Best of the Week HTC-19 Insights from Hans-Gerd Janssen, GC Tools, and CapLC Insights

This week, Chromatography Online featured highlights from HTC-19 in Leuven, Belgium, where Hans-Gerd Janssen of Unilever shared his insights on hyphenated chromatography methods, covering everything from peptide identification challenges to the future of real-time analytical measurements. We also spoke with Ian Webb about how mass spectrometry is shedding new light on the structural changes linked to neurodegenerative disease. Elsewhere, “GC Connections” column editor Nicholas Snow offers a practical guide to essential gas chromatography maintenance tools, while a synthesis of expert discussions from Pittcon 2026 published as one of David Bell’s “Column Watch” columns examines why capillary liquid chromatography has yet to reach its full potential in routine analytical workflows despite its many advantages. Rounding out the week, Dwight Stoll and Martin Gilar continue their invaluable “LC Troubleshooting” series on oligonucleotide analysis, tackling solvent mismatch, denaturing conditions, and non-specific adsorption.

This is the Best of the Week.

HTC-19 Insights from Hans-Gerd Janssen
At HTC-19 in Leuven, Belgium, LCGC International’a Aladsdair Matheson spoke with Hans-Gerd Janssen from Unilever (The Netherlands)on various aspects of his presentation Hyphenated Methods in Chromatography: Innovations Realised and Challenges Remaining.^1-4

Problems with LC–MS Peptide Identification Data
Strategies To Improve Peak Integration Accuracy and Data Reliability
Will At-Line Systems Outlast the Push for Full Automation?
What Are the Routes To "Real" Real-time Analytical Measurements?

Mass Spectrometry Approaches for Investigating Alpha-Synuclein Structural Changes in Neurodegenerative Disease

Mass spectrometry–based techniques, including cross-linking and covalent labeling, were used to show how phosphorylation and oxidation alter alpha-synuclein structure, providing insight into how these modifications may influence aggregation and neurodegenerative disease. LCGC International spoke to Ian Webb, corresponding author of a paper that resulted from this research.⁵

The Gas Chromatographer’s Tool Kit

"GC Connections" column editor Nicholas Snow offers a basic gas chromatography (GC) maintenance tools and supplies overview.⁶

The Promise and Challenges of Capillary LC: Lessons from Pittcon 2026 Networking Session

Capillary liquid chromatography (CapLC) offers compelling advantages in sensitivity, solvent reduction, and compatibility with modern mass spectrometry, yet remains underutilized in routine analytical workflows. This article synthesizes expert discussions from a Pittcon 2026 networking session to examine why CapLC adoption has lagged despite decades of development. Key themes include educational gaps, instrumentation limitations, robustness concerns, detection challenges, and supply‑chain constraints. The discussion highlights areas where CapLC already delivers clear value—such as proteomics, oligonucleotide analysis, and high‑throughput screening—and outlines practical pathways for broader adoption through targeted applications, improved instrumentation, and redefined expectations of “routine” chromatography.⁷

Challenges and Solutions in Oligonucleotide Analysis, Part IV – Solvent Mismatch, Denaturing vs. Non-Denaturing Conditions, and Non-Specific Adsorption

“LC Troubleshooting” column editor Dwight Stoll and Martin Gilar continue their discussion of practical tips and tricks, and difficulties encountered in liquid chromatography (LC) analysis of therapeutic oligonucleotides. Readers will learn about chromatographic peak distortion or splitting, the effect of temperature and mobile phase composition on “melting” of nucleic acids that form secondary structures, and the influence of LC system hardware on oligonucleotide losses due to non-specific adsorption. These topics are all relevant to contemporary oligonucleotide analysis, and will help practitioners avoid problems before they appear, or troubleshoot problems when they are spotted.⁸

References

1. Janssen, H.-G.; Matheson, A.HTC-19 Insights: Problems with LC–MS Peptide Identification Data.Chromatography Online websitehttps://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/htc-19-insights-problems-with-lc-ms-peptide-identification-data (accessed 2026-06-12)

2. Janssen, H.-G.; Matheson, A.HTC-19 Insights: Strategies To Improve Peak Integration Accuracy and Data Reliability.Chromatography Online websitehttps://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/htc-19-insights-strategies-to-improve-peak-integration-accuracy-and-data-reliability (accessed 2026-06-12)
3. Janssen, H.-G.; Matheson, A.HTC-19 Insights: Will At-Line Systems Outlast the Push for Full Automation? Chromatography Online websitehttps://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/htc-19-insights-will-at-line-systems-outlast-the-push-for-full-automation (accessed 2026-06-12)
4. Janssen, H.-G.; Matheson, A.HTC-19 Insights: What Are the Routes To "Real" Real-time Analytical Measurements? Chromatography Online websitehttps://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/htc-19-insights-what-are-the-routes-to-real-real-time-analytical-measurements (accessed 2026-06-12)
5. Webb, I.: Chasse, J. Mass Spectrometry Approaches for Investigating Alpha-Synuclein Structural Changes in Neurodegenerative Disease. Chromatography Online websitehttps://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/mass-spectrometry-approaches-investigating-alpha-synuclein-structural-changes-neurodegenerative-disease (accessed 2026-06-12)
6. Snow, N. H.The Gas Chromatographer’s Tool Kit. Chromatography Online website. https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/the-gas-chromatographer-s-toolkit(accessed 2026-06-12)
7. Bell, D. S. The Promise and Challenges of Capillary LC: Lessons from Pittcon 2026 Networking Session. Chromatography Online website. https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/the-promise-and-challenges-of-capillary-lc-lessons-from-pittcon-2026-networking-session (accessed 2026-06-12)
8. Stoll, D. R.; Gillar, M. Challenges and Solutions in Oligonucleotide Analysis, Part IV – Solvent Mismatch, Denaturing vs. Non-Denaturing Conditions, and Non-Specific Adsorption. Chromatography Online website. https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/lcgc-blog-who-will-handle-the-data-training-data-wranglers-in-analytical-chemistry(accessed 2026-06-12)