Rapid optimization of the post-column fluorogenic ninhydrin reaction for the HPLC-based determination of bradykinin and related fragments

A flow injection analysis scheme is demonstrated for the rapid optimization of reagent concentrations, flow rates, delay time and temperature using the guanidino moiety specific fluorogenic ninhydrin reaction. Using the amino acid arginine, non‐arginine containing peptides, and the arginine‐containing peptides, bradykinin and related fragments, specificity is demonstrated. These results serve to extend previous descriptions of the post‐column reaction by offering a time efficient approach for the optimization of newly assembled post‐column reactors using this chemistry. The reactor is subsequently added to a gradient elution HPLC system with the separation of bradykinin and bradykinin fragments demonstrated. Detection sensitivity in the high femtomole–low picomole mass range was achieved for these substances. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.