Effect of ionic strength, pH and polymer concentration on the separation of DNA fragments in the presence of electroosmotic flow

DNA separations in the presence of electroosmotic flow (EOF) using poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) solutions have been demonstrated. During the separations, PEO entered capillaries filled with Tris-borate (TB) free buffers by EOF and acted as sieving matrices. We have found that ionic strength and pH of polymer and free solutions affect the bulk EOF and resolution differently from that in capillary zone electrophoresis. The EOF coefficient increases with increasing ionic strength of the free TB buffers as a result of decreases in the adsorption of PEO molecules. In contrast, the bulk EOF decreases with increasing the ionic strength of polymer solutions using capillaries filled with high concentrations of free TB buffers. Although resolution values are high due to larger differential migration times between any two DNA fragments in a small bulk EOF using 10 mM TB buffers, use of a capillary filled with at least 100 mM TB free buffers is suggested for high-speed separations. On the side of PEO solutions, 1.5% PEO solutions prepared in 100 to 200 mM TB buffers are more proper in terms of resolution and speed. The separation of DNA markers V and VI was accomplished less than 29 min in 1.5% PEO solutions prepared in 100 mM TB buffers, pH 7.0 at 500 V/cm using a capillary filled with 10 mM free TB buffers, pH 7.0.     

Microchip electrophoresis of bacteria using lipid-based liquid crystalline nanoparticles

The aggregation and adhesion of bacterial cells is a serious disadvantage for electrophoretic separations of bacteria. In this study, lipid-based liquid crystalline nanoparticles were used as a pseudostationary phase to minimise the bacterial aggregation and adsorption to the inner walls of microchannels. Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus rhamnosus were selected as analytes and were separated by microchip electrophoresis (MCE) with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection using 4.5 mM tris(hydroxymethyl) aminomethane (TRIS)-4.5 mM boric acid-0.1 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) (TBE) containing poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and lipid-based nanoparticles as the running buffer. The mechanism of lipid-based nanoparticles affecting bacterial adhesion and aggregation was discussed and supported by zeta potential experiments. Under the optimal conditions, the three species of bacteria were identified with patterned peaks. This proposed MCE method using lipid-based nanoparticles as running buffer additives was also used to analyse a real yogurt sample, and valuable bacterial information was obtained by the electropherograms.     

Laser-induced fluorescence detection at 266 nm in capillary electrophoresis. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites in biota

The separation of five phenolic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites (hydroxy-PAHs) has been performed by cyclodextrin-modified micellar electrokinetic chromatography (CD-MEKC) using a 30 mM borate buffer (pH 9.0) containing 60 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate and varying concentrations of gamma-cyclodextrin (gamma-CD). A concentration of 12.5 mM gamma-CD was found to provide a baseline separation of the five hydroxy-PAHs. We applied conventional fluorescence and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection, using a new, small-size, quadrupled Nd-YAG laser emitting at 266 nm. The best limits of detection, in the low ng/ml range, were achieved using LIF detection. For all analytes, linearity was observed up to ca. 100 ng/ml. As an application, conjugated pyrene metabolites in hepatopancreas samples from the terrestrial isopods Oniscus asellus and Porcellio scaber were separated and detected. Finally, flatfish bile samples from individuals exposed to polluted sediment or crude oil, which were part of an interlaboratory study, were analyzed by CD-MEKC with conventional fluorescence and LIF detection to determine the 1-hydroxypyrene concentrations.     

A new strategy for optimizing sensitivity, speed, and resolution in capillary electrophoretic separation of DNA

