Determination of Flavonoid Markers in Honey with SPE and LC using Experimental Design

Determination of flavonoid markers quercetin, hesperetin, and chrysin, found in north Iranian citrus honey samples, was carried out by solid phase extraction (SPE) and isocratic liquid chromatographic separation using central composite design. Optimum conditions for SPE were achieved using 10 mL methanol/water (13:87, v/v, pH = 7) as the washing solvent and 4 mL methanol for elution. Good clean-up and high recovery >90% were observed for all analytes. The use of water/ACN/THF/AcOH (54:36:5:5, v/v) was found to serve as the optimum mobile phase composition and allowed for the separation of analytes from endogenous compounds present in honey. SPE parameters, such as maximum loading capacity and breakthrough volume, were also determined for each analyte. Limit of detection, linear range, recovery, repeatability of retention times, and peak heights were 3.11 × 10⁻⁸–4.44 × 10⁻⁸ g g⁻¹, 0.50–50.0 μg mL⁻¹ (R ² > 0.99), 90.7–96.9%, 3.0–3.6%, and 1.0–2.6%, respectively. Precision of the overall analytical procedure, estimated by five replicate measurements for quercetin, hesperetin and chrysin in citrus honey, as well as the relative standard deviations were 4.3%, 3.8%, and 5.5%, respectively.

     

Determination of aromatic amines in environmental water samples using solid-phase extraction modified with sodium dodecyl sulphate and micellar liquid chromatography

Extraction and determination of seven aromatic amines in environmental water samples were performed with solid-phase extraction (SPE) and micellar liquid chromatography (MLC) using experimental design. Extraction of aromatic amines was carried out with a C₁₈ cartridge modified with sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS). The washing solution and elution solvent for extraction of aromatic amines were aqueous solution containing 5% (v/v) acetonitrile and 5% (v/v) acetone and 3 mL methanol, respectively. The chemometrics approach was applied for the separation optimisation of these compounds using MLC. Different mobile phase compositions were used for modelling based on retention times to obtain the best separation using central composite design. The optimum mobile phase composition for separation and determination of analytes in water samples was 69 mM SDS, 9% v/v 1-propanol and pH = 6.4. Recoveries were between 84.8–93.5% with relative standard deviation (RSD) less than 5.8% (n = 5). Limits of detection and linear range were 1–4.5 and 3.1–125.0 µg/L, respectively. The proposed method was applied to determine the aromatic amines in real samples (river and well waters). Amount of 4-nitroaniline and 3-nitroaniline in river water sample were 2.15 and 1.91 µg/L, respectively.     

Determination of Flavonoid Markers in Honey with SPE and LC using Experimental Design

Determination of flavonoid markers quercetin, hesperetin, and chrysin, found in north Iranian citrus honey samples, was carried out by solid phase extraction (SPE) and isocratic liquid chromatographic separation using central composite design. Optimum conditions for SPE were achieved using 10 mL methanol/water (13:87, v/v, pH = 7) as the washing solvent and 4 mL methanol for elution. Good clean-up and high recovery >90% were observed for all analytes. The use of water/ACN/THF/AcOH (54:36:5:5, v/v) was found to serve as the optimum mobile phase composition and allowed for the separation of analytes from endogenous compounds present in honey. SPE parameters, such as maximum loading capacity and breakthrough volume, were also determined for each analyte. Limit of detection, linear range, recovery, repeatability of retention times, and peak heights were 3.11 × 10^?8–4.44 × 10^?8 g g^?1, 0.50–50.0 μg mL^?1 (R ² > 0.99), 90.7–96.9%, 3.0–3.6%, and 1.0–2.6%, respectively. Precision of the overall analytical procedure, estimated by five replicate measurements for quercetin, hesperetin and chrysin in citrus honey, as well as the relative standard deviations were 4.3%, 3.8%, and 5.5%, respectively.     

