Core–Shell, or superficially porous, silica particles consist of a dense, nonporous silica core surrounded by a thin porous layer that provides the active surface for chromatographic interactions.
This hybrid structure significantly shortens the diffusion path for analytes, improving mass transfer kinetics and peak efficiency, while maintaining moderate column backpressure even at high flow rates.
Compared to fully porous particles of similar size, Core–Shell materials achieve sharper peaks, higher resolution, and faster analysis times, making them ideal for high-throughput laboratories and method optimization in regulated environments.
The controlled porosity and surface chemistry of the shell allow the same broad range of bonded phases — such as C18, C8, or Phenyl — making Core–Shell technology fully compatible with established chromatographic modes and instruments.
Core–Shell silica particles have revolutionized modern HPLC by bridging the performance gap between conventional fully porous materials and sub-2 µm UHPLC particles.
They deliver comparable efficiency to sub-2 µm columns but at substantially lower backpressure, allowing their use on standard HPLC systems. This enables laboratories to achieve UHPLC-level performance without additional equipment investment.
Due to their outstanding reproducibility, robustness, and versatility, Core–Shell columns are now widely used in pharmaceutical analysis, environmental testing, food chemistry, and biotechnological research.
High separation efficiency: Reduced diffusion path length enables sharper peaks and improved resolution.
Lower backpressure: Allows operation at higher flow rates without exceeding HPLC pressure limits.
Faster analysis times: Ideal for rapid screening, high-throughput methods, and UHPLC-style performance.
Excellent column stability: Rigid silica structure ensures long lifetime and reproducible performance.
Compatibility with standard HPLC systems: No special instrumentation required.
Versatile bonding chemistries: Available in reversed phase (C18, C8, Phenyl), HILIC, and other surface modifications.
Reduced band broadening: Minimizes eddy diffusion and mass transfer resistance compared to fully porous particles.
Core–Shell silica particles are employed in both analytical and high-speed chromatographic applications, offering superior efficiency and productivity in:
Pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical analysis, including impurity profiling and stability testing.
Environmental and food testing for trace contaminant detection.
Metabolomics and bioanalytical studies where sensitivity and resolution are critical.
High-throughput quality control (QC) and method validation.
Peptide and small molecule separations, requiring excellent peak shape and reproducibility.
Their combination of efficiency, robustness, and compatibility makes Core–Shell materials the preferred choice for laboratories seeking to upgrade performance without changing instrumentation.
| Name | Particle Sizes | Carbon Load | Pore Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReproShell Biphenyl | 2.7 – 5 µm | 4.5 % | 90 Å |
| ReproShell C8 | 2.7 – 5 µm | 4 % | 90 Å |
| ReproShell C18 | 2.6 µm | 7 % | 80 Å |
| ReproShell ODS-1 | 2.7 – 5 µm | 6 % | 90 Å |
| ReproShell ODS-3 | 2.7 – 5 µm | 5 % | 90 Å |
| ReproShell PFP | 2.7 – 5 µm | 4 % | 90 Å |
| ReproShell Phenyl-Hexyl | 2.7 – 5 µm | 5.5 % | 90 Å |
| ReproShell Si | 2.7 – 5 µm | 0 % | 90 Å |