Detection of neuropeptides using on-capillary copper complexation and capillary electrophoresis with electrochemical detection

Capillary electrophoresis with electrochemical detection using a carbon fiber electrode in conjunction with on-capillary copper complexation was evaluated for the determination of peptides in standard and biological matrices. Peptides composed of 2-10 amino acids were investigated. A comparison was made between the responses obtained for peptides containing the oxidizable residue tyrosine and those obtained for their respective copper complexes. Electrochemical detection of non-tyrosine-containing peptides and a cyclic peptide was also demonstrated. A separation of leucine (Leu)-enkephalin and five metabolites was developed and then used for the investigation of Leu-enkephalin metabolism in plasma. The appearance of the des-tyrosine (des-Tyr) Leu-enkephalin, which cannot be detected directly at a carbon electrode, was monitored using the on-capillary complexation technique. Direct injection of the plasma sample was possible using this methodology.     

Separation and detection of angiotensin peptides by Cu(II) complexation and capillary electrophoresis with UV and electrochemical detection

The use of capillary electrophoresis (CE) with on-capillary Cu(II) complexation for the determination of angiotensin and its metabolites is described. The resulting copper-peptide complexes can be detected using either UV or electrochemical (EC) detection. Optimal reaction and separation conditions for the angiotensin peptides were first determined using CE with UV detection. With UV detection, the limit of detection (signal-to noise ratio S/N = 3) for native angiotensin II was 18 microM, while the limit of detection (LOD) obtained for the copper-angiotensin II complex is 2 microM. CE with EC detection was then evaluated, yielding significantly lower LODs--2 microM for native angiotensin II and 200 nM for the copper-angiotensin II complex. The addition of copper to the run buffer improved the separation and sensitivity for both CE-UV and CE-EC detection. The method was demonstrated by monitoring the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II in plasma via angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and subsequent inhibition of ACE by captopril.     

On-capillary complexation of metal ions with 4-(2-thiazolylazo)resorcinol in capillary electrophoresis

Co(II), Zn(II), Ni(II) and Fe(I) were successfully separated by capillary electrophoresis using pre-capillary and on-capillary complexation with 4-(2-thiazolylazo)resorcinol. The influences of some crucial parameters, including both pre- and on-capillary complexation procedure, were investigated. For on-capillary complexation, the complexing reaction was carried out inside the capillary by mixing the zones of ligand and sample during the electrophoretic migration. Compared with pre-capillary complexation, the method provided 30-fold reduction in detection limits for Co(II), 50-fold reduction for Zn(II), and 100-fold reduction for Ni(II) and Fe(II). It was used for the analysis of a pharmaceutical and tap water sample.     

Complementary on-line preconcentration strategies for steroids by capillary electrophoresis

Complementary on-line preconcentration strategies are needed when analyzing different classes of solutes in real samples by capillary electrophoresis (CE) with UV detection. The performance of three different on-line preconcentration (focusing) techniques under alkaline conditions was examined in terms of their selectivity and sensitivity enhancement for a group of steroids, including classes of androgens, corticosteroids and estrogens. Electrokinetic focusing of large sample injection plugs (up to 28% of effective capillary length or 22.1 cm) directly on-capillary can be tuned for specific classes of steroids based on changes in their mobility (velocity) using a multi-section electrolyte system in CE. A dynamic pH junction was applied for the selective resolution and focusing of weakly acidic estrogens using borate, pH 11.0 and pH 8.0 in the background electrolyte and the sample, respectively. Sweeping, using an anionic bile acid surfactant and neutral gamma-cyclodextrin (gamma-CD) under alkaline conditions (pH 8), resulted in focusing and separation of the moderately hydrophobic (non-ionic) classes of steroids, such as androgen and corticosteroids. Optimal focusing and resolution of all test steroids under a single buffer condition was realized by a dynamic pH junction-sweeping format using borate, pH 11.0 and bile acid surfactant with gamma-CD in the BGE, whereas the sample is devoid of surfactant at pH 8.0. The design of selective on-line focusing strategies in CE is highlighted by the analysis of microgram amounts of ethynyl estradiol derived from a female contraceptive pill extract using the dynamic pH junction method, which resulted in over a 100-fold enhancement in concentration sensitivity.     

