Products

HFIP for Nucleic Acid Analysis

1,1,1,3,3,3-Hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) is frequently used as a mobile phase additive for analysis of oligonucleotides below 100 nucleotides (nt) and their impurities, due to the high sensitivity and separation it enables. However, there are significant differences in LC-MS sensitivity and even detection of unidentified peaks depending on the manufacturer, product grade, and lot. This product is specifically tested using LC-MS for each batch, so researchers can be confident in their reagents.

Features

HFIP Product image
  • Suitable for analysis of oligonucleotides using HPLC and LC-MS
  • Suitable for analysis of oligonucleotide impurities (short-mers, long-mers, phosphodiester [PO] impurities in phosphorothioated [PS] products)
  • Each product lot tested using LC-MS

Performance comparison

Using the oligonucleotide Poly(dT)19, LC-MS sensitivity was compared between this product and competitor HPLC and LC-MS grade products.

Nacalai Tesque product Company A product
(HPLC grade)
Company B product (LC-MS grade)

HFIP_1.png

LC conditions
Column COSMOCORE 2.6C18 2.1 mm I.D. × 100 mm
Mobile phase A : 100 mM HFIP-15 mM Triethylamine (TEA)
B : Solvent A / Methanol = 1 / 1 (v / v)
B conc. 20 → 50%(0 → 20 min)
Flow rate 0.2 mL/min
Temperature 40°C


MS conditions
Equipment LCMS 2050 (Shimadzu)
Ionization ESI/APCI (Negative), TIC
Mode Scan
Mass range 550-2000
Nebulizing gas flow 2.0 L/min
Drying gas flow 5.0 L/min
Heating gas flow 7.0 L/min
DL temperature 200°C
Desolvation temperature 450°C
Interface voltage -2.0 kV


Compared to the company A product (HPLC grade), our product showed about twice the sensitivity. Additionally, it had about the same sensitivity as the company B product (LC-MS grade).

Comparing 4 different lots, the difference in sensitivity was found to be within 10%. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in purity and metal content.

HFIP_table.png

Analysis by LC-MS

Phosophorothioated oligonucleotides

By optimizing the analysis conditions, we were able to separate the target compound from impurities that are produced during synthesis.

HFIP_4.png
Conditions
Column COSMOCORE 2.6C18 2.1 mm I.D. × 100 mm
Mobile phase A : 100 mM HFIP-15 mM Triethylamine (TEA)
B : Solvent A / Acetonitrile / Methanol = 2 / 1 / 1 (v / v / v)
B conc. 14 → 20%(0 → 20 min)
Flow rate 0.2 mL/min
Temperature 65°C
Ionization ESI/APCI (Negative), SIM
Sample conc. 100 µM (FLP) and 25 µM (others)
Inj. Vol. 1 µL


DNA ladder

Because hydrophobicity increases with oligonucleotide length, longer strands are retained for longer.

HFIP_DNA ladder.png
Conditions
Column COSMOCORE 2.6C18 2.1 mm I.D. × 100 mm
Mobile phase A : 100 mM HFIP-15 mM Triethylamine (TEA)
B : Solvent A / Acetonitrile / Methanol = 2 / 1 / 1 (v / v / v)
B conc. 7.5 → 27.5%(0 → 20 min)
Flow rate 0.2 mL/min
Temperature 65°C
Ionization ESI/APCI (Negative), TIC
Sample conc. 10 µM
Inj. Vol. 3 µL


ssDNA (PO and PS forms), ssRNA

Hydrophobicity increases in the order of RNA < DNA (PO) < DNA (PS), and the strands elute in the same order. Hydrophobicity also changes depending on the DNA sequence, so strands with similar length may have different retention times.

HFIP_ssDNA.png
Conditions
Column COSMOCORE 2.6C18 2.1 mm I.D. × 100 mm
Mobile phase A : 100 mM HFIP-15 mM Triethylamine (TEA)
B : Solvent A / Methanol = 1 / 1 (v / v)
B conc. 20 → 60%(0 → 20 min)
Flow rate 0.2 mL/min
Temperature 40°C
Ionization ESI/APCI (Negative), SIM
Sample conc. Sample conc.
Inj. Vol. 3 µL


References

Separation and purification of short-, medium-, and long-stranded RNAs by RP-HPLC using different mobile phases and C18 columns with various pore sizes
Ozaki M, et al. Anal. Methods. 2024;16:1948-1956.
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4AY00114A
* Featured on Front Cover


Separation of long-stranded RNAs by RP-HPLC using an octadecyl-based column with super-wide pores
Kuwayama T, et al. Anal. Sci. 2023;39:417-425.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s44211-022-00253-w
* Selected as Hot Articles 2023


Ozaki M, et al. Medical Science Digest December Special Issue. 2023, 49, p.40-43.

HFIP_Award

Cover art on the front cover of Analytical Methods and the award certificate for being selected as one of the Hot Articles 2023.

Ordering Information

Product Name Grade Storage Catalog Number PKG Size Price
1,1,1,3,3,3-Hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) for nucleic acid analysis SP Room temp. 22941-42 25 mL e-Nacalai