Fractionation and analysis of Artemisia capillaris Thunb. by affinity chromatography with human serum albumin as stationary phase

A method for the screening and analysis of biologically active compounds in traditional Chinese medicine is proposed. Affinity chromatography using a human serum albumin (HSA) stationary phase was applied to separate and analyze the bioactive compounds from Artemisia capillaris Thunb. Five major peaks and several minor peaks were resolved based on their affinity to HSA, two of them were identified as scoparone (SCO, 6,7-dimethoxycoumarin) and capillarisin (CAP). CAP shows a much higher affinity to HSA than SCO. The effects of acetonitrile concentration, eluent pH, phosphate concentration and temperature on the retention behaviors of several major active components were also investigated, and it was found that hydrophobicity and eluent pH play major roles in changing retention values. The results demonstrate that the affinity chromatography with a HSA stationary phase is an effective way for analyzing and screening biologically active compounds in traditional Chinese medicine.     

Degree of Complexation of Anticoagulant Rodenticides with Human Serum Albumin: Effect of Saccharose and Sodium

A theoretical treatment has been developed to describe association between rodenticides and human serum albumin (HSA). The degree of complexation n_c (the amount (%) of complexed guest) and the association constant (K) for rodenticide–HSA binding were determined. Enthalpy–entropy compensation was also investigated in relation to this mathematical model to confirm rodenticide binding behavior with HSA. The role of the sodium cation and saccharose in this association were also analyzed. As expected for a salting-out agent, addition of Na⁺ cation to the mobile phase led to enhancement of n_c and K values by increasing the hydrophobic effect. When saccharose was increased above a critical x_c value equal to 4 mM, a decrease of the association constant and the degree of complexation was observed, owing to reduction of the radius of curvature of the HSA cavity.     

Enantiomeric separation of racemic sulphoxides on chiral stationary phases by gas and liquid chromatography

Summary The enantiomeric resolution of seven racemic sulphoxides on chiral stationary phases has been investigated by gas and liquid chromatography. In gas chromatography the separations were performed on octakis-(2,6-di-O-pentyl-3-O-butyryl)-γ-cyclodextrin (FS Lipodex-E) and heptakis-(2,6-di-O-methyl-3-O-pentyl)-β-cyclodextrin (DMP-β-CD). Both stationary phases were suitable for separation of the enantiomers of the sulphoxides. With one exception for each series all racemetes could be resolved on both stationary phases; FS Lipodex-E was more enantioselective than DMP-β-CD, whereas the latter seemed more generally applicable. Liquid chromatographic separations with Chiralcel-OB as stationary phase were significantly improved by optimization of mobile phase composition and temperature. Resolution factors up to R_s=6 were achieved indicating that the improved separations could now be easily used for preparative purposes.     

Synthesis and chromatographic evaluation of new polymeric chiral stationary phases based on three (1<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>,2<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>)-(−)-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine derivatives in HPLC and SFC

Three new polymeric chiral stationary phases were synthesized based on (1S,2S)-1,2-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)ethylenediamine, (1S,2S)-1,2-bis(2-chlorophenyl)ethylenediamine, and (1S,2S)-1,2-di-1-naphthylethylenediamine via a simple free-radical-initiated polymerization in solution. These monomers are structurally related to (1S,2S)-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine which is the chiral monomer used for the commercial P-CAP-DP polymeric chiral stationary phase (CSP). The performance of these three new chiral stationary phases were evaluated in normal phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and supercritical fluid chromatography and the results were compared with those of the P-CAP-DP column. All three new phases showed enantioselectivity for a large number of racemates with a variety of functional groups, including amines, amides, alcohols, amino acids, esters, imines, thiols, and sulfoxides. In normal phase, 68 compounds were separated with 28 baseline separations (Rs ≥ 1.5) and in SFC, 65 compounds were separated with 24 baseline separations. In total 72 out of 100 racemates were separated by these CSPs with 37 baseline separations. Complimentary separation capabilities were observed for many analytes. The new polymeric CSPs showed similar or better enantioselectivities compared with the commercial column in both HPLC and SFC. However, faster separations were achieved on the new stationary phases. Also, it was shown that these polymeric stationary phases have good sample loading capacities while maintaining enantioselectivity.     

Single-walled carbon nanotubes for improved enantioseparations on a chiral ionic liquid stationary phase in GC

In order to investigate whether the use of single-walled carbon nanotubes can improve enantioseparations on an ionic liquid stationary phase, a chiral ionic liquid, (R)-N,N,N-trimethyl-2-aminobutanol-bis(trifluoromethanesulfon)imidate, was synthesized. Two capillary columns, one containing the chiral ionic liquid and the other containing the single-walled carbon nanotubes and the chiral ionic liquid, were then prepared for GC. The results of the separations achieved with these columns show that coating the chiral ionic liquid stationary phase onto the capillary column containing single-walled carbon nanotubes improves the enantioselectivety of the chiral ionic liquid. This work indicates that using single-walled carbon nanotubes in this manner enables the application range of such GC chiral separations to be extended.     

