Liquid chromatographic-electrospray ionization mass spectrometric analysis of neutral and charged polyethylene glycols

Poly(ethylene glycols) (PEGs) are widely used water soluble and biocompatible polymers. PEGs are suitable as paracellular probes in biomembrane permeability studies because they are hydrophilic and various oligomers have defined molecular sizes. In previous studies corneal and conjunctival permeability for neutral PEGs has been measured, and the results were used to calculate the number and size of the cellular pores. In this study we have developed a high-performance liquid chromatographic-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometric method for analysis of neutral PEGs and positively changed amino PEGs simultaneously. The new method is fast, accurate, sensitive and specific for high throughput analysis. The method was used to evaluate the paracellular permeability of PEGs through a corneal epithelial cell culture. Paracellular pores are negatively charged and it was in our interest to characterize the interactions of positive charge and size of the molecules with the paracellular pores.     

Mass spectrometric study of the dissolution behaviour of sanidine

Secondary ion mass spectrometry has been used to measure the silicon isotope ratio as a function of depth in feldspars after their interaction with dilute acid solutions. The reaction of feldspars with aqueous solutions implies the formation of relatively thick K, Na and Al depleted surface layers, especially when the dissolution experiments are conducted in the presence of silica powder. The latter is used to lower the silicon concentration gradient at the solid-solution interface. This generates an uncertainty in the interpretation of the results: the depleted surface layer may have been formed by leaching of the above-mentioned elements from the solid, or by precipitation of silica from the solution. Measurements using isotopically enriched silica powder (³⁰SiO₂) were therefore performed in the hope that they would solve the uncertainty. The measured silicon isotope ratio at the surface of the mineral appears to be different from its normal terrestrial value and from the enriched powder value, having a value somewhere in between which decreases towards its normal value as a function of depth. In addition the silicon isotope ratio of the solution, which was measured using thermal ionization mass spectrometry, shows an altered value compared with the enriched silica powder. The results of both analyses therefore indicate an exchange in silicon between solid and solution and suggest the combination of two or more mechanisms during dissolution.     

Attachment of drugs to polyethylene glycols

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was used as a carrier polymer for the attachment, via end groups, of drugs such as penicillin V, aspirin, amphetamine, quinidine and atropine. For this purpose, methods were developed for the functionalization of PEG; PEG-NH₂, PEG-COOH and PEG-NCO were prepared. Use was made of dicyclohexyl carbodiimide together with 4-dimethylamino pyridine or 1-hydroxybenzotriazole for the coupling reactions.     

Mass spectrometric behaviour of cyclopentane-and cyclohexane-condensed pyrimidinediones under electron impact

Mass spectral fragmentations of four cyclopentane-condensed cis-pyrimidinediones and of six cyclohexane-condensed cis- or trans-pyrimidinediones were examined using metastable ion analyses and exact mass measurements. The fragmentation patterns of all of these compounds were clearly different and also cis- and trans-fused isomers were easy to distinguish from each other by their mass spectra. In spite of the differences in their mass spectral fragmentations, all compounds formed phenylisocyanates (m/z 119 and 153) and anilines (m/z 93 and m/z 127), the structures of which were verified by collision-induced dissociation experiments.     

Matrix-assisted and polymer-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometric analysis of low molecular weight polystyrenes and polyethylene glycols

Recently, matrices based on oligomers of dioxin and thiophene (polymer-assisted laser desorption/ionization (PALDI)) have been described for mass spectrometric (MS) analysis of low molecular weight compounds (Woldegiorgis A, von Kieseritzky F, Dahlstedt E, Hellberg J, Brinck T, Roeraade J. Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom. 2004; 18: 841-852). In this paper, we report the use of PALDI matrices for low molecular weight polymers. An evaluation with polystyrene and polyethylene glycol showed that no charge transfer ionization occurs. Ionization is mediated through metal ion adduction. Comparison of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) data for two very low molecular weight polymers with data obtained from size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) revealed a systematic difference regarding mean molecular weight and dispersity. Further, the mass spectra obtained with PALDI matrices had a higher signal-to-noise ratio than the spectra obtained with conventional matrices. For polymers with higher molecular weights (>1500 Da), the conventional matrices gave better performance. For evaluation of the MALDI spectra, three non-linear mathematical models were evaluated to model the cumulative distributions of the different oligomers and their maximal values of Mw, Mn and PDI. Models based on sigmoidal or Boltzmann equations proved to be most suitable. Objective modeling tools are necessary to compare different sample and instrumental conditions during method optimization of MALDI analysis of polymers, since the bias between MALDI and SEC data can be misleading.     

