Analysis of bacitracin by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography with mixed micelle in acidic solution

A method used for quantitative analysis of bacitracin with micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) is described. As capillary zone electrophoresis gave poor separation selectivity, MEKC was preferable. It was found that a zwitterionic surfactant, 3-(N,N-dimethylhexadecylammonium)-propanesulfonate (PAPS) gave the best selectivity among the several surfactants studied. As the analytes tend to adsorb onto the capillary wall due to their positive charge, an acidic solution composed of Tris-phosphate buffer at pH 2.5 was necessary to diminish such adsorption. The peak tailing caused by relatively strong ion pair interaction between the analyte and PAPS micelle could be reduced by adding nonionic surfactant Brij 35 to the PAPS solution. This phenomenon is possibly explained by a mixed micelle mechanism. In order to obtain the optimal conditions and to test the method robustness, a central composite experimental design was performed. The optimal conditions are as follows: 44 cm length of fused-silica capillary with 50 microm inner diameter, 90 mM Tris-phosphate buffer (pH 2.5) containing 17 mM PAPS and 0.3% w/v-Brij 35, 18 kV applied voltage, UV detection at 192 nm and 25 degrees C column temperature. Under the optimal conditions, more than 50 peaks could be obtained in 30 min. The method had a linearity range from 1 to 0.05 mg/mL (concentration of bacitracin A). The limit of quantitation (LOQ) and limit of detection (LOD) were 0.005 and 0.0012 mg/mL, respectively.     

Separation of atropisomers of anti-hepatitis drug dimethyl diphenyl bicarboxylate analogues by capillary electrophoresis with vancomycin as the chiral selector

Separation of atropisomers of analogues of the anti-hepatitis drug dimethyl diphenyl bicarboxylate (DDB) by capillary electrophoresis with vancomycin as the chiral selector is described. Among several tested chiral selectors, including various cyclodextrin derivatives as well as vancomycin, only the latter displayed the enantioselectivity to the studied atropisomers. However, relatively poor separation efficiency was obtained due to the adsorption of vancomycin on the capillary wall. This problem was overcome by modifying the capillary wall with a polycationic electrolyte named hexadimethrine bromide (HDB) to produce a positively charged coating, which minimized the adsorption of vancomycin on the capillary wall by electrostatic repulsion. Moreover, the positively charged coating could shorten the separation time by reversing the EOF because the reversed EOF migrated to the same direction as the negatively charged analyte. Effects of buffer pH, vancomycin and buffer concentrations and applied voltage on the separation were investigated and the optimal conditions were established as follows: 40 mM Tris-phosphate buffer (pH 6.0) containing 6.0 mM vancomycin and 0.001% HDB. Baseline separation of three racemic DDB analogues was obtained within 12 min under the optimal conditions.     

Separation and Determination of Stereoisomeric Impurity of Folinic Acid Diastereomers by CE with Vancomycin as a Selector

A highly sensitive and rapid method was developed that involves capillary electrophoresis for separation and determination of the stereoisomeric impurity of folinic acid diastereomers. In this method, vancomycin was used as the chiral selector, and a solution of poly(dimethylacrylamide) (PDMA) was prepared for dynamic coating of the capillary wall to minimize the adsorption of vancomycin. This method was optimized for six factors including concentrations of the organic modifier and vancomycin, pH and concentration of the background electrolyte, column temperature, and separation voltage. The following conditions were established: 100 mM Tris-phosphate buffer (pH 6.0) containing 1.0 mM vancomycin and 5 % acetonitrile at 30 °C, and −15 kV applied voltage on the PDMA dynamically coated capillary. Preliminary validation was performed with the determination of limit of quantification and detection, accuracy, precision, and linearity. Under our optimized method, the folinic acid diastereomers were baseline-separated within 7.5 min, and a (6S,2′S)-calcium folinate sample with 0.08 % stereoisomeric impurity was determined.

