Derivatization, stabilization and detection of biogenic amines by cyclodextrin-modified capillary electrophoresis-laser-induced fluorescence detection

o-Phthalaldehyde (OPA) derivatives of eight biogenic amines were stabilized at 5 degrees C by forming inclusion complexes with methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MBCD). The derivatives were separated and detected by cyclodextrin-modified capillary electrophoresis (CE) with UV or laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection. Using a borate buffer, pH 9.0 consisting of ethanol and a mixture of negatively charged sulfobutylether-beta-cyclodextrin and neutral MBCD, baseline separation of the eight OPA derivatives was achieved within 25 min with high separation efficiencies. The detection limits (S/N=3) obtained by UV and LIF detection were determined to be 10 microM and 0.250 microM, respectively. Glutamic acid was added after the initial derivatization step to neutralize residual OPA which otherwise caused a significant interference, particularly when analysis was performed around the detection limit of the OPA derivatives. Important biogenic amines in fish, wine and urine were then derivatized and determined by CE-LIF. In the case of sole and rainbow trout, the results obtained were validated by an enzymatic assay using putrescine oxidase.     

Ultraviolet thermal lensing detection of amino acids

Thermal lensing (TL) permits ultra-sensitive measurements of optical absorption of analytes in very small liquid volumes. We report the construction and use of a TL detector based on pulsed ultraviolet (UV) laser excitation (266 nm). We applied this detector to quantitate amino acids using capillary electrophoresis (CE) as a means of separation. Sixteen individual amino acids are readily detected, but the signal has a complex dependence on intensity caused by the combination of (1) one-photon absorption; (2) two-photon absorption (TPA); and (3) photodestruction of amino acid molecules in the focus of the laser beam. An aqueous solution containing tyrosine, tryptophan, and cysteine is electrophoretically separated and the individual amino acids are detected by UV TL. The estimated limit of detection is 7 microM for tyrosine, 2.5 microM for tryptophan and 33 microM for cysterine, which translates into 0.35 fmol for tyrosine, 0.125 fmol for tryptophan, and 1.65 fmol for cysteine in the 140pL detection volume. It is found that two-photon absorption of water and the formation of color centers in the fused silica walls of the flowcell can contribute a significant, drifting background signal, but this interference can be minimized by selecting an appropriate focus condition and excitation-detection geometry. We suggest that as UV laser sources become available, UV TL may become a method of choice for measuring the concentrations of many analytes in different separation formats in which the volume is highly limited.     

Simultaneous electrochemical and electrochemiluminescence detection for microchip and conventional capillary electrophoresis

A simultaneous electrochemical (EC) and electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detection scheme was introduced to both microchip and conventional capillary electrophoresis (CE). In this dual detection scheme, tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)3(2+)) was used as an ECL reagent as well as a catalyst (in the formation of Ru(bpy)3(3+)) for the EC detection. In the Ru(bpy)3(2+)-ECL process, Ru(bpy)3(3+) was generated and then reacted with analytes resulting in an ECL emission and a great current enhancement in EC detection due to the catalysis of Ru(bpy)3(3+). The current response and ECL signals were monitored simultaneously. In the experiments, dopamine and three kinds of pharmaceuticals, anisodamine, ofloxacin, and lidocaine, were selected to validate this dual detection strategy. Typically, for the EC detection of dopamine with the presence of Ru(bpy)3(2+), a approximately 5 times higher signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) can be achieved than that without Ru(bpy)3(2+), during the simultaneous EC and ECL detection of a mixture of dopamine and lidocaine using CE separation. The results indicated that this dual EC and ECL detection strategy could provide a simple and convenient detection method for analysis of more kinds of analytes in CE separation than the single EC or ECL detection alone, and more information of analytes could be achieved in analytical applications simultaneously.     

Fabrication and evaluation of a carbon-based dual-electrode detector for poly(dimethylsiloxane) electrophoresis chips

The first carbon-based dual-electrode detector for microchip capillary electrophoresis (CE) is described. The poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)-based microchip CE devices were constructed by reversibly sealing a PDMS layer containing separation and injection channels to another PDMS layer containing carbon fiber working electrodes. End-channel amperometric detection was employed and the performance of the chip was evaluated using catechol. The response was found to be linear between 1 and 600 microM with an experimentally determined limit of detection (LOD) of 500 nM and a sensitivity of 30 pA/microM. Collection efficiencies for catechol ranged from 36.0 to 43.7% at field strengths of 260-615 V/cm. The selectivity that can be gained with these devices is demonstrated by the first CE-based dual-electrode detection of a Cu(II) peptide complex. These devices illustrate the potential for a rugged and easily constructed microchip CE system with an integrated carbon-based detector of similar scale.     

