New frontiers and cutting edge applications in ultra high performance liquid chromatography through latest generation superficially porous particles with particular emphasis to the field of chiral separations

About ten years after their introduction to the market (happened in 2006), the so-called second generation superficially porous particles (SPPs) have undoubtedly become the benchmark as well as, very often, the preferred choice for many applications in liquid chromatography (LC), when high efficiency and fast separations are required. This trend has interested practically all kinds of separations, with the only exception of chiral chromatography (at least so far). The technology of production of base SPPs is advanced, relatively simple and widely available. The deep investigation of mass transfer mechanisms under reversed-phase (RP) and normal-phase (NP) conditions for achiral separations has shown the advantages in the use of these particles over their fully porous counterparts. In addition, it has been demonstrated that SPPs are extremely suitable for the preparation of efficient packed beds through slurry packing techniques. However, the research in this field is in continual evolution. In this article, some of the most advanced concepts and modern applications based on the use of SPPs, embracing in particular ultrafast chiral chromatography and the design of SPPs with engineered pore structures or very reduced particle diameter, are revised. We describe modern trends in these fields and focus on those aspect where further innovation and research will be required. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]