Separation of Enantiomers by On‐Line Capillary Isotachophoresis‐Capillary Zone Electrophoresis

The ability of capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) coupled on‐line with capillary isotachophoresis (ITP) sample pretreatment in the column‐coupling capillary electrophoresis equipment to separate trace enantiomers present in samples of complex ionic matrices and enantiomers present in their mixtures at significantly differing concentrations has been studied. Enantiomers of 2,4‐dinitrophenyl labeled norleucine (DNP‐Nleu) and tryptophan enantiomers were employed as model analytes in this work while urine and mixtures of tryptophan enantiomers of differing concentrations served as model samples. Experiments performed with urine samples spiked with the DNP‐Nleu racemate at sub‐μmol/L concentrations demonstrated excellent sample pretreatment capabilities of ITP (concentration of the analytes, in‐column and post‐column sample clean up) when coupled on‐line with chiral CZE separations. In the CZE separations of enantiomers present in the samples at trace concentrations the sample pretreatment could be performed in both achiral and chiral ITP electrolyte systems. The use of a chiral electrolyte system was found to be essential in the ITP pretreatment of the samples containing the enantiomers at very differing concentrations. For example, a 2×10^–7 mol/L concentration of L‐tryptophan could be detected in the CZE separation stage of the ITP‐CZE combination in samples containing about a 10⁴ excess of D‐tryptophan only when the ITP pretreatment was carried out in the electrolyte system providing the resolution of enantiomers (α‐cyclodextrin served for this purpose in the present work). A post‐column ITP sample clean up was found effective in enhancing the destacking rate of the trace enantiomer in the CZE stage when the migration configuration of the enantiomers was less favorable (the trace constituent migrating behind the major enantiomer).     

Separation of tryptophan enantiomers with molecularly imprinted polypyrrole electrode column

<正>In this study,we have fabricated molecularly imprinted polypyrrole(PPy) packed electrode columns and investigated their effects on separation of tryptophan(Trp) enantiomers by using potential control.The results indicate that the imprinted PPy electrode columns could efficiently enhance the L-Trp uptake and separate Trp enantiomers effectively,implying the great potential for the enantioselective recognition of other amino acids enantiomers.     

Capillary zone electrophoresis in wide bore capillary tubes with fiber-coupled diode array detection

This feasibility study deals with the use of a wide bore (320 μm I.D.) capillary tube for the detection and identification of capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) analytes by optical fiber-coupled diode array detection. A 250-μm mean effective pathlength of the detection cell with an inherently enhanced photon flux through the cell were significant contributors in reaching 0.2–1 μmol/l concentration detectabilities of the CZE analytes by this combination. Experiments with model analytes (p-sulfanilic, sorbic and naphthalene-2-sulfonic acids, tryptophan and asulam) revealed that spectral confirmations of their identities were still possible when their concentrations in the loaded samples (200 nl) were 1–5 μmol/l. Here, chemometry procedures (target transformation factor analysis, fixed size moving window-target transformation factor analysis, fixed size moving window-evolving factor analysis and orthogonal projection approach) employed in the data processing effectively contributed to reliable confirmation of the identities of the analytes also in critical situations (e.g. peak overlaps). The CZE separations were carried out in tandem-coupled columns of identical I.D. This made it possible to use, in the first column of the tandem, carrier electrolyte solutions that provide the desired separative effects, while in the second (detection) column the compositions of the carrier electrolyte solutions employed could reflect favorable conditions for obtaining spectral data. Mixtures containing model constituents at significantly differing concentrations and Maillard’s reaction products spiked with tryptophan enantiomers were employed in experiments aimed at assessing practical applicabilities and limits of the present approach to the analysis of samples characterized by complex ionic matrices.     

