Recent advances in capillary electrophoretic migration techniques for pharmaceutical analysis (2013–2015)

This review updates and follows‐up a previous review by highlighting recent advancements regarding capillary electromigration methodologies and applications in pharmaceutical analysis. General approaches such as quality by design as well as sample injection methods and detection sensitivity are discussed. The separation and analysis of drug‐related substances, chiral CE, and chiral CE‐MS in addition to the determination of physicochemical constants are addressed. The advantages of applying affinity capillary electrophoresis in studying receptor–ligand interactions are highlighted. Finally, current aspects related to the analysis of biopharmaceuticals are reviewed. The present review covers the literature between January 2013 and December 2015.     

α‐Amino Acid‐Isosteric α‐Amino Tetrazoles

The synthesis of all 20 common natural proteinogenic and 4 otherα‐amino acid‐isosteric α‐amino tetrazoles has been accomplished, whereby the carboxyl group is replaced by the isosteric 5‐tetrazolyl group. The short process involves the use of the key Ugi tetrazole reaction followed by deprotection chemistries. The tetrazole group is bioisosteric to the carboxylic acid and is widely used in medicinal chemistry and drug design. Surprisingly, several of the common α‐amino acid‐isosteric α‐amino tetrazoles are unknown up to now. Therefore a rapid synthetic access to this compound class and non‐natural derivatives is of high interest to advance the field.     

Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis and X-Ray Microanalysis of Medieval Silver Coins

 Austrian medieval silver/copper coins were investigated at their surfaces by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis (EDXRF) and at the cross-sections by X-ray microanalysis in the scanning electron microscope (SEM/EDX) in order to estimate the error occurring when corroded objects of art and archaeology are analyzed on the surface by non-destructive methods. Additionally, Ag/Cu-standards were treated in diluted sulphuric acid and the depletion of copper on the surface was measured by EDXRF. By calculating the ratio of the Ag-K/Ag-L intensity the process of blanching could be studied.     

Determination of Activation Energy for Glass Transition of an Epoxy Adhesive Using Dynamic Mechanical Analysis

The activation energy associated with the glass transition relaxation of an epoxy system has been determined by using the three-point bending clamp provided in the recently introduced TA Instruments DMA 2980 dynamic mechanical analyzer. A mathematical expression showing the dependency of modulus measurements on the sample properties and test conditions has also been derived. The experimental results showed that the evaluation of activation energy is affected by the heating rate and test frequency, as well as the criterion by which the glass transition temperature (T _g) is established. It has been found that the activation energy based on the loss tangent (tanδ) peak is more reliable than on the loss modulus (E ₂) peak, as long as the dynamic test conditions do not cause excessive thermal lags. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Liquid chromatographic separation of fluoroquinolone antibacterials used as veterinary drugs

Summary A liquid chromatographic method has been developed to separate a series of quinolones which are widely used as veterinary drugs: danofloxacin, difloxacin, enrofloxacin (and its metabolite ciprofloxacin), marbofloxacin, norfloxacin and sarafloxacin. Separation was performed by using an end-capped high-purity silica-based C₈ column and a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-aqueous oxalic acid buffer solution. In order to establish the optimal conditions for an isocratic separation, a three-factor Doehlert experimental design was applied. Gradient elution was applied which reduced analysis time. Figures of merit of the method proposed, with fluorimetric detection, were evaluated.     

Synthesis and structures of complexes ofN-(2-aminoethyl)diaziridines with transition metal salts

A series of complexes ofN-(2-aminoethyl)diaziridines with transition metal salts (Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, Mn²⁺, or Fe²⁺) were synthesized. Their structures were established by IR and NMR spectroscopy. The structure of bis[1,2-bis(2-aminoethyl)diaziridine]cadmium(II) diperehlorate was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. Published inIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 1910–1914, November, 2000.     

Formation of Cr(II) Species in the H2/CrO3 System. Parameter control

The thermal behaviour of CrO₃ on heating up to 600°C in dynamic atmospheres of air, N₂ and H₂ was examined by thermogravimetry (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA), IR spectroscopy and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). The results revealed three major thermal events, depending to different extents on the surrounding atmosphere: (i) melting of CrO₃ near 215°C (independent of the atmosphere), (ii) decomposition into Cr₂(CrO₄)₃ at 340–360°C (insignificantly dependent), and (iii) decomposition of the chromate into Cr₂O₃ at 415–490°C (significantly dependent). The decomposition CrO₃ → Cr₂(CrO₄)₃ is largely thermal and involves exothermic deoxygenation and polymerization reactions, whereas the decomposition Cr₂(CrO₄)₃ → Cr₂O₃ involves endothermic reductive deoxygenation reactions in air (or N₂) which are greatly accelerated and rendered exothermic in the presence of H₂. TG measurements as a function of heating rate (2–50°C min⁻¹) demonstrated the acceleratory role of H₂, which extended to the formation of Cr(II) species. This could sustain a mechanism whereby H₂ molecules are considered to chemisorb dissociatively, and then spillover to induce the reduction. DTA measurements as a function of the heating rate (2–50°C min⁻¹) helped in the derivation of non-isothermal kinetic parameters strongly supportive of the mechanism envisaged. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The Use of Thermogravimetry in the Study of Rubber Devulcanization

Thermogravimetry was employed to study the changes occurring in rubber vulcanizates during devulcanization carried out by microwave treatment, a new promising method of recycling rubber waste. The thermogravimetric parameters T _i , T ₅ and T _p and the compositions of devulcanizates in comparison with vulcanizates were determined. The results obtained allowed estimation of the degree of destruction of the polymer chains in response to microwave treatment and permitted establishment of the most advantageous conditions of devulcanization in order to obtain the best properties of rubber devulcanizates for reuse in rubber processing. The results demonstrated that thermogravimetry is a very useful method for investigation and control of the microwave devulcanization process. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Spectral and Thermal Studies of Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) Complexes with 3-methylglutaric Acid

Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) 3-methylglutarates were prepared as solids with general formula MC₆ H₈ O₄ ×n H₂ O, where n =0–8. Their solubilities in water at 293 K were determined (7.0×10⁻² −4.2×10⁻³ mol dm⁻³ ). The IR spectra were recorded and thermal decomposition in air was investigated. The IR spectra suggest that the carboxylate groups are mono- or bidentate. During heating the hydrated complexes lose some water molecules in one (Mn, Co, Ni, Cu) or two steps (Cd) and then mono- (Cu) or dihydrates (Mn, Co, Ni) decompose to oxides directly (Mn, Cu, Co) or with intermediate formation of free metals (Co, Ni). Anhydrous Zn(II) complex decomposes directly to the oxide ZnO. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Characterization of collagen fibers in Bruch’s membrane using chemical force microscopy

Bruch’s membrane is a layer composed of collagen fibers located just beneath the retina. This study validates a strategy used to map the morphological and adhesion characteristics of collagen fibers in Bruch’s membrane. Atomic force microscopy tips were functionalized with different chemical groups and used to map the hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions on the surface of the eye tissue. The largest adhesion forces were observed when tips functionalized with NH₂ groups were used. The trend in the adhesion forces was rationalized based on the distribution of different functional groups in the triple-helical structure of the collagen fibers. The results of this study can be used to design more effective strategies to treat eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration.