Cannabis through the looking glass: chemo- and enantio-selective separation of phytocannabinoids by enantioselective ultra high performance supercritical fluid chromatography

By using the Inverted Chirality Columns Approach (ICCA) we have developed an enantioselective UHPSFC method to determine the enantiomeric excess (ee) of (-)-Δ⁹-THC in medicinal marijuana (Bedrocan®). The ee was high (99.73%), but the concentration of the (+)-enantiomer (0.13₅%) was not negligible, and it is worth a systematic evaluation of bioactivity.

Future perspectives in high efficient and ultrafast chiral liquid chromatography through zwitterionic teicoplanin-based 2-μm superficially porous particles

With the aim of pushing forward the limits of high efficient and ultrafast chiral liquid chromatography, a new Chiral Stationary Phase (CSP) has been prepared by covalently bonding the teicoplanin selector on 2.0μm Superficially Porous Particles (SPPs). An already validated bonding protocol, which permits to achieve teicoplanin-based CSPs exhibiting zwitterionic behaviour, has been employed to prepare not only the 2.0μm version of the CSP but also two other analogous CSPs based, respectively, on 2.7μm SPPs and 1.9μm Fully Porous Particles (FPPs). The kinetic performance of these CSPs has been compared through the analysis of both van Deemter curves and kinetic plots by employing in-house packed columns of 4.6mm internal diameter and different lengths (20, 50 and 100mm). In particular on the columns packed with 2.0μm SPPs, extremely large efficiencies were observed for both achiral (>310,000 theoretical plates/meter, N/m; h_r: 1.61) and chiral compounds (>290,000 N/m; h_r: 1.72) in HILIC conditions. Thanks to their efficiency and enantioselectivity, these CSPs were successfully employed in ultrafast chiral separations. As an example, the enantiomers of haloxyfop were baseline resolved in about 3s, with a resolution higher than 2.0, (flow rate: 8mL/min) on a 2cm long column packed with the 2.0μm chiral SPPs.

Multi-biomarker investigation to assess toxicity induced by two antidepressants on Dreissena polymorpha

Antidepressants are one of the main pharmaceutical classes detected in the aquatic environment. Nevertheless, there is a dearth of information regarding their potential adverse effects on non-target organisms. Thus, the aim of this study was the evaluation of sub-lethal effects on the freshwater mussel Dreissena polymorpha of two antidepressants commonly found in the aquatic environment, namely Fluoxetine (FLX) and Citalopram (CT). D. polymorpha specimens were exposed to FLX and CT alone and to their mixture (MIX) at the environmental concentration of 500ng/L for 14days. We evaluated the sub-lethal effects in the mussel soft tissues by means of a biomarker suite: the activity of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and the activity of the phase II detoxifying enzyme glutathione-S-transferase (GST). The oxidative damage was evaluated by lipid peroxidation (LPO) and protein carbonylation (PCC), while genetic damage was tested on D. polymorpha hemocytes by Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis (SCGE) assay, DNA diffusion assay and micronucleus test (MN test). Finally, the functionality of the ABC transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp) was measured in D. polymorpha gills. Our results highlight that CT, MIX and to a lesser extent FLX, caused a significant alteration of the oxidative status of bivalves, accompanied by a significant reduction of P-gp efflux activity. However, only FLX induced a slight, but significant, increase in apoptotic and necrotic cell frequencies. Considering the variability in biomarker response and to perform a toxicity comparison of tested molecules, we integrated each endpoint into the Biomarker Response Index (BRI). The data integration showed that 500ng/L of FLX, CT and their MIX have the same toxicity on bivalves.

Recent advancements and future directions of superficially porous chiral stationary phases for ultrafast high-performance enantioseparations

This review focuses on the use of superficially porous particles (SPPs) as chiral stationary phases for ultra-high performance liquid enantioseparations.

