Chiralpak AGP 5µm 50x3.0mm HPLC Column

The Chiralpak AGP HPLC column 50x3.0mm, 5µm; it is not based on amylose or cellulose, but on a protein-based chiral selector. The specific modification is alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), which is immobilised on spherical 5-µm silica particles. The advantage lies in the stable immobilisation of the protein in the standard aqueous reverse-phase mode, whilst solvent, pH and flow rate conditions must be controlled more closely. Chiralpak AGP is used in enantioselective reversed-phase HPLC with buffers and a small amount of organic modifier. Typical applications include chiral drugs, primary, secondary and tertiary amines, strong and weak acids, and non-protolytic compounds such as amides, esters, alcohols and sulphoxides.

Performance Characteristics and Advantages

• Protein-based chiral selectors for enantioselective reverse-phase HPLC
• Immobilized protein phases on spherical 5-µm silica
• Compatible with aqueous buffers, low levels of organic modifiers, and moderate pH values
• Enantioselectivity can be specifically optimized via pH, buffer type, and organic modifier
• Complementary selectors such as AGP, CBH, HSA, and animal serum albumin variants
• Suitable for drug discovery, purity testing, environmental analysis, and drug-protein binding studies

Additional Notes

Protein-based Chiralpak materials differ fundamentally from traditional amylose- or cellulose-based polysaccharide phases. The chiral selector is a protein immobilized on spherical silica particles. This creates complex binding sites where ionic interactions, hydrophobic interactions, and hydrogen bonds can contribute to enantiomer recognition. Since the protein selectors are immobilized, these are not merely coated surfaces. The advantage of immobilization lies in a more stable fixation of the selector during standard aqueous reverse-phase operation and in highly reproducible separation conditions. The disadvantage compared to more robust synthetic or polysaccharide-based immobilized phases is the narrower operating window: high concentrations of organic solvents, strongly denaturing solvents, extreme pH values, high temperatures, and excessively high flow rates should be avoided. The selectivity of protein-based Chiralpak columns can be controlled primarily by pH, buffer composition, and the type and concentration of the organic modifier. These mild, aqueous conditions make the phases particularly suitable for chiral active ingredients, bioanalytical applications, and protein binding studies; however, they require careful column maintenance and the use of appropriate sample solutions.

Legal Notices

Chiralpak is a registered trademark of Daicel Corporation, Osaka, Japan.