The New Versatility of High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography

Raphael Vizzini, Scientific R&D, CAMAG, Muttenz, Switzerland
Melanie Broszat, Scientific R&D, CAMAG, Muttenz, Switzerland

HPTLC is the most advanced form of Thin-Layer Chromatography. The use of suitable instruments for all steps of the analysis, a standardized methodology and validated methods in combination with high performance plates ensure reliable and reproducible results that are fully compliant with current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP). The advantages of planar chromatography: simplicity, flexibility, etc. are maintained. With HPTLC several samples can be analyzed simultaneously and often without or just with a minimal sample preparation. HPTLC is therefore suited as high sample throughput technique at low costs per sample. It also offers the unbeatable advantage to evaluating a plate at any stage of the analytical process and using several detection modes (e.g. UV, fluorescence) in sequence, if required. The obtained result can easily be evaluated. Just by visual inspection the analyst can distinguish samples side-by-side on the plate. With visionCATS, the state-of-the-art HPTLC software, Image Comparison files can be generated for a comparison of multiple samples from different plates. This tool is used worldwide in the botanical industry for identification of plant materials. Furthermore HPTLC can be used for quantification of marker compounds. A confirmation can be done with UV spectra recorded with a TLC Scanner and/or by coupling HPTLC with mass spectrometry.

The analytical tasks for HPTLC are versatile. In addition to identity testing and quantification of marker compounds, HPTLC is often used to detect adulteration. Other tasks are: quality control, stability testing, process development and optimization, process monitoring, cleaning validation, cross-check with HPLC, fast confirmation during chemical synthesis by HPTLC-MS, etc.

HPTLC is a modular technique. Each step of the HPTLC process can be adjusted to the specific analytical task. This will be shown with typical examples, where HPTLC is on the one hand faster, cheaper, easier, or more robust, or all at the same time.