Enantioseparation of atropine by capillary electrophoresis using sulfated beta-cyclodextrin: application to a plant extract

Facile separation of enantiomers via covalent organic framework bonded stationary phase

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs), a type of crystalline polymers, have attracted increasing interest because of their controllability of geometry and functionality. Featuring infinitely extended networks and tremendous interaction sites, COFs emerge as a potential platform for separation science. Here, a novel chiral COF (β-CD COF_BPDA) constructed by the imine condensation of 4,4'-biphenyldicarboxaldehyde and heptakis(6-amino-6-deoxy)-β-cyclodextrin was introduced into an electrochromatographic system via a photopolymerization method and applied to the separation of enantiomers. The structure and properties of as-synthesized β-CD COF_BPDA were investigated by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) patterns, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and N₂adsorption-desorption isotherms. It was proved that β-CD COF_BPDA was provided with larger pore size and BET surface area. The β-CD COF_BPDA coating endowed the chiral stationary phase with superior three-dimensional orientation, and realized satisfactory separation with improved selectivity and column efficiency for a dozen racemic drugs. Under the optimized conditions, homatropine, ondansetron, metoprolol, terbutaline, tulobuterol, and promethazine were all baseline separated with resolution values of 2.24, 2.03, 1.65, 1.62, 1.60, and 1.58, respectively. The results indicate the high perspective of COF modified stationary in enantioseparation.

The impact of chirality on the analysis of alkaloids in plant

Most of the alkaloids are chiral compounds and are clinically administered as the racemic mixture, even though its enantiomers have been known to exert different pharmacological activity. The determination of the enantiomeric composition of alkaloid-containing plants is subject to severe attention from pharmacological and toxicological points of view. This review gives an overview of the chiral analysis of alkaloids that were used in theoretical studies and applications for plants in recent years.

Application of Experimental Design Methodologies in the Enantioseparation of Pharmaceuticals by Capillary Electrophoresis: A Review

Chirality is one of the major issues in pharmaceutical research and industry. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is an interesting alternative to the more frequently used chromatographic techniques in the enantioseparation of pharmaceuticals, and is used for the determination of enantiomeric ratio, enantiomeric purity, and in pharmacokinetic studies. Traditionally, optimization of CE methods is performed using a univariate one factor at a time (OFAT) approach; however, this strategy does not allow for the evaluation of interactions between experimental factors, which may result in ineffective method development and optimization. In the last two decades, Design of Experiments (DoE) has been frequently employed to better understand the multidimensional effects and interactions of the input factors on the output responses of analytical CE methods. DoE can be divided into two types: screening and optimization designs. Furthermore, using Quality by Design (QbD) methodology to develop CE-based enantioselective techniques is becoming increasingly popular. The review presents the current use of DoE methodologies in CE-based enantioresolution method development and provides an overview of DoE applications in the optimization and validation of CE enantioselective procedures in the last 25 years. Moreover, a critical perspective on how different DoE strategies can aid in the optimization of enantioseparation procedures is presented.

Complexation of tropane alkaloids by cyclodextrins

Complexes of atropine, homatropine, scopolamine, and ipratropium with cyclodextrins were investigated by NMR and capillary electrophoresis. It has been demonstrated that tropane alkaloids form complexes with β- and γ-cyclodextrins of 1:1 stoichiometry. NMR measurements indicate the formation of complexes where both aliphatic and aromatic parts of tropane alkaloids interact with β-cyclodextrin. The stability constants of the investigated alkaloids with β- and γ-cyclodextrins were determined by capillary electrophoresis. It has been found that β-cyclodextrin forms ten times more stable complexes than γ-cyclodextrin. Moreover, the analysis of the obtained crystal structure of β-cyclodextrin/(-)-hyoscyamine complex reveals that two molecules of (-)-hyoscyamine oriented in head-to-tail mode are tightly fitted inside head-to-head β-cyclodextrin dimer. Conformation of (-)-hyoscyamine as well as scopolamine changes substantially upon complexation adapting to the cavity of β-cyclodextrin as shown by X-ray analysis, NMR and DFT calculations data.

Enantiomeric separation and simulation study of eight anticholinergic drugs on an immobilized polysaccharide-based chiral stationary phase by HPLC

Enantiomeric separation process of anticholinergic drugs and chiral recognition mechanisms on Chiralpak ID column.

Mn-doped ZnS quantum dots for the room-temperature phosphorescence detection of raceanisodamine hydrochloride and atropine sulfate in biological fluids

Now, the development of quantum dots (QDs)-based fluorescence sensors become very quickly, but as phosphorescence compared to fluorescent has many advantages, like longer shine time and emission wavelength. Therefore, the phosphorescence properties of QDs and their potential for phosphorescence detection have raised great concerns. In this paper, a novel room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) quenching method was developed by Mn-doped ZnS quantum dots (QDs). The developed method is employed for detection of the raceanisodamine hydrochloride and atropine sulfate in biological fluids. The results showed a high selectivity of the Mn-doped ZnS QDs toward these medicines by phosphorescence quenching. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the detection limits (3s) for raceanisodamine hydrochloride and atropine sulfate were 0.11 μM, 0.09 μM, respectively. The relative standard deviations for eleven replicate detections of 2.0 μM were 0.92-1.6%. The recovery of spiked solutions in human urine and serum samples ranged from 95% to 104%.