Separation and mechanism elucidation for six structure-like matrine-type alkaloids by micellar liquid chromatography

A mixed micellar liquid chromatography (MLC) method, the mobile phase consisting of anionic surfactant SDS and nonionic surfactant Brij35, was firstly developed for the separation and determination of six structure-like matrine-type alkaloids, including matrine, oxymatrine, sophocarpine, oxysophocarpine, sophoridine, and oxysophoridine. The factors influencing the resolution of the six alkaloids were systematically investigated and optimized, including the micellar composition and concentration, column temperature, the type and amount of organic solvent, and the pH values in the mobile phases. Under the optimized separation conditions, the six matrine-type alkaloids could be easily isocratically eluted with a baseline separation within 22 min. Under the designated conditions (SDS concentration from 10 to 50 mM, Brij35 from 5 to 30 mM, pH 3 and 5% 1-propanol), the hydrophobic selectivity was negatively correlated with the concentration of Brij35 but not with SDS. The functional group selectivity of the carbonyl group, double bond, and diastereomers, all decreased with the increase in percentage of SDS in the mixed micellar phase, because the strong electrostatic force masks other molecular forces which can discriminate the retention of the analytes. Therefore, such a combination in surfactants of MLC is a powerful strategy to increase the selectivity by adjusting the balance among the various molecular interaction forces influencing analytes' retention. Finally, the developed method was successfully used to separate and determine the contents of main alkaloids in Sophora medicinal plants, S. flavescens Ait. In summary, the mixed MLC is a valuable approach to separate and determine the structure-like multi-component natural samples.     

Retention Mechanism Studies of Selected Amino Acids and Vitamin B6 on HILIC Columns with Evaporative Light Scattering Detection

The goal of the study was to investigate separation mechanism of selected “essential” amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, threonine, tryptophan, proline, and glycine) and vitamin B6 in hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) with the evaporative light scattering detection. Chromatographic measurements were made on three different HILIC columns: amide-silica (TSK-gel Amide-80), amino-silica (TSK-gel NH₂-100), and cross-linked diol (Luna HILIC). The retention behaviour of the analytes was investigated as a function of different binary hydro-organic mobile phases containing 10–90 % (v/v) acetonitrile. The compounds studied were separated under isocratic and gradient conditions. The best results of tested biologically active compounds separation were obtained on the TSK-gel NH₂-100 column. TSK-gel NH₂ column showed mixed HILIC–ion-exchange mechanism, the highest separation efficiency and better selectivity and resolution for tested analytes than the other studied column, especially at concentration of water in mobile phase lower than 30 % (v/v). Special attention was dedicated to the study of interactions among the stationary phase, mobile phase and the analytes.

     

Analysis of catechins in extracts of Cistus species by microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography

A microemulsion electrokinetic chromatographic (MEEKC) method was developed for the separation of six catechins, specific marker phytochemicals of Cistus species. The MEEKC method involved the use of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as surfactant, heptane as organic solvent and butan-1-ol as co-solvent. In order to have a better stability of the studied catechins, the separation was performed under acidic conditions (pH 2.5 phosphate buffer). The effects of SDS concentration and of the amount of organic solvent and co-solvent on the analyte resolution were evaluated. The optimized conditions (heptane 1.36% (w/v), SDS 2.31% (w/v), butan-1-ol 9.72% (w/v) and 50 mM sodium phosphate buffer (pH 2.5) 86.61% (w/v)) allowed a useful and reproducible separation of the studied analytes to be achieved. These conditions provided a different separation profile compared to that obtained under conventional micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MECK) using SDS. The method was validated and applied to the determination of catechin and gallocatechin in lyophilized extracts of Cistus incanus and Cistus monspeliensis.     

Highly efficient separation of isomeric epoxy fatty acids by micellar electrokinetic chromatography

A capillary electrophoresis (CE) method has been developed for simple and direct separation of cis- and trans-12,13-epoxy-9(Z)-octadecenoic acid and 9,10-epoxy-12(Z)-octadecenoic acid isomers. Separation was performed in micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) using a buffer consisting of 25 mM borate (pH 9.20), 10 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and 10% v/v acetonitrile. The key variables, concentrations of SDS and organic modifier, were optimized by the application of a factorial experimental design. The use of a low micellar concentration, just above critical micelle concentration (CMC), in a background electrolyte containing an organic modifier not only made it possible to dissolve and separate highly hydrophobic fatty acid isomers, but also resulted in improved separation efficiency and selectivity. Separation efficiency up to 4 x 10(5) theoretical plates/m was achieved under an optimized condition. Also investigated were the influence of temperature on separation and the effect of organic modifier concentration on the dynamic exchange of the analytes between micelles and the bulk of the buffer solution. Direct UV was applied for detection of the fatty acids.     

