Isolation, separation and detection of lipids

Since lipids are characterized generally by their ability to dissolve in water-immiscible organic solvents, advantage is taken of this property at many stages of analysis. 

---

The separated lipid classes can then be collected as discrete fractions in solvent. This is particularly useful for either the direct detection and quantitation of isolated lipid fractions or for further derivatization and analysis of lipid components. For example, acylglycerols, wax esters, and phospholipid classes can be separated by column chromatography and each fraction reacted as in Section 9.3.2 to analyze the FA present in each lipid class. 

Solvent Extraction Studies. Techniques necessary to detect lipid species extracted from in vitro and in vivo exposed Biomer were developed. Extractions with a nonpolar swelling solvent (e.g., CHC13) employing a soxhlet apparatus were performed to extract preferentially lipophilic biological components from Biomer or previously isolated neointimal samples. Experimentation demonstrated the high solubility in chloroform of polymer-derived monomeric and oligomeric components. A separation of lipids from these components was therefore required. 

---