Effects of various anionic chiral selectors on the capillary electrophoresis separation of chiral phenethylamines and achiral neutral impurities present in illicit methamphetamine

Method Development, Optimization, and Validation of the Separation of Ketamine Enantiomers by Capillary Electrophoresis Using Design of Experiments

Capillary electrophoresis was chosen as cost-effective and robust method to separate ketamine enantiomers. For the method development, first different native and modified cyclodextrins were tested. The most promising chiral selector was α-cyclodextrin. A design of experiments (DoE) was carried out, which started with the screening of relevant factors. Based on these results, the method was optimized according to the significant factors (buffer, cyclodextrin concentration, pH value, voltage, temperature) of the screening based on the response resolution and migration time of the later migrating enantiomer. The optimized conditions consisted of a background electrolyte with 275 mM TRIS, adjusted with 85% phosphoric acid to a pH of 2.50, and 50 mM α-cyclodextrin, at a temperature of 15 °C, an applied voltage of 30 kV and an injection pressure of 1.0 psi for 10 s. A fused-silica capillary with a total length of 70 cm and an effective length to the detector of 60 cm was used. The method was validated according to ICH guideline Q2 R(1). The limit of quantification was 3.51 µg mL−1 for S-ketamine and 3.98 µg mL−1 for R-ketamine. The method showed good linearity for racemic ketamine with R2 of 0.9995 for S-ketamine and 0.9994 for R-ketamine. The lowest quantifiable content of S-ketamine found in R-ketamine was 0.45%.

Evaluation of cyclodextrin- and cyclofructan-based chiral selectors for the enantioseparation of psychoactive substances in capillary electrophoresis

During this study, a simple and easy-to-prepare electrophoretic method was developed for the enantioseparation of amphetamine and cathinone derivatives. Different types of β-cyclodextrin and cyclofructan-based chiral selectors (CSs), both native and derivatized, were utilized, and the most effective ones, in terms of resolution and analysis time, were identified. In addition, several electrophoretic parameters, such as background electrolyte concentration and pH, and CS concentration, were examined to optimize the separation conditions. Under the optimal electrophoretic conditions, 10 psychoactive substances were enantiomerically separated using 1 mM sulfated cyclofructan-6 (SCF-6) for the amphetamine derivatives and 1 mM sulfated cyclofructan-7 (SCF-7) for the cathinone derivatives dissolved in an aqueous solution of 20-mM monobasic sodium phosphate at pH 2.5, a temperature of 25°C, and an applied voltage of 25 kV. In addition, the method was validated by estimating the intra- and interday precision.

Illicit drug profiling: A historical perspective

For many years following the Second World War trafficking in cocaine, heroin and methylamphetamine was on a comparatively small scale. However, by the 1970s heroin usage increased to a point where it had became a serious worldwide problem creating concern at high levels in many governments. In 1977 the United Nations International Drug Control Program convened a special meeting of experts to explore ways of 'profiling' or geo-locating heroin to aid in determining trafficking routes used to move the drug around the world. The Panel was tasked with developing a concerted research program into the chemical profiling of heroin with the express aim of using chemistry for geo-location. Eventually the scope of the program was expanded to include cocaine because it was a major problem in the United States and was being increasingly seen in European cities. The amphetamine type stimulants, methylamphetamine, amphetamine and 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), were also included and research into profiling techniques for these five major drugs became common. Today many countries have dedicated drug profiling programs employing large staff numbers and using sophisticated analytical technology. Drug profiling, especially the chemistry that underpins it, is an interesting field and will continue to be valuable as long as it remain relevant to the law enforcement community and its attempts to disrupt drug manufacture and trafficking.