Sensitive determination of carbohydrates labelled with p-nitroaniline by capillary electrophoresis with photometric detection using a 406 nm light-emitting diode

p-Nitroaniline was explored as a derivatising reagent for UV absorbance detection of carbohydrates after separation by CE. This derivatising agent has three advantages: first, it has excellent water solubility; second, it has high molar absorptivity; and third, it is possible to obtain sensitive detection using a UV or blue light-emitting diode (LED) as the light source. The labelling reaction took less than 30 min to complete with high reaction yield. The separation process was modelled and optimised using an artificial neural network. Nine carbohydrates were separated by a CE system within 16 min using a 0.17 M boric acid buffer at pH 9.7. On-column LED detection at 406 nm allowed the detection of carbohydrates with good detection limits (<1.1 microM or 8.8 fmol) and reproducible quantification in the concentration range of 2.6-200 microM. This method was applied successfully to the determination of component carbohydrates in some food samples.     

On-column detection of multiphoton-excited fluorescence in CE using hyphenated cylindrical-square capillaries

Multiphoton-excited fluorescence (MPEF) is a complementary and useful mode of LIF detection in CE with advantages of ultra-low mass detectability and spectral excitability, but it is currently quite limited by its end-column configuration. In this article, we demonstrate a novel strategy of on-column schemes that can greatly facilitate MPEF detection in CE. FITC-labeled amine species were used as the model samples for the evaluation and comparison of those detection scenarios. By using the square capillary instead of the conventional cylindrical one, the on-column MPEF could be readily achieved, with detection sensitivity of 0.72 microM that was comparable with the end-column mode. However, this strategy unfavorably reduced separation efficiency. The theoretical plate number on averaging all the sample peaks was significantly decreased from 283,000 to 19,000/m. To minimize such an influence, a short square capillary acting as an on-column MPEF detection cell was then mounted to a long cylindrical capillary responsible for the CE separation. Results indicated that both high separation efficiency (240,000/m) and better detectability (0.42 microM) were realized simultaneously by using this binary-capillary configuration. Quantitative analysis was performed under the optimized detector configuration and revealed a linear dynamic range of 2 orders of magnitude, with mass detection limit down to the mid-yottomole level.     

Capillary electrophoresis of cardiolipin with on-line dye interaction and spectrophotometric detection

Cardiolipin is an important phospholipid present in the mitochondrial inner membrane. It plays a key function in mitochondrial respiration by interacting with many enzymes or cofactors related to oxidative phosphorylation complexes. We have determined the concentration of cardiolipin using on-line 10-N-nonyl acridine orange (NAO) dye interaction capillary electrophoresis (CE) and spectrophotometric detection with a sample throughput of 3 min. In addition to the presence of 0.1 mM NAO, the background electrolyte (BGE) composition has been set at 80% methanol-10% acetonitrile-10% H(2)O (all v/v) to provide both good solubility and the maximum absorbance enhancement at 497 nm for the NAO-cardiolipin complex as compared to NAO alone. Sample consumption for each injection is about 57 nL. A calibration curve is established from 0.5 microM to 0.1 mM with R (2) = 0.9912 with a detection limit of 0.05 microM for cardiolipin. In a blind study, actual mitochondrial cell membrane samples in the microL range before or after UV light exposure were analyzed using the CE method. Cardiolipin concentration decreased in the different parts of the membrane sample upon UV photolysis of the cells. Support for the theory that UV light can induce cardiolipin translocation from the inner membrane (IM) to the outer membrane (OM) was indicated by a significant percentage increase of cardiolipin (as measured by the cardiolipin in the OM as compared to the sum total in the OM and IM) from 30.7 +/- 2.4% before UV light photolysis to 38.3 +/- 2.2% after UV irradiation.     

Capillary electrophoretic and micellar electrokinetic separations of asymmetric dimethyl-L-arginine and structurally related amino acids: quantitation in human plasma

We report the development of efficient electrophoretic methods for the separation and quantification of L-arginine and six naturally occurring derivatives that are structurally and functionally related. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) employing a concentrated borate buffer at pH 9.4 achieves the separation of mixtures containing dimethyl-L-arginine, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, L-arginine, L-homoarginine, L-ornithine, and L-citrulline as 4-fluoro-7-nitrobenzofurazan derivatives. In addition, the separation of the isomeric dimethyl-L-arginine derivatives (symmetric and asymmetric) is attained with baseline resolution by micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) when a high concentration of deoxycholic acid is added as a surfactant to the same running buffer. The influence of buffer type, concentration, and pH on the separation was studied to optimize separation conditions. The limit of quantitation (LOQ) for asymmetric dimethyl-L-arginine in aqueous solution was determined to be 20 microM using UV absorption in a CE separation and 0.1 microM using laser induced fluorescence (LIF) detection in an MEKC separation. This newly developed method was successfully applied for the quantitation of asymmetric dimethyl-L-arginine and L-arginine in human plasma samples at levels that might be used as a clinical diagnostic for cardiovascular disease (0.125 microM LOQ).     