Organic complexation and total dissolved trace metal analysis in estuarine waters: comparison of solvent-extraction graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometric and chelating resin flow injection inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometric analysis

The measured concentrations of cadmium, cobalt, copper, nickel, lead, zinc, and manganese in acidified (pH<2) estuarine water samples analyzed for total dissolved trace metal concentrations using on-line chelating resin column partitioning with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (CRCP-ICP-MS) were compared to those analyzed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) after liquid-liquid extraction using a combination of 1-pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate/diethyldithiocarbamate (PDC/DDC). Although there was good agreement between the two sets of analyses for cadmium, lead, manganese, and zinc concentrations, those of cobalt, copper, and nickel determined by CRCP-ICP-MS were found to be 10-20% lower than those determined by solvent-extraction GFAAS. The different yields were positively correlated (R>0.961, simple linear regression) to the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration of the samples. Good agreement between the two methods for cobalt and copper was achieved after ultraviolet (UV) digestion of the acidified samples. Samples collected from the South Bay of the San Francisco Estuary with high DOC showed the greatest difference for cobalt, copper, and nickel which is tentatively attributed to complexation with humic material for copper and cobalt and strong synthetic chelating agents such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) for nickel. This is consistent with previous studies on copper, nickel and cobalt complexation in this region. We recommend UV digestion of acidified estuarine samples prior to multi-element analysis by chelating resin flow injection ICP-MS methods.     

Separation of metal ions and metal-containing species by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography, including utilisation of metal ions in separations of other species

The use of micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) for the separation of metal ions and metal-containing species is reviewed, together with the use of metal ions as a means to separate other species. Topics covered include the manipulation of separation selectivity through the use of complexation reactions induced by addition of a metal ion to the background electrolyte, enantiomeric separations facilitated through metal-analyte interactions, separation of organometallic species, separation of stable metal complexes in which the entire complex is the analyte and the separation of metal ions as analytes using pre-capillary or on-capillary complexation reactions with a suitable ligand.     

Electroanalysis of Pyridoxine at Copper Nanoparticles Modified Polycrystalline Gold Electrode

Pyridoxine is analyzed using square wave voltammetry (SWV) at copper nanoparticles (nano‐Cu) modified poly‐crystalline gold electrode (nano‐Cu/Au). Nano‐Cu/Au is fabricated by a potential scan electrodeosition technique. Nano‐Cu/Au electrode has been characterized morphologically and electrochemically. The analysis of pyridoxine at nano‐Cu/Au electrode is achieved utilizing the quenching of copper voltammetric response due to the complexation with pyridoxine forming an electroinactive complex. Pyridoxine selectively forms complex with copper ions (modifier), but not with Au (underlying substrate) as supported by UV/Vis spectrophotometry. Using SWV the calibration curve for pyridoxine analysis was obtained in the concentration range of 0.3–2.7 µM with high correlation coefficient. The proposed method has been successfully applied for the determination of pyridoxine in two dosage forms.     

Use of contactless conductivity detection for non-invasive characterisation of monolithic stationary-phase coatings for application in capillary ion chromatography

A capacitively-coupled contactless conductivity detector (C4D) has been utilised as an on-capillary detector within a capillary ion chromatograph, incorporating a reversed-phase monolithic silica capillary column semi-permanently modified with a suitable ionic surfactant. The monolithic capillary column (150 x 0.1 mm i.d.) was modified using sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate (DOSS), an anionic surfactant, for the separation of small inorganic and organic cations. With the use of the on-capillary conductivity detector, the longitudinal homogeneity and temporal stability of the coating were investigated. The approach allowed a detailed non-invasive observation of the nature of the ion-exchange coating over time, and an example of an application of the technique to produce a longitudinal stationary-phase charge gradient is shown. An investigation of the basis of the measured on-capillary conductivity was carried out with a counter ion study, clearly showing the on-capillary detection technique could also distinguish between chemical forms of the immobilised ion exchanger. The above method was used to produce a stable and homogeneously-modified monolithic ion-exchange capillary column, for application to the separation of inorganic alkaline earth cations and amino acids.     