Chiral separation of cathinone derivatives using β-cyclodextrin-assisted capillary electrophoresis-Comparison of four different β-cyclodextrin derivatives used as chiral selectors

In the past decade, more than 100 different cathinone derivatives slopped over entire Europe due to their enormous popularity. Generally, these novel psychoactive substances are easily available via the internet. This fact leads to various social problems, since cathinones are substances with consciousness-changing effects and are mainly misused for recreational matters by their consumers. Cathinones possess a chiral center including two enantiomeric forms with potentially different pharmacological behavior. This fact makes analytical method development regarding their chiral separation indispensable. In this study, a chiral capillary zone electrophoresis method for the enantioseparation of 61 cathinone and pyrovalerone derivatives was developed by means of four different β-cyclodextrin derivatives. As chiral selectors, native β-cyclodextrin as well as three of its derivatives namely acetyl-β-cyclodextrin, 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin, and carboxymethyl-β-cyclodextrin were used. The cathinone and pyrovalerone derivatives were either purchased in internet stores or seized by police. As a result, overall 58 of 61 studied substances were partially or baseline separated by at least one of the four chiral selectors using 10 mM of β-cyclodextrin derivative in a 10 mM sodium phosphate buffer (pH 2.5). Furthermore, the method was found to be suitable for simultaneous enantioseparations, for enantiomeric purity checks and to differentiate between positional isomers. Moreover, an intra- and an interday validation was performed successfully for each chiral selector to prove the robustness of the method.

Enantioseparation by Capillary Electrophoresis Using Cyclodextrins in an Amino Acid-Based Ionic Liquid Running Buffer

For enantioseparations of chiral drugs in capillary electrophoresis, chiral ionic liquids (CIL) can be employed instead of traditional running buffer containing a chiral selector. CILs can be applied solely or in addition to the often used cyclodextrin derivatives. Here the separation of phenethylamines, especially of ephedrine, is described using tetrabutylammonium L-argininate (125 mM) in phosphate buffer (75 mM, pH 1.5) in addition to β-cyclodextrin (30 mM). Using this dual-chiral running buffer system ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and methylephedrine, but not norephedrine, could be easily resolved.

Enantiomeric separation of Novel Psychoactive Substances by capillary electrophoresis using (+)-18-crown-6-tetracarboxylic acid as chiral selector

In the recent years, hundreds of Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) have entered both the European and the global drug market. These drugs, which are mainly used for recreational matters, have caused serious social problems. Every year, the spectrum of these misused drugs is enlarged by new derivatives, which are produced by modifications of basic structures of already well-known substances. Additionally, a lot of them possess a stereogenic center which leads to 2 enantiomeric forms. The fact that the pharmacological effects and potencies of the enantiomers of these chiral NPS may differ can be assumed from a broad spectrum of active pharmaceutical ingredients. For this reason, analytical method development regarding enantiomeric separation for these classes of substances is of great pharmaceutical and medical interest. The aim of this work was to create an easy-to-prepare chiral capillary electrophoresis method for the enantioseparation of NPS which contains a primary amino group by means of (+)-18-crown-6-tetracarboxylic acid as chiral selector. Novel Psychoactive Substances were purchased at various Internet stores or represent samples seized by Austrian police. The effects of selector concentration, the electrolyte composition, and the addition of organic modifiers to the background electrolyte on enantioseparation were investigated. Under optimized conditions, the use of 20-mM (+)-18-crown-6-tetracarboxylic acid, 10-mM Tris, and 30-mM citric acid buffer at pH 2.10 turned out to be effective. Fifteen of 24 tested NPS were resolved in their enantiomers within 15 minutes. It was found that all NPS were traded as racemic mixtures.

Capillary electrophoresis separation of phenethylamine enantiomers using amino acid based ionic liquids

In recent years increasing interest was drawn towards ionic liquids in analytical separation science, such as capillary electrophoresis. Ionic liquids combining tetrabutylammonium cations with chiral amino acid based anions were prepared and investigated as capillary electrophoresis background electrolyte additives for the enantioseparation of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and methylephedrine isomers. For the optimization of buffer pH and ionic liquid concentration a design of experiments approach was performed. The best results for the separation of all enantiomers were achieved using 125mmol/L tetrabutylammonium l-argininate in a 75mmol/L phosphate buffer pH 1.5 containing 30mmol/L β-cyclodextrin.