Migration behavior and separation of active components in Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch and its commercial extract by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography

1-Anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonic acid (1,8-ANS), 4,4'-dianilino-1,1'-binaphthyl-5,5'-disulfonic acid (bis-ANS) and 2-(p-toluidino)naphthalene-6-sulfonic acid (2,6-TNS) were evaluated as additives in different buffers for the detection of bovine whey proteins using laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) monitoring in capillary electrophoresis (CE). These N-arylaminonaphthalene sulfonates furnish a large fluorescence emission when associated to some proteins whereas their emission in aqueous buffers, such as those used in CE separations, is very small. To select the best detection conditions, the fluorescence of these probes was first compared using experiments carried out in a fluorescence spectrophotometer. Using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model protein, it was demonstrated that 2-(N-cyclohexylamino)ethanesulfonic acid (CHES) buffer (pH 8 and pH 10.2) and the fluorescent probe 2,6-TNS gave rise to the highest increase in fluorescence for BSA. When the composition of these separation buffers was optimized for the electrophoretic separations, CHES buffer, pH 10.2 was chosen as the most suitable buffer to detect bovine whey proteins. The limit of detection obtained for some whey proteins in CE separations was about 6.10(-8) M for BSA, 3.10(-7) M for beta-lactoglobulin A (beta-LGA), 3.10(-7) M for beta-lactoglobulin B (beta-LGB), and 3.10(-6) M for alpha-lactalbumin (alpha-LA). These detection limits were compared to those achieved using UV detection under the same separation conditions. The results showed that the detection limits of BSA, beta-LGA and beta-LGB were twice as good using LIF than with UV detection. However, the limit of detection for alpha-LA was better when UV was used. The applicability of LIF detection to CE separation of whey proteins in bovine milk samples was also demonstrated.     

Determination of ammonia, creatinine and inorganic cations in urine using CE with contactless conductivity detection

CE with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (C(4)D) was used to determine waste products of the nitrogen metabolism (ammonia and creatinine) and of biogenic inorganic cations in samples of human urine. The CE separation was performed in two BGEs, consisting of 2 M acetic acid + 1.5 mM crown ether 18-crown-6 (BGE I) and 2 M acetic acid + 2% w/v PEG (BGE II). Only BGE II permitted complete separation of all the analytes in a model sample and in real urine samples. The LOD values for the optimized procedure ranged from 0.8 microM for Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) to 2.9 microM for NH(4)(+) (in terms of mass concentration units, from 7 microg/L for Li(+) to 102 microg/L for creatinine). These values are adequate for determination of NH(4)(+), creatinine, Na(+), K(+), Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) in real urine samples.     

Lamp-based native fluorescence detection of proteins in capillary electrophoresis

The potential of a recently developed lamp-based fluorescence detector for the analysis of underivatised proteins by capillary electrophoresis (CE) was investigated. Fluorescence detection (Flu) was achieved using optical light guides to deliver excitation light from a Xenon–Mercury lamp to the capillary detection window and to collect fluorescence emission and lead it to a photomultiplier. The performance of the detector was evaluated by monitoring the native fluorescence of the amino acid tryptophan and the proteins α-chymotrypsinogen A, carbonic anhydrase II, lysozyme and trypsinogen upon excitation at 280 nm. The test compounds were analysed using background electrolytes (BGEs) of sodium phosphate at pH 3.0 and 11.3. The results were compared to experiments of CE with UV absorbance detection. For tryptophan, a linear fluorescence response was obtained with a dynamic range of over 4 orders of magnitude, and a limit of detection (LOD) of 6.7 nM. This LOD was a factor of 200 more favourable than UV detection at 280 nm, and a factor of 20 better than detection at low-UV wavelengths. All tested proteins showed linear fluorescence responses up to 250 μg/mL. LODs were typically in the 10–20 nM range. These LODs were a factor of 25 lower than for UV detection at 280 nm, and comparable to UV detection at low-UV wavelengths. Overall, Flu yields much more stable baselines, especially with a BGE of high pH. The applicability of CE–Flu is demonstrated by the analysis of a degraded protein mixture, and of an expired formulation of the protein drug human growth hormone, indicating that protein degradation products can be selectively detected.     

