Turbulent flow chromatography in bioanalysis: a review.

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Chromatography

Background:

• Advances in detection methods like tandem mass spectrometry enable high-throughput bioanalysis.
• Sample preparation is now recognized as a critical bottleneck in analytical processes, particularly for quantitative assays.
• Traditional methods face challenges with complex biological matrices and the need for speed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the chromatographic theory behind turbulent flow chromatography (TFC).
• To illustrate the application of TFC in analyzing diverse analytes from various biological matrices.
• To highlight TFC's role in overcoming sample preparation limitations in bioanalysis.

Main Methods:

• Turbulent flow liquid chromatography (TFC), developed in the late 1990s.
• Combines size exclusion and traditional stationary phase chemistry for separation.
• Utilizes automated, on-line extraction of neat biological fluids.

Main Results:

• TFC enables very rapid separation of macromolecules from smaller analytes in biological fluids.
• Instrumentation and software support fully automated sample processing.
• Demonstrates successful application across a range of analytes and biological matrices in recent literature.

Conclusions:

• Turbulent flow chromatography is a powerful technique for efficient sample preparation in high-throughput bioanalysis.
• Its ability to handle complex matrices and automate processes addresses key analytical challenges.
• TFC is essential for robust and efficient quantitative assays in bioanalytical laboratories.