Conductivity detection and quantitation of isotachophoretic analytes on a planar chip with on-line coupled separation channels

A poly(methylmethacrylate) chip, provided with two separation channels in the column-coupling (CC) arrangement and on-column conductivity detection sensors and intended, mainly, to isotachophoresis (ITP) and ITP-capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) separations was developed recently. The present work was aimed at assessing its performance relevant to the detection and quantitation of the ITP analytes. Hydrodynamic (HDF) and electroosmotic (EOF) flows of the solution in the separation compartment of the CC chip were suppressed and electrophoresis was a dominant transport process in the ITP separations with model analytes carried out in this context. When the surfaces of the detection electrodes of the conductivity sensors on the chip were appropriately cleaned qualitative indices of the test analytes [relative step heights (RSHs)], provided by a particular detection sensor, agreed within 1% (expressed via RSDs of the RSH values). Their long-term reproducibilities for one sensor, as estimated from 70 ITP runs repeated in 5 days, were 2% or less. Sensor-to-sensor and chip-to-chip fluctuations of the RSH values for the test analytes were 2.5% or less. In addition, experimentally obtained RSH values agreed well with those predicted by the calculations based on the ITP steady-state model. Reproducibilities of the migration velocities attainable on the CC chips with suppressed EOF and HDF, assessed from the migration time measurements of the ITP boundary between well-defined positions on the separation channels of the chips (140 repeated runs on three chips), ranged from 1.4 to 3.3% for the migration times in the range of 100-200 s. Within-day repeatabilities of the time-based zone lengths for the test analytes characterized 2% RSDs, while their day-to-day repeatabilities were less than 5%. Chip-to-chip reproducibilities of the zone lengths, assessed from the data obtained on three chips for 100 ITP runs, were 5-8%.     

On-chip chiral separation based on bovine serum albumin-conjugated carbon nanotubes as stationary phase in a microchannel

A novel method of chiral separation based on protein-stationary phase immobilized in a poly(methyl methacrylate) microfluidic chip was developed. BSA conjugated with the shortened carboxylic single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) was employed as the chiral selector. Successful separation of tryptophan enantiomers was achieved in less than 70 s with a resolution factor of 1.35 utilizing a separation length of 32 mm. This is the first example of chiral separation based on SWNTs-BSA conjugates as stationary phase immobilized in microchip channel. The stability of the stationary phase in the channel was examined by microchip electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection. Factors that influenced the chiral separation resolution were examined. Under the optimized conditions, the proposed modified chip revealed adequate repeatability concerning run-to-run. These results show that the use of SWNTs-BSA conjugates within microfluidic channels hold great promise for a variety of analytical schemes.     

Fractionation of glycoforms of recombinant human erythropoietin by preparative capillary isotachophoresis

This feasibility study deals with the use of preparative capillary isotachophoresis (CITP), operating in a discontinuous fractionation mode, to the separations and isolations of glycoforms of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO). The preparative CITP separations were monitored by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with a hydrodynamically closed separation unit. Such a CZE system, suppressing fluctuations of the migration data linked with fluctuations of EOF and hydrodynamic flow, made possible to evaluate and compare the preparative CITP separations performed within a longer time frame. Preparative CITP, carried out in the separation unit with coupled columns of enhanced sample loadability, separating 100 microg of rhEPO in a run lasting ca. 30 min, gave the production rate higher than 55 ng/s for the rhEPO glycoforms. The preparative separations included valve isolations of the glycoforms from the ITP stack into four or six fractions. Such numbers of the fractions corresponded to typical numbers of the major glycoform peaks as resolved in CZE of rhEPO. With respect to close effective mobilities of the glycoforms and a multicomponent nature of rhEPO, the fractions contained mixtures of glycoforms with the dominant glycoforms enriched 10-100-fold, relative to the original rhEPO sample.     

Column switching in zone electrophoresis on a chip

This feasibility study deals with column switching in zone electrophoresis (ZE) separations on a column coupling (CC) chip. The column switching implemented into the ZE separations an on-chip sample clean up applicable for both the multicomponent and high salinity samples. In addition, complemented by different separation mechanisms in the coupled columns (channels), it provided benefits of two-dimensional separations. Properly timed column switching gave column-to-column transfers of the analytes, characterized by 99-102% recoveries, delivered to the second separation stage on the chip the analyte containing fractions contaminated only with minimum amounts of the matrix constituents. A diffusion driven transport of the matrix constituents to the second channel of the chip (due to direct contacts of the electrolyte solutions in the bifurcation region), representing 0.1-0.2% of the loaded sample constituents, was found to accompany the sample clean up performed on the CC chip. This source of potential disturbances to the separation in the second channel, however, is not detectable in a majority of practical situations. With respect to a 900 nl volume of the sample channel on the CC chip, the electric field and isotachophoresis (ITP) stackings were employed to minimize the injection dispersion in the separations and concentrate the analytes. Here, the column switching, removing a major part of the stacker from the separation system, provided a tool effective in a control of the destacking of analytes. Highly reproducible ZE separations as attained in this work also for the chip-to-chip and equipment-to-equipment frames can be ascribed, at least in part, to suppressions of electroosmotic and hydrodynamic flows of the solutions in which the separations were performed.     