CEC of phytochemical bioactive compounds

Although there are many publications related to technological or methodological developments of CEC, few focus on the analysis of natural products, especially phytochemical bioactive compounds. This review summarized the application of CEC in the analysis of phytochemical bioactive components, including flavonoids, nucleosides, steroids, lignans, quinones and coumarins, as well as fingerprint analysis of herbs. The strategies for optimization of CEC conditions and detection were also discussed.

Capillary electrophoresis of tropane alkaloids and glycoalkaloids occurring in Solanaceae plants

This chapter examines the role of capillary electrophoresis (CE) in the separation of tropane alkaloids, glycoalkaloids, and closely related compounds that have either pharmaceutical value or toxicological effects on humans. The latest significant developments in CE analysis have been selected and critically discussed. When the conventional CE mode was found unable to provide an acceptable selectivity towards the analytes, the addition of either an organic solvent, a chiral selector, or a surfactant to the running buffers was exploited. Likewise, nonaqueous CE (NACE) was also employed to increase solute solubilities and for a better compatibility of this media with mass spectrometry. It turns out that, upon selecting the most appropriate experimental conditions, the CE separation of tropane alkaloids and steroidal glycoalkaloids of Solanaceae plants was successfully accomplished. All major steps involved in the separation and detection of these secondary metabolites in complex samples are described and the relevant aspects of each application are examined with emphasis on the main aspects entailed a typical assay. More applications have yet to be developed in order to encourage more labs to exploit the tremendous potential of capillary electrophoresis.

Enantioseparation of chiral tropa alkaloids by means of cyclodextrin-modified microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography

CD-modified microemulsion EKC as a CE technique has been applied to the chiral separation of atropine, scopolamine, ipratropium and homatropine. Enantioseparations of these tropa alkaloids were optimized by using a standard oil-in-water (O/W) microemulsion and varying the nature and concentration of CD additives as well as of the organic modifier (methanol, 2-propanol or ACN) whilst keeping the applied voltage of 15 kV and capillary temperature of 30 degrees C constant. The standard (O/W) microemulsion BGE solution consisted of 0.8% w/w octane, 6.6% w/w 1-butanol, 2.0% w/w SDS and 90.6% w/w 10 mM sodium tetraborate buffer (pH 9.2). Enantioseparations with high resolution and short migration times of all tropa alkaloids were achieved by using heptakis(2,3-di-O-methyl-6-O-sulfo)-beta-CD and sulfated beta-CD in the microemulsion BGE and were superior to corresponding CD-modified CE methods.

Optimization of CZE for analysis of phytochemical bioactive compounds

Advantages of CZE such as high efficiency, low cost, short analysis time, and easy implementation result in its wide applications for analysis of phytochemical bioactive compounds (e.g. flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, phenolic acid, saponins, anthraquinones and coumarins). However, several aspects, including sample preparation, separation, and detection have significant effects on CZE analysis. Therefore, optimization of these procedures is necessary for development of the method. In this review, sample preparation such as extraction method and preconcentration, separation factors including buffer type, concentration and pH, additives, voltage and temperature, as well as detection, e.g. direct and indirect UV detection, LIF and MS were discussed for optimization of CZE analysis on phytochemical bioactive compounds. The optimized strategies were also reviewed.

Analysis of choline and atropine in hairy root cultures ofCannabis sativa L. by capillary electrophoresis-electrospray mass spectrometry

We describe a capillary zone electrophoresis method coupled to electrospray ionization (ion trap) mass spectrometry (CZE-ESI-MS) for the identification and determination of choline and atropine compounds in hairy root extracts from Cannabis sativa L. Fused-silica capillary and an alkaline solution of 20 mM ammonium acetate at pH 8.5 are used being the most suitable for the analysis of choline and atropine in less than 10 min. Under the optimized conditions, including CE and ESI-MS parameters, the method resolved both compounds with very high sensitivity. The system exhibited good linear response in the range of 25-500 mg/L and 500-1000 microg/L for choline and atropine, respectively. The detection limit of choline was 18 mg/L and 320 microg/L for atropine. Finally, the developed method was applied to the analysis of these compounds in transgenic root cultures of Cannabis sativa L.

