Applications of chromatographic methods in metabolomics: A review

Susan T Ovbude; Sadia Sharmeen; Isaac Kyei; Harshana Olupathage; Jacob Jones; Richard J Bell; Robert Powers; David S Hage

doi:10.1016/j.jchromb.2024.124124

Applications of chromatographic methods in metabolomics: A review

J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci. 2024 Apr 16:1239:124124. doi: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2024.124124. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Susan T Ovbude¹, Sadia Sharmeen¹, Isaac Kyei¹, Harshana Olupathage¹, Jacob Jones¹, Richard J Bell¹, Robert Powers², David S Hage³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588-0304, USA.
² Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588-0304, USA; Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588-0304, USA.
³ Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588-0304, USA. Electronic address: dhage1@unl.edu.

PMID: 38640794
DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2024.124124

Abstract

Chromatography is a robust and reliable separation method that can use various stationary phases to separate complex mixtures commonly seen in metabolomics. This review examines the types of chromatography and stationary phases that have been used in targeted or untargeted metabolomics with methods such as mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. General considerations for sample pretreatment and separations in metabolomics are considered, along with the various supports and separation formats for chromatography that have been used in such work. The types of liquid chromatography (LC) that have been most extensively used in metabolomics will be examined, such as reversed-phase liquid chromatography and hydrophilic liquid interaction chromatography. In addition, other forms of LC that have been used in more limited applications for metabolomics (e.g., ion-exchange, size-exclusion, and affinity methods) will be discussed to illustrate how these techniques may be utilized for new and future research in this field. Multidimensional LC methods are also discussed, as well as the use of gas chromatography and supercritical fluid chromatography in metabolomics. In addition, the roles of chromatography in NMR- vs. MS-based metabolomics are considered. Applications are given within the field of metabolomics for each type of chromatography, along with potential advantages or limitations of these separation methods.

Keywords: Gas chromatography; Liquid chromatography; Mass spectrometry; Metabolomics; Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy; Supercritical fluid chromatography.

Publication types

Review