Separations of enantiomers by preparative capillary isotachophoresis.

The use of capillary isotachophoresis (ITP), operating in a discontinuous fractionation mode, for preparative separations of enantiomers of chiral compounds was studied. The ITP separations were carried out in the column-coupling configuration of the separation unit provided with the preseparation column of a 1.0 mm ID and the trapping column of a 0.8 mm ID. Such a configuration of the CE separation unit offers several working regimes suitable to preparative separations of enantiomers. 2,4-Dinitrophenyl-DL-norleucine (DNP-Norleu) was employed as a model analyte in our experiments with beta-cyclodextrin serving in the electrolyte solutions as a chiral selector. The preparative separations lasting about 20 min were evaluated by ITP and (more often) by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). It was found that one preparative run provided up to 14 microg of pure DNP-Norleu enantiomers. This corresponded to a 75 times higher production rate of ITP relative to a maximum value of this parameter as estimated for preparative CZE runs in cylindrical capillaries (0.5 pmol/s). About 75% of the DNP-Norleu enantiomers loaded into the preparative equipment could be recovered in pure enantiomer fractions. Contiguous natures of the zones in the ITP stack and adsorption losses of the enantiomers in the isolation step were found to set practical limits for a further enhancement of the recovery rates in the isolation of pure enantiomers.     

Fitting adsorption isotherms to the distribution data determined using packed micro-columns for high-performance liquid chromatography

Knowing the adsorption isotherms of the components of a mixture on the chromatographic system used to separate them is necessary for a better understanding of the separation process and for the optimization of the production rate and costs in preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Currently, adsorption isotherms are usually measured by frontal analysis, using conventional analytical columns. Unfortunately, this approach requires relatively large quantities of pure compounds, and hence is expensive, especially in the case of pure enantiomers. In this work, we investigated the possible use of packed micro-bore and capillary HPLC columns for the determination of adsorption isotherms of benzophenone, o-cresol and phenol in reversed-phase systems and of the enantiomers of mandelic acid on a Teicoplanin chiral stationary phase. We found a reasonable agreement between the isotherm coefficients of the model compounds determined on micro-columns and on conventional analytical columns packed with the same material. Both frontal analysis and perturbation techniques could be used for this determination. The consumption of pure compounds needed to determine the isotherms decreases proportionally to the second power of the decrease in the column inner diameter, i.e. 10 times for a micro-bore column (1 mm I.D.) and 100 times for capillary columns (0.32 mm I.D.) with respect to 3.3 mm I.D. conventional columns.     

Determination of bromate in drinking water by zone electrophoresis-isotachophoresis on a column-coupling chip with conductivity detection

The use of capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) on-line coupled with isotachophoresis (ITP) sample pretreatment (ITP-CZE) on a poly(methylmethacrylate) chip, provided with two separation channels in the column-coupling (CC) arrangement and on-column conductivity detection sensors, to the determination of bromate in drinking water was investigated. Hydrodynamic and electroosmotic flows of the solution in the separation compartment of the chip were suppressed and electrophoresis was a dominant transport process in the ITP-CZE separations. A high sample load capacity, linked with the use of ITP in this combination, made possible loading of the samples by a 9.2 microL sample injection channel of the chip. In addition, bromate was concentrated by a factor of 10(3) or more in the ITP stage of the separation and, therefore, its transfer to the CZE stage characterized negligible injection dispersion. This, along with a favorable electric conductivity of the carrier electrolyte solution, contributed to a 20 nmol/L (2.5 ppb) limit of detection for bromate in the CZE stage. Sample cleanup, integrated into the ITP stage, effectively complemented such a detection sensitivity and bromate could be quantified in drinking water matrices when its concentration was 80 nmol/L (10 ppb) or slightly less while the concentrations of anionic macroconstituent (chloride, sulfate, nitrate) in the loaded sample corresponding to a 2 mmol/L (70 ppm) concentration of chloride were still tolerable. The samples containing macroconstituents at higher concentrations required appropriate dilutions and, consequently, bromate in these samples could be directly determined only at proportionally higher concentrations.     