     

Enhanced separation of purine and pyrimidine bases using carboxylic multiwalled carbon nanotubes as additive in capillary zone electrophoresis

This paper describes the enhanced separation of adenine (A), hypoxanthine (HX), 8-azaadenine (8-AA), thymine (T), cytosine (C), uracil (U) and guanine (G) by CZE dispersing carboxylic multiwalled carbon nanotubes (c-MWNTs) into the running buffer. The effect of important factors such as c-MWNT nanoparticle concentration, the acidity and concentration of running buffer, and separation voltage were investigated to acquire the optimum conditions. The seven purine and pyrimidine bases could be well separated within 16 min in a 35 cm effective length fused-silica capillary at a separation voltage of +8.0 kV in a 23 mM tetraborate buffer (pH 9.2) containing 8.0 x 10(-5) g/mL c-MWNTs. Under the optimal conditions, the linear ranges were of 2-250 microg/mL for A (R2 = 0.995), 3-200 microg/mL for U (R2 = 0.990) and G (R2 = 0.992), 3-250 microg/mL for T (R2 = 0.998), 2-200 microg/mL for C (R2 = 0.985) and 4-200 microg/mL for HX (R2 = 0.988) and 8-AA (R2 = 0.990). The detection limits were 0.9 microg/mL for A (S/N = 3), 2.4 microg/mL for U, 2.0 microg/mL for T, 1.5 microg/mL for C, 2.5 microg/mL for G and 3.0 microg/mL for HX and 8-AA. The proposed method was successfully applied for determining five purine and pyrimidine bases in yeast RNA.     

Determination of bisphenol A and 10 alkylphenols in serum using SDS micelle capillary electrophoresis with gamma-cyclodextrin.

A new micelle capillary electrophoresis based on cyclodextrin micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) for the determination of bisphenol A and 10 alkylphenols in rat serum is reported. Several surfactants and dextrins were studied. Bisphenol A and alkylphenols were separated using a 50 microm x 50 cm capillary with 20 mM borate phosphate buffer (pH 8.0) containing 20 mM sodium dodecylsulfate and 5 mM gamma-cyclodextrin as carrier. The method could determine 0.6-2000 microg/mL of phenols in 100 microL serum by photometric detection at 214 nm. Using 2.0 mL serum, 1.0 ng/mL of phenols could be determined. The relative standards deviations were 6.3-7.7% at 10 microg/mL in serum. The recoveries were 91.8-93.0% with 10 microg/mL serum samples.     

Determination of valproic acid (2-propylpentanoic acid) in human plasma by capillary electrophoresis with indirect UV detection

A rapid capillary zone electrophoresis method with indirect UV detection was developed and validated for the determination of valproic acid (VPA) in human plasma. The analyses were carried out under optimized conditions, using a buffer system composed of 15 mM benzoate and 0.5 mM cetyltrimethylammonium bromide at pH 6.0, and 25% v/v methanol; 2-hydroxybutyric acid was selected as the internal standard (IS). The capillary electrophoresis (CE) separation was carried out at a negative potential of 30 kV and the indirect UV detection was operated at 210 +/- 20 nm for all assays. The influence of buffer pH, ionic strength, concentration of electroosmotic flow (EOF) modifier and organic modifier on indirect signal response and migration behavior of the organic acid was investigated. Isolation of VPA from plasma was accomplished by a carefully implemented procedure using methanol as the precipitant agent. Using a high ratio of methanol to plasma for deproteinization (4:1), good absolute recovery of the analyte and satisfactory selectivity was obtained. The calibration line for VPA was linear over the 1-100 microg/mL concentration range. Sensitivity was high; in fact, the limit of detection (LOD) of VPA was 150 ng/mL and 450 ng/mL the limit of quantitation (LOQ). The results obtained analyzing real plasma samples from schizophrenic patients under polytherapy with VPA as well as antipsychotic drugs were satisfactory in terms of precision, accuracy and sensitivity.     

Micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography as a powerful tool for pharmacological investigations without sample pretreatment: a precise technique providing cost advantages and limits of detection to the low nanomolar range.

A number of pharmaceuticals (e.g., acetaminophen, salicylic acid, sulfamethoxazole, theophylline, tolbutamide and trimethoprim) have been determined in human plasma by micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC), without sample pretreatment, using underivatized fused-silica capillaries. The total analysis time was only 10 min. A sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-containing borate buffer (60 mM with 200 mM SDS) at pH 10 was used. Between runs, proteins adsorbed to the capillary wall are removed by rinsing with SDS buffer and either acetonitrile (e.g., 50% v/v) or isopropanol (e.g., 10% v/v). Other rinsing procedures are discussed (salts, enzyme-containing solutions, organic solvents, sodium hydroxide, hydrofluoric acid). The separation system is tested in a concentration range between 10 ng/mL and 100 microg/mL; a detection limit of about 20 ng/mL can readily be obtained. The sensitivity was substantially improved using isopropanol as buffer additive. A day-to-day precision for relative peak areas of 1-2% relative standard deviation (RSD, n > 40) was reached in the upper concentration range. Under repeatability conditions, these values could also be obtained for low microg/mL concentrations. Thus, not only drug monitoring but also pharmacokinetic investigations from blood plasma become possible without further sample pretreatment.     

Capillary electrochromatographic analysis of barbiturates in serum

A capillary electrochromatographic method was developed for the separation of barbiturates. The separation was optimized in a 75 microm ID capillary, packed with 3-(1,8-naphthalimido)propyl-modified silyl silica gel (NAIP), studying the effect of buffer pH, buffer concentration, and mobile phase composition. Using an applied voltage of 20 kV and the short-end injection method (9 cm capillary effective length), the mobile phase of 1.0 mM citrate buffer (pH 5.0) containing 40% methanol provided the baseline separation of barbital, phenobarbital, secobarbital, and thiopental (internal standard) in less than 4.5 min. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of barbiturates in human serum. Under the optimal conditions, good repeatability and linearity were obtained in the range of 2.90-43.29 microg/mL for barbital, phenobarbital, and secobarbital.     

Simultaneous determination of 16 estrogens,dehydroepiandrosterone and their glucuronide and sulfate conjugates in serum using sodium cholate micelle capillary electrophoresis

The simultaneous determination of 16 estrogens, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and their glucuronide and sulfate conjugates by micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) with sodium cholate micelle is reported. Sodium cholate, sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) and alpha-, beta-, gamma-cyclodextrins were studied as micelle reagents in the pH range of 7.0-10.0. Estrogens, DHEA and their glucuronide and sulfate conjugates were separated using a 50 cm x 50 microm capillary with 10 mM borate-phosphate buffer (pH 8.0) containing 50 mM sodium cholate as carrier. The method could simultaneously determine 1.0-1000 microg/mL of steroids and metabolites in 100 microL of serum by photometric detection at 214 nm within 14 min and 80 ng/mL steroids could be determined by using 2.0 mL of serum. The relative standards deviations were 6.7-7.7% at 10 microg/mL in serum. The recoveries were 89.1-92.0% with 10 microg/mL serum samples.     

Analysis of colistin sulfate by capillary zone electrophoresis with cyclodextrins as additive

A method for the quantitative analysis of colistin sulfate by capillary zone electrophoresis is described. Since colistin components have five free amino groups, they tend to adsorb onto the capillary wall and cause peak tailing. It was found that triethanolamine (TEA)-phosphate buffer at pH 2.5 was useful to reduce such adsorption. Methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (M-beta-CD) and 2-propanol (IPA) were found necessary for selectivity enhancement. In order to optimize the separation parameters and predict the method robustness, a central composite design was performed including three variables, namely concentration of M-beta-CD, TEA, and IPA. The effects of capillary length and applied voltage on separation were also investigated. The optimal conditions established were: 140 mM TEA-phosphate buffer containing 5 mM M-beta-CD and 6% v/v IPA, a capillary with 55 cm total length (50 microm inner diameter, 47 cm from inlet to detection window) and 24 kV applied voltage. The method was found to be robust when the variables were changed in the following range: 4-6 mM M-beta-CD, 5-7% v/v IPA, and 130-150 mM TEA. Further, the linearity, limit of detection (LOD), and limit of quantitation (LOQ), as well as repeatability for both colistin A and B were examined and three commercial samples were quantitatively analyzed.     

