Review pubs.acs.org/ac
Molecular Approaches to Chromatography Using Single Molecule Spectroscopy Lydia Kisley† and Christy F. Landes*,†,‡ †
Department of Chemistry and ‡Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice Quantum Institute, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, MS-60, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
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CONTENTS
Principles of Single Molecule Spectroscopy and Instrumental Techniques General Considerations and Sample Requirements Confocal Microscopy Total Internal Reflectance Fluorescence Wide Field Imaging and Analysis Chromatography Methods Studied by Single Molecule Spectroscopy Reverse Phase Liquid Chromatography Silica Surfaces: Normal Phase Chromatography and Capillary Methods Ion-Exchange Chromatography Connecting Single Molecule Data to the Ensemble: Theoretical Insight and Application of Single Molecule Spectroscopy Data Conclusions and Future Direction Author Information Corresponding Author Author Contributions Notes Biographies Acknowledgments References
Chromatographic separation of molecules from complex mixtures is an important analytical technique. In the pharmaceutical industry, chromatography is used to isolate therapeutic biomolecules produced by recombinant-engineered bacteria for safe products to be consumed by patients.1 Similarly, in the natural food product industry, chromatography can quantify the amount of antioxidants or beneficial lipid products in fortified food used for maintaining health.2 Chromatographic methods are crucial in these two industries that combined accounted for over $120 billion dollars to the economy in 2009.3,4 Chromatography also has important roles in the oil and gas industry,5 environmental analysis,6 and natural product synthesis. Thus, as one of the most commonly used analysis techniques spanning many applications,7 understanding and improving chromatography has important scientific and economic implications. Recent advancements in chromatography address the needs of these diverse applications. Liquid chromatography column stationary phases improved by decreasing the particle size to