Bio‐based nanocomposites composed of photo‐cured epoxidized soybean oil and supramolecular hydroxystearic acid nanofibers

A mixture of epoxidized soybean oil (ESO), (R)‐12‐hydroxystrearic acid (HSA) and a photoinitiator for cationic polymerization in the ESO/HSA weight ratio 10/1 was heated to 100 °C and gradually cooled to room temperature to give bio‐based gelatinous material. The photo‐curing of the gel afforded a nanocomposite composed of crosslinked ESO and supramolecular HSA nanofibers. The transmission electron microscopy observation of the photo‐cured ESO/HSA revealed that dendritic clusters of HSA nanofibers are formed in the crosslinked ESO matrix. In the differential scanning calorimetry chart of the ESO/HSA, a thermal transition from the mesophase composed of supramolecular nanofibers to isotropic state was observed at 67 °C (ΔH = 22.6 J/g‐HSA), while the T_m of crystalline HSA is 77.7 °C (ΔH_m = 159 J/g‐HSA). Tensile strength at 20 °C of the ESO‐HSA was ～80% higher than that of photo‐cured ESO without HSA. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 669–673, 2009     

High performance liquid chromatography on the chiral stationary phase (R,R)-DACH-DNB using carbon dioxide-based eluents

Fast and efficient separations of chiral stereolabile compounds were obtained at very low temperature on a π-acid chiral stationary phase (R,R-DACH-DNB) using carbon dioxide-based mobile phases containing alcoholic polar modifiers. Furthermore, efficient separations of the newly discovered spherical carbon cluster buckminsterfullerene (C₆₀) and the related higher fullerenes (C₇₀, etc.) have been performed on the same stationary phase using eluents based on either n-hexane or carbon dioxide.     

Interaction of Human Serum Albumin with Indomethacin: Spectroscopic and Molecular Modeling Studies

In this work, the interaction between indomethacin (IM) and human serum albumin (HSA) under simulative physiological conditions was investigated by the methods of fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, and molecular modeling. The experiment results showed that the fluorescence quenching of HSA by IM was a result of the formation of an IM–HSA complex and the corresponding association constants (K _a) between IM and HSA at four different temperatures were determined according to the modified Stern–Volmer equation. The resulting thermodynamic parameters ΔG, ΔH, and ΔS at different temperatures indicate that the hydrophobic force plays a major role for IM–HSA association, but hydrogen bonds also could not be excluded. A molecular modeling study further confirmed the binding mode and indicated that the binding of IM to HSA primarily takes place in sub-domain IIA (site I). The conformational investigation showed that the presence of IM decreased the α-helical content of HSA and induced slight unfolding of the polypeptides of protein, which confirmed that some microenvironmental and conformational changes occur for HSA molecules.     

Chiral discrimination ofN-(dansyl)-dl-amino acids on human serum albumin stationary phase: Effect of a mobile phase modifier

Summary The effect of perchlorate anion as mobile phase modifier on the separation factor, α, forN-(dansyl)-dl-norvaline andN-(dansyl)-dl-tryptophan on a human serum albumin (HSA) column was studied by varying the concentration,c, of the chaotropic agent and the column temperatureT. Gibbs-Helmholtz parameters Δ(ΔH) and Δ(ΔS) between thed andl enantiomers were determined from linear van't Hoff plots of lnα against 1/T. Thermodynamic results indicated that the enhancement of the separation factor observed asc was increased was enthalpically controlled owing to stereoselective H-bonding interactions. Such behavior was used to optimize the chromatographic conditions for separation ofN-(dansyl)-amino acids on HSA.     

Determination of the Interaction of Arsenic and Human Serum Albumin by Online Microdialysis Coupled to LC with Hydride Generation Atomic Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Study on the stoichiometry and affinity of the arsenicals bound to HSA is an important step toward a better understanding of arsenic toxic effects. After incubation of As^III or As^V with HSA at the physiological conditions (pH 7.43 and 37 °C), the free arsenicals and arsenic-HSA complexes were separated and detected by the combined techniques of microdialysis and liquid chromatography with hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectroscopy (MD–LC–HGAFS). The decrease of As^III peak response rather than As^V indicated that HSA reacted with As^III but not As^V. The binding plots indicated that the binding between HSA and As^III was in Scatchard pattern when the concentration ratios of As^III to HSA were ≤1:1. The strong binding sites (n ₁) were 1.6 and the stability constant (K ₁) was 1.54 × 10⁶ M⁻¹. When the concentration ratios of As^III to HSA were >1:1, the binding was in Plasvento pattern with the stability constant K ₂ ≅ 0 and no specific binding of As^III with HSA. On the contrary, As^V did not show binding with HSA. The results showed that As^III reacted with HSA more readily than As^V, which provides a chemical basis for arsenic toxicity.

