Capillary electrophoresis and microchip capillary electrophoresis with electrochemical and electrochemiluminescence detection

Recent advances and key strategies in capillary electrophoresis and microchip CE with electrochemical detection (ECD) and electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detection are reviewed. This article consists of four main parts: CE-ECD; microchip CE-ECD; CE-ECL; and microchip CE-ECL. It is expected that ECD and ECL will become powerful tools for CE microchip systems and will lead to the creation of truly disposable devices. The focus is on papers published in the last two years (from 2005 to 2006).     

Determination of tertiary amines based on pH junctions and field amplification in capillary electrophoresis with electrochemiluminescence detection

A stacking approach based on pH junction and field amplification has been developed for determining amines by capillary electrophoresis (CE) with electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detection. A two-electrode configuration was employed with an indium/tin oxide-coated glass as a working electrode and a platinum wire as a pseudoreference electrode. The ECL system also contains a flow cell (poly(dimethylsiloxane)-aluminum oxide) that was made from a mixture of Sylgard 184 silicone elastomer, a curing agent, and aluminum oxide. In order to improve the sensitivity of the present CE-ECL system using tris(2,2'-bipyridyl) ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)(3) (2+)), a stacking approach based on pH junctions and field amplification has been tested for the analysis of triethylamine (TEA), tripropylamine (TPA), and tributylamine (TBA). Once amines (cations) prepared in citric acid solution (pH < 4.0) migrate towards the background electrolyte (15 mM sodium borate at pH 8.0), they slow down and are stacked at the boundary as a result of deprotonation and decreases in the electric field. By applying hydrodynamic injection of the sample for 60 s, this method provides the concentration limits of detection (signal-to-noise ratio = 3) of 24, 20, and 32 nM for TEA, TPA, and TBA, respectively. The results indicate that the stacking CE-ECL system is better than CE-ECL systems using a two-electrode configuration and comparable to those using a three-electrode configuration. The potential applicability of the new and low-cost CE-ECL system has been demonstrated by the determination of 1.0 microM lidocaine, a local anesthetic drug, in urine without any tedious sample preparation.     

Drug-human serum albumin binding studied by capillary electrophoresis with electrochemiluminescence detection

A new technique for investigating drug-protein binding was developed employing capillary electrophoresis (CE) coupled with tris(2,2'-bipyridyl) ruthenium(II) [Ru(bpy)(3) (2+)] electrochemiluminescence (ECL) (CE-ECL) detection after equilibrium dialysis. Three basic drugs, namely pridinol, procyclidine and its analogue trihexyphenidyl, were successfully separated by capillary zone electrophoresis with end-column Ru(bpy)(3) (2+) ECL detection. The relative drug binding to human serum albumin (HSA) for each single drug as well as for the three drugs binding simultaneously was calculated. It was found that the three antiparkinsonian drugs compete for the same binding site on HSA. This work demonstrated that Ru(bpy)(3) (2+) CE-ECL can be a suitable technique for studying drug-protein binding.     

New capillary electrophoresis-electrochemiluminescence detection system equipped with an electrically heated Ru(bpy)3(2+)/multi-wall-carbon-nanotube paste electrode

A new capillary electrophoresis-electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detection system equipped with an electrically heated Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)/multi-wall-carbon-nanotube paste electrode (Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)/MWNTPE) was developed. Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) was immobilized in the electrode by directly mixing with the multi-wall-carbon-nanotube paste (MWNTP). This modified electrode could be electrically heated and temperature of the electrode (Te) could be accurately controlled. Tri-n-propylamine (TPrA) was used as coreactant to investigate CE-ECL signals under different conditions. Compared with the conventional electrode at room temperature, the heated electrode has been shown to provide some advantages, such as higher sensitivity, lower RSD, and decreasing width of the peak. Furthermore, wider range of capillary-to-electrode distance and larger-area electrode are a benefit to CE-ECL. In addition, this system has been applied to separation and detection of acephate and dimethoate. The results indicated that the present CE-ECL system coupled with heated modified-electrode could provide high sensitivity, wide linear range, satisfying linear relationship and excellent reproducibility.     