CE assay for simultaneous determination of charged and neutral impurities in dexamphetamine sulfate using a dual CD system

A CE assay for the simultaneous determination of charged and uncharged potential impurities (1S,2S-(+)-norpseudoephedrine, 1R,2S-(-)-norephedrine, phenylacetone and phenylacetone oxime) of dexamphetamine sulfate including the stereoisomer levoamphetamine was developed and validated. The optimized background electrolyte consisted of a 50 mM sodium phosphate buffer, pH 3.0, containing 80 mg/mL sulfobutylether-beta-CD and 25 mg/mL sulfated beta-CD. Separations were performed in 40.2/35 cm, 50 mum id fused-silica capillaries at a temperature of 20 degrees C and an applied voltage of -10 kV. 1R,2S-(-)-ephedrine was used as internal standard. The assay was validated in the range of 0.05-1.0% for the related substances and in the range of 0.05-5.0% for levoamphetamine. The LOD was 0.01-0.02% depending on the analyte. The assay also allowed the separation of the E,Z-stereoisomers of phenylacetone oxime. The effect of the degree of substitution of sulfobutylether-beta-CD was investigated. In commercial samples of dexamphetamine sulfate between 3.2 and 3.7% of levoamphetamine were found. Furthermore, phenylacetone and phenylacetone oxime could be observed at the LOD, indicating the synthetic origin of the investigated samples.

Delta(13)C, delta(15)N and delta(2)H isotope ratio mass spectrometry of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine: application to methylamphetamine profiling

Conventional chemical profiling of methylamphetamine has been used for many years to determine the synthetic route employed and where possible to identify the precursor chemicals used. In this study stable isotope ratio analysis was investigated as a means of determining the origin of the methylamphetamine precursors, ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine may be prepared industrially by several routes. Results are presented for the stable isotope ratios of carbon (delta(13)C), nitrogen (delta(15)N) and hydrogen (delta(2)H) measured in methylamphetamine samples synthesized from ephedrine and pseudoephedrine of known provenance. It is clear from the results that measurement of the delta(13)C, delta(15)N and delta(2)H stable isotope ratios by elemental analyzer/thermal conversion isotope ratio mass spectrometry (EA/TC-IRMS) in high-purity methylamphetamine samples will allow determination of the synthetic source of the ephedrine or pseudoephedrine precursor as being either of a natural, semi-synthetic, or fully synthetic origin.

Simultaneous Chiral Analysis of Methamphetamine and Related Compounds by Capillary Electrophoresis/Mass Spectrometry Using Anionic Cyclodextrin

A capillary electrophoresis/mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous chiral analysis of enantiomers of methamphetamine (MA), amphetamine (AP), dimethylamphetamine (DMA), ephedrine (EP), norephedrine (NE) and methylephedrine (ME) in urine has been developed. The background electrolyte was 1 M formic acid (pH 1.7). Using 0.85 mM heptakis(2,6-diacethyl-6-sulfato)-beta-cyclodextrin as the chiral selector, the 12 enantiomers were completely separated within 25 min. The detection limits were 0.01 microg mL(-1) for the enantiomers of MA, AP, DMA, EP and ME, and 0.02 microg mL(-1) for the enantiomers of NE using selected ion monitoring. The reproducibilities of within-run (n = 4) for the migration times and peak areas of the standard mixture were under 0.58% and 7.83%, respectively. The calibration curves of the peak areas of the 12 enantiomers were linear in the range of 0.05 - 10 microg mL(-1). This method was applicable to the analysis of urine samples.