Micellar Liquid Chromatography Study of Quantitative Retention–Activity Relationships for Antihypertensive Drugs

Use of micellar mobile phases in reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) results in hydrophobic and electrostatic sites for interaction. Modified stationary phases in micellar liquid chromatography (MLC) are structurally similar to biomembranes. To confirm this we focused on the effects of the type and concentration of surfactant (Brij 35, SDS, and CTAB) and mobile phase pH on the retention of antihypertensive drugs on modified C₁₈ stationary phases. Quantitative retention-activity relationships are proposed for the drugs and the different surfactants and compared with those obtained using aqueous–organic mobile phases. Finally, a correlation was obtained between the logarithm of retention factors (log k) and the toxicity (LD₅₀) of antihypertensive drugs. Revised: 14 September 2005 and 4 April 2006     

Hydrophilic interaction chromatography separation mechanisms of tetracyclines on amino-bonded silica column

Effects of mobile-phase variations on the chromatographic separation on amino-bonded silica column in hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) were investigated for four zwitterionic tetracyclines (TCs): oxytetracycline, doxycycline, chlortetracycline, and tetracycline. A mixed-mode retention mechanism composed of partitioning, adsorption, and ion exchange interactions was proposed for the amino HILIC retention process. Buffer type and pH significantly influenced the retention of TCs, but showed similar separation selectivity for the tested analytes. Experiments varying buffer salt concentration and pH demonstrated the presence of ion exchange interactions in TCs retention. The type and concentration of organic modifier also affected the retention and selectivity of the analytes, providing direct evidence supporting the Alpert retention model for HILIC. The retention time of the analytes increased in the following order of organic modifiers: tetrahydrofuran < methanol < isopropanol < acetonitrile. The linear relationships of logk' versus %water (v/v) curve and logk' versus logarithm of %water (v/v) in the mobile phase indicated that TCs separation on the amino phase was controlled by partitioning and adsorption. The developed method was successfully utilized in the detection of TCs in both river water and wastewater samples using solid-phase extraction (SPE) for sample cleanup.     

Retention Mechanism Studies of Selected Amino Acids and Vitamin B6 on HILIC Columns with Evaporative Light Scattering Detection

The goal of the study was to investigate separation mechanism of selected “essential” amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, threonine, tryptophan, proline, and glycine) and vitamin B6 in hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) with the evaporative light scattering detection. Chromatographic measurements were made on three different HILIC columns: amide-silica (TSK-gel Amide-80), amino-silica (TSK-gel NH₂-100), and cross-linked diol (Luna HILIC). The retention behaviour of the analytes was investigated as a function of different binary hydro-organic mobile phases containing 10–90 % (v/v) acetonitrile. The compounds studied were separated under isocratic and gradient conditions. The best results of tested biologically active compounds separation were obtained on the TSK-gel NH₂-100 column. TSK-gel NH₂ column showed mixed HILIC–ion-exchange mechanism, the highest separation efficiency and better selectivity and resolution for tested analytes than the other studied column, especially at concentration of water in mobile phase lower than 30 % (v/v). Special attention was dedicated to the study of interactions among the stationary phase, mobile phase and the analytes.     

Simultaneous micellar liquid chromatographic analysis of seven water-soluble vitamins: optimization using super-modified simplex

A super-modified simplex (SMS) method has been used to optimize the mobile phase used for separation of seven water-soluble vitamins in multivitamin tablets by gradient micellar liquid chromatography (MLC) with ultraviolet (UV) detection at 254, 295, and 361 nm. Effect of column temperature and addition of organic modifier to the mobile phase on separation efficiency were investigated: the appropriate conditions used were a temperature of 35 degrees C and 1-butanol modifier. The sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) concentration, pH, and 1-butanol% in the mobile phase were chosen for simultaneous optimization using the SMS method. The optimum mobile phase was found to be 16 mmol L(-1) (mM) SDS, 0.02 M phosphate buffer, pH 3.6, and a gradient of 3.5-10% (v/v) butanol. The total analysis time for vitamins was 75 min. The analytical parameters including linearity ( r>0.9970), limit of detection (0.12-50 micro g mL(-1)), precision of method (relative standard deviation (RSD) <8.90%), and accuracy obtained by the recovery assay (88-103%) support the usefulness of the proposed method for the determination of the water-soluble vitamins.     

