Charged aerosol detection to characterize components of dispersed-phase formulations

• Charged aerosol detection (CAD) is increasingly used for analysis of dispersed-phase components.
• Recent applications of CAD for colloidal systems reported in the literature as well as our own laboratory are reviewed.
• Sample preparation and advantages/disadvantages of CAD compared to other HPLC detection methods are discussed.

Colloidal formulations based on biocompatible phospholipids, emulsifiers, and oils are employed in a wide range of applications including medicine, food, and cosmetics. However, characterization of these dispersed-phase components may be difficult to analyze by traditional HPLC with UV, visible, or fluorescence detection modalities due to lack of chromophores or fluorophores. Charged aerosol detection (CAD) is increasingly used for analysis of dispersed-phase components due to its broad applicability and high sensitivity for non-chromophore containing components found in many colloidal systems, such as lipid-based molecules. In this review, we summarize the recent applications of CAD reported in the literature as well as our own laboratory for the analysis of widely used components of dispersed-phase systems. In particular, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of CAD compared to other HPLC detection methods, as well as the various sample preparation methods suitable for colloidal formulations prior to HPLC–CAD analysis.

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