     

Hydroxypropyl beta cyclodextrin bonded superficially porous particle-based HILIC stationary phases

(R,S)-Hydroxypropyl-modified β-cyclodextrin (RSP-CD) is a well-known chiral stationary phase. In this work, hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatographic (HILIC) selectivities of RSP-CD was demonstrated. Further, an evaluation of chromatographic performances of fully porous particles (FPPs)- and superficially porous particles (SPPs)-based RSP-CD stationary phases was performed. The RSP-CD-bonded SPP-based stationary phase showed faster and more efficient HILIC separations compared to the FPP-based stationary phases. In addition, the SPP-based RSP-CD stationary phase showed excellent selectivities for many classes of small polar molecules. Since the SPP-based stationary phase is allowed for separations performed at high flow rates without significant loss of efficiency, ultrafast separations (analysis times under 1 min) also was accomplished utilizing SPP-based RSP-CD stationary phase.     

Enantioseparation of Some New 1-(2-Naphthyl)-1-ethanol Ester Derivatives by HPLC on Chiralcel OD

The direct enantiomeric resolution of racemic 2-(1H-imidazole-1-yl)-1-naphthalene-2-yl)ethanol esters, 1-(naphthalene-2-yl)ethanol esters, and 1-(1-hydroxynaphthalene-2-yl)-2-(1H-imidazole-1-yl)ethanol on silica-based cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) (Chiralcel OD) column is described. The separations were performed using mobile phases which consist of alcohol (methanol, ethanol or 2-propanol)/n-hexane in various proportions. The effect of structural features of the solutes along with the nature and concentration of alcohol in the mobile phase on the discrimination between the enantiomers was examined for different mobile phase compositions. The results suggest that not only the structure and concentration of alcohol in the mobile phase, but also the subtle structural differences in racemates can have a pronounced effect on enantiomeric separation and retention. Baseline separations were obtained for 2-(1H-imidazole-1-yl)-1-naphthalene-2-yl)ethanol esters carrying imidazole ring in addition to ester functional group in their structures. The α values of the resolved enantiomers of 2-(1H-imidazole-1-yl)-1-naphthalene-2-yl)ethanol esters were in the range of 1.49–1.62 while the R _s values varied from 4.20 to 6.75 when methanol/n-hexane (70:30 v/v) was used as mobile phase.

     

Studies of Interaction between Ergosta‐4,6,8(14),22‐tetraen‐3‐one (Ergone) and Human Serum Albumin by Molecular Spectroscopy and Modeling

Our previous experimental results have shown that ergosta‐4,6,8(14),22‐tetraen‐3‐one (ergone) is one of the main bioactive components of Polyporus umbellatus. The efficacy of ergone binding to human serum albumin (HSA) is critical for pharmacokinetic behavior of ergone. The interactions between ergone and HSA under simulative physiological conditions were investigated by the methods of fluorescence spectroscopy, absorption and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Fluorescence data revealed that the fluorescence quenching of HSA by ergone was the result of the formation of the ergone‐HSA complex. According to the modified Stern‐Volmer equation, the binding constants (K_a) between ergone and HSA were determined. The thermodynamic parameters, enthalpy change (ΔH) and entropy change (ΔS) for the reaction were calculated to be 0.989 kJ mol^‐1 and 11.214 J mol^‐1 K^‐1, indicating that the hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions played a dominant role in the binding of ergone to HSA. The conformational investigation showed that the presence of ergone decreased the α‐helical content of HSA and induced the slight unfolding of the polypeptides of protein. Furthermore, displacement experiments using warfarin and ibuprofen indicated that ergone could bind to site I of HSA, which was also in agreement with the results of the molecular modeling.     

Screening and analysis of biologically active compounds inAngelica sinensis by molecular biochromatography

Summary A novel strategy for the screening and analysis of biologically active compounds in traditional Chinese medicine by molecular biochromatography is proposed. Molecular biochromatography with human serum albumin (HSA) immobilized on silica as stationary phase was used to screen and analyse the bioactive compounds in the typical Chinese medicine ofAngelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels. Ten peaks showed retention on this column, which is based on their affinity for HSA. Ferulic acid and liguistilide were identified as the principal active components, which agrees very well with the results in the literature. A quality control method was also developed based on the simultaneous determination the concentrations of ferulic acid and liguistilide in solutions ofAngelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels extracted with water and methanol. It was observed that the concentrations of ferulic acid and liguistilide in solution extracted with methanol were 2 and 53 times higher, respectively, than those with water. It was shown that molecular biochromatography is an effective way of analysing and screening biologically active compounds in traditional Chinese medicine.     