Enantioseparation of basic pharmaceutical compounds by capillary electrophoresis using sulfated cyclodextrins. Application to E-6006, a novel antidepressant

In this study, a chiral capillary electrophoresis method was optimized and validated for E-6006, a thienylpyrazolylethanamine derivative (pKa 8.9). Enantioselectivity of neutral and anionic cyclodextrins (CDs) was evaluated at acid pH (3), obtaining cathodic and anodic migration, respectively. Hydroxypropyl-beta-CD, carboxymethyl-beta-CD and sulfobutyl ether-beta-CD led to similar and partial selectivity, whereas sulfate (S)-beta-CD produced baseline separation of the enantiomers. Four types of sulfated CDs were compared considering: cavity size (alpha, beta, gamma) and random substitution versus unique derivative (S-beta-CD, 6-heptakis-S-beta-CD). Complete peak separation was obtained in all cases, but with different affinity and binding strength. Some factors that play a role in the complex formation include: position/region/degree of substitution, size of CD cavity and proportion of derivatives in mixtures. Enantioaffinity and enantioselectivity increased with the average of sulfate groups/mol. Beta cavity size complexed better, although alpha and gamma cavities did not compromise separation. 6-Heptakis-S-beta-CD had less affinity and separation efficiency, attributed to its lower degree and unique position of substitution. The method was optimized with S-beta-CD (Aldrich, randomly substituted, 7-11 groups/mol). With this selector, the effect of pH value (3-9) was evaluated. Around pH 7 the cross-over point with change in the direction and order of migration was observed, associated with great enantioselectivity and long migration times. Fine tuning was done by adjusting the CD concentration and the buffer counterion. Definitive conditions were: uncoated silica capillary, 10 mM S-beta-CD-25 mM sodium phosphate, pH 3. Validation parameters are included.

The use of a highly sulfated cyclodextrin for the simultaneous chiral separation of amphetamine-type stimulants by capillary electrophoresis

We investigated the simultaneous chiral separation of nine amphetamine type stimulants (dl-norephedrine, dl-norpseudoephedrine, dl-ephedrine, dl-pseudoephedrine, dl-amphetamine, dl-methamphetamine, dl-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), dl-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and dl-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA)) by capillary electrophoresis using highly sulfated gamma-cyclodextrin (SU(XIII)-gamma-CD) as a chiral selector. Three different approaches using SU(XIII)-gamma-CD with 50 mM phosphate background electrolyte were designed; (I) high CD concentration (10 mM SU(XIII)-gamma-CD) at neutral pH (pH 7.0) in the normal polarity mode, (II) low CD concentration (1.0 mM) at low pH (pH 2.6) in the normal polarity mode and (III) high CD concentration at low pH (pH 2.6) in the reversed-polarity mode. In mode (II), the effects of adding three neutral CDs (beta-CD, dimethyl-beta-CD and hydroxypropyl-beta-CD) were also investigated. The best separation was obtained after optimizing mode (III) as follows: run buffer of 10 mM SU(XIII)-gamma-CD with 50 mM phosphate background electrolyte at pH 2.6, applied voltage of -12 kV and capillary temperature of 15 degrees C.

Identification of impurities and statistical classification of methamphetamine tablets (Ya-Ba) seized in Thailand

Impurity profiles of methamphetamine tablets seized in Thailand have been investigated. The samples are extracted with small amounts of ethyl acetate under alkaline condition and the extracts are analyzed by capillary gas chromatography. Nine compounds (1,2-dimethyl-3-phenylaziridine, ephedrine, methylephedrine, N-formylmethamphetamine, N-acetylmethamphetamine, N-formylephedrine, N-acetylephedrine, N,O-diacetylephedrie, methamphetamine dimer) are identified as impurities in methamphetamine tablet. Caffeine and ethyl vanillin are also detected as diluents and/or adulterants, and acetylcodeine monoacetylmorphine and diacetylmorphine are contained in many samples. In addition, trans-3,4-dimethyl-5-phenyl-2-oxazolidone is newly found as an impurity. For characterization and comparison of methamphetamine tablet exhibits, intensely and commonly detectable nine peaks are selected as the factor for multivariate analysis. The procedures reported here permit classification of 250 analyzed exhibits into five groups and characterization of classified groups.

