Fully automatic high-performance liquid chromatographic optimization

Cyclosporin Structure and Permeability: From A to Z and Beyond

Cyclosporins are natural or synthetic undecapeptides with a wide range of actual and potential pharmaceutical applications. Several members of the cyclosporin compound family have remarkably high passive membrane permeabilities that are not well-described by simple structural metrics. Here we review experimental studies of cyclosporin structure and permeability, including cyclosporin-metal complexes. We also discuss models for the conformation-dependent permeability of cyclosporins and similar compounds. Finally, we identify current knowledge gaps in the literature and provide recommendations regarding future avenues of exploration.

Models and objective functions for the optimisation of selectivity in reversed-phase liquid chromatography

Interpretive methodologies are the most efficient tools for finding the optimal conditions in chromatography. These methodologies are supported by models or algorithms able to infer the system behaviour upon changes in the experimental factors. Once the models are built with data obtained from sets of carefully designed experiments, molecular modelling or other approaches, they can be applied to predict the performance of new conditions. The different elements involved in these methodologies, for both isocratic and gradient elution, are given. Special attention is devoted to the description of retention, owing to its major impact on the prediction of chromatographic resolution. Several models considering the main factors affecting retention (i.e. organic modifiers, pH and temperature), and procedures that enhance the predictions, are presented. Both the existence of skewed peaks and the effect of elution conditions on peak profiles are considered. Finally, the assessment of resolution, as well as other secondary aims that affect the practical suitability of the optimal conditions, is discussed.

Separation of peptides utilizing ultrahigh-temperature micellar electrokinetic chromatography

The use of ultrahigh column temperatures, up to 110 degrees C, in micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography was investigated. The number of plates generated per unit time increased from 0.22 to 12.8 plates/s for separations at 15 degrees C and 110 degrees C, respectively. Ultrahigh-temperature micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography was used for the separation of cyclic undecapeptides (cyclosporins). A minimum resolution of 1.39 was calculated for a critical peak pair at 110 degrees C, which is more than a 50% increase over resolution generated at 40 degrees C. During a run time of more than 90 min at 110 degrees C and at pH 9.3, no sample degradation or solvent boiling was observed.