Analysis of metacycline by capillary electrophoresis

The development and validation of an optimized capillary electrophoresis method for the determination of metacycline in the presence of its related substances by capillary electrophoresis is shown. The influence of methanol as organic modifier, buffer pH, buffer concentration, capillary length, column temperature, Triton X-100 and methyl-beta-cyclodextrin was investigated. A central composite design was performed in order to optimize the method. The optimal separation conditions were: uncoated fused-silica capillary (39 cm total length, 31 cm effective length, 50 microm ID); as background electrolyte a solution of 160 mM sodium carbonate and 1 mM EDTA (pH 10.35)/methanol (89:13 v/v); temperature, 15 degrees C; voltage, 12 kV. The method showed good selectivity, repeatability, linearity, and sensitivity. The limits of detection and quantitation are 0.024% and 0.06%, respectively, relative to a 2.5 mg/mL solution. Six commercial samples were analyzed quantitatively.     

Analysis of polymyxin B sulfate by capillary zone electrophoresis with cyclodextrin as additive. Method development and validation

A capillary zone electrophoresis method for analysis of polymyxin B sulfate is described. In this method, triethanolamine (TEA)-phosphate buffer at pH 2.5 was employed to reduce the adsorption of analyte onto the capillary wall. Methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (M-beta-CD) and 2-propanol (IPA) were found to be necessary for selectivity enhancement. In order to optimize the method and to control its robustness, a central composite design was performed with four parameters, i.e. concentration of M-beta-CD, TEA, IPA and buffer pH. The optimal separation conditions were as follows: capillary, 55 cm (50 microm I.D., 47 cm effective length); 130 mM TEA-phosphate buffer (pH 2.5) containing 5 mM M-beta-CD and 5% IPA; 24 kV (51 microA) applied voltage; column temperature, 20 degrees C. Further, linearity and limits of detection quantification were examined. Three commercial samples were analyzed quantitatively.     

Positional and geometrical anionic isomer separations by capillary electrophoresis-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry

Capillary electrophoresis-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (CE-ESI-MS) was applied to the analysis of polar positional and geometrical anionic isomers. Since the investigated positional and geometrical anionic isomers have different pK(a) values, they could be separated by CE-ESI-MS under simple analytical conditions using a bare fused-silica capillary and volatile ammonium acetate buffer after optimizing buffer pH. Ortho-, meta-, para-hydroxybenzoate positional isomers were completely separated on a fused-silica capillary with 20 mM ammonium acetate buffer at pH 10.0, and cis-, trans-cyclohexane dicarboxylate geometrical isomers could be also separated with 20 mM ammonium acetate buffer at pH 4.0. Several analytical parameters affecting ESI-MS sensitivity were also investigated. It was found that both running buffer pH and sheath liquid pH had significant effects on the selectivity and the sensitivity on CE-ESI-MS analysis while sheath flow rate and other parameters had little influence. Under optimized conditions, linearity, detection limit, and repeatability of the analysis of hydroxybenzoate isomers were examined, and good results were obtained. It was found that the method presented in this paper is a simple, robust, and cost-effective method for simultaneous analysis of positional and geometrical anionic isomers as well as of other small anionic compounds.     

