From the Guest Editor: The Ingenuity and Versatility of Modern (U)HPLC

It is my pleasure to introduce the latest LCGC International supplement on Advances in (U)HPLC in tandem with the HPLC 2025 Bruges conference, where the forefront of analytical technology converges with the brightest minds in the field. This special edition features six cutting-edge papers that highlight the ingenuity and versatility of modern chromatography.

Thomas Molnár Karlsson and Jan H. Christensen from the University of Copenhagen present an innovative workflow that combines iterative data-dependent acquisition (DDA) and data-independent acquisition (DIA) to enhance the identification of unknown pollutants in urban runoff. Their approach led to a significantly improved annotation performance, revealing tire-related compounds never before reported in environmental samples. The achieved performance exceeds earlier studies using standard single-injection DDA.

Karine Faure and her team from Université Claude Bernard Lyon showcase the power of liquid chromatography coupled with supercritical fluid chromatography (LC×SFC) in two-dimensional separations. Their study delves into the challenges of online coupling, offering solutions to overcome peak distortion and enhance reliability in complex sample analysis. The resulting LC×SFC–MS/MS allows differentiation of isomers in very complex samples, regardless of similar fragmentation patterns.

Ana M. García-Campaña and her colleagues at the University of Granada describe the analytical challenges of chemical exposomics in food safety. They emphasize the need for high-throughput, multi-platform approaches—such as LC–high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and gas chromatography (GC)–HRMS with ion mobility spectrometry—to capture the full spectrum of potential contaminants in our food supply. They show how comprehensive chemical characterization of food products helps identify potential co-exposures, lays the groundwork for establishing aggregated exposure pathways, and enhances risk assessments.

Debby Mangelings, Yasmine Grooten, and Yvan Vander Heyden from Vrije Universiteit Brussel address the pressing need for alternative skin permeability testing methods, as cosmetic ingredients can no longer be tested on animals according to the European Cosmetics Regulation (1223/2009). They explore the use of chromatographic retention measurements in both LC and SFC to develop quantitative retention activity relationship (QRAR) models, offering a predictive tool for skin permeability without animal testing.

Mariusz Belka and co-workers from the Medical University of Gdańsk investigate whether 3D-printed sorbent devices introduce background contaminants in untargeted LC–quadrupole time-of-flight(QTOF)-MS analyses. Their work compares commercial and laboratory-made 3D-printing materials, concluding that laboratory-developed materials significantly reduce background noise, thus preserving sensitivity in lipidomic studies. They compared both fused deposition modeling (FDM) and digital light processing (DLP) 3D-printed sorbents as well as different printing materials, including both commercial and in-house developed materials.

Finally, Gunda Koellensperger and her team at the University of Vienna highlight a high-throughput workflow for wide-targeted metabolomics in dried blood spots (DBS). Their approach leverages volumetric absorptive microsampling and dual-column LC–HRMS for precise, comprehensive metabolite quantification, even after long-term sample storage. The selected extraction solvent allowed for direct dual column LC–HRMS analysis, eliminating further sample preparation steps. The workflow proved to be fit for purpose, as validated by sampling and analyzing SRM 1950 human plasma reference material.

This edition encapsulates the creativity and collaborative spirit driving chromatography forward. I invite you to explore these insightful contributions and be inspired by the future directions they illuminate.

Enjoy your read!

Gert Desmet © Image courtesy of author.

Gert Desmet is full professor at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium, and an active member of LCGC International’s editorial advisory board (EAB). He is an associate editor for the journal Analytical Chemistry, an ERC Advanced Grant awardee, and deputy‑chair of the Solvay Institutes for Chemistry.