Capillary electrophoresis with gold nanoparticles enhanced electrochemiluminescence for the detection of roxithromycin

Tris(2,2'-bipyridyl) ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)(3)(2+))-roxithromycin based electrochemiluminescence (ECL) was enhanced greatly by gold nanoparticles 10 nm in diameter. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) was coupled with the resultant ECL system as a detector for roxithromycin. This ECL emission is explained by the coreactant mechanism where roxithromycin behaves as a coreactant to generate strong reducing species and gold nanoparticles act as "floating nanoelectrodes". The reaction of Ru(bpy)(3)(3+) with the generated strong reducing species on the Pt working electrode as well as on "floating nanoelectrodes" releases Ru(bpy)(3)(2+*), resulting in enhancement of ECL emission. The selectivity of this detection system towards roxithromycin was examined by CE. Under the optimized conditions, the intensity of ECL emission varies linearly with the concentration of roxithromycin from 24 nM to 0.24 mM. The detection limit is 8.4 nM, while without adding gold nanoparticles it is only 84 nM. The detection of roxithromycin in pharmaceutical and urine samples was also performed by the proposed CE-ECL method.     

Detection of clindamycin by capillary electrophoresis with an end-column electrochemiluminescence of tris(2,2'-bypyridine)ruthenium(II)

Coupled capillary electrophoresis (CE) with end-column electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) was adopted for the quantitative detection of clindamycin. Clindamycin enhanced ECL intensity of tris(2,2'-bypyridine)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)) as a coreactant. Under the optimized conditions, the ECL intensity was linear with the concentration of clindamycin over the range from 5.0 x 10(-7) to 1.0 x 10(-4)M with a detection limit of 1.4 x 10(-7)M. The proposed CE-ECL was successfully applied for the detection of clindamycin in pharmaceutical and clinic samples. The interaction of clindamycin with hemoglobin was also investigated. The binding constant of clindamycin with hemoglobin was estimated to be 3.6 x 10(3)M(-1).     

毛细管电泳电致化学发光灵敏检测毒品类生物碱及在尿样分析中的应用

本文基于盐酸甲基麻黄碱、蒂巴因、磷酸可待因和乙酰可待因等4种分析物对三联吡啶钌电致化学发光具有增强作用的特性, 同时结合离子液体的使用, 提出了一种CE-ECL同时分离检测的新方法. 对电泳分离条件、电致化学发光检测条件和离子液体的影响进行了系统优化, 将提出的新方法成功应用于人尿样中4种毒品含量的分析, 结果令人满意.     

Capillary electrophoresis with solid-state electrochemiluminescence detector

We report capillary electrophoresis coupling to a solid-state electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detector for the first time. The solid-state ECL detector was fabricated by immobilizing the ECL reagent tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium (TBR) in poly-(p-styrenesulfonate)-silica-poly(vinyl alcohol) grafting 4-vinylpyridine copolymer films. The excellent stability of the solid-state ECL detector in the phosphate solution satisfied application in CE. The CE with solid-state ECL detector system was characterized using tripropylamine (TPA) and proline. The influences of detection potential, the concentration of TBR in the film, and pH value of ECL buffer were investigated. The linear range for TPA and proline was 0.005-10 microM and 5-10 mM with correlation coefficients of 0.997 and 0.998, respectively. The detection limit (signal-to-noise ratio S/N = 3) was estimated to be 0.002 and 2.0 microM for TPA and proline, respectively. The relative standard deviations for 1.0 microM TPA and 1.0 mM proline were 8.7% and 7.5% with theoretical plate numbers of 70 000 and 16 000, respectively. Compared with the CE-ECL of TBR in aqueous solution, the CE coupling with solid-state ECL detector system gave the same sensitivity of analysis.     

毛细管电泳-电致化学发光法测定土壤中的多抗霉素B

以稀土铕离子(Ⅲ)掺杂的类普鲁士蓝膜(Eu-PB)修饰铂电极为工作电极,采用毛细管电泳-电致化学发光法(CE-ECL)对土壤中的多抗霉素B进行检测.分别对毛细管电泳分离条件和电致化学发光检测条件进行优化,并探讨了体系产生电致化学发光的机理.在优化实验条件下,多抗霉素B可在4 min内得到分离,其ECL强度值与多抗霉素B...     

Determination of the number of binding sites and binding constant between diltiazem hydrochloride and human serum albumin by ultrasonic microdialysis coupled with online capillary electrophoresis electrochemiluminescence

A simple, sensitive and selective determination of diltiazem hydrochloride (DLT) is described using capillary electrophoresis electrochemiluminescence (CE-ECL). The CE-ECL parameters that affect separation and detection were optimized. Under the optimized conditions, the linear range of DLT was from 0.02 to 100 μmol/L (r(2) = 0.9983), with the detection limit of 5.1 nmol/L (3σ). The relative standard deviations of ECL intensity and the migration time were <2% for 0.1 μmol/L and 22 μmol/L DLT (n = 11). A new technique for determining of the number of binding sites and binding constant between DLT and HSA was developed using ultrasonic microdialysis coupled with CE-ECL. The number of binding sites and binding constant were 5.9 and 6.3 × 10(4) L/mol, respectively. The time required for ultrasonic microdialysis was 10 times less than that for traditional dialysis. Compared with traditional dialysis, ultrasonic microdialysis is simple, rapid, and should be applicable to a wide range of interactions of drugs and biomacromolecules.     

毛细管电泳-电化学发光法测定盐酸曲马多制剂及血浆中曲马多

采用毛细管电泳结合柱末电化学发光检测器提出了测定盐酸曲马多制剂及血浆中曲马多含量的方法。检测的原理系基于曲马多分子中的叔氨基对在pH9的磷酸盐缓冲介质中钌联吡啶络离子[Ru(Bpy)23+]与溶解氧在铂盘工作电极上反应的电化学发光的增强作用。对毛细管电泳及电化学发光检测的试验条件进行了优化。在优化的试验条件下,制剂中曲马多在1.0×10-8～7.0×10-6mol.L-1,血浆中曲马多在2.0×10-7～6.0×10-6mol.L-1范围内呈线性,检出限(3S/N)分别为7.0×10-9mol.L-1和1.0×10-7mol.L-1。采用该方法对盐酸曲马多制剂和血浆中曲马多的浓度分别进行了测定,所得平均回收率分别为98.9%和89.9%。     

Dual-cloud point extraction and tertiary amine labeling for selective and sensitive capillary electrophoresis-electrochemiluminescent detection of auxins

The low concentrations of the auxins in samples of plant tissue necessitate the use of selective and sensitive techniques for their quantification. Herein a selective and sensitive method based on dual-cloud point extraction (dCPE) and tertiary amine labeling for the quantification of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) by capillary electrophoresis-electrochemiluminescence (CE-ECL) is proposed. The procedure for dCPE included two cloud point processes with Triton X-114 as the extractant. The two auxins became hydrophobic in an acidic solution and were extracted into surfactant-rich phase after the first cloud point procedure. They were then back-extracted into the alkaline aqueous phase during the second cloud point step. The extracted auxins were reacted with 2-(2-aminoethyl)-1-methylpyrrolidine (AEMP) in acetonitrile that contained N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and 3,4-dihydro-3-hydroxy-4-oxo-1,2,3-benzotriazine to produce their AEMP-derivatives. The two auxin-AEMP-derivatives were subjected into CE and detected by Ru(bpy)₃²⁺-based ECL. The preconcentration factors for IAA and IBA with dCPE were 40.5 and 43.4, respectively. The on-capillary detection limits (S/N = 3) were 2.5 and 2.8 nM for IAA and IBA. This protocol presents a clear advantage in that it reduces the interference from the matrixes extensively and gives a high sensitivity for the detection of auxins. The proposed method was applied successfully to the detection of the two auxins in acacia tender leaves, buds, and bean sprout.     

Direct tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium (II) electrochemiluminescence detection of polyamines separated by capillary electrophoresis