Involvement of cell surface TG2 in the aggregation of K562 cells triggered by gluten

Gluten-induced aggregation of K562 cells represents an in vitro model reproducing the early steps occurring in the small bowel of celiac patients exposed to gliadin. Despite the clear involvement of TG2 in the activation of the antigen-presenting cells, it is not yet clear in which compartment it occurs. Herein we study the calcium-dependent aggregation of these cells, using either cell-permeable or cell-impermeable TG2 inhibitors. Gluten induces efficient aggregation when calcium is absent in the extracellular environment, while TG2 inhibitors do not restore the full aggregating potential of gluten in the presence of calcium. These findings suggest that TG2 activity is not essential in the cellular aggregation mechanism. We demonstrate that gluten contacts the cells and provokes their aggregation through a mechanism involving the A-gliadin peptide 31-43. This peptide also activates the cell surface associated extracellular TG2 in the absence of calcium. Using a bioinformatics approach, we identify the possible docking sites of this peptide on the open and closed TG2 structures. Peptide docks with the closed TG2 structure near to the GTP/GDP site, by establishing molecular interactions with the same amino acids involved in stabilization of GTP binding. We suggest that it may occur through the displacement of GTP, switching the TG2 structure from the closed to the active open conformation. Furthermore, docking analysis shows peptide binding with the β-sandwich domain of the closed TG2 structure, suggesting that this region could be responsible for the different aggregating effects of gluten shown in the presence or absence of calcium. We deduce from these data a possible mechanism of action by which gluten makes contact with the cell surface, which could have possible implications in the celiac disease onset.

A monolithic 5-(pyrrolidin-2-yl)tetrazole flow microreactor for the asymmetric aldol reaction in water–ethanol solvent

An organocatalytic polystyrene monolithic column produces chiral β-hydroxyketones under benign, continuous-flow conditions with high long-term stability.

Competitive adsorption of VOCs from binary aqueous mixtures on zeolite ZSM-5

Adsorption equilibria of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE)/toluene (TOL), and 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE)/MTBE binary mixtures in aqueous solution on ZSM-5 were measured over a wide range of concentrations.

Ultra-fast high-efficiency enantioseparations by means of a teicoplanin-based chiral stationary phase made on sub-2 μm totally porous silica particles of narrow size distribution

A new ultra-high performance teicoplanin-based stationary phase was prepared starting from sub-2 μm totally porous silica particles of narrow size distribution. Columns of different lengths were packed at high pressure and a deep and systematic evaluation of kinetic performance, in terms of van Deemter analysis, was performed under different elution conditions (HILIC, POM, RP and NP) by using both achiral and chiral probes. For the achiral probes, the efficiency of the columns at the minimum of the van Deemter curves were very high leading to some 278,000, 270,000, 262,000 and 232,000 plates/m in hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC), polar organic mode (POM), normal phase (NP) and reversed phase (RP) respectively. The lowest plate height, Hmin=3.59 μm (h(/)=1.89), was obtained under HILIC conditions at a flow rate of 1.4 mL/min. Efficiency as high as 200,000-250,000 plates/m (at the optimum flow rate) was obtained in the separation of the enantiomers of chiral probes under HILIC/POM conditions. N-protected amino acids, α-aryloxy acids, herbicides, anti-inflammatory agents were baseline separated on short (2-cm) and ultra-short (1-cm) columns, with analysis time in the order of 1 min. The enantiomers of N-BOC-d,l-methionine were successfully baseline separated in only 11s in HILIC mode. Several examples of fast and efficient resolutions in sub/supercritical fluid chromatography were also obtained for a range of chiral carboxylic acids.

Gold-nanoparticle extraction and reversed-electrode-polarity stacking mode combined to enhance capillary electrophoresis sensitivity for conjugated nucleosides and oligonucleotides containing thioether linkers

We present a capillary electrophoresis method for determining two different C8-conjugated deoxyadenosines, and for oligonucleotides containing them, in which a psoralen or an acridine molecule is bonded to the base via a short alkyl chain containing sulfur ethers at both ends. The sensitivity of the micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) method was increased by using two preconcentration techniques, micro solid-phase extraction (μSPE) followed by reversed-electrode-polarity stacking mode (REPSM). Variables that affect the efficiency of the extraction in μSPE and preconcentration by REPSM, including the type and volume of extraction nanoparticle, concentration, and injection time, were investigated. Under the optimum conditions, enrichment factors obtained were in the range 360-400. The limits of detection (LODs) at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 ranged from 2 to 5 nmol L(-1). The relative recoveries of labelled adenosines from water samples were 95-103%. The proposed method provided high enrichment factors and good precision and accuracy with a short analysis time. On the basis of the advantages of simplicity, high selectivity, high sensitivity, and good reproducibility, the proposed method may have great potential for biochemical applications.