On-column complexation and simultaneous separation of vanadium(IV) and vanadium(V) by capillary electrophoresis with direct UV detection

An on-column complexation method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of V(IV) and V(V). Vanadium species were chelated with aminopolycarboxylic acids to form anionic complexes which were separated by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with direct UV detection. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), diethylenetriaminepentacetric acid (DTPA), nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), and N-2-hydroxyethylethlendiaminetriacetric acid (HEDTA) were investigated as both ligand and running electrolyte. Of the ligands studied the complexes of EDTA with V(IV) and V(V) resulted in the highest selectivity and UV response.The conditions used for on-column complexation and separation, including pH, and electrolyte ligand concentration, were examined to achieve reasonable separation selectivity and detection sensitivity. The optimum separation of the anionic forms of V(IV) and V(V) was obtained by use of CZE with UV detection at 185 nm and an electrolyte containing 5 mmol L(-1) EDTA at pH 4.0. Linear calibration plots were obtained in the concentration range10-300 micro mol L(-1); detection limits were 3 micro mol L(-1) for V(IV) and 1 micro mol L(-1) for V(V). The proposed method was demonstrated for the determination of vanadium in groundwater spiked with V(IV) and V(V).     

Improvement of ion chromatography with ultraviolet photometric detection and comparison with conductivity detection for the determination of serum cations

Studies were made of the analytical conditions required for indirect photometric ion chromatography using ultraviolet photometric detection (UV method) for the determination of serum cations following a previously developed serum pre-treatment. The sensitivities of the conductivity detection (CD) and UV methods and the amounts of serum cations determined by both methods were compared. Attempts to improve the sensitivity of the conventional UV method are reported. It was found that the mobile phase previously reported by Small and Miller showed no quantitative response when more than 4 mM copper(II) sulphate pentahydrate was used. As a result, there was no significant difference in the amounts of serum cations shown by the CD and UV methods. However, by adding 0.5-5 mM cobalt(II) sulphate heptahydrate, nickel(II) sulphate hexahydrate, zinc(II) sulphate heptahydrate or cobalt(II) diammonium sulphate hexahydrate to 0.5-1.5 mM copper(II) sulphate pentahydrate, higher sensitivity and a quantitative response were attained.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Bis-1,2,3-Triazole Ligand and its Corresponding Copper Complex for the Development of Electrochemical Affinity Biosensors

The bis-triazole ligand and its corresponding copper complexes were synthesized and characterized for the first time and proposed as new labels for the development of electrochemical aptasensors. The bis-triazole ligand was prepared from methyl 1,6-heptadiyne-4-carboxylate and 2-(azidomethyl)phenol using classical CuAAC in presence of different copper salts. The X-ray structure of bis-triazole showed a symmetry center (C1). UV-Vis and X-band EPR spectra showed that the coordination capacity of the bis-triazole ligand was improved in the presence of triethylamine due to deprotonation of the triazole and phenolate moieties. After complexation with copper, the obtained complex was successfully attached to an anti-estradiol aptamer through thiol-maleimide coupling, and the resulting labelled aptamer was immobilized on a carbon screen-printed electrode by carbodiimide coupling. The electrochemical response of the resulting sensor was shown to decrease in the presence of estradiol, demonstrating that the developed complexes can be applied for the development of aptasensors.     

Direct fluorescence detection of ultratrace lanthanide(III) ions complexed with aromatic polyaminocarboxylate, avoiding quenching of ligand-centered emission, using capillary zone electrophoresis with a ternary complexing technique

The ultratrace level detection and the separation of lanthanide ions (Ln3+) were achieved using capillary zone electrophoresis with laser induced fluorescent detection (CZE-LIF) using an aromatic polyaminocarboxylate ligand synthesized in our previous work. The ligand forms kinetically stable Ln complexes at the pre-capillary derivatizing step. It effectively avoids quenching processes of the ligand-centered fluorescence through complexation with Ln3+ without paramagnetic and heavy atom effects because of the distance between the chelating and the antenna moieties. During the on-capillary separation step, the mother Ln complexes competitively form ternary complexes with the auxiliary ligands, iminodiacetate and citrate, which provide different mobilities for each of the Ln3+ complexes. The emissively labeled Ln3+ complexes were efficiently separated, based on the ternary complex equilibrium. Since the carrier buffer employed was free from emissive ligands, a high signal to noise ratio was obtained. A lower detection limit of 9.1 x 10(-11) mol dm(-3) (15.6 ng dm(-3), 0.46 attomole as an amount basis) was successfully achieved typically for Lu3+ with a simple CZE mode. We propose a combination of a pre-capillary and an on-capillary complexing technique as a method that provides both high sensitivity and high resolution.     