Capillary electrophoresis with on-chip four-electrode capacitively coupled conductivity detection for application in bioanalysis

Microchip capillary electrophoresis (CE) with integrated four-electrode capacitively coupled conductivity detection is presented. Conductivity detection is a universal detection technique that is relatively independent on the detection pathlength and, especially important for chip-based analysis, is compatible with miniaturization and on-chip integration. The glass microchip structure consists of a 6 cm etched channel (20 microm x 70 microm cross section) with silicon nitride covered walls. In the channel, a 30 nm thick silicon carbide layer covers the electrodes to enable capacitive coupling with the liquid inside the channel as well as to prevent interference of the applied separation field. The detector response was found to be linear over the concentration range from 20 microM up to 2 mM. Detection limits were at the low microM level. Separation of two short peptides with a pI of respectively 5.38 and 4.87 at the 1 mM level demonstrates the applicability for biochemical analysis. At a relatively low separation field strength (50 V/cm) plate numbers in the order of 3500 were achieved. Results obtained with the microdevice compared well with those obtained in a bench scale CE instrument using UV detection under similar conditions.     

Design and performance of a light-emitting diode detector compatible with a commercial capillary electrophoresis instrument

Indirect photometric detection in capillary electrophoresis (CE) has been predominantly performed in the UV region, in part due to a lack of suitable high-intensity and low-noise light sources in the visible spectral region. A new photometric detector based on light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as light sources and compatible with a commercially available CE instrument has been designed and constructed and its performance evaluated. The utility of this detector was successfully demonstrated by the indirect photometric detection of anions using a dye as probe and absorbance measured in the visible region. The detector exhibited very low baseline noise (around 0.03 mAU), stable output, and improved upper limit of detection linearity (502 mAU) compared with previously used LED detectors. The detector was tested for indirect detection of anions separated with an electrolyte containing 4 mM Orange G as the indirect detection probe, 10 mM histidine as an isoelectric buffer, and 0.05% hydroxypropylmethylcellulose to suppress the electroosmotic flow. Extremely low detection limits were obtained ranging from 0.16-0.36 microM (excluding chloride 0.56 microM), with separation efficiencies in the range of 154,000-274,000 theoretical plates.     

Determination of chlorpheniramine and its binding with human serum albumin by capillary electrophoresis with tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) electrochemiluminescence detection.

Tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detection in a capillary electrophoresis separation system was used for the determination of chlorpheniramine (CPM). The experimental conditions, such as the applied potential, separation voltage, injection voltage, injection time and the pH of the separation buffer were considered in detail. The ECL intensity showed two linear responses to CPM, i.e., from 15 microM to 1 mM and from 0.8 microM to 15 microM with a detection limit of 0.5 microM. The binding of CPM with human serum albumin was also monitored using this method and the binding constant was estimated to be 4.1 x 103 M(-1).     

Development of capillary electrophoresis for the determination of metal ions using mixed partial and complete complexation techniques

A new capillary electrophoretic (CE) method was developed for the selective and sensitive determination of common metal ions. The proposed method is based on conventional CE separation of metal cations followed by complete complexation of separated analytes with 1,10-phenanthroline using the zone-passing technique. This approach combines both partial and complete complexation modes and, thus, enables rapid, selective, efficient separation together with sensitive direct UV detection of metal species. The optimal conditions for the separation and derivatization reaction were established by varying type of electrolyte, electrolyte pH, introduction time and concentration of 1,10-phenanthroline. The optimized separations were carried out in 50 mmol l(-1) glycolic acid electrolyte (pH 6.0 with imidazole) using direct UV detection at 254 nm. Five common metal cations (Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+) were separated in less than 4 min. The proposed system was applied to the determination of Fe(II) and Zn(II) in snow samples. The recovery tests established for snow samples were within the range 100+/-12%.     

Enantioseparation of the anticoagulant drug phenprocoumon in capillary electrophoresis with UV and laser-induced fluorescence detection and application of the method to urine samples

The enantioseparation of phenprocoumon (PhC) in capillary electrophoresis (CE) has been studied using various cyclodextrins (CDs) such as native alpha, beta and gamma-CD and several neutral and randomly, as well as selectively substituted charged CD derivatives. Reversal of the enantiomer migration order was observed when using heptakis(2,3,6-tri-O-methyl (TM)-beta-CD as a chiral selector compared to all other CDs used. The detection of PhC was performed using either UV or laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection. The limit of detection (LOD) observed with LIF detection was ca. 20 times lower compared to UV. The method has been applied to the analysis of urine samples of the patient under treatment with PhC in combination with other drugs such as ramipril, hydrochlorothiazide, and nifedipine.     

