The use of novel water-in-oil microemulsions in microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography

We describe the novel use of water-in-oil (W/O) microemulsions to achieve unique separations in microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography (MEEKC). The choice and concentration of the buffer type, surfactant and co-surfactant were all examined and optimized. Separations of a range of neutral and acidic analytes was shown to be markedly different to that obtained by (oil-in-water) O/W MEEKC. Neutral solutes are separated by virtue of their solubility (log P) values in O/W MEEKC with the more water-insoluble solutes migrating last. This separation process does not occur in W/O, as neutral solutes are not separated in order of log P.     

Background theory and applications of microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography

Microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography (MEEKC) is an electrodriven separation technique. Separations are achieved using microemulsions which are nanometre-sized oil droplets suspended in aqueous buffer. The surface tension between the oil and water components is reduced by covered the oil droplet with an anionic surfactant such as sodium dodecyl sulphate and a co-surfactant such as a short-chain alcohol. This review summarises the various microemulsion types and compositions that have been used in MEEKC. The effects of key operating variables such as pH and temperature are also described. The application areas of MEEKC are also described in some detail. MEEKC has been applied to a wide range of water-soluble and insoluble both charged and neutral compounds. Examples are described which include analysis of derivatised sugars, proteins, pesticides and a wide range of pharmaceuticals. At present there are only a limited number of publications describing the use of MEEKC but it is anticipated that this number will increase rapidly in the near future as more awareness of the separation possibilities that MEEKC presents increases.     

High Performance Liquid Chromatographic Analysis of Pharmaceuticals Using Oil-In-Water Microemulsion Eluent and Monolithic Column

Novel and efficient separations of pharmaceutical substances were achieved using oil-in-water microemulsion eluent and a conventional C18 packing with a flow rate of 1 mL/min⁻¹. Attempts to decrease analysis time was limited due to the high viscosity of the microemulsion which generated relatively high back-pressures. Monolithic columns gave 3-fold lower back-pressures and allowed flow rates of 4 mL/min⁻¹. with the same microemulsion mobile phase which permitted rapid separations to be achieved. Separation of a test-mix of paraben preservatives was achieved in both isocratic and gradient mode in less than 1 min. The monolith-microemulsion combination was applied to rapidly quantitatively analyse two formulated products with excellent linearity, accuracy and repeatability. Quantitative analysis times were under 90 seconds. Successful quantitation of both nicotine lozenges and naprosyn tablets was performed using this approach.     

Chiral separation of β-amino alcohols by capillary electrophoresis using cyclodextrins as buffer additives. I. Effect of varying operating parameters

Summary Capillary electrophoresis has been used for the chiral analysis of two -amino alcohol pharmaceutical compounds. Capillary zone electrophoresis conditions were used with -cyclodextrin as a chiral mobile phase additive. The effects of variation of -cyclodextrin concentration, temperature, pH, background electrolyte composition and concentration have been investigated. Optimum separations were achieved for clenbuterol using -cyclodextrin at its solubility limit (16mM), the lowest practicable temperature (19°C), pH 4.0 and an electrolyte solution with a high ionic strength prepared from 0.1 M citric acid and 0.3 M Na₂HPO₄. For the development compound picumeterol and its (S)-enationmer, the optimum pH 4.0 buffer was prepared from 0.1 M citric acid and 0.2 M sodium acetate. Baseline separation with resolution greater than 2 was achieved for both compounds.This work was presented in part at the 2nd International Symposium on Chiral Discrimination, Rome, May 27–31, 1991.     