DNA separations were performed in poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) solutions prepared in 100 mM Tris-boric acid (TB) buffers using a capillary filled with TB buffers with concentrations up to 2.5 M, pH 10.0. The electroosmotic flow (EOF) increased with increasing the concentration of TB buffers till 1.5 M as a result of decreasing PEO adsorption on the capillary wall. At high TB concentrations (> 1.5 M), the peaks corresponding to small DNA fragments (11 and 8 base pairs) became sharper and were detected. Relative standard deviations of the EOF coefficient and the migration times of the DNA fragments were all less than 1% using a capillary filled with TB buffers at concentrations higher than 1.5 M. When separations were performed at different pH values of PEO solutions and TB buffers, better results in terms of sensitivity, speed, and resolution were generally achieved. The fluorescence intensity of the 2176 bp fragment obtained at pH values of TB buffers/PEO solutions 10.0/8.2 was 27-fold of that at pH values 8.2/8.2. The enhancement was related to effects of pH and borate on fluorescence intensity, DNA conformation, stacking, and interactions with the capillary wall. Using a capillary filled with 400 mM TB buffers, pH 10.0, the separation of DNA (pBR 322/HaeIII digest, pBR 328/Bg/I digest and pBR 328/HinfI digest) in 1.5% PEO solutions prepared in 100 mM TB buffers, pH 9.0, at 375 V/cm was accomplished in less than 18 min.     

Migration behavior and separation of active components in Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch and its commercial extract by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography

1-Anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonic acid (1,8-ANS), 4,4'-dianilino-1,1'-binaphthyl-5,5'-disulfonic acid (bis-ANS) and 2-(p-toluidino)naphthalene-6-sulfonic acid (2,6-TNS) were evaluated as additives in different buffers for the detection of bovine whey proteins using laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) monitoring in capillary electrophoresis (CE). These N-arylaminonaphthalene sulfonates furnish a large fluorescence emission when associated to some proteins whereas their emission in aqueous buffers, such as those used in CE separations, is very small. To select the best detection conditions, the fluorescence of these probes was first compared using experiments carried out in a fluorescence spectrophotometer. Using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model protein, it was demonstrated that 2-(N-cyclohexylamino)ethanesulfonic acid (CHES) buffer (pH 8 and pH 10.2) and the fluorescent probe 2,6-TNS gave rise to the highest increase in fluorescence for BSA. When the composition of these separation buffers was optimized for the electrophoretic separations, CHES buffer, pH 10.2 was chosen as the most suitable buffer to detect bovine whey proteins. The limit of detection obtained for some whey proteins in CE separations was about 6.10(-8) M for BSA, 3.10(-7) M for beta-lactoglobulin A (beta-LGA), 3.10(-7) M for beta-lactoglobulin B (beta-LGB), and 3.10(-6) M for alpha-lactalbumin (alpha-LA). These detection limits were compared to those achieved using UV detection under the same separation conditions. The results showed that the detection limits of BSA, beta-LGA and beta-LGB were twice as good using LIF than with UV detection. However, the limit of detection for alpha-LA was better when UV was used. The applicability of LIF detection to CE separation of whey proteins in bovine milk samples was also demonstrated.     

Chiral separation of anionic and neutral compounds using a hepta-substituted cationic beta-cyclodextrin as a chiral selector in capillary electrophoresis

Enantiomeric separations of six anionic and two neutral racemates were achieved using a fully substituted heptakis(6-hydroxyethylamino-6-deoxy)-beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD-EA) as a chiral selector. As beta-CD-EA provides a dynamic coating on the capillary wall, reverse-polarity capillary electrophoresis (CE) configuration is applied for separations of anionic and neutral chiral compounds. Chiral separations of various classes of anionic and neutral enantiomers were found to be highly dependent on pH because the degree of protonation of beta-CD-EA can alter the shape of the CD cavity by charge repulsion, altering complexation, aiding selectivity, and leading to better enantiomeric separation. In general, the chiral resolution of anionic enantiomers was enhanced at higher pH. This suggests that carboxylate or phosphate groups on the analyte may interact with the protonated amine groups of cationic CD. The successful enantioseparation was achieved in a pH range of 6.6-7.8 for all six anionic analytes, in the presence of 10 mM beta-CD-EA.     

