Peptides are an important class of therapeutics for a wide range of indications. They are highly selective and targeted when compared to chemically synthesized drug substances, yielding low toxicity and lessening the probability of side effects. Traditionally, ligand binding assays (LBAs) have been the default method of analysis for Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic applications. However, immunoassay approaches for peptide therapeutics and biomarkers are challenged by limited specificity of antibodies against these targets. LC-MS approaches can overcome these specificity challenges but have lacked the required sensitivity for quantification of low-abundance peptide markers or potent peptide therapeutics. Further, some peptides are resistant to gas-phase collision induced dissociation, limiting the application of the gold-standard analyzer, the triple quadrupole mass spectrometer and associated MS/MS approaches.
High resolution mass spectrometry and nano-scale liquid chromatography
High resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) – with or without fragmentation – achieves a level of selectivity above that afforded by conventional low-resolution MS approaches, independent of the chromatographic flow rate required. This approach overcomes the challenges with triple quadrupole detection for peptides resistant to fragmentation.
Nano-scale LC separation and ionization delivers the ultimate sensitivity where needed, and multidimensional chromatography with separation by molecule size further enables the robustness comparable to conventional flow chromatography. Multidimensional chromatography, with size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) upstream of reversed- phase separation, can alleviate the robustness issues associated with intact circulating peptide quantification when nano-ESI is required for sensitivity. It can be easily coupled to affinity enrichment protocols, or independent of such clean-up as the bioanalytical challenge dictates.
In particular, the inclusion of SEC alleviates LC pressure issues such that antibody-based purification is not needed to enable use of nano-LC. For example, methodology was developed with solid-phase extraction (SPE) prior to SEC, nano-LC, and HRMS detection for quantification of intact atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in human plasma down to 2 pg/ mL. This allows highly sensitive, robust, high-throughput measurement without risk of capture bias, lengthy incubation times, and affords ability to multiplex detection of isoforms, truncations, or other natriuretic peptides.
Quantitative measurement experience with peptides
Our team provides solutions to the challenges encountered when quantitating peptides. We utilize expertise from multiple scientific disciplines to develop sensitive and robust methods. We have extensive experience with a variety of peptides, including but not limited to:
- Cytokines
- Hepcidin
- Incretins
- Insulins
- Natriuretic peptides
- Therapeutic peptides fused to proteins
- Therapeutic peptides to treat multiple sclerosis, diabetes, obesity, oncology, NASH, and gastrointestinal disfunction