Analysis of lamotrigine and its metabolites in human plasma and urine by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography

A reliable micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatographic method was developed and validated for the determination of lamotrigine and its metabolites in human plasma and urine. The variation of different parameters, such as pH of the background electrolyte (BGE) and Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) concentration, were evaluated in order to find optimal conditions. Best separation of the analytes was achieved using a BGE composed of 10 mM borate and 50 mM SDS, pH 9.5; melatonin was selected as the internal standard. Isolation of lamotrigine and its metabolites from plasma and urine was accomplished with an original solid-phase extraction procedure using hydrophilic-lypophilic balance cartridges. Good absolute recovery data and satisfactory precision values were obtained. The calibration plots for lamotrigine and its metabolites were linear over the 1-20 microg/mL concentration range. Sensitivity was satisfactory; the limits of detection and quantitation of lamotrigine were 500 ng/mL and 1 microg/mL, respectively. The application of the method to real plasma samples from epileptic patients under therapy with lamotrigine gave good results in terms of accuracy and selectivity, and in agreement with those obtained with an high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method.     

Enantioseparation of cetirizine by sulfated-beta-cyclodextrin-mediated capillary electrophoresis

A sulfated beta-cyclodextrin (sulfated beta-CD)-mediated capillary electrophoresis method is described for the enantioseparation of cetirizine using achiral cefazolin as an internal standard. The enantioseparation of the drug was performed in a borate buffer (5 mM, pH 8.7) with 1% sulfated beta-CD (w/v) as chiral selector at 10 kV. Several parameters affecting the separation were studied, including the pH and the concentration of borate buffer and chiral selector. Under optimized conditions, a baseline separation of two enantiomers was achieved in less than 7 min. Using cefazolin as an internal standard (IS), the linear range of the method for the determination of levocetirizine was over 1.0 to 50.0 microg/mL; the detection limit (signal-to-noise ratio = 3) of levocetirizine was 0.5 microg/mL. The method allowed the enantioseparation of cetirizine in bulk samples and enantiomeric purity evaluation of levocetirizine (R-enantiomer) in pharmaceutical tablets (Xyzal), and it was also found to be suitable for enantioseparation in human plasma.     

Development of a stability-indicating CE assay for the determination of amlodipine enantiomers in commercial tablets

A simple, accurate, precise and sensitive method using CD for separation and stability indicating assay of enantiomers of amlodipine in the commercial tablets has been established. Several types of CD were evaluated and best results were obtained using a fused-silica capillary with phosphate running buffer (100 mM, pH 3.0) containing 5 mM hydroxypropyl-alpha-CD. The method has shown adequate separation for amlodipine enantiomers from its degradation products. The drug was subjected to oxidation, hydrolysis, photolysis and heat to apply stress conditions. The range of quantitation for both enantiomers was 5-150 microg/mL. Intra- and inter-day RSD (n=6) was <4%. The limit of quantification that produced the requisite precision and accuracy was found to be 5 microg/mL for both enantiomers. The LOD for both enantiomers was found to be 0.5 microg/mL. Degradation products produced as a result of stress studies did not interfere with the detection of enantiomers and the assay can thus be considered stability indicating.     

Simultaneous determination of cefepime and vancomycin in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid by MEKC with direct sample injection and application for bacterial meningitis

A simple MEKC with UV detection at 214 nm for simultaneous analysis of cefepime and vancomycin in plasma and in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by direct injection without any sample pretreatment is described. The separation of cefepime and vancomycin from biological matrices was performed at 25 degrees C using a BGE consisting of a Tris buffer with SDS and methanol as the electrolyte solution. Under optimal MEKC conditions for biological samples, good separations with high efficiency and short analysis time are achieved. Several parameters affecting the separation of the drugs from biological matrices were studied, including methanol, pH, and concentrations of the Tris buffer and SDS. The linear ranges of the method for the determination of cefepime and vancomycin in plasma and in CSF using imidazole or cefazolin as an internal standard, respectively, were all over the range of 1-30 microg/mL; the detection limits of cefepime and vancomycin in biological matrices (injection 10 kV, 15 s) were 0.3 and 0.5 microg/mL, respectively. The applicability of the proposed method for the determination of cefepime and vancomycin in plasma and CSF collected after intravenous administration of the drugs in patients with meningitis was demonstrated.     