On-chip chiral and achiral separation of amphetamine and related compounds labeled with 4-fluoro-7-nitrobenzofurazane

Amphetamine and analogous compounds have been labeled with 4-fluoro-7-nitrobenzofurazane and analyzed on a microfabricated chip. Separation of norephedrine, ephedrine, cathinone, pseudoephedrine, methcathinone, amphetamine and methamphetamine is demonstrated using micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection. Chiral separations of individual drugs were studied using neutral and negatively charged cyclodextrins (CDs) with and without the addition of an organic modifier and/or sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The best results were obtained using a highly sulfated gamma-CD (HS-gamm-CD) in combination with a low concentration of SDS. To obtain complete separation of a mixture of (+/-)-norephedrine, (+/-)ephedrine, (+/-)-pseudoephedrine, (+/-)-methcathinone, (+/-)-amphetamine and (+/-)-methamphetamine it was necessary to add a small amount (1.5 mM) of SDS to the separation buffer. Optimized chiral separation was achieved within 7 min using an S-folded separation channel, a separation voltage of 8 kV and a buffer consisting of 50 mM phosphate (pH 7.35), 10 mM HS-gamma-CD and 1.5 mM SDS.     

Separation of amino acids in plant tissue extracts by capillary zone electrophoresis with indirect UV detection using aromatic carboxylates as background electrolytes

Summary Amino acids in extracts of plant tissue were separated and detected by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with indirect UV detection. Various aromatic carboxylates such as salicylate, benzoate, phthalate and trimellitate were investigated as background electrolytes (BGEs). A BGE of benzoate gave the best resolution and detector response. Amino acids were separated at a highly alkaline pH to charge amino acids negatively. Separation was achieved by the co-electroosmotic flow (Co-EOF) by the addition of the cationic surfactant myristyltrimethyl-ammonium bromide (MTAB) to the electrolyte. The condtions affecting the separation of amino acids, including electrolyte pH, concentrations of both benzoate and MTAB, were investigated and optimised. Separation of a mixture of 17 amino acids at pH 11.20 with indirect UV detection at 225 nm was achieved with a BGE of 10 mM benzoate containing 1.0 mM MTAB at pH of 11.20. Detection limits ranged between 10 and 50 μM. The proposed method was demonstrated by the determination of amino acids in extracts of Eucalypt leaves with direct injection of samples.     

Determination of nitrate and nitrite in rat brain perfusates by capillary electrophoresis

A fast and simple method for the direct, simultaneous detection of nitrite (NO(2) (-)) and nitrate (NO(3) (-)) in rat striatum has been developed using a capillary electrophoresis separation of low-flow push-pull perfusion samples. The method was optimized primarily for nitrite because nitrite is more important physiologically and is found at lower levels than nitrate. We obtained a complete separation of NO(2) (-) and NO(3) (-) in rat striatum within 1.5 min. Optimal CE separations were achieved with 20 mM phosphate, 2 mM cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) buffer at pH 3.5. The samples were injected electrokinetically for 2 s into a 40 cm x 75 microm ID fused-silica capillary. The separation voltage was 10 kV (negative polarity), and the injection voltage was 16 kV (negative polarity). UV detection was performed at 214 nm. The limits of detection obtained at a signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) of 3 for nitrite and nitrate were 0.96 and 2.86 microM. This is one of the fastest separations of nitrite and nitrate of a biological sample ever reported. Interference produced by the high physiological level of chloride is successfully minimized by use of CTAC in the run buffer.     

Simultaneous Separation of Four Types of Steroid Hormones by Micellar Electrokinetic Chromatography with Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide

Micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) using a cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), was applied to simultaneous separation of four types of hydrophobic steroid hormones including androgens, estrogens, progestins, and glucocorticoids. Various parameters, such as the concentration of CTAB, type and proportion of organic modifiers, and sample matrix have been demonstrated to be important with respect to the separation resolution, analysis time, and repeatability. Successful separation of cortisone, hydrocortisone, estriol, testosterone, estrone, progesterone, and estradiol was achieved at ?25 kV using 100 mM Tris‐boric acid buffer (pH 9.0) containing 40 mM CTAB and 20% 2‐propanol using ultraviolet (UV) absorption detection. For estrogen compounds which possess intrinsic fluorescence, detection limits at the sub μM level could be achieved with laser‐induced fluorescence (LIF) detection. Two kinds of pharmaceutical preparations were analyzed using the developed method, and the results were in good agreement with the label claims.     

