Use of polystyrene nanoparticles to enhance enantiomeric separation of propranolol by capillary electrophoresis with Hp-beta-CD as chiral selector

We describe the use of polystyrene (PS) nanoparticles to manipulate chiral selectivity of propranolol analysis by capillary electrophoresis, by dispersing PS nanoparticles into the run buffer employing hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) as chiral selector. Distinct separational differences are observed between the buffer containing PS nanoparticles and buffer without, when changing separating conditions including PS nanoparticles concentration, pH, buffer concentration, HP-β-CD concentration and when adding an organic additive. Selectivity improvements are reflected by changes in the observed mobility as a result of interactions between the propranolol enantiomers and HP-β-CD governing the absorption process on the PS particles surface. The presence of PS nanoparticles increases the enantioseparation at low particle concentration in the presence of HP-β-CD as a chiral selector.