Unlock reliable peptide analysis with bioinert column hardware 

Peptide therapeutics, particularly glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (RA), place increasing demands on chromatographic analysis. Beyond conventional parameters, column hardware significantly influences performance; interactions with stainless-steel surfaces can lead to adsorption, peak broadening and reduced sensitivity. A recently released technical note compares conventional stainless-steel columns with bioinert-coated YMC Accura columns.

Hardware-related effects are highly pH-dependent. Under acidic conditions (e.g. 0.1 per cent formic acid), stainless steel results in broader peaks and reduced peak heights. Under neutral conditions, adsorption to metal surfaces reduces both peak area and height. Furthermore, the choice of mobile-phase modifier is critical. When comparing semaglutide, retatrutide and tirzepatide, formic acid produces the broadest peaks, whereas TFA and DFA considerably reduce peak widths. For optimal performance, 20mM ammonium acetate provides the sharpest peaks.

Bioinert hardware also enhances quantitative reliability. For tirzepatide, the used YMC Accura Triart Bio C18 column demonstrates excellent linearity across a range of 5 to 500µg/mL. These hardware effects are especially critical at low analyte concentrations, where metal-surface interactions have a greater relative impact on the detected signal.

The advantages are even more pronounced in LC-MS workflows. While differences are visible with UV detection, they become significantly more impactful under MS-compatible formic acid conditions. Because MS detection often operates at much lower concentrations, minimising metal–analyte interactions is vital for maintaining high signal intensity and peak sharpness.

In summary, column hardware and mobile-phase composition are essential parameters for reliable peptide analysis. By suppressing unwanted metal–analyte interactions, the YMC Accura Triart Bio C18 column delivers sharp peaks, improved sensitivity and consistent quantitative performance for both HPLC and sensitive LC-MS workflows.