Trace analysis of glyphosate in water by capillary electrophoresis on a chip with high sample volume loadability

A new method for the determination of trace glyphosate (GLYP), non-selective pesticide, by CZE with online ITP pre-treatment of drinking waters on a column-coupling (CC) chip has been developed. CC chip was equipped with two injection channels of 0.9 and 9.9 μL volumes, two separation channels of 9.3 μL total volume and a pair of conductivity detectors. A very effective ITP sample clean-up performed in the first channel at low pH (3.2) was introduced for quick CZE resolution and detection of GLYP carried out at higher pH (6.1) in the second channel on the CC chip. The LOD for GLYP was estimated at 2.5 μg/L (15 nmol/L) using a 9.9 |mL volume of the injection channel. ITP-CZE analyses of model and real samples have provided very favorable intra-day (0.1-1.2% RSD) and inter-day (2.9% RSD) repeatabilities of the migration time for GLYP while 0.2-6.9% RSD values were typical for the peak area data. Recoveries of GLYP in spiked drinking water varied in the range of 99-109%. A minimum pre-treatment of drinking water (degassing and dilution) and a short analysis time (ca. 10 min) were distinctive features of ITP-CZE determinations of GLYP on the CC chip with high sample volume loaded, as well.     

Effects of the dynamic modification of stationary phases by sorbates in gas chromatography: The possibility of separating enantiomers in achiral systems

It is shown that the gas chromatographic separation of enantiomers on columns with achiral nonpolar stationary phases is principally possible as a result of the dynamic modification of stationary phases by sorbates under analysis. It is found that a number of key characteristic features is intrinsic to such separation: it can be only partial, it does not occur for all chromatographic columns, and it is observed only for some compounds and only within narrow ranges of quantities of sorbates that are close to the limits of mass overload of chromatographic systems. These characteristic features are illustrated by the examples of separating (1R,5R)-(+)- and (1S,5S)-(?)-α-pinenes on a WCOT column with an RTX-5 phase. The main characteristic feature of the separation of enantiomers as a result of the dynamic modification of stationary phases is the nonconformity of peaks in chromatograms with two individual enantiomers, compared to other ways and means for their separation; the first eluting peak belongs to the enantiomer that predominates in a mixture irrespective of its configuration, while the second peak corresponds to the racemic mixture of enantiomers; i.e., the ratio of peak areas in chromatograms does not correspond to the actual ratio of enantiomers in samples under analysis and is strongly distorted as a result of their incomplete separation. It is concluded that the separation of racemic mixtures in achiral systems is fundamentally impossible under any conditions, and this is one of the key criteria of the validity of the considered concept as a whole.     

吸附固定相电色谱和动态改性电色谱的手性分离

对动态改性电色谱手性分离进行了研究。电色谱柱填充强阴离子交换固定相（SAX0,添加在流动相中的磺化β－环糊精（S－CD）动态地吸陵于SAX填料表面,形成一层准手性固定相。色氨酸、阿托品和异博定对映体在本体系获得了很好的分离,它们的分离分别为2．06,10．1和1．96,对映体峰的柱效价于85,000塔板数／米和412,000塔板数／米之间。连续运行17次,死时间和色氨酸对映体的电色谱保留因子的相对标准偏差分别为0．53％,0．62％和0．69％。此外,以吸附于SAX填料的牛血清白蛋白和S－CD为手性固定相进行了电色谱手性分离的研究。在这两种体系下分离色氨酸对映体的分离度分别为3．86和2．97。吸附S－CD柱电色谱和动态改性电谱的重现性进行子比较,发现动态改性电色谱有更好的重现性。     