Continuous ion-exchange resin catalysed esterification of eugenol for the optimized production of eugenyl acetate using a packed bed microreactor

A green scalable flow-synthesis process for the production of eugenyl acetate, an eugenol derivative with potential applications in food and medicinal chemistry, was developed.

GBA2-encoded β-glucosidase activity is involved in the inflammatory response to Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Current anti-inflammatory strategies for the treatment of pulmonary disease in cystic fibrosis (CF) are limited; thus, there is continued interest in identifying additional molecular targets for therapeutic intervention. Given the emerging role of sphingolipids (SLs) in various respiratory disorders, including CF, drugs that selectively target the enzymes associated with SL metabolism are under development. Miglustat, a well-characterized iminosugar-based inhibitor of β-glucosidase 2 (GBA2), has shown promise in CF treatment because it reduces the inflammatory response to infection by P. aeruginosa and restores F508del-CFTR chloride channel activity. This study aimed to probe the molecular basis for the anti-inflammatory activity of miglustat by examining specifically the role of GBA2 following the infection of CF bronchial epithelial cells by P. aeruginosa. We also report the anti-inflammatory activity of another potent inhibitor of GBA2 activity, namely N-(5-adamantane-1-yl-methoxy)pentyl)-deoxynojirimycin (Genz-529648). In CF bronchial cells, inhibition of GBA2 by miglustat or Genz-529648 significantly reduced the induction of IL-8 mRNA levels and protein release following infection by P. aeruginosa. Hence, the present data demonstrate that the anti-inflammatory effects of miglustat and Genz-529648 are likely exerted through inhibition of GBA2.

Regeneration of a silica monolithic rod column using harsh methods followed by firm thermodynamic and kinetic validation

In this study, a numerical tool is introduced--based on thermodynamic and kinetic separation theory--for validating the regeneration of monolithic rod columns after cutting their inlet sections. A long-used RP-18e monolithic column was deemed to be unfit for further coffee analysis because of poor separation performance. The columns brownish inlet section was physically removed with a lathe, leaving a clean white inlet section. The original and regenerated columns were extensively analyzed and compared using numerical tools for processing adsorption data. The perturbation peak method was used to measure the adsorption isotherm of phenol on the original and regenerated monolith and the adsorption energy distributions were calculated for identifying any change in the degree of heterogeneity. Although peak shapes improved considerably after regeneration, no significant differences were found in the detailed characterization of the processed adsorption data between the original column and the regenerated one. This indicates that the removal of a section of the monolithic bed can be undertaken without damaging the column and columns in which their inlet head sections are contaminated may still function with normal adsorption behavior. In addition, the combined thermodynamic and kinetic methodology could accurately be used to evaluate any regeneration method of columns.

High performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry determination of perfluorinated acids in cow milk

A new and sensitive liquid chromatography/electrospray-tandem mass spectrometric (LC/ESI-MS/MS) method for the determination of 12 perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in cow milk is described. Milk samples were extracted with acetone and cleaned-up by a graphitized carbon black solid-phase extraction cartridge, optimizing the entire procedure by using a screening experimental design. LC/ESI-MS/MS was performed in negative ion mode using multiple reaction monitoring mode. The performance of the method was evaluated under the optimized conditions in terms of matrix effects, range of linearity, accuracy, and repeatability. For all compounds, linearity in matrix was observed in the range LOQ-10μgL(-1), and coefficients of determination R(2) ranged from 0.9982 to 0.9999. The analytical recoveries, relative to the isotopic internal standard, measured at 10 and 50ngL(-1) were in the range of 91-105%, with relative standard deviations below 6% and method detection limit, based on the blank value +3 times the standard deviation of the blank, ranged from 0.5 to 3ngL(-1). The final method developed was used to determine the concentration of PFCs in 15 retail milk samples. None of these compounds were detected in cow milk analyzed samples.