Synthesis,plasma clearance,and in vitro stability of protein containing a conjugated indium-111 chelate

A new bifunctional chelating agent, N′-(p-diazoniumbenzyl)-N,N N″,N″-diethylenetri-aminetetraacetic acid (DTTA) was synthesized. The compound as coupled to methyl p-hydroxybenzimidate and the resulting azoimidate was attached to lysine residues of monomeric human serum albumin (HSA) via the amidination reaction. Blood clearnace of¹¹¹In-labelled DTTA conjugated to HSA (AAHSA) in rabbits was biphasic. The first phase has a clearance indistinguishable from that of¹²⁵I-labeled HSA. During the second phase, the¹¹¹In-labeled AAHSA was cleared more rapidly so that between 24 hours and 48 hours the percent of the injected dose of¹¹¹In-labeled AAHSA in the blood was significantly lower than that of¹²⁵I-labeled HSA. Highly conjugated¹¹¹In-labeled AAHSA (0.9 DTTA/HSA) showed accelerated clearance at 24 and 48 hours compared to lightly conjugated protein (<0.9 DTTA/HSA). As a result we postulate that the level of conjugation is the critical parameter controlling the blood clearance.     

Characterization of Interactions Between Fluoroquinolones and Human Serum Albumin by CE–Frontal Analysis

The binding of fluoroquinolones to the transport protein, human serum albumin (HSA), under simulated physiological conditions has been studied by capillary electrophoresis–frontal analysis (CE–FA). The binding of these drugs to human plasma was evaluated by using ultrafiltration and capillary electrophoresis. The free drug concentration [D]_f at each HSA concentration was determined by the plateau height in the electropherograms and the calibration lines. The binding constants of fluoroquinolones and HSA were estimated using nonlinear regression with origin 7.5 software. The fluoroquinolones were found to show low affinity toward HSA, with binding constants ranging from 1.73 × 10² to 5.40 × 10² M⁻¹. The percentages of protein binding (PB) for fluoroquinolones to HSA were between 8.6 and 22.2%, while the PB percentages for fluoroquinolones to human plasma were between 10.2 and 33.1%. It can be found that the PB percentages for fluoroquinolones to HSA are mostly lower than those for fluoroquinolones to human plasma. It suggests that HSA is the primary protein responsible for the binding of fluoroquinolones in human plasma. The thermodynamic parameters were obtained by CE–FA. The positive ∆H and ∆S values obtained by CE–FA showed that the binding reaction was an endothermic process, and the entropy drive the binding and hydrophobic interaction played major roles in the binding of fluoroquinolones to HSA.

     

罗布麻活性成分与人血清白蛋白结合的光谱学研究

应用荧光和紫外光谱研究了人血清白蛋白与罗布麻活性成分槲皮素(QUE)、芸香苷(RUT)和儿茶素(CAT)的结合机理. 在QUE与蛋白质浓度比小于3.5时, 其荧光猝灭机理主要是静态猝灭, 在药物浓度较高时动态猝灭所占的比例增加; RUT在整个实验浓度范围内对蛋白质的荧光猝灭机理为静态猝灭; CAT与蛋白质之间不能形成复合物, 其荧光猝灭主要由动态猝灭产生. QUE和RUT分别与蛋白质形成1∶1的复合物, 结合常数分别为(1.51±0.13)×10⁵和(0.81±0.08)×10⁵ L•mol^－1. 由于激发态质子转移, 与蛋白质的相互作用引起QUE和RUT内源荧光发射峰强度的明显增加, 进一步证实了它们与蛋白质的结合. 与蛋白质的结合也引起了QUE紫外吸收带的明显红移, 说明药物分子中的酚羟基发生了解离, 以离子形式与蛋白质发生作用. RUT的紫外吸收谱带没有明显移动, 说明它主要以中性状态与蛋白质结合. 应用与蛋白质作用后药物分子紫外吸收光谱的二阶导数谱, 对药物与蛋白质的结合模式进行了深入探讨.     

Analysis of commercial dyes by capillary column supercritical fluid chromatography

High resolution separations of selected commercial azo, aniline, and anthraquinone dyes by capillary column supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) are demonstrated. Supercritical n-pentane was used as a mobile phase and provided efficient separations of multi-functional, polar disperse dyes with molecular weights up to approximately 700 daltons.