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) with tris(2,2'-bipyridyl) ruthenium (II) (Ru(bpy)3(2+)) electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detection technique was developed for the analysis of four polyamines (putrescine (Put), cadaverine (Cad), spermidine (Spd), and spermine (Spm)) analysis. The four polyamines contain different amine groups, which have different ECL activity. There are several parameters which influence the resolution and ECL peak intensities, including the buffer pH and concentrations, separation voltage, sample injection, electrode materials, and Ru(bpy)3(2+) concentrations. Polyamines are separated by capillary zone electrophoresis in an uncoated fused-silica capillary (50 cmx25 micro m (ID) filled with acidic phosphate buffer (200 mmol/L phosphate, pH 2.0) - 1mol/L phosphoric acid (9:1 v/v) and a separation voltage of 5 kV (25 micro A), with end-column Ru(bpy)3(2+) ECL detection. A 5 mmol/L Ru(bpy)3(2+) solution plus 200 mmol/L phosphate buffer (pH 11.0) is added into the reagent reservoir. The calibration curve is linear over a concentration range of two or three orders of magnitude for the polyamines. The analysis time is less than 25 min. Detection limits for Put and Cad are 1.9x10(-7) mol/L and 7.6x10(-9) mol/L for Spd and Spm, respectively. Intraday and interday relative standard deviations of ECL peak intensities are less than 8%. The main advantages of this CE-ECL detection technique for polyamines analysis presented herein are the omission of chemical derivatization of the analytes and the high selectivity.     

Ultrasonic microdialysis coupled with capillary electrophoresis electrochemiluminescence study the interaction between trimetazidine dihydrochloride and human serum albumin

The paper describes a homemade ultrasonic microdialysis device coupled with capillary electrophoresis electrochemiluminescence (CE-ECL) for studying the interaction between human serum albumin (HSA) and trimetazidine dihydrochloride (TMZ). The time required for equilibrium by ultrasonic microdialysis was 45 min, which was far less than that by traditional dialysis (240 min). It took 80 min to achieve the required combination equilibrium by normal incubation and only 20 min by ultrasonic. Compared with traditional dialysis, the use of ultrasonic microdialysis simplified experimental procedures, shortened experimental time and saved consumption of sample. A simple, sensitive and selective determination of TMZ was developed using CE-ECL and the parameters that affected ECL intensity were optimized. Under the optimized conditions, the linear range of TMZ was from 0.075 to 80 μmol/L (r² = 0.9974). The detection limit was 26 nmol/L with RSD of 2.8%. The number of binding sites and binding constant were 1.54 and 15.17 L/mol, respectively.     

Analysis of ethambutol and methoxyphenamine by capillary electrophoresis with electrochemiluminescence detection

A capillary electrophoresis (CE) coupled with electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detection method for the analysis of ethambutol (EB) and methoxyphenamine (MP) has been investigated. Complete separation of EB and MP was achieved in 8 min using a background electrolyte of 20 mM sodium phosphate at pH 10.0 and a separation voltage of 9 kV. ECL detection was performed with an indium/tin oxide (ITO) working electrode biased at 1.4 V (versus a Pt wire reference) in a 200 mM sodium phosphate buffer (pH 8.0) containing 3.5 mM Ru(bpy)3(2+) (where bpy = 2,2'-bipyridyl). Linear correlation (r > or = 0.993) between ECL intensity and drug concentration was obtained in the range 2-50 ng/ml. The limits of detection (LODs) for EB and MP in water were 1.0 and 0.9 ng/ml, respectively. The relative standard deviation values on peak size (10 ng/ml level) and migration time for the two drugs were in the ranges 5-8 and 0.2-0.7% (n = 7), respectively. Applicability of the CE-ECL method to the analysis of human plasma spiked with EB and MP was examined. The LODs for EB and MP in plasma were 0.4 and 0.3 microg/ml, respectively.     

CE coupling with end-column electrochemiluminescence detection for chiral separation of disopyramide

CE with electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detection technique was successfully applied for the chiral separation of a kind of class IA antiarrhythmic racemic drug. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of ECL detection used in chiral CE. To get better detection sensitivity and good enantioresolution at the same time, the conditions of capillary inlet and outlet buffer were systematically optimized. Unlike the traditional chiral separation method, the buffers we used in the capillary inlet and outlet differed from each other in terms of buffer pH, ionic strength, type of BGE as well as buffer composition. Under the optimum conditions, baseline enantioseparation and highly sensitive detection of the enantiomers were achieved. Wide linear relationship of each enantiomer was achieved in the range of 5 x 10(-7) to 2 x 10(-5) mol/L with relative coefficients of 0.996 and 0.997, respectively. The detection limits were estimated to be 8 x 10(-8) and 1.0 x 10(-7) mol/L (S/N = 3) for the enantiomers, respectively. In addition, a successful application of this new method to the chiral separation of the racemic drug in spiked plasma samples confirmed the validity and applicability of the chiral CE-ECL method.     