A combined kinetic and thermodynamic approach for the interpretation of continuous-flow heterogeneous catalytic processes

The heterogeneous proline-catalyzed aldol reaction was investigated under continuous-flow conditions by means of a packed-bed microreactor. Reaction-progress kinetic analysis (RPKA) was used in combination with nonlinear chromatography for the interpretation, under synthetically relevant conditions, of important mechanistic aspects of the heterogeneous catalytic process at a molecular level. The information gathered by RPKA and nonlinear chromatography proved to be highly complementary and allowed for the assessment of optimal operating variables. In particular, the determination of the rate-determining step was pivotal for optimizing the feed composition. On the other hand, the competitive product inhibition was responsible for the unexpected decrease in the reaction yield following an apparently obvious variation in the feed composition. The study was facilitated by a suitable 2D instrumental arrangement for simultaneous flow reaction and online flow-injection analysis.

Quantitative determination of zolmitriptan in rat blood and cerebrospinal fluid by reversed phase HPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis: application to in vivo preclinical pharmacokinetic study

A fast HPLC-ESI-MS/MS method has been developed and validated for the quantification of the potent and selective antimigraine zolmitriptan in rat blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The assay has been then applied for in vivo preclinical studies. The analytical determination has been used to obtain pharmacokinetics of zolmitriptan in the two biological matrices after its intravenous or nasal administration. Liquid-liquid extraction of zolmitriptan was performed from 100 μL rat blood samples in the presence of N(6)-cyclopentyladenosine (internal standard) with the employment of ethyl acetate. Calibration standards were prepared by using blood matrix and following the same liquid-liquid extraction procedure. CSF samples were analyzed without any pre-treatment steps and by using an external calibration method in pure water matrix. Chromatographic separation was performed under reversed phase and a gradient elution condition on a C18 packed column (100 × 2.0 mm, 2.5 μm particles diameter). The mobile phase was a mixture between acetonitrile, water and formic acid (0.1% v/v). The applied HPLC-MS/MS method allowed low limits of detection, as calculated from calibration curves, of 6.6 and 24.4 ng/mL for water matrix and rat blood extracts, respectively. Linearity of the calibration curves was established up to 5 μM (1.44 μg/mL), as well as good assay accuracy. The intravenous infusion of 20 μg zolmitriptan to male Sprague-Dawley rats produced blood concentrations ranging from 9.4±0.7 to 1.24±0.07 μg/mL within 10 h, with a terminal half-life of 3.4±0.2h. The nasal administration of a water suspension of 20 μg zolmitriptan produced blood concentrations ranging from 2.92±0.21 to 0.85±0.07 μg/mL within 6h. One hour after zolmitriptan intravenous infusion or nasal administration, its CSF concentrations were 0.0539±0.0016 and 0.0453±0.0012 μg/mL, respectively. This study determined the suitability of the herein proposed method to investigate the pharmacokinetics of zolmitriptan after its administration by means of novel formulations and, hence, to evaluate the efficacy of innovative nose-to-brain drug delivery in preclinical studies.

Circular dichroism and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopic monitoring of production of chiral silver nanoparticles templated by guanosine 5'-monophosphate

Herein we report the chemical reduction of silver ions incorporated into chiral supramolecular nanostructures by NaBH(4) in buffered (basic) and unbuffered conditions. In situ self-assembly of guanosine 5'-monophosphate (5'-GMP) templated by Ag(I) and generation of silver nanoparticles (NPs) were continuously monitored by CD and UV-Vis spectroscopy measurements. 5'-GMP has been identified as an efficient chiral organic ligand to complex silver ions into a hierarchical helical nanostructure and is a useful capping agent for stabilizing silver NPs with a size diameter lower than 20 nm. The observation of opposite signed bands in the CD spectra of Ag(I)/5'-GMP complexes at different pH has suggested the existence of opposite-handed supramolecular helical structures depending on pH. Both helical supramolecular structures induce chirality in the silver NPs during their growth of the same handedness as shown by the CD signals in the plasmon resonance band.

Oxaliplatin elicits mechanical and cold allodynia in rodents via TRPA1 receptor stimulation