Mass spectrometric behaviour of simple oxazolidines under electron impact and chemical ionization

The 70 eV electron impact mass spectra of 33 differently substituted oxazolidines were studied to determine the effect of substituents and the existence of the ring—chain tautomeric equilibrium on the decomposition of the molecular ions. Most of the fragmentations can be rationalized to start as the cleavage initiated by the radical site at nitrogen. Isomeric compounds showed different spectra and were easily differentiated. The position of the ring—chain equilibrium could be located only roughly. The chemical ionization mass spectra of the compounds were also recorded, with ammonia, isobutane, acetone or methane as reagent gas. Methane was the only reagent gas that promoted extensive fragmentation of the protonated molecules. However, no information about the position of ring-chain tautomerism was obtained under these conditions. Analogously to other related five-membered heterocycles, the oxazolidines reacted under acetone chemical ionization conditions to afford [M + CH₃CO]⁺ adduct ions. These adducts were stable, however, and unlike those of 1,3-dioxolanes and 1,3-oxathiolanes, they did not decompose and form stable oxonium ions.     

Characterization of polyethylene glycols and polypropylene glycols by capillary zone electrophoresis and micellar electrokinetic chromatography

Methods based on capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) and micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) have been developed and optimized for the separation of polyethylene glycols (PEGs) and polypropylene glycols (PPGs). To provide for charge and detectability both types of polymeric compounds were derivatized with phthalic anhydride (PhAH) or 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylic anhydride (BTA) before the separation. Derivatization with BTA yielded more complex electropherograms, due to the occurrence of different isomeric reaction products for every PEG or PPG species. Effective mobilities of the PhAH derivatives were related to the number of monomer units in the polymers in a straightforward way. The CZE method could also be used to determine the monomer-number distribution of random and block PEG-PPG copolymers. For an MEKC analysis the PEGs and PPGs were derivatized with phenyl isocyanate. Oligomers of PEGs could be separated up to molecular masses of 5,000, while for the more hydrophobic PPGs oligomeric separation was only accomplished for molecular masses of up to 1,500. Due to a strongly different separation mechanism for the PEG and PPG derivatives in the MEKC system. a complete group separation of the two types of polymer molecules could be obtained.     

The sequential dissociation of protonated polyethylene glycols

Early investigations of protonated polyethylene glycol fragmentation suggested the dissociation mechanism includes both direct and sequential processes. Experiments designed to study the proposed mechanisms of sequential dissociation are absent from the literature. In order to obtain additional experimental details about the fragmentation reactions, the dissociation of protonated polyethylene glycol was studied by energy‐dependent collision‐induced dissociation (CID). Key fragment ions were separated by mass differences corresponding to the loss of single monomer units. Several fragment ions were also generated by in‐source fragmentation and studied by CID. These experiments indicate the primary ions undergo sequential dissociation by the loss of either one or two monomer units. The results suggest that at least two different mechanisms must be considered to explain the sequential dissociation of protonated polyethylene glycols. The reaction involving the elimination of two subunits suggests the loss of a six‐membered 1,4‐dioxane product, while the elimination of a single subunit involves the loss of acetaldehyde by a 1,2‐hydride shift rearrangement. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

High temperature liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy analysis of octylphenol ethoxylates on different stationary phases

Temperature was investigated as active parameter in the liquid chromatography (LC) analysis of octylphenol ethoxylates. Significant differences in selectivity were observed when the oligomers were analyzed by reversed phase LC (RPLC) on silica-, zirconia- and polystyrene/divinylbenzene based stationary phases at low (ambient), medium and elevated temperature with acetonitrile/water as mobile phase. As ascertained by LC-mass spectroscopy (MS), in most cases the elution order of the oligomers was completely reversed comparing ambient and high temperature separations. On a graphitized carbon type column, the selectivity remained unchanged, regardless the analysis temperature. Also in normal phase LC, the elution order remained unaffected by temperature variations both for acetonitrile/water and methanol/water mixtures as mobile phase. Surprisingly, when reversed phase LC on a octadecylsilicagel column at different temperatures was repeated with methanol instead of acetonitrile as mobile phase ingredient, the reversal of elution order did not take place. Results are evaluated in terms of thermodynamic parameters.     

Separation of polyethylene glycols and maleimide‐terminated polyethylene glycols by reversed‐phase liquid chromatography under critical conditions

The separation of polyethylene glycols and maleimide‐substituted polyethylene glycol derivatives based on the number of maleimide end‐groups under critical liquid chromatography conditions has been investigated on a reversed‐phase column. The critical solvent compositions for nonfunctional polyethylene glycols and bifunctional maleimide‐substituted polyethylene glycols were determined to be identical at about 40% acetonitrile in water on a reversed‐phase octadecyl carbon chain‐bonded silica column using mixtures of acetonitrile and water of varying composition as the mobile phase at 25°C. The maleimide‐functionalized polyethylene glycols were successfully separated according to maleimide functionality (with zero, one, two, or three maleimide end‐groups, respectively) under the critical isocratic elution conditions without obvious effect of molar mass. The separation was mainly due to the hydrophobic interaction between the maleimide end‐groups and the column packing. Off‐line matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry was used to identify the repeating units and, especially, the end‐groups of the maleimide‐substituted polyethylene glycols. Liquid chromatography analysis at critical conditions could provide useful information to optimize the synthesis of functional polyethylene glycols. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the baseline separation of maleimide‐functionalized polyethylene glycols based on the functionality independent of the molar mass without derivatization by isocratic elution.     

