Analytical chemistry

Our expertise in a wide range of analytical chemistry and biochemistry techniques underpins our research and is available as a service for clients.

Chemical analyses

We can assess any compound or mixture that has suitable solubility. Compounds can also be compared to a reference standard depending on the precision required. Examples of analyses include:

  • lipid analysis as fatty acid methyl esters using chemical extraction, derivatisation and quantification by GC-MS and GC-FID
  • small organic compound purity assessment by HPLC-UV, HPLC-RI, and HPLC-ELSD
  • isotopically labelled compound characterisation by HRMS
  • water-soluble and solvent-soluble size exclusion analysis of oligomers and polymers
  • enzyme-mediated chemical characterisation
  • chemical characterisation using NMR, LCMS, IR, XRPD, melting point and optical rotation.

Complex carbohydrate analysis

Analysing carbohydrates is a specialty area of the Ferrier Research Institute. We have expertise in the following techniques:

  • constituent sugar analysis (neutral and acidic) by HPAEC-PAD
  • glycosidic linkage analysis by preparing partially methylated alditol acetates and quantifying by GC-MS
  • full linkage analysis of purified carbohydrate constructs
  • plant cell wall and bacterial carbohydrate preparations
  • oligosaccharide, polysaccharide and glycoconjugate analysis for molecular weight composition using SEC-RI, SEC-UV and SEC-MALLS
  • sulfated sugar extraction and characterisation: ulvan, carrageenan, fucoidan, heparin, glycosaminoglycans and glycoconjugates.

Natural product analysis

We have expertise in the chemical characterisation of single compounds and complex mixtures. Examples of natural product analysis include:

  • mixtures and pure components characterised using NMR, LCMS, LC-UV, and GC-MS (including natural product database comparison)
  • complex glycolipid, peptidoglycan and glycopeptide characterisation by LC-MS, LC-HRMS, and LC-MSMS where required.

Analytical method development

Speciality method development for analysing particular components is available as a service. Examples of recent work include:

  • complex drug conjugate quantitation (drug-loaded liposomes)
  • formulation assessment, including micelle particle size assessments
  • nanoparticle composition analysis
  • complex sulfated sugar characterisation using enzymatic mediated depolymerisation, followed by chemical quantitation of the reaction products by HPLC-UV.

cGMP analysis

Our on-site partner company GlycoSyn offers method development and analysis to cGMP standards.

Analytical instruments

  • HPAEC with PAD detection
  • HP-SEC-MALLS
  • HPLC with UV, RI, CAD and ELSD detectors
  • viscometry
  • particle size analysis
  • ESI-MS, LCMS and LCMSMS with accurate mass facility
  • NMR spectroscopy facility
  • GC-FID and GC-MS
  • IR, UV-VIS, DSC, TGA, melting point
  • optical rotation.

See also our online catalogue of equipment and services.

Contact

Chemical analyses and analytical method development—Simon Hinkley (simon.hinkley@vuw.ac.nz)

Complex carbohydrate analysis—Ian Sims (ian.sims@vuw.ac.nz)

NMR—Jonathan Singh (jonathan.singh@vuw.ac.nz)