Steady‐state electrophoresis of RNA against a gradient of cationic charges in a polyacrylamide matrix

A novel method for separation of RNA fragments is reported here, based on migrating the polyanionic RNA fragments in a polycationic polyacrylamide gel, made by incorporating positively charged monomers (the Immobilines used for creating immobilized pH gradients) into the neutral polyacrylamide backbone. Separations are typically performed in a 0–10 mM, pK 10.3 Immobiline gradient under denaturing conditions (6 M urea). In the 100–1000 bp length, it is shown that separations of RNA are optimal and very sharp bands can be obtained, in comparison with conventional electrophoresis, due to the “focusing” effect originated by the charge balancing between the positively charged gel matrix and the negatively charged RNA species. Excellent separations are also obtained from micro‐RNAs, single‐stranded RNA molecules of 21–23 nucleotides in length, which appear to regulate gene expression in animal and plant tissues. As a third example, 2‐D runs in control and polycationic gels are shown. Under native conditions, RNAs are not aligned in a diagonal, suggesting that molecular shape has a strong influence on the interaction between RNA and the charged gel matrix. Thus, 2‐D runs in cationic matrices might be exploited for structural studies of RNA molecules.     

Boron‐chelating fluorescent probe (BOPB) in the red region combined with CE‐LIF for the detection of NO in mice liver

Precise measurement of nitric oxide (NO) is of great importance to understand the function of NO in liver and the mechanism of liver injury. 8‐(3’,4’‐Diamino phenyl)‐3,5‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐dimethylene pyrrole (BOPB), a fluorescent probe in the red region (>600 nm) newly developed in our group, has good photostability and excitation/emission wavelength of 622/643 nm matching well with commercial 635 nm semiconductor laser of CE‐LIF detection. Therefore, BOPB was used in CE‐LIF for the determination of NO in mice liver. Both derivatization and separation conditions were optimized. Derivatization reaction of BOPB and NO was carried out in pH 7.4 PBS buffer at 35°C for 12 min and the separation of NO derivative of BOPB (BOPB‐T) was achieved within 7.0 min in pH 9.0 running buffer containing 15 mM H₃BO₃–NaOH and 15 mM SDS. Good linearity was found in the range of 1.0 × 10^?9–5.0 × 10^?7 M with the LOD of 0.02 nM. The proposed method was applied to the analysis of NO in real samples, and NO concentration was obviously increased in acute liver injury of mice. Compared to existing derivatization‐based CE‐LIF methods for NO, this method has lower LOD and less background interference owing to detection wavelength of BOPB in the red region.     

Stacking and separation of protein derivatives of naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxaldehyde by CE with light-emitting diode induced fluorescence detection

We describe the stacking and separation of proteins by CE under discontinuous conditions in conjunction with light-emitting diode induced fluorescence (LEDIF) detection using a violet LED at 405 nm. The proteins were derivatized with naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxaldehyde (NDA) to form NDA-protein derivatives prior to CE-LEDIF analysis. During the separation, poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) solution containing CTAB enters from the cathodic inlet to the capillary via electroosomotic flow (EOF). The optimum conditions are: the capillary was filled with 50 mM glycine buffer (pH 9.0) containing 1.0 mM CTAB, NDA-protein derivatives were prepared in deionized water containing 1.0 mM CTAB, and 0.6% PEO was prepared in 50 mM glycine (pH 9.0) containing 2.0 mM CTAB. The analysis of four NDA-protein derivatives is fast (<3 min), with RSD <1.5% in terms of migration time. In order to improve the sensitivity of NDA-protein derivatives, a stacking approach based on increases in viscosity and electric field, as well as sieving was applied. The efficient stacking approach provides LODs (S/N = 3) of 2.41, 0.59, 0.61, and 4.22 nM for trypsin inhibitor, HSA, beta-lactoglobulin, and lysozyme, respectively. In addition, we also applied the stacking approach to determination of the concentration of HSA in one urine sample, which was determined to be 0.31 +/- 0.05 microM (n = 3).     