Fundamental aspects of chiral separations by capillary electrophoresis

A review is presented that surveys the basic theory of direct separation of enantiomers by capillary electrophoretic (CE) techniques. These separations are based on the formation of diastereomeric complexes between the enantiomeric analytes and a chiral selector added to the electrolyte solution. The review covers a comprehensive treatment of the equations needed for optimization of selectivity coefficients, resolution and analysis time in the zone electrophoretic mode. In this context, it takes into account combined equilibria of complexation and protonation/deprotonation as well as complexation and paritition into micelles. On the basis of these equations, the benefits of charged selectors and the optimization potential inherent to pH tuning can be documented. In addition, the review deals with some basic aspects of chiral isoelectric focusing and briefly discusses indirect enantioseparation. In a subsequent section a survey is given on particularfeatures of the various types of chiral selectors. Finally, the recent developments in preparative enantioseparation in continuous free-flow system and by use of isoelectric membranes are discussed.

Rapid screening for chiral separations by short-end injection capillary electrophoresis using highly sulfated cyclodextrins as chiral selectors

Two series of amino acid derivatives and phenylamines were used to evaluate the potential of highly sulfated cyclodextrins (HS-CDs) for the screening for chiral separations by capillary electrophoresis (CE). HS-CDs showed to be very versatile and to exhibit very high enantioselectivity. The use of short-end injection allowed to reduce dramatically the analysis time. From the results obtained, a scheme for the rapid screening of enantiomeric molecules was developed and applied to various chiral drugs. Results are very satisfying as almost all compounds (62 out of 67) could be baseline-resolved. Usually, less than three experiments were necessary to obtain very good separation.

Characterization of highly sulfated cyclodextrins

A class of highly sulfated cyclodextrins (HS-CDs) was developed for enantiomeric separation of chiral compounds by capillary electrophoresis (CE). The HS-CDs were produced by a facile single-step direct sulfation of cyclodextrin using sulfur trioxide-trimethylamine complex in dimethylformamide. Characterization of the HS-CDs by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and by CE using a well-established indirect detection method indicated the species have very narrow heterogeneity in terms of degree of sulfation. Elemental analysis of the HS-alpha-, beta- and gamma-CDs showed that the average sulfate contents were 11, 12, and 13 per CD molecule, respectively. The 13C NMR of HS-CDs is consistent with the structural assignment of nearly complete sulfation at C-6 primary hydroxyl groups and partial sulfation at the C-2 secondary hydroxyls (>70%), while the C-3 hydroxyls remain unsubstituted. Enantiomeric separation by CE using the HS-CDs as chiral selectors showed that HS-alpha-, beta- and gamma-CDs complement each other by exhibiting different chiral selectivities, resulting in resolution of many chiral neutral, acidic and basic compounds of greatly varying structural features. The part of HS-CD that interacts with the guest molecule during complexation and, therefore, the receiving end of the cyclodextrin hydrophobic bucket was surrounded with largely regiospecifically substituted C-2 sulfates and intact C-3 hydroxyls, both at the equatorial positions. Such global regiospecific structural arrangement in HS-CDs provides differential diasteroisomeric complexation is proposed to be the principal contributing factor in the resolving racemates.

High-performance chiral separation of fourteen triazole fungicides by sulfated beta-cyclodextrin-mediated capillary electrophoresis

In this paper, sulfated beta-cyclodextrin-mediated capillary electrophoresis (CE) is evaluated as a new approach for the chiral separation of triazole-type fungicides. The 14 fungicides investigated were bitertanol, cyproconazole, difenoconazole, diniconazole, flutriafol, hexaconazole, myclobutanil, paclobutrazol, penconazole, propiconazole, tebuconazole, tetraconazole, triadimefon and triadimenol. Under the optimal conditions, excellent enantioseparation was achieved for all the 14 fungicides, including those fungicides containing two chiral centers. To our knowledge, this is the only system to date that offers outstanding enantiodiscrimination towards all triazole-type fungicides. The impact of the molecular structures of the triazole compounds on their migration behavior was studied. Similar to other chemical systems involving host-guest complexation, the interaction between sulfated beta-cyclodextrin and the triazole compounds was found to be affected by a variety of factors, including electrostatic force, hydrogen bonding, steric effect and hydrophobicity. These factors, coupled with the countercurrent electroosmotic flow (EOF), were believed to be the major forces behind the exceptional chiral selectivity.

