In contrast, following deswelling by raising the temperature above LCST the valve offers no appreciable flow resistance since its large, micrometer-size pores are open. Laser-triggered photobleaching of a fluorescent dye contained in the liquid phase enabled monitoring of flow through the device and determination of the times required to open and close the valve. The valves are characterized by very fast actuation times in a range of 1-4 s depending on the type of device. No changes in performance were observed even after repeated open-close cycling of the valves.

Acrylamides↗