Platinum-based anticancer drugs cause neurotoxicity. In particular, oxaliplatin produces early-developing, painful, and cold-exacerbated paresthesias. However, the mechanism underlying these bothersome and dose-limiting adverse effects is unknown. We hypothesized that the transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1), a cation channel activated by oxidative stress and cold temperature, contributes to mechanical and cold hypersensitivity caused by oxaliplatin and cisplatin. Oxaliplatin and cisplatin evoked glutathione-sensitive relaxation, mediated by TRPA1 stimulation and the release of calcitonin gene-related peptide from sensory nerve terminals in isolated guinea pig pulmonary arteries. No calcium response was observed in cultured mouse dorsal root ganglion neurons or in naïve Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells exposed to oxaliplatin or cisplatin. However, oxaliplatin, and with lower potency, cisplatin, evoked a glutathione-sensitive calcium response in CHO cells expressing mouse TRPA1. One single administration of oxaliplatin produced mechanical and cold hyperalgesia in rats, an effect selectively abated by the TRPA1 antagonist HC-030031. Oxaliplatin administration caused mechanical and cold allodynia in mice. Both responses were absent in TRPA1-deficient mice. Administration of cisplatin evoked mechanical allodynia, an effect that was reduced in TRPA1-deficient mice. TRPA1 is therefore required for oxaliplatin-evoked mechanical and cold hypersensitivity, and contributes to cisplatin-evoked mechanical allodynia. Channel activation is most likely caused by glutathione-sensitive molecules, including reactive oxygen species and their byproducts, which are generated after tissue exposure to platinum-based drugs from cells surrounding nociceptive nerve terminals.

Synthesis and separation of the enantiomers of the neuropeptide S receptor antagonist (9R/S)-3-oxo-1,1-diphenyl-tetrahydro-oxazolo[3,4-a]pyrazine-7-carboxylic acid 4-fluoro-benzylamide (SHA 68)

This study reports the synthesis, chromatographic separation, and pharmacological evaluation of the two enantiomers of the neuropeptide S receptor (NPSR) antagonist (9R/S)-3-oxo-1,1-diphenyl-tetrahydro-oxazolo[3,4-a]pyrazine-7-carboxylic acid 4-fluoro-benzylamide (SHA 68). The (9R)-3-oxo-1,1-diphenyl-tetrahydro-oxazolo[3,4-a]pyrazine-7-carboxylic acid 4-fluoro-benzylamide (compound 10) and (9S)-3-oxo-1,1-diphenyl-tetrahydro-oxazolo[3,4-a]pyrazine-7-carboxylic acid 4-fluoro-benzylamide (compound 10a) were synthesized and their purity assessed by chiral chromatography. The absolute configuration of the enantiomer 10 has been assigned from the crystal structure of the corresponding (S)-phenyl ethyl amine derivative 8. Calcium mobilization studies performed on cells expressing the recombinant NPSR demonstrated that compound 10 is the active enantiomer while the contribution of 10a to the NPSR antagonist properties of the racemic mixture is negligible.

Combining Synthetic and Analytical Strategies for Preparative HPLC Enantioseparation of Monastrol Racemic Mixture

Large-scale resolution of racemic monastrol has been carried out by normal-phase mode HPLC on an amylose-based chiral stationary phase. Because monastrol solubility, in media of proper compositions for normal-mode HPLC separations (in terms of retention factors and selectivity), was significantly low and impractical for preparative scopes, racemic monastrol was transformed into the corresponding O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl derivative. The tert-butyldimethylsilyl group was chosen as a suitable derivatizing agent because it induced approximatively a six-times higher solubility and allowed for an almost quantitative recovery of pure monastrol from the derivatization-deprotection sequence. The competitive isotherms of the O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl compounds, measured through frontal analysis, were fitted to competitive Langmuir and four-parameter bi-Langmuir models. The equilibrium dispersive model of chromatography was used for modeling the nonlinear separation of the racemate and to optimize the experimental conditions for collection of highly concentrated fractions of pure (R,S)-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl compounds, from which significant amounts of the corresponding enantiomers of monastrol (about 100 mg of each enantiomer with 30 runs on an analytical-scale column) were obtained by quantitative back-derivatization.

Gradient elution separation and peak capacity of columns packed with porous shell particles

The separation of the tryptic digests of myoglobin and bovine serum albumin were carried out in the gradient elution mode, using water, acetonitrile and TFA as the mobile phase components and columns packed with a new type of shell particles, Halo C(18). These particles give very high efficiencies, characterized with an unusually low eddy diffusion contribution and a small mass transfer contribution. However, because the molecular diffusivities of the peptides in the digest are small, the mobile phase velocity corresponding to the optimum velocity for maximum efficiency is also small, of the order of 0.3 mm/s. The gradient slopes also must be small. Peak capacities of 400 were achieved, with analysis time of the order of an hour.