Improved separation of double-stranded DNA fragments by capillary electrophoresis using poly(ethylene oxide) solution containing colloids

The analysis of double-stranded (ds) DNA fragments by capillary electrophoresis (CE) using poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) solution containing gold nanoparticles (GNPs) is presented, focusing on evaluating size dependence of the GNPs and PEO on resolution and speed. To prevent the interaction of the capillary wall with DNA, the capillary was dynamically coated with polyvinylpyrrolidone. Using different PEO solutions containing GNPs ranging in diameter from 3.5 to 56 nm, we have achieved reproducible, rapid, and high-resolution DNA separations. The results indicate that the sizes of PEO and GNPs as well as the concentration of PEO affect resolution. The separation of DNA ranging in size from 8 to 2176 base pairs (bp) was accomplished in 5 min using 0.2% PEO (8 MDa) containing 56 nm GNPs. We have also demonstrated the separations of the DNA fragments ranging from 5 to 40 kbp using 0.05% PEO (2 MDa) containing 13 nm GNPs or 0.05% PEO (4 MDa) containing 32 nm GNPs. With very low viscosity (< 15 cP), automatic replacement of the sieving matrices is easy, indicating a great potential for high-throughput DNA analysis using capillary array electrophoresis systems.     

Comprehensive two-dimensional separation system by coupling capillary reverse-phase liquid chromatography to capillary isoelectric focusing for peptide and protein mapping with laser-induced fluorescence detection

A comprehensive two-dimensional (2-D) separation system, coupling capillary reverse-phase liquid chromatography (cRPLC) to capillary isoelectric focusing (CIEF), is described for protein and peptide mapping. cRPLC, the first dimension, provided high-resolution separations for salt-free proteins. CIEF, the second dimension with an orthogonal mechanism to cRPLC afforded excellent resolution capability for proteins with efficient protein enrichment. Since all sample fractions in cRPLC effluents could be transferred to the CIEF dimensions, the combination of the two high-efficiency separations resulted in maximal separation capabilities of each dimension. Separation effectiveness of this approach was demonstrated using complex protein/peptide samples, such as yeast cytosol and a BSA tryptic digest. A peak capacity of more than 10 000 had been achieved. A laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detector, developed for this system, allowed for high-sensitive detection, with a fmol level of peptide detection for the BSA digest. FITC and BODIPY maleimide were used to tag the proteins, and the latter was found better both for separation and detection in our 2-D system.     

Monitoring the migration behavior of living microorganisms in capillary electrophoresis using laser-induced fluorescence detection with a charge-coupled device imaging system

Remarkably high apparent peak efficiencies (10(6)-10(9) theoretical plates per meter) in capillary electrophoresis (CE) could be achieved in the separation of two different kinds of bacteria and Baker's yeast using poly(ethylene oxide) as a necessary buffer additive. In these applications no deliberate stacking procedure was implemented. Seemingly, the investigated organisms in this study behave differently than molecules under an applied electric field. For molecules, these extremely high efficiencies are very unusual. Using a 488 nm argon-ion laser coupled to a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera it was possible to monitor the migration behavior of stained microorganisms over a length of 10 cm. This part simulates the very beginning of the CE run. In specific cases 60-70% of the monitored detection window could be filled with analyte without significant loss in peak efficiency. For a mixture of two different microorganisms the occurring separation process could be followed in detail. The effect of buffer concentration, polymer type, polymer molecular weight, polymer concentration, pH, and the effect of injection time was investigated. The expansion of fast and reproducible CE separations to other unicellular organisms may become a powerful tool in microbiological science and technology.     

Regulation of electroosmotic flow and electrophoretic mobility of proteins for concentration without desalting

