HPLC Column, UDC Cholesterol 2.o, 2.2um, 2.1mm ID x 50mm Length, 120A, High. Cogent TYPE-C Brand. 1 EA.
Liquid‑Crystal Stationary Phase for Shape Recognition
TYPE‑C™ Silica Hydride | Steroid Selectivity | RP, NP & ANP Modes
UDC‑Cholesterol™ HPLC columns are among MICROSOLV’s most unique and specialized stationary phases, designed to solve separation problems that conventional columns cannot. Built on TYPE‑C™ silica hydride technology, these columns combine liquid‑crystal behavior with shape‑recognition selectivity, making them especially effective for steroids and structurally similar compounds.
UDC‑Cholesterol™ columns are widely used in aqueous normal phase (ANP / HILIC‑style), normal phase (NP), and reversed‑phase (RP) separations, offering unmatched flexibility and selectivity.
Unique Cholesterol Chemistry on TYPE‑C™ Silica Hydride
Cogent UDC‑Cholesterol™ columns feature a cholesterol moiety bonded to the stationary phase via an eleven‑carbon (C11) aliphatic linker. This ligand is attached through a direct silicon–carbon (Si–C) bond to a silica hydride surface, providing exceptional chemical stability.
This construction delivers:
A totally inorganic TYPE‑C™ silica hydride base
Exceptional mechanical and chemical durability
Long column lifetime
Stable performance across multiple chromatographic modes
The cholesterol group introduces liquid‑crystal characteristics that are not present in traditional alkyl or phenyl phases.
Liquid‑Crystal Behavior and Shape Recognition
The cholesterol moiety exhibits liquid‑crystal behavior, making the stationary phase highly sensitive to temperature and mobile‑phase composition. Rather than being limitations, these characteristics are key tools for the chromatographer.
By adjusting temperature and solvent conditions, analysts can exploit:
Shape recognition effects
Subtle differences in molecular geometry
Enhanced resolution of structurally similar analytes
This makes UDC‑Cholesterol™ particularly powerful for difficult isomeric separations.
Ideal “Steroids Column” for Difficult Separations
UDC‑Cholesterol™ columns are often referred to as a “steroids column” due to their exceptional ability to separate steroidal compounds from one another. The rigid, bulky cholesterol ligand interacts strongly with analytes of similar size and shape, providing selectivity that cannot be achieved with conventional RP or HILIC columns.
Typical analytes include:
Steroids and steroidal metabolites
Structurally similar lipophilic compounds
Shape‑dependent isomers
Complex aromatic and cyclic molecules
Multi‑Mode Operation: RP, NP, and ANP / HILIC
One of the key advantages of Cogent UDC‑Cholesterol™ is its ability to operate in multiple chromatographic modes:
Reversed‑Phase (RP) HPLC
Normal‑Phase (NP) HPLC
Aqueous Normal Phase (ANP / HILIC style)
This flexibility allows analysts to fine‑tune selectivity using both mobile‑phase composition and temperature, making the column a powerful problem‑solving tool.
Key Features and Benefits
TYPE‑C™ silica hydride stationary phase
Cholesterol ligand with liquid‑crystal properties
C11 aliphatic linker with direct Si–C bonding
Shape‑recognition selectivity
Highly sensitive to temperature and solvent composition
Excellent for steroid separations
Operates in RP, NP, and ANP modes
Extremely stable and durable column chemistry
Suitable for HPLC and LC‑MS
Typical Applications
Steroids and steroidal metabolites
Shape‑based isomer separations
ANP / HILIC‑style separations
Complex aromatic and cyclic compounds
Difficult separations unresolved by conventional phases
Method development requiring unique selectivity
Additional Resources
Column Protection Recommendation
Important: MICROSOLV technical support strongly recommends using the Cogent Column Filter, which is included with each column, whenever possible. Column filters help protect against particulates, extend column lifetime, and maintain consistent chromatographic performance.
👉 Learn more about the Cogent Column Filter for HPLC column protection.