Simultaneous chiral analysis of methamphetamine and related compounds by capillary electrophoresis

A capillary electrophoretic method for the simultaneous chiral analysis of nine cationic drugs (18 enantiomers) has been developed. These drugs are methamphetamine (MA), amphetamine, dimethylamphetamine, ephedrine (EP), norephedrine, methylephedrine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-ethylamphetamine. The chiral selector, which was added to the electrolyte, was a mixture of beta-cyclodextrin and heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl)-beta-cyclodextrin. The detection limits of all enantiomers were 0.1 microg/ml, and the intermediate precisions of migration time and peak area of within-run assays (n=6) were under 0.3% and 1.4%, respectively. The calibration curves of the peak area of (1R,2S)-(-)-EP and S-(+)-MA were linear in the range 0.2-500 microg/ml. This method was applicable to urine analysis.

On-chip chiral and achiral separation of amphetamine and related compounds labeled with 4-fluoro-7-nitrobenzofurazane

Amphetamine and analogous compounds have been labeled with 4-fluoro-7-nitrobenzofurazane and analyzed on a microfabricated chip. Separation of norephedrine, ephedrine, cathinone, pseudoephedrine, methcathinone, amphetamine and methamphetamine is demonstrated using micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection. Chiral separations of individual drugs were studied using neutral and negatively charged cyclodextrins (CDs) with and without the addition of an organic modifier and/or sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The best results were obtained using a highly sulfated gamma-CD (HS-gamm-CD) in combination with a low concentration of SDS. To obtain complete separation of a mixture of (+/-)-norephedrine, (+/-)ephedrine, (+/-)-pseudoephedrine, (+/-)-methcathinone, (+/-)-amphetamine and (+/-)-methamphetamine it was necessary to add a small amount (1.5 mM) of SDS to the separation buffer. Optimized chiral separation was achieved within 7 min using an S-folded separation channel, a separation voltage of 8 kV and a buffer consisting of 50 mM phosphate (pH 7.35), 10 mM HS-gamma-CD and 1.5 mM SDS.

Recent innovations in the use of charged cyclodextrins in capillary electrophoresis for chiral separations in pharmaceutical analysis

A review is presented on the use of charged cyclodextrins (CDs) as chiral selectors in capillary electrophoresis (CE) for the separation of analytes in pharmaceutical analysis. An overview is given of theoretical models that have been developed for a better prediction of the enantiomeric resolution and for a better understanding of the separation mechanism. Several types of charged CDs have been used in chiral capillary electrophoretic separation (anionic, cationic, and amphoteric CDs). Especially the anionic CDs seem to be valuable due to the fact that many pharmaceutically interesting compounds can easily be protonated (e.g., amine groups). For that reason several anionic CDs are now commercially available. Cationic and amphoteric CDs are less common in chiral analysis and only a few are commercially available. Attention is paid to the most common synthesis routes and the characterization of the CDs used in chiral capillary electrophoretic separations. The degree of substitution in the synthesized CDs may vary from one manufacturer to another or even from batch to batch, which may have a detrimental effect on the reproducibility and ruggedness of the separation system. In Sections 4, 5, and 6 the applications of anionic, cationic, and amphoteric CDs for the chiral separation in CE are described. Many interesting examples are shown and the influence of important parameters on the enantioselectivity is discussed.