Proteins were concentrated and separated in 0.6% poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) solution using a capillary filled with Tris-borate (TB) buffer prior to analysis and detected by laser-induced native fluorescence using a pulsed Nd:YAG laser. During the concentration and separation, PEO solution entered the capillary by electroosmotic flow. When proteins dissolved in high salts (phosphate-buffered saline) were separated using 0.6% PEO solution prepared in 200 mM TB buffer, pH 9.0, the limits of detection (LODs) at signal-to noise ratios=3 for carbonic anhydrase (CA) and alpha-lactalbumin (alpha-lac) were on the levels of sub microM and microM, respectively. The LOD values compared to those obtained in 38 mM TB buffer were relatively high, which is likely due to salt quenching, Joule heating and poor stacking. To improve sensitivity for analysis of proteins in high-conductivity media, two on-line concentration approaches without desalting were developed. When using a capillary filled with 1.5 M TB buffer, pH 10.0, and PEO solution prepared in 800 mM TB buffer, pH 9.0, the LOD values for CA and alpha-lac were 13.8 nM and 126.0 nM, respectively, which were about 4.7 and 11.2-fold sensitivity enhancements compared to those obtained by a conventional hydrodynamic injection (30 cm height for 10 s), respectively. The sensitivity was further improved by injecting a short plug of low pH buffer after protein injection using a capillary filled with 1.5 M TB buffer, pH 10.0, and PEO solution prepared in 400 mM TB buffer, pH 9.0. A linear relationship between the peak height and the injection volume up to 0.81 microl was obtained and the LOD values for CA and alpha-lac were down to 4.7 and 37.8 nM.     

Capillary electrophoretic separation of heparin oligosaccharides under conditions amenable to mass spectrometric detection

A capillary electrophoresis method for the separation of high-molecular-mass heparin oligosaccharides compatible with mass spectral detection was developed. Structurally defined heparin oligosaccharides ranging in size from tetrasaccharide to tetradecasaccharide were used to optimize the conditions. Applying normal and reversed polarity modes, these oligosaccharides were separated by CE under various conditions. Ammonium hydrogencarbonate (30 mM at pH 8.50) used as the running electrolyte system gave good separation efficiency and resolution in the normal polarity mode. Application of this method to the separation of complicated heparin oligosaccharide mixtures required the addition of electrolyte additives. Ammonium hydrogencarbonate (30 mM), containing triethylamine (10 mM), was useful for the separation of complex oligosaccharide mixtures. Run-to-run and day-to-day precision and limits of detection were established for these separations.     

Detection method for microchip separations

The features of analytical systems utilizing microfluidic devices, especially detection methods, are described. Electrochemical detection (EC), laser-induced fluorescence (LIF), mass spectrometry (MS), and chemical luminescence (CL) methods are covered. EC enables detection without labeling and has been used in recent years because of its low cost and sensitivity. LIF is the most generally used detection method in microchip separations. Use of LED as an excitation source for fluorescence measurement was also developed for the purpose of miniaturization of the entire system, including detection and separation. Although MS enables highly sensitive analysis, the interface between MS and micro channels is still under examination. This review with fifty-two references introduces interesting detection methods for microchip separations. Related separation methods using microfluidic devices are also discussed.     

Chiral separation of lansoprazole and rabeprazole by capillary electrophoresis using dual cyclodextrin systems

Novel capillary electrophoresis methods using CDs as chiral selectors were developed and validated for the chiral separation of lansoprazole and rabeprazole, two proton pump inhibitors. Fourteen different neutral and anionic CDs were screened at pH 4 and 7 in the preliminary analysis. Sulfobutyl‐ether‐β‐CD with a degree of substitution of 6.5 and 10 at neutral pH proved to be the most suitable chiral selector for both compounds. Various dual CD systems were also compared, and the possible mechanisms of enantiomer separation were investigated. A dual selector system containing sulfobutyl‐ether‐β‐CD degree of substitution 6.5 and native γ‐CD proved to be the most adequate system for the separations. Method optimization was carried out using an experimental design approach, performing an initial fractional factorial screening design, followed by a central composite design to establish the optimal analytical conditions. The optimized methods (25 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7, 10 mM sulfobutyl‐ether‐β‐CD/20 mM γ‐CD, +20 kV voltage; 17°C temperature; 50 mbar/3 s injection, detection at 210 nm for lansoprazole; 25 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7, 15 mM sulfobutyl‐ether‐β‐CD/30 mM γ‐CD, +20 kV voltage; 18°C temperature; 50 mbar/3 s injection, detection at 210 nm for rabeprazole) provided baseline separation for lansoprazole (R_s = 2.91) and rabeprazole (R_s = 2.53) enantiomers with favorable migration order (in both cases the S‐enantiomers migrates first). The optimized methods were validated according to current guidelines and proved to be reliable, linear, precise, and accurate for the determination of 0.15% distomer as chiral impurity in dexlansoprazole and dexrabeprazole samples.