Application of microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography to the analysis of a wide range of pharmaceuticals and excipients

Microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography (MEEKC) is a capillary electrophoresis (CE) technique in which solutes partition with moving oil droplets present in a microemulsion buffer. Ionised species will also separate by electrophoresis. In this paper MEEKC is shown to give highly efficient and relatively rapid separations for a wide range of pharmaceuticals, vitamins and excipients. A single set of operating conditions was used to resolve both water-soluble and insoluble compounds. The method was also used to separate both ionic and neutral compounds. The method was especially useful in the analysis of water-insoluble neutral compounds such as steroids and lecithin, which are difficult to analyse by CE. The method was found to be both quantitative and highly repeatable. The quality of the separation was found to be dependent upon the sample diluent used if large injection volumes are employed. The use of MEEKC for the determination of complex mixtures such as multi-ingredient formulations and drug-related impurities was successfully demonstrated. MEEKC offers significant advantages over many forms of CE and capillary electrochromatography (CEC) and should be considered as an extremely useful option in pharmaceutical analysis.     

Analysis of dissolution test sample solutions by high speed capillary electrophoresis

Summary The quantitative use of high speed capillary electrophoresis (HSCE) is examined by applying high voltages across short capillaries. Acceptable performance in terms of injection precision and migration times were achieved within 1–2 minute analysis times. HSCE was used for the novel CE application of dissolution test sample solution analysis. The results generated by HSCE compared well with those generated using validated on-line UV absorbance measurements. It is concluded that HSCE is a viable alternative and supplement to standard analytical methods employed in dissolution test analysis.     

Highly selective and efficient separations of a wide range of acidic species in capillary electrophoresis employing non-aqueous media

Summary The novel application of CE using non-aqueous media has been studied for the separation of a range of acidic compound types. This enabled the first quantitative assay by CE employing non-aqueous media to be performed. Separation selectivity manipulation for closely related species was achieved through variation of organic solvent types and composition, ionic strength changes, alteration of pH^* values and the addition of cyclodextrin additives soluble in organic solvents. This offers a greater range of possibilities during method development than use of aqueous buffer. The generation of low operating currents permitted rapid, highly efficient and selective separations to be achieved by applying high field strengths across short capillaries. Optimised rinsing and capillary regenerating procedures were devised which allowed highly repeatable separations to be achieved with migration time repeatability below 1% RSD. Use of internal standards also allowed 1% RSD values to be obtained for injection precision. Routine operating effects were assessed and it was observed that stacking effects remain important in non-aqueous CE. Also, optimal separations are obtained when the samples are diluted in the pure solvent used to prepare the electrolyte. The application range of non-aqueous CE was appreciably extended to include acidic drugs, dyes, surfactants and preservatives.     

Orthogonal separations of nicotine and nicotine-related alkaloids by various capillary electrophoretic modes

The migration behaviour of nicotine and related tobacco alkaloids was investigated using three different capillary electrophoretic (CE) modes. Novel separations were achieved both using microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography (MEEKC) and nonaqueous CE (NACE). Improved resolution compared to previous studies was obtained using free-solution CE (FSCE). Each technique resulted in different, orthogonal separation selectivity. The suitability of each method for application to the analysis of nicotine lozenges is discussed. The FSCE method was applied to the analysis of nicotine lozenges due to its compatibility with an established lozenge extraction solvent. The method used gave good injection precision and linearity. Good agreement of CE and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) results was obtained. The CE method is therefore considered suitable for the quantitative determination of nicotine in nicotine lozenges.     

Quantitative and selective analysis of lactose by capillary electrophoresis

Summary A CE method has been validated for the analysis of batches of lactose used as a pharmaceutical raw material. This method was shown to be selective for lactose and was found to be quantitative. The separation was achieved due to on-capillary chelation of the lactose with borate ion. The resulting complex was detected at 195nm. An internal standard is employed to improve injection precision and detector linearity. A system peak occurred in the separation and was systematically investigated to show that it was not sample related. The method was validated and successfully submitted to regulatory authorities and is now in routine use in a number of our quality control laboratories.     

A gamma-ray detector for capillary zone electrophoresis and its use in the analysis of some radiopharmaceuticals

The construction and evaluation of a gamma-ray detector for capillary zone electrophoresis is described. The detector was shown to have a linear response from the limit of detection 10 to 500 Bqcm-3 corresponding to 5.1 x 10(-17) to 2.55 x 10(-15) gcm-3 43Tc99m. The application of the detector for the analysis of some radiopharmaceuticals is presented.