DIOL-BONDED SILICA-GEL AS A RESTRICTED ACCESS PACKING FORMING A BINARY-LAYERED PHASE FOR DIRECT-INJECTION OF SERUM FOR THE DETERMINATION OF DRUGS

Direct serum injection for drug determinations can be achieved on a diol-bonded silica gel as a restricted access packing. The diol-bonded phase, 3-(2,3-dihydroxypropoxy)propylsilylsilica, contains two different functions, a hydrophilic function at the tip of the single chemical bond and a hydrophobic function on the inside part of the bond to form a ''binary-layered phase'' on the support surface. Proteins, as large molecules, contact only the hydrophilic surface of the diol phase, and they are eluted at the solvent front based on size-exclusion chromatography. On the other hand, small molecules such as synthetic drugs are retained on the internal hydrophobic function and separate based on reversed-phase chromatography. Accordingly, the diol-bonded silica gel performs as a restricted access packing for direct serum injection for the determination of relatively hydrophobic drugs.