Improving detection in capillary electrophoresis with laser induced fluorescence via a bubble cell capillary and laser power adjustment

Bubble cells have been frequently employed in capillary electrophoresis (CE) to increase the light path length with UV detection to provide an increase in the observed sensitivity of CE; however this approach has not been commonly used for laser-induced fluorescence detection (LIF) with CE. In this paper we study the influence of laser power on the sensitivity of detection in using conventional and enlarged fused silica capillaries for CE with LIF. When using the bubble cell capillary, the laser power must be decreased relative to use of the conventional capillary to reduce the effects of photodegradation of the species being illuminated by the laser. Even though the light intensity was decreased, an increase in sensitivity of detection was observed for most compounds when a bubble cell was used. This increase ranged from a factor of 8 for riboflavin (410 nm excitation) to 3.2 for most aromatic compounds (266 nm excitation), when using a 3x bubble cell compared with a conventional capillary. The bubble cell capillary was used for native detection of IgG by LIF at 266 nm. A limit of detection of 60 ng mL(-1) was obtained from a 20 pg injection, which was 40 times more sensitive than silver staining in conventional SDS/PAGE.     

A simple and sensitive method of nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced native fluorescence detection for the analysis of chelerythrine and sanguinarine in Chinese herbal medicines

Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) is a highly sensitive detection method for capillary electrophoresis (CE). However, it usually requires analyte to be derivatized, unless the wavelength of native fluorescence of analyte matches the laser's. That limits its application in drug analysis. In this work, we introduced a rapid, simple and sensitive method of nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced native fluorescence (NACE-LIF) detection for the analysis of chelerythrine and sanguinarine for the first time. As these two alkaloids have some native fluorescence, they were directly detected using a commercially available Ar⁺ laser without troublesome fluorescent derivatization. The fluorescence was enhanced by nonaqueous media. Compared with previously reported UV detection method, lower limit of detection (LOD) is achieved thanks to the high sensitivity of LIF detection (2.0 ng/mL for chelerythrine and 6.3 ng/mL for sanguinarine). Moreover, with NACE, the baseline separation of these alkaloids is finished within 3.5 min. This method is successfully applied to determine the contents of chelerythrine and sanguinarine in Macleaya cordata (Willd.) R. Br. and Chelidonium majus L.     

Capillary liquid chromatography of multiple peptides with on-line capillary electrophoresis immunoassay detection.

A competitive immunoassay for neuropeptide Y (NPY) based on capillary electrophoresis (CE) with laser-induced fluorescence detection was developed utilizing polyclonal antisera as the immunoreagent and fluorescein-labeled NPY as the tracer. The assay was performed with on-line mixing of reagents, automated injections, and a 3 s separation time. The assay had a detection limit of 850 pM. To detect NPY at lower concentrations, the assay was coupled on-line to reversed-phase capillary liquid chromatography (LC). In this arrangement, 5 microL samples were preconcentrated by capillary LC and eluted by a gradient of isopropanol-containing mobile phase. The resulting chromatographic peaks were monitored by the CE immunoassay. With preconcentration, the concentration detection limit was improved to 40 microM and NPY could be measured in push-pull perfusion samples collected from the paraventricular nucleus of freely moving rats. The technique was extended to simultaneous detection of NPY and glucagon secretion from islets of Langerhans.     

Profiling of erythropoietin products by capillary electrophoresis with native fluorescence detection

The potential of CE with native fluorescence detection (Flu) for the profiling of the therapeutic protein erythropoietin (EPO) was studied. EPO is a highly heterogeneous glycoprotein comprising a large number of isoforms. CE was applied to induce separation among the various glycoforms. Native Flu of EPO provided high detection selectivity yielding good signal‐to‐noise ratios and stable baselines, particularly when compared to conventional UV absorbance detection. In order to enhance EPO isoform resolution, CE was performed using a capillary with a neutral coating in combination with a simple BGE of 2.0 M acetic acid (pH 2.1). CE‐Flu analysis of the EPO biological reference preparation of the European Pharmacopeia resulted in a highly detailed glycoform profile. Migration time RSDs for selected EPO isoforms were less than 0.22% and 0.80% for intraday and interday repeatability, respectively. RSDs for relative peak intensity of the major EPO isoforms were less than 3%. The achieved resolution, migration time stability, and sensitivity allowed discrimination of different EPO products (EPO‐α and EPO‐β) based on the recorded glycoform pattern. The developed CE‐Flu method is relatively straightforward, and shows potential for quality control in biopharmaceutical production.