Effect of the mobile phase on the retention behaviour of optical isomers of carboxylic acids and amino acids in liquid chromatography on bonded Teicoplanin columns

Conditions for separation of enantiomers of underivatized amino acids phenyl glycine and tryptophan and of mandelic acid as test compounds were studied on a Chirobiotic T column packed with amphoteric glycopeptide Teicoplanin covalently bonded to the surface of silica gel. The effects of the mobile phase composition on the retention and selectivity under analytical conditions, on the profile of the adsorption isotherms of the enantiomers and on the overloaded separation were investigated. The concentration of ethanol or of methanol in aqueous-organic mobile phases and the pH of the mobile phase affect not only the retention and selectivity, the saturation capacity and the isotherm profile, but also the solubility of the acids, which should be taken into account in development of preparative separations. A compromise between the separation selectivity and the solubility should be made in selecting the mobile phase suitable to accomplish preparative separations at acceptable production rate and throughput of the operation.     

Enantioseparation of Chiral Antimycotic Drugs by HPLC with Polysaccharide-Based Chiral Columns and Polar Organic Mobile Phases with Emphasis on Enantiomer Elution Order

The separation of enantiomers of 10 chiral antimycotic drugs was studied on polysaccharide-based chiral columns with polar organic mobile phases. The emphasis was placed on some interesting examples of enantiomer elution order reversal observed depending on the chemistry of the chiral selector, separation temperature, major component, as well as the minor additive in the mobile phase. In particular, it was found that the elution order of enantiomers of chiral drug terconazole was opposite on cellulose- and amylose-based columns with the same pendant group. The affinity pattern of enantiomers of another chiral drug bifonazole was opposite towards to two amylose-based chiral selectors with different pendant groups. The affinity pattern of terconazole enantiomers also changed on some columns when the alcohol-based mobile phase was replaced with acetonitrile. An interesting effect of the minor acidic (formic acid) additives to the mobile phase on the affinity pattern of terconazole enantiomers was observed on Cellulose-2 and Cellulose-4 columns. In addition, a reversal of elution order of bifonazole enantiomers was observed on Amylose-2 column by variation of a separation temperature.     

An approach to optimize the design of microfluidic chips for electrophoretic separations

The precise design and operational control of the separation process of liquid matrices is key to the performance of on-chip liquid analysis. Present research attempts from the engineering point of view to investigate of the process occurring in the microfluidic channels for chip design with the best separation efficiency. An one-dimensional model of electrokinetic sample motion was developed to simulate the separation process of sample containing amino acids (tryptophan, tyrosine, proline, methionine) that migrate in a buffer solution through a straight separation channel made of poly(methyl methacrylate) within a microfluidic chip under different conditions. On the basis of the simulations by the finite-difference method the effects of the channel size, the chip material, the applied voltage difference and the test solution pH on separation rate are discussed. It was found that for the channel length of 2 cm the resolution of peaks is optimal and the fastest time of amino acids separation is 4 s.     

Enantioseparation of Chiral Antimycotic Drugs by HPLC with Polysaccharide-Based Chiral Columns and Polar Organic Mobile Phases with Emphasis on Enantiomer Elution Order

The separation of enantiomers of 10 chiral antimycotic drugs was studied on polysaccharide-based chiral columns with polar organic mobile phases. The emphasis was placed on some interesting examples of enantiomer elution order reversal observed depending on the chemistry of the chiral selector, separation temperature, major component, as well as the minor additive in the mobile phase. In particular, it was found that the elution order of enantiomers of chiral drug terconazole was opposite on cellulose- and amylose-based columns with the same pendant group. The affinity pattern of enantiomers of another chiral drug bifonazole was opposite towards to two amylose-based chiral selectors with different pendant groups. The affinity pattern of terconazole enantiomers also changed on some columns when the alcohol-based mobile phase was replaced with acetonitrile. An interesting effect of the minor acidic (formic acid) additives to the mobile phase on the affinity pattern of terconazole enantiomers was observed on Cellulose-2 and Cellulose-4 columns. In addition, a reversal of elution order of bifonazole enantiomers was observed on Amylose-2 column by variation of a separation temperature.