Strategies to improve the sensitivity in capillary electrophoresis for the analysis of drugs in biological fluids

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is a useful method to quantify drugs in biological fluids. However, especially for blood or plasma samples, the sensitivity is not sufficient to quantify drugs and their metabolites as they often need to be quantified in the lower microg/L range. To overcome this limitation and to increase the sensitivity, two strategies are applied: first, to increase the amount of analyte added to the capillary and, second, to increase the sensitivity on the detector site. To improve the sensitivity on the detector site, alternative detection techniques to UV detection, e.g., laser-induced fluorescence detection (LIF) or mass spectroscopy (MS), can be applied. However, LIF detection can only be used for fluorescent analytes and the current equipment for CE-MS coupling provides only small improvements in sensitivity compared to UV detection. The detection window for UV detection can be enhanced using capillaries with an extended light path (bubble cell) or Z-shaped capillaries. Sensitivity improvements up to a factor of 10 have been reported. Increasing the amount of analyte in the capillary can be done either by chromatographic or by electrokinetic methods. Chromatographic methods such as on-capillary membrane preconcentration have been used for several analytes. However, no validated application has been reported to date. In contrast, several validated examples can be found in which electrokinetic techniques like sample stacking have been applied to achieve limits of quantification in the lower microg/L range. In conclusion, to date, electrokinetic techniques such as field-amplified sample injection offer the most promising results in achieving a sufficient sensitivity to quantify drugs in biological fluids.     

A Practical Guide on the Synthesis of Metal Chelates for Molecular Imaging and Therapy by Means of Click Chemistry

The copper‐catalyzed cycloaddition of organic azides and alkynes (CuAAC) is one of the most popular reactions for rapid assembly of multifunctional molecular frameworks from commercially available building blocks. It is also attractive for synthesis of conjugates of multidentate chelate ligands (chelators) with molecular targeting vectors, such as peptides or proteins, which serve as precursors for labeling with metal radionuclides or are useful as MRI contrast agents after Gd^III complexation. However, applicability of CuAAC for such purposes is complicated by formation of unwanted copper chelates. The alternative use of copper‐free click chemistry, for example, the strain‐promoted alkyne‐azide cycloaddition (SPAAC) or the Diels–Alder reaction of tetrazines and strained alkenes, entails other specific challenges: Introduction of large, isomerically non‐homogeneous and hydrophobic linker groups affects product homogeneity and can severely change pharmacokinetic profiles. Against this background, this review elucidates scope and applicability of both Cu‐catalyzed and Cu‐free alkyne‐azide cycloadditions pertinent to the elaboration of radiometal chelates and MRI contrast agents, with an emphasis on strategies to tackle the problem of copper complexation during CuAAC.     

Calorimetric investigation of complex formation of some humic compounds

In the present paper we studied the complexation capacity towards copper ion of fulvic acids extracted from Arno River and Lake Como sediments, as well as Antarctic Sea water at different pHs in order to evaluate the interaction of different complexing groups of fulvic acids with copper ions. The binding capacity studies were carried out by means of titration with a copper-selective electrode and calorimetric measurements. For the same purpose, the heat of reaction in the complexation of copper ions with small molecules containing functional groups similar to fulvic acid was also determined. Titration results indicated that the fraction of bound metal increases with increasing pH (from 5 to 7). This may be accounted for by the increase in the ionisation of the fulvic acid molecule. Results obtained from calorimetric measurements show that the quantity of total heat involved in the metal ion-fulvate interactions determines a decreasing exothermic response with increasing pH values. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Studies of curcumin and curcuminoids. XXXVI. The stoichiometry and complexation constants of cyclodextrin complexes as determined by the phase-solubility method and UV–Vis titration