Adjusting selectivity in micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography with 1,2-hexanediol

In this report, we introduce a new micelle modifier useful to alter selectivity in micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC). 1,2-Hexanediol acts as a class I organic modifier in that its effects are on the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micellar rather than the surrounding aqueous phase. This characteristic allows 1,2-hexanediol to improve resolution when applied at concentrations as low as 20 mM (0.25% v/v) by altering the selectivity observed with SDS alone. The effects of 1,2-hexanediol on the critical micelle concentration of SDS, electroosmotic flow, electrophoretic mobility of the SDS micelle, and reproducibility are presented. 1,2-Hexanediol had little impact on the migration time window at concentrations below 100 mM. Changes in selectivity induced by 1,2-hexanediol for a large set of model compounds are presented. Analytes capable of forming hydrogen bonds tend to decrease their interactions with the micellar phase while nonhydrogen bonding analytes increase their interactions. The usefulness of 1,2-hexanediol was demonstrated by examining its effects on the separation of dansylated amino acids. Eighteen of twenty amino acids could be separated with a resolution greater than 1.6 within 1600 s using a combination of 1,2-hexanediol and isopropanol.     

胶束溶液体系对毛细管电动色谱酸性化合物分离的影响

以阴离子表面活性剂十二烷基硫酸钠（SDS）、非离子表面活性剂吐温20（ Tween 20）及两者组成的混合胶束体系作为毛细管胶束电动色谱（MECC）的分离介 质，进行4种结构相似的酸性化合物的MECC分离研究，考察了胶束的类型、表面活 性剂的浓度、缓冲溶液的pH值及有机改性剂乙醇对分离的影响。结果表明各因素对 酸性药物的MECC分离有不同的影响规律。SDS胶束体系对溶质的保留值最大， Tween 20体系的保留值最小，二者的分离选择性正好相反，混合胶束体系的分离行 为则介于两者之间；在SDS和Tween 20体系中，表面活性剂浓度增加，溶质的保留 时间均随之递增，混合胶束体系中，总浓度一定，随Tween 20配比的增加，溶质的 保留时间先减少后增加；缓冲溶液的pH值增大，使溶质的分离效果均能变差；有机 改性剂乙醇的加入对容量因子的影响主要与溶质的疏水性有关，并对分离作用机理 进行了探讨。在SDS和Tween 20 MECC体系下，分别进行了实样测定，取得了满意的 结果。     

Selectivity of dansyl amino acids in micellar liquid chromatography with an ion-exchange-induced stationary phase

Summary The retention behavior of dansyl amino acids in micellar liquid chromatography has been examined by using ionexchange-induced stationary phases. Several parameters affected the retention of the analytes, including the type and concentration of micellar agent and modifier ion and the concentration of acetonitrile in the mobile phase. The order of elution of dansyl amino acids obtained with the micellar mobile phase was very different from that observed in conventional reversed-phase liquid chromatography. Fluorescence intensities of some dansyl amino acids were enhanced by the micellar mobile phase.     

Micelle to trapping solution stacking in micellar electrokinetic chromatography

An analytical strategy micelle to trapping solution stacking (MSS) was developed in acidic buffer in micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC). The stacking mechanism is based on the transport, release, capturing of molecules bound to micelle carriers that are made to collapse into trapping solution (TS) to serve as the medium to contain and stacking the analytes. Tetrandrine and fangchinoline were selected as model mixture using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles as carrier to demonstrate this stacking method. The experiments by MSS-MEKC were carried out and further compared with those by normal MEKC. The results reveal that 113–123-fold improvements in the detection sensitivity was obtained for the analytes, and separation and determination of tetrandrine and fangchinoline in Stephaniae tetrandrae S. Moore and Fengtongan capsules were finished under optimum conditions using the sample matrix containing 8.0 mM SDS and TS containing 50 mM H₃PO₄–55% (v/v) ethanol.     