     

Study of a novel sample injection method (floating electrokinetic supercharging) for high-performance microchip electrophoresis of DNA fragments

Aiming to achieve high-performance analysis of DNA fragments using microchip electrophoresis, we developed a novel sample injection method, which was given the name of floating electrokinetic supercharging (FEKS). In the method, electrokinetic injection (EKI) and ITP preconcentration of samples was performed in a separation channel, connecting two reservoir ports (P3 and P4) on a cross-geometry microchip. At these two stages, side channels, crossing the separation channel, and their ports (P1 and P2) were electrically floated. After the ITP-stacked zones passed the cross-part, they were eluted for detection by using leading ions from P1 and P2 that enabled electrophoresis mode changing rapidly from ITP to zone electrophoresis (ZE). Possible sample leakage at the cross-part toward P1 and P2 was studied in detail on the basis of computer simulation using a CFD-ACE+ software and real experiments, through which it was validated that the analyte recovery to the separation channel was almost complete. The FEKS method successfully contributed to higher resolution and shorter analysis time of DNA fragments on the cross-microchip owing to more rapid switching from ITP status to ZE separation in comparison with our previous EKS procedure realized on a single-channel microchip. Without any degradation of resolution, the achieved LODs were on average ten times better than using conventional pinched injection.     

Capillary electrophoresis and molecular modeling of the chiral separation of aromatic amino acids using α/β-cyclodextrin and 18-crown-6

In this work, chiral separation of enantiomers of three amino acids was achieved using capillary electrophoresis technique with α-cyclodextrin (αCD) as a running buffer additive. Only tryptophan has exhibited baseline separation in the presence of αCD, while the enantiomers of the other two amino acids, phenylalanine and tyrosine, were only partially separated. The addition of 18-crown-6 (18C6) as a second additive imparted only slight improvement to the separation of all enantiomers. On the other hand, all three racemic amino acid mixtures demonstrated no indication of separation when the larger cavity cyclodextrin members, β- and γCD, are used as running buffer chiral additives. However, remarkable improvements in the separation of the enantiomers of phenylalanine and tyrosine were obtained when 18C6 is used together with βCD as a running buffer additive. Surprisingly, tryptophan enantiomers were not separated by the dual additive system of cyclodextrin and crown ether. Using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), all amino acids were found to form stable binary complexes with individual hosts as well as ternary compounds involving the crown ether and the cyclodextrin. Furthermore, we used molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to build a clear picture about the interaction between the guest and the hosts. Most of these complexes remained stable throughout the simulation times, and the molecular dynamics study allowed better understanding of these supramolecular assemblies.     

Determination of free sulfite in wine by zone electrophoresis with isotachophoresis sample pretreatment on a column-coupling chip

This work deals with the determination of free sulfite in wine by zone electrophoresis (ZE) with on-line isotachophoresis (ITP) sample pretreatment on a column-coupling (CC) chip with conductivity detection. A rapid pre-column conversion of sulfite to hydroxymethanesulfonate (HMS), to minimize oxidation losses of the analyte, was included into the developed analytical procedure, while ITP and ZE were responsible for specific analytical tasks in the separations performed on the CC chip. ITP, for example, eliminated the sample matrix from the separation compartment and, at the same time, provided a selective concentration of HMS before its transfer to the ZE stage of the separation. On the other hand, ZE served as a final separation (destacking) method and it was used under the separating conditions favoring a sensitive conductivity detection of HMS. In this way, ITP and ZE cooperatively contributed to a 900 microg/l concentration detectability for sulfite as attained for a 60 nl load of wine (a 15-fold wine dilution and the use of a 0.9 microl sample injection channel of the chip) and, consequently, to the determination of free sulfite when this was present in wine at the concentrations as low as 3 mg/l. The separations were carried out in a closed separation compartment of the chip with suppressed hydrodynamic and electroosmotic flows. Such transport conditions, minimizing fluctuations of the migration velocities of the separated constituents, made a frame for precise migration and quantitation data as achieved for HMS in both the model and wine samples. Ninety percent recoveries, as typically obtained for free sulfite in wine samples, indicate promising potentialities of the present method as far as the accuracies of the provided analytical results are concerned.