Overpressured layer chromatography (OPLC)--a flexible tool of analysis and isolation.

This review briefly summarizes the overpressured layer chromatography (OPLC) technique and its progress from the beginning until today. Some theoretical aspects, important technical and methodological solutions, as well as analytical separations and isolations are demonstrated covering the last 30 years. The infusion and transfusion OPLC operations, as well as their combination, and their off-line and on-line processes, and off-line and on-line hyphenations for detection and structure elucidation are presented. The combination of OPLC separation with biological detection by direct bioautography and BioArena as an important solution touches the potential of analysis and isolation based on biological activity.