A simple and low-cost electrochemiluminescence detector for capillary electrophoresis

A simple and cost-effective electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detector for capillary electrophoresis (CE) has been developed. The detector was constructed by vertically gluing a 0.5 mL plastic sample vial onto a piece of 1.5 cm x 1 cm x 0.6 mm indium/tin oxide (ITO)-coated glass plate. End-column ECL detection was performed in a wall-jet configuration. Potential control of the ITO electrode was provided using a direct current (DC) battery. Tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(III) (Ru(bpy)3(3+))-based ECL reaction was used for sensitive detection of four trialkylamines (trimethylamine, triethylamine, tripropylamine, tributylamine) and two amino acids (proline, hydroxyproline). With 15 mM sodium borate (pH 9.5) plus 3.5 mM Ru(bpy)3(2+) present in the detection cell and the ITO electrode biased at 1.7 V (vs. platinum wire reference), the test analytes can be efficiently separated and sensitively detected by the developed CE-ECL system. Linearity (r > or = 0.995) over two orders of magnitude and an average number of theoretical plates of 160 000/m were generally obtained. Reproducibility on peak height and migration times (n = 42) was 3.3% and 1.2% for tripropylamine, and 2.4% and 1.5% for proline, respectively. The detection limits were in the range of 2-5 microM (1-2 fmol) for the test analytes.     

The use of CE-electrochemiluminescence with ionic liquid for the determination of bioactive constituents in Chinese traditional medicine

CE / tris(2,2-bipyridyl) ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)(3) (2+)) electrochemiluminescence (ECL), CE-ECL, with an ionic liquid (IL) detection system was established for the determination of bioactive constituents in Chinese traditional medicine opium poppy which contain large amounts of coexistent substances. A minimal sample pretreatment which involves a one-step extraction approach avoids both sample loss and environmental pollution. As the nearby hydroxyl groups in some alkaloid such as morphine may react with borate to form complexes and IL, as a high-conductivity additive in running buffer, could cause an enhanced field-amplified effect of electrokinetic injection. Running buffer containing 25 mM borax-8 mM 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (EMImBF(4))IL (pH 9.18) was used which resulted in significant changes in separation selectivity and obvious enhancement in ECL intensities for those alkaloids with similar structures. Sensitive detection could be achieved when the distance between the Pt working electrode and the outlet of separation capillary was set at 150 microm and the stainless steel cannula was fixed approximately 1 cm away from the outlet of the capillary. Quantitative analysis of four alkaloids was achieved at a detection voltage of 1.2 V and a separation voltage of 15 kV in less than 7 min. Detection limits of thebaine, codeine, morphine, and narcotine were 2.5 x 10(-7), 2.5 x 10(-7), 1 x 10(-9) and 1 x 10(-6) M(S/N = 3), respectively. The method was successfully applied to determine the amounts of opium alkaloids in real poppy samples.     

A novel solid-state electrochemiluminescence detector for capillary electrophoresis based on tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) immobilized in Nafion/PTC-NH2 composite film

A new electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detector for capillary electrophoresis (CE) based on tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)₃²⁺) immobilized in Nafion/PTC-NH₂ (an ammonolysis product of 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA)) composite film was presented for the first time. The Nafion/PTC-NH₂ composite film could effectively immobilize tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) via ion-exchange and electrostatic interaction. Cyclic voltammetric and ECL behavior of Nafion/PTC-NH₂/Ru composite film was investigated compared to Nafion/Ru composite. The Nafion/PTC-NH₂/Ru composite film exhibited good ECL stability and simple operability. Then the CE with solid-state ECL detector system was successfully used to detect sophora - a quinolizidine type - alkaloids as sophoridine (SR) and matrine (MT). The CE-ECL parameters that affected separation and detection were optimized. Under the optimized conditions, the linear range was from 2.5 × 10⁻⁸ to 2 × 10⁻⁶ mol/L for SR, 1.0 × 10⁻⁸ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ mol/L for MT. The detection limit (S/N = 3) was estimated to be 5 × 10⁻⁹ and 10⁻⁹ mol/L for SR and MT, respectively. It was shown that the CE coupling with solid-state ECL detector system exhibited satisfying sensitivity of analysis.