Cyclodextrin (CD) complex stoichiometry and complexation constant with two symmetric curcuminoids and two unsymmetric curcuminoid-like compounds were investigated and compared by two independent methods, the phase-solubility method and ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy (UV–Vis) titration. Two different methods were applied in an effort to increase the apparent intrinsic solubility of the compounds and make the investigation of stoichiometry and complexation constants possible. The intrinsic solubility could be determined for all four compounds in aqueous 10% (v/v) ethanolic solutions. Higher order complexation or solubilization through complex aggregation was observed for the symmetric molecules, while 1:1 complexation was observed for the unsymmetric molecules in the phase-solubility diagram. The UV–Vis investigation showed 1:1 complexation for all compounds, with some indication of higher order complexation for the symmetric molecules. Thus the stoichiometry found with the two methods correlated well for the unsymmetric, but not for the symmetric compounds where the phase-solubility investigations clearly indicated higher order complexation and possible aggregation of complexes. There was also a difference between the 1:1 complexation constants found with the two methods, especially for the compounds with low intrinsic solubility (i.e. the symmetric curcuminoids). However, they agree in the ranking of complexes according to the strength of the association. The 1:2 complexation constant observed with the phase-solubility method was more than 100 times the complexation constant found with the UV–Vis method, which explains why solubility is poorly predicted from the UV–Vis data. This discrepancy may be explained by solubilization by aggregation of complexes or some phenomena other than inclusion complexation.     

Novel ion-binding C3 symmetric tripodal triazoles: synthesis and characterization

Novel C₃ symmetric tripodal molecules were synthesized from cyclohexane 1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid. Utilizing click and Sonogashira reactions, ion-binding triazole and pyridazin-3(2H)-one units were incorporated to form polydentate ligands for ion complexation. The structures of the novel C₃ symmetric derivatives were extensively characterized by ¹H, ¹³C and 2D NMR techniques along with HRMS and IR. The copper(I)-binding potentials of these ligands were investigated by using them as additives in model copper(I)-catalysed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reactions. The copper(I) complexation ability of our compound was also proved by different spectroscopic methods, such as mass spectrometry, UV and NMR spectroscopy. Based on the mass spectrometric data all of the C₃ symmetric ligands formed 1:1 complex with copper(I) ion. The specific role of C₃ symmetric polydentate form in the complexation process was also discussed      

Reversed phase liquid chromatographic determination of organic acids using on-line complexation with copper(II) ion

We describe a simple and sensitive liquid chromatographic method for the analysis of organic acids using on-line complexation with copper(II) ion. Organic acids complexed with copper(II) ion were separated on a reversed-phase C18 column and detected by UV absorption at 240 nm. The copper(II) ion concentration in the mobile phase had a great influence on separation and sensitivity. A mobile phase consisting of 10 mM copper(II) sulfate in 5 mM sulfuric acid (pH 2.3) was used to separate nine organic acids (tartaric, malic, malonic, lactic, acetic, citric, maleic, succinic and fumaric acids). The detection limits of the examined organic acids calculated at S/N = 3 ranged from 0.6 to 100 μM. The detector signal was linear over three orders of magnitude of organic acid concentration. The method successfully measured organic acids in juice and vinegar samples.     

Development of a method for quantitative analysis of the major whey proteins by capillary electrophoresis with on-capillary derivatization and laser-induced fluorescence detection

The main whey proteins have been derivatized on-capillary with 3-(2-furoyl)quinoline-2-carboxaldehyde (FQ) and analyzed using a laboratory-made capillary electrophoresis apparatus provided with a laser-induced fluorescence detector. Several parameters controlling on-capillary derivatization of proteins, including pH, mixing time, reaction time, concentration of the reagents (potassium cyanide and FQ), and reaction temperature, were optimized. Coefficient variations were lower than 1% for migration time and 7% for peak height. Assay detection limits for the different proteins were in the range 5 nM to 10 nM. The method developed was applied to the separation of the major whey proteins in a laboratory-made cheese whey and in an infant food formulated with milk. In addition, the beta-LG content of these samples was quantitated. The results showed good agreement with those given by an RP-HPLC method and with those reported in the literature.     

Tetrahydroxyazon SCl as a new analytical reagent for determining copper(II)

2,2′,3,4-Tetrahydroxy-3′-sulfo-5-chloroazobenzene was synthesized from pyrogallol and 2-aminophenol-5-chlorobenzenesulfonic acid. The complexation of copper(II) with this reagent was studied. A homoligand compound of the stoichiometry 1: 1 was obtained at pH 2. The optimum conditions for complexation were found and the equilibrium constant of the reaction was calculated. The selectivity of the reaction was studied and the stability constant of the complex was evaluated. Procedures were developed for the photometric determination of copper in alloys and soils.