Separation of perfluorocarboxylic acids using capillary electrophoresis with UV detection

A capillary electrophoretic method with UV detection for separation and quantitation of perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) from C6-PFCA to C12-PFCA has been developed. The optimization of measurement conditions included the choice of the most appropriate type and concentration of buffer in the background electrolyte (BGE), as well as the type and the content of an organic modifier. The optimal separation of investigated PFCAs was achieved with 50 mM phosphate buffer and 40% isopropanol in the BGE using direct UV detection. The optimum wavelength for direct UV detection was optimized at 190 nm. For indirect detection, several chromophores were studied. Five mM 3,5-Dinitrobenzoic acid (3,5-DNBA) in 20 mM phosphate buffer BGE and indirect UV detection at 280 nm gave the optimal detection and separation performance for the investigated PFCAs. The possibility of on-line preconcentration of solutes by stacking has been examined for indirect detection. The detection limits (LODs) determined for direct UV detection ranged from 2 microg/mL for C6-PFCA to 33 microg/mL for C12-PFCA. The LODs obtained for indirect UV detection were comparable to those obtained for direct UV detection.     

Enantiomeric separation and determination of the enantiomeric impurity of armodafinil by capillary electrophoresis with sulfobutyl ether-β-cyclodextrin as chiral selector

A selective capillary electrophoresis method using sulfobutyl ether-β-cyclodextrin as a chiral selector was developed and validated for the determination of the enantiomeric impurity of (R)-modafinil, i.e., armodafinil. Several parameters were optimized for a satisfactory enantioresolution, including the type and concentration of chiral selector and organic modifier, pH of background electrolyte (BGE), capillary temperature. The finally adopted condition was: 20 mmol/L phosphate buffer at pH 7.5, containing 20 mmol/L sulfobutyl ether-β-cyclodextrin and 20% methanol, at temperature of 25 °C. A good resolution of 3.3 for the two enantiomers of modafinil was achieved by applying the optimal conditions. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of (S)-modafinil were 1.25 μg/mL and 2.50 μg/mL, respectively. The established method was also proven to display good selectivity, repeatability, linearity and accuracy. Finally, the method was used to investigate the enantiomeric purity of armodafinil in bulk samples.     

Simultaneous separation of eight beta-adrenergic drugs using titanium dioxide nanoparticles as additive in capillary electrophoresis

The analysis is described for separating seven beta-adrenergic blocking agents (atenolol, celiprolol, clorprenaline, fenoterol, metoprolol, propranolol, terbutaline) and clenbuterol (sympathomimetic beta-2 receptor stimulating agonist, decongestant and bronchodilator, illicit anabolic used in athletics) by CE with UV detection. In order to simultaneously separate all analytes, Tris-H3PO4 solution was applied containing titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) as BGEs. The effects of important factors, such as concentration of TiO2 NPs, optimum pH, run buffer concentration, and separation voltage, were investigated so as to achieve best CE separation. The eight analytes could be well separated applying a separation voltage of 15 kV in 75 mM Tris-H3PO4 buffer at a pH of 2.40, containing 6.0 x 10(-6) g/mL TiO2 NPs. Under these optimal conditions, the RSDs for peak areas and for migration times were less than 2.7 and 2.3%, respectively. The detection limits were 0.1 microg/mL for celiprolol, 0.1 microg/mL for propranolol, 0.2 microg/mL for fenoterol, 1.0 microg/mL for atenolol, 1.0 microg/mL for clenbuterol, 1.0 microg/mL for clorprenaline, 1.0 microg/mL for metoprolol, and 1.0 microg/mL for terbutaline. The proposed method was successfully applied for the rapid CE determination of the frequently applied antihypertensive beta-blocking compounds atenolol, metoprolol, terbutaline, and propranolol in pharmaceutical tablets.