Experimental verification of a predicted, hitherto unseen separation selectivity pattern in the nonaqueous capillary electrophoretic separation of weak base enantiomers by octakis (2,3-diacetyl-6-sulfato)-gamma-cyclodextrin

The capillary electrophoretic separation of cationic enantiomers with single-isomer multivalent anionic resolving agents was reexamined with the help of the charged resolving agent migration model. Three general model parameters were identified that influence the shape of the separation selectivity and enantiomer mobility difference curves: parameter b, the binding selectivity (K(RCD)/K(SCD)), parameter s, the size selectivity (mu0(RCD)/mu0(SCD)), and parameter a, the complexation-induced alteration of the analyte's mobility (mu0(RCD)/mu0). In addition to the previously observed discontinuity in separation selectivity that occurs as mu(eff) of the less mobile enantiomer changes from cationic to anionic, a new feature, a separation selectivity maximum was predicted to occur in the resolving agent concentration range where both enantiomers migrate cationically provided that (i) K(RCD)/K(SCD) <1 and mu0(RCD)/mu0(SCD) >1 and (K(RCD)mu0(RCD))/(K(SCD)mu0(SCD)) > 1, or (ii) K(RCD)/K(SCD) >1 and mu0(RCD)/mu0(SCD) <1 and (K(RCD)mu0(RCD))/(K(SCD)mu0(SCD)) <1. This hitherto unseen separation selectivity pattern was experimentally verified during the nonaqueous capillary electrophoretic separation of the enantiomers of four weak base analytes in acidic methanol background electrolytes with octakis(2,3-diacetyl-6-sulfato)-gamma-cyclodextrin (ODAS-gammaCD) as resolving agent.

Enantioselective determination by capillary electrophoresis with cyclodextrins as chiral selectors

This review surveys the separation of enantiomers by capillary electrophoresis using cyclodextrins as chiral selector. Cyclodextrins or their derivatives have been widely employed for the direct chiral resolution of a wide number of enantiomers, mainly of pharmaceutical interest, selected examples are reported in the tables. For method optimisation, several parameters influencing the enantioresolution, e.g., cyclodextrin type and concentration, buffer pH and composition, presence of organic solvents or complexing additives in the buffer were considered and discussed. Finally, selected applications to real samples such as pharmaceutical formulations, biological and medical samples are also discussed.

Selectivity in capillary electrokinetic separations

This review gives a survey of selectivity modes in capillary electrophoresis separations in pharmaceutical analysis and bioanalysis. Despite the high efficiencies of these separation techniques, good selectivity is required to allow quantitation or identification of a particular analyte. Selectivity in capillary electrophoresis is defined and described for different separation mechanisms, which are divided into two major areas: (i) capillary zone electrophoresis and (ii) electrokinetic chromatography. The first area describes aqueous (with or without organic modifiers) and nonaqueous modes. The second area discusses all capillary electrophoretic separation modes in which interaction with a (pseudo)stationary phase results in a change in migration rate of the analytes. These can be divided in micellar electrokinetic chromatography and capillary electrochromatography. The latter category can range from fully packed capillaries, via open-tubular coated capillaries to the addition of microparticles with multiple or single binding sites. Furthermore, an attempt is made to differentiate between methods in which molecular recognition plays a predominant role and methods in which the selectivity depends on overall differences in physicochemical properties between the analytes. The calculation of the resolution for the different separation modes and the requirements for qualitative and quantitative analysis are discussed. It is anticipated that selectivity tuning is easier in separation modes in which molecular recognition plays a role. However, sufficient attention needs to be paid to the efficiency of the system in that it not only affects resolution but also detectability of the analyte of interest.

Capillary electrophoresis in clinical and forensic analysis: recent advances and breakthrough to routine applications

This paper is a comprehensive review article on capillary electrophoresis (CE) in clinical and forensic analysis. It is based upon the literature of 1997 and 1998, presents CE examples in major fields of application, and provides an overview of the key achievements encountered, including those associated with the analysis of drugs, serum proteins, hemoglobin variants, and nucleic acids. For CE in clinical and forensic analysis, the past two years witnessed a breakthrough to routine applications. As most coauthors of this review are associated with diagnostic or forensic laboratories now using CE on a routine basis, this review also contains data from routine applications in drug, protein, and DNA analysis. With the first-hand experience of providing analytical service under stringent quality control conditions, aspects of quality assurance, assay specifications for clinical and forensic CE and the pros and cons of this maturing, cost-and pollution-controlled age technology are also discussed.