Retention studies of 2′-2′-difluorodeoxycytidine and 2′-2′-difluorodeoxyuridine nucleosides and nucleotides on porous graphitic carbon: Development of a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method

The development of a method for the separation of 2′-2′-difluorodeoxycytidine (gemcitabine, dFdC), 2′-2′-difluorodeoxyuridine (dFdU) and their mono-, di- and triphosphates using a porous graphitic carbon column (Hypercarb), without ion-pairing agent, is described. The retention of dFdC and dFdU could be controlled with an organic modifier (acetonitrile, CH₃CN) and the retention of the anionic nucleotides with an eluting ion (bicarbonate). Separation of all analytes was achieved using a 0–25 mM ammonium bicarbonate gradient in CH₃CN–H₂O (15:85, v/v). Under these conditions, however, very long re-equilibration times were required. Injection of an acidic solution (100 μL 10% formic acid in H₂O, v/v; 2.65 M) after running a gradient directly restored the separation capabilities of the column. Still, separation between the analytes slowly deteriorated over a period of months. These problems were solved by preconditioning the column with a pH buffered hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) solution (0.05% H₂O₂ in CH₃CN–H₂O (15:85, v/v), pH 4) before starting an analytical run. The oxidation of the stationary phase with H₂O₂ prevented its slow reduction, which most likely caused the decreasing retention times. The analytes were detected using tandem mass spectrometry.     

Enantioseparation of chiral sulfonates by liquid chromatography and subcritical fluid chromatography

Tert‐butylcarbamoyl‐quinine and ‐quinidine weak anion‐exchange chiral stationary phases (Chiralpak® QN‐AX and QD‐AX) have been applied for the separation of sodium β‐ketosulfonates, such as sodium chalconesulfonates and derivatives thereof. The influence of type and amount of co‐ and counterions on retention and enantioresolution was investigated using polar organic mobile phases. Both columns exhibited remarkable enantiodiscrimination properties for the investigated test solutes, in which the quinidine‐based column showed better enantioselectivity and slightly stronger retention for all analytes compared to the quinine‐derived chiral stationary phase. With an optimized mobile phase (MeOH, 50 mM HOAc, 25 mM NH₃), 12 of 13 chiral sulfonates could be baseline separated within 8 min using the quinidine‐derivatized column. Furthermore, subcritical fluid chromatography (SubFC) mode with a CO₂‐based mobile phase using a buffered methanolic modifier was compared to HPLC. Generally, SubFC exhibited slightly inferior enantioselectivities and lower elution power but also provided unique baseline resolution for one compound.     

Investigation and optimisation of the use of micellar electrokinetic chromatography for the analysis of six cardiovascular drugs

A micellar electrokinetic chromatography method was optimised for the separation of the six cardiovascular drugs atenolol, nicardipine, nifedipine, diltiazem, verapamil, and amlodipine by investigating the effects of pH, sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) concentration, selection and concentration of organic modifier. An electrophoresis buffer of 100 mM borate pH 8.1 containing 50 mM SDS and 15% (v/v) acetone was found to provide the optimum separation with respect to resolution and migration time.     

Micellar liquid chromatography for lipophilicity determination of new biologically active 1,3‐purinodiones

A series of newly synthesized 1,3‐purinodiones with potential anticonvulsant activity, exhibiting affinity to adenosine A₁ and/or A_2A receptors, were subjected to micellar LC (MLC) with SDS as micelle‐forming agent and n‐propanol as organic modifier. Two C18 silica‐based columns were employed in MLC: a particle one and a monolithic. In parallel, those derivatives were also analyzed in RP‐LC on four silica‐based columns and on an immobilized artificial membrane column. The correlations between the relevant logarithms of the retention factors of analytes obtained in MLC, immobilized artificial membrane and RP‐LC systems on the one hand, and the calculated log P (clog P) and log D values (clog D) on the other, were examined. The level of the correlations of retention data from MLC and RP‐LC systems with clog P and clog D obtained is similar but it could be stressed that MLC allows increasing the speed of analysis and using only one mobile phase. Moreover, there is no need of applying an extrapolation procedure in lipophilicity determination. Therefore, the MLC systems, providing chromatographic data in a fast and efficient manner, were demonstrated as promising alternatives to the classical RP‐LC systems to estimate the lipophilicity of drugs and drug candidates.