Solubility studies of polyethylene glycols in ethanol and water

A simultaneous TG-DSC method has been used for the determination of ethanol-water solutions containing PEG 4000. The solubility limit increases from approximately 80 weight percent at 40°C to 87 percent at 50°C in a 70/30 weight percent ethanol-water solution.     

Determination of polyethylene glycols by precipitation with iodine

Two methods for the determination of polyethylene glycols (PEGs) in aqueous solution by precipitation with iodine have been developed. For PEGs with molecular weight 4 x 10(3)-2 x 10(4) the excess of iodine is titrated with thiosulphate, and for PEGs with average m.w. > 2 x 10(4) turbidimetric measurement is used. Both methods are relatively simple and give accurate and reproducible results.     

A new application of derivatives of polychlorobiphenyls and polyethylene glycols

The reaction of congeners of Sovol technical mixture of polychlorobiphenyls with polyethylene glycols was studied. Mixtures of hydroxy and mono(polyethylene glycol)oxy derivatives were obtained. The mixtures synthesized, which are of low hazard, were used as additives to industrial oil to improve its tribological characteristics.

     

Complexation of aryldiazonium ions by polyethylene glycols and their ethers

Complexation constants for interactions of $\text{p-tert}$-butylbenzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate with polyethylene glycols and their mono- and dimethyl ethers in 1,2-dichloroethane are reported. For polyethylene glycols of molecular weights 1000 and 1500 and their dimethyl ethers complexation constants with the aryldiazonium ion are 12–18% of that for the crown ether 18-crown-6.     

Mass spectrometric and gas and high-performance liquid chromatographic behaviour of an impurity in 2,5-hexanedione

The analysis of 2,5-hexanedione, a metabolic compound of several industrial solvents, is normally carried out using gas chromatographic (GC) or GC-mass spectrometric (MS) techniques. This work, with the aim of verifying the possibility of determining the diketone by means of a high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with UV detection, illustrates the importance of the choice of a 2,5-hexanedione standard for the determination of the diketone response factor. In some commercial diketone samples the presence of an impurity, which may interfere with the analysis of the target analyte, was ascertained. This impurity showed GC and HPLC behaviour similar to that of 2,5-hexanedione, but gave a very different UV response. This impurity was identified as 3-methylcyclopent-2-enone by means of MS, GC-MS, HPLC-photodiode-array detection, IR and UV spectrometry. The structure was confirmed by comparing the chromatographic, mass and ultraviolet data of the unknown compound with those of a synthesized reference sample. The well known difficulty in determining 2,5-hexanedione by HPLC with UV detection was reconfirmed owing to its low molar absorptivity.     

The interfacial conformation of polypropylene glycols and foam behaviour

The foam behaviour of low molecular weight polypropylene glycols (PPG) was investigated as a function of concentration and molecular weight (190–2000 g mol⁻¹). For each polypropylene glycol, foam stability increases with concentration and passes through a maximum, beyond which foamability is suppressed as the solubility limit of the glycol is exceeded and droplets of glycol form. Light-scattering data as well as static and dynamic surface tension results provide the key information leading to these interpretations. A maximum in foamability was observed for the PPG molecules with increasing molecular weight (caused by a change in molecular conformation at the interface). This suppresses the Marangoni effect and leads to a decrease in foam stability.     

Amphiphilic nature of polyethylene glycols and their role in medical research

BackgroundPolyethylene glycol (PEG) is a polyether compound which is an excellent candidate to study possible specific interactions of protein-polymer systems at the atomic level. Such studies would be beneficial in obtaining a more thorough understanding of PEG-protein interactions and might help to explain PEG's effects on protein behavior when used as a crowder.Scope of reviewPEGs has been called double edged sword showing assorted effects on the protein due its hydrophilic, hydrophobic and amphiphatic nature. It has been observed that the stabilization of the protein due to PEGs is because of exclusion volume effect (hard core interactions) shown by the higher molecular sizes of the crowder, however there are soft (chemical) interactions also which leads to destabilization of proteins. Most of low molecular size PEGs are noticed to destabilize proteins due to soft interactions.General significanceHere, the core characteristics of the polyethylene glycols that are responsible for the various interactions with proteins and trying to delineate the behaviour of PEGs being ambiguous, are discussed. To conclude its paradox nature being a factual inert molecule or not, many different reports of PEG interactions with various proteins are clubbed together. In addition, owing to low toxicity, high polarity, high water solubility, typically unhydrolysing or undeteriorating characteristics, it has a practical significance in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, and in the research field on which this review shall enlighten from earlier to now.