HPLC Chromatography and Mass Spectroscopy Analyses

The Chromatographic Analysis and Mass Spectrometry Service is supported by a team with decades of experience in the synthesis, purification, and characterization of organic, peptidic, and peptidomimetic molecules. The service leaders boast extensive expertise, evidenced by numerous publications in prestigious international scientific journals, in identifying bioactive molecules capable of interacting with G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), such as opioid or urotensin receptors.

These competencies are applied in various research projects, including the identification of new compounds and the assessment of their efficacy, as demonstrated by the evaluation of labeled glucose and tetrasaccharides in the plasma and urine of patients with Pompe disease, in collaboration with international research centers.

The service utilizes cutting-edge technologies for the analysis and separation of complex molecules:

• HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography): Allows for high-resolution separation of mixture components, utilizing the application of high pressure for improved chromatographic efficiency and resolution.

• Mass Spectrometry (MS): Defined as the "world's smallest scale," it determines the molecular weight of biological molecules (peptides, proteins, drugs, nucleic acids) by measuring their mass-to-charge ratio (m/z), thanks to advanced ionization sources like ESI and MALDI.

The service offers support for:

• Purification and structural characterization of organic, peptidic, and peptidomimetic molecules.

• Evaluation of the presence and levels of labeled or endogenous molecules in biological samples (plasma, urine).

• Identification and characterization of new bioactive compounds (agonists, antagonists, partial agonists) for GPCRs.

Specifically, it is possible to perform:

• Analytical or preparative separation and purification of complex mixtures via HPLC.

• Accurate determination of the molecular weight of peptides, proteins, and drugs using Mass Spectrometry.

• Qualitative and quantitative analysis of metabolites and drugs in biological matrices.

• Structural characterization of unknown compounds or reaction products.