A Cage-Structured C12 Alternative to C18

CAPCELL PAK ADME columns utilize an adamantylethyl bonded phase to deliver a unique balance of hydrophobicity and surface polarity — enabling strong retention of polar analytes under reversed-phase conditions . Unlike conventional C18 phases, the ADME stationary phase provides enhanced retention for polar compounds, differentiated selectivity under gradient conditions, and excellent stability in highly aqueous mobile phases.

Many laboratories struggle with poor retention of polar compounds using conventional C18 columns.

Highly polar analytes often elute near the void volume, leading to poor separation, co-elution, and reduced sensitivity in LC-MS workflows.

ADME column technology was specifically developed to solve this limitation.

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WHAT MAKES ADME DIFFERENT?

A Cage-Structured Stationary Phase

ADME is derived from adamantane, a rigid cage-structured hydrocarbon composed of ten carbon atoms arranged in a diamond-like framework.

In CAPCELL PAK ADME columns:

• Adamantane is modified with an ethyl spacer

• Bonded to silica as an adamantylethyl group

• Ligand density is carefully controlled

This architecture produces:

• Hydrophobic interaction

• Maintained surface polarity

• Reduced chain entanglement compared to C18

The result is:

A truly unprecedented balance of hydrophobicity and surface polarity

ADME is not a shortened C18 phase — it operates through a fundamentally different interaction mechanism.

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STRONG RETENTION FOR POLAR ANALYTES

Retains Polar Compounds Under Aqueous Conditions

The introduction of adamantylethyl groups provides hydrophobic interaction while maintaining high surface polarity, allowing retention of polar analytes even under water-rich mobile phases

This makes ADME ideal for:

• Biogenic amines

• Nucleic acid bases

• Polar drug metabolites

• Hormones and steroids

• Small polar pharmaceuticals

Many conventional C18 columns show early elution or poor retention under similar conditions. ADME does not.

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STABLE UNDER 100% WATER

Robust Performance in Highly Aqueous Mobile Phases

CAPCELL PAK ADME-HR demonstrates stable efficiency even after 600 consecutive injections under acidic aqueous conditions

Benefits:

• Reliable operation in polar workflows

• Reduced need for high organic starting conditions

• Confidence in long analytical sequences

This stability is especially valuable for pharmaceutical and bioanalytical laboratories.

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DIFFERENT SELECTIVITY VS C18

Parameter mapping shows ADME occupies a distinct region compared to conventional C18 and polar-embedded phases.

This translates into:

1️⃣ Increased retention of polar compounds
2️⃣ Altered selectivity under gradient conditions
3️⃣ Improved separation of structurally related analytes

ADME is particularly effective when conventional C18 columns fail to adequately resolve polar metabolites or conjugated compounds.

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AVAILABLE ADME COLUMN TYPES

JM Science offers three ADME column configurations to meet different analytical needs.

 

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CAPCELL PAK ADME-HR

Fully Porous Particle

• Particle sizes: 2 µm, 3 µm, 5 µm

• pH range: 2–9

•  Strong retention of polar analytes

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  Excellent performance under highly aqueous conditions

Ideal for routine HPLC and UHPLC applications requiring enhanced polar retention.

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CAPCELL PAK INERT ADME-HR

Fully Porous with Inert Hardware

• Same ADME stationary phase

• PEEK inner surface and frit

• Reduced adsorption to metal surfaces

Recommended for:

• Metal-sensitive analytes

• Chelating compounds

• Phosphate-containing molecules

• Nucleotide analysis

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CAPCELL CORE ADME

Core-Shell Technology

• 2.7 µm core-shell particles

• High efficiency and fast analysis

• Strong polar retention with improved peak efficiency

Designed for:

• High-throughput LC-MS/MS

• Rapid gradient methods

• When efficiency and speed are critical

• View ADME-HR Columns
  View INERT ADME-HR Columns
  View CORE ADME Columns

• Technical specifications vary by configuration (HR, INERT, CORE). Refer to individual product pages for full dimensional matrices and pressure limits.

Protect Your ADME-HR Column Investment

Analytical ADME-HR columns represent a significant investment in chromatographic performance and selectivity. For applications involving complex biological matrices, metabolite profiling, or strongly retained compounds, the use of a matching guard cartridge is strongly recommended.

CAPCELL PAK ADME-HR guard cartridges:

• Utilize the same adamantyl stationary phase
• Protect against irreversible adsorption
• Extend analytical column lifetime
• Reduce method downtime and revalidation risk

For high-value ADME and LC/MS workflows, guard cartridges provide cost-effective protection and performance stability.

[View ADME-HR Guard Cartridges]

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HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR ADME COLUMN

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How to Choose the Right ADME Column

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Simplified Selection Logic

Choose:

• ADME-HR for most applications

• INERT ADME-HR if peak tailing suggests metal interaction

• CORE ADME when speed and efficiency are primary concerns

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

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Technical Documentation

For full dimensional matrices, pressure limits, stationary phase characteristics, and application examples, download the official CAPCELL PAK ADME technical brochure.

Request Full ADME Technical Brochure (PDF)

Need help selecting the right ADME column?

Our team can help you:
• Compare ADME vs C18 performance  
• Recommend the optimal column configuration  
• Optimize your method for polar compounds  

→ Request application support  
→ Request a quote

For application support or method consultation, contact JM Science technical staff to sales@jmscience.com or Tel: 716-774-8706.

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