High-performance liquid chromatography of monosaccharides and oligosaccharides in a complex biological matrix

Analysis of oligosaccharides in complex biological matrices is hampered by the fact that oligosaccharides, closely related in structure, are difficult to separate from each other and that conventional detection procedures (refraction index and uv detection) are not specific enough for carbohydrates. Prepurification of samples by procedures like desalting or gel filtration is often used but can lead to the loss of specific oligosaccharides. We have used pellicular anion chromatography in combination with a postcolumn reaction for reducing carbohydrates based on 4-aminobenzoylhydrazide. This procedure not only detected normal mono- and oligosaccharides but N-acetylhexosamines and reducing N-acetylhexosamine containing oligosaccharides as well. A sensitivity of about 20-25 pmol for non-GlcNAc containing mono- or oligosaccharides and between 30-50 pmol for GlcNAc or oligosaccharides with GlcNAc at the reducing side was reached. The postcolumn detection was compared with pulsed amperometric detection and appeared to be more specific for mono- and oligosaccharides. Except for deproteination to protect the column, no further sample preparation was needed with this system for our application (urines). In this way pellicular anion chromatography in combination with this postcolumn reaction reaction to be a sensitive and specific HPLC procedure for analysis of monosaccharides and oligosaccharides in complex biological matrices.