Solid–liquid extraction and cation-exchange solid-phase extraction using a mixed-mode polymeric sorbent of Datura and related alkaloids

Tropane alkaloids solid-liquid extraction methods were developed and comprised ambient pressure ones: extraction with hot solvent, extraction at room temperature, on ultrasonic bath as well as pressurised liquid extraction (PLE) techniques. The highest yields of l-hyoscyamine in methanol PLE method (3 x 5 min, 110 degrees C) and scopolamine extracted with 1% tartaric acid in methanol (15 min, 90 degrees C) were determined. A mixed-mode reversed-phase cation-exchange solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedure was optimised for simultaneous recoveries of L-hyoscyamine, scopolamine, scopolamine-N-oxide from plant extracts as well as quaternary alkaloid representative: scopolamine-N-methyl bromide. First three alkaloids were efficiently eluted (recoveries 80-100%) from an Oasis MCX cartridge with methanol-10% ammonia (3:1, v/v) solution, whereas for the quaternary salt tetrahydrofuran-methanol-25% ammonia (6:1:3, v/v) was used with recoveries 52-6%. HPTLC-densitometric assay on silica gel plates was elaborated at 205 nm without derivatization and included: single development (over a distance 9.5 cm) with acetone-methanol-water-25% ammonia (85:5:5:8, v/v) mobile phase for L-hyoscyamine and scopolamine separation, whereas for scopolamine-N-oxide and scopolamine-N-methyl bromide a second development (to a distance 5.5 cm) with acetonitrile-methanol-85% formic acid (120:5:5, v/v) was applied. Newly elaborated RP-HPLC-diode array detection method was performed on Waters XTerra RP-18 column with gradient of acetonitrile in 15 mM ammonia solution and alkaloids were baseline separated within 20 min. Both chromatographic methods were validated and their quantitative results were compared. Good correlation between HPLC and HPTLC quantitative results was measured (correlation coefficients of mean values were 0.92086 and 0.99995 for L-hyoscyamine and scopolamine, respectively). In the RP-HPLC method, which was from 1.5- up to 7-fold more sensitive than HPTLC, limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantitation (LOQ, in bracket) were (in ng/microl) as follows: 0.25 (0.82) for L-hyoscyamine, 0.29 (0.97) for scopolamine, 0.13 (0.45) for scopolamine-N-oxide and 0.58 (1.91) for scopolamine-N-methyl bromide. By the use of the optimised chromatographic methods, 14 various samples from the leaves and fruits of Datura sp. were screened for L-hyoscyamine and scopolamine contents and the most promising samples were established.

Sensitive and specific liquid chromatographic–tandem mass spectrometric assay for atropine and its eleven metabolites in rat urine

A sensitive and specific method is described for the simultaneous determination of atropine and its metabolites in rat urine by combining liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS(n)). Various extraction techniques (free fraction, acid hydrolyses and enzyme hydrolyses) and their comparison were carried out for investigation of the metabolism of atropine. After extraction procedure the pretreated samples were separated on a reversed-phase C18 column using a mobile phase of methanol/ammonium acetate (2 mM, adjusted to pH 3.5 with formic acid) (70: 30,v/v) and detected by an on-line LC-MS(n) system. Identification and structural elucidation of the metabolites were performed by comparing their changes in molecular masses (DeltaM), retention-times and full scan MS(n) spectra with those of the parent drug. The results revealed that at least eleven metabolites (N-demethyltropine, tropine, N-demethylatropine, p-hydroxyatropine, p-hydroxyatropine N-oxide, glucuronide conjugates and sulfate conjugates of N-demethylatropine, p-hydroxyatropine and the parent drug) and the parent drug existed in rat urine after ingesting 25 mg/kg atropine. p-Hydroxyatropine and the parent drug were detected in rat urine for up 106 h after ingestion of atropine.

Capillary electrophoretic method for the determination of diterpenoid isomers in Acanthopanax species

Acanthoic, continentalic and kaurenoic acids are bioactive diterpenoids that are structural isomers isolated from Acanthopanax species. Due to the interest in their potent biological activity, an analytical method of diterpenoids was developed for the quality control and the classification of Acanthopanax species. Capillary electrophoresis was used to separate and quantify the isomers. The three compounds were successfully separated from each other and from the matrices in the extracts of leaves, stems and roots of Acanthopanax species. The contents of acanthoic, continentalic and kaurenoic acids showed taxonomical differences in Acanthopanax species. Relatively higher concentrations of diterpenoids were found from A. koreanum and A. trifoliatus, while only trace amounts were found from the four other species tested: A. senticosus, A. senticosus f. inermis, A. chiisanensis, and A. divaricatus var. albeofructus. The contents of diterpenoids in association with lignans and triterpenoids in the Acanthopanax species could provide a chemotaxonomical index able to be used in the classification and discrimination of the species.

Chiral separation of atropine by high-performance liquid chromatography

The separation and quantitation of the enantiomers and also the determination of the enantiomeric purity are now current and indispensable tasks for the pharmaceutical analysis. Among the various techniques, liquid chromatography remains the best modality owing to several advantages. High speed, sensitivity, and reproducible results make LC the method of choice in almost all laboratories. Phases that contain alpha1-acid glycoprotein as chiral selector are suitable for separation of charged and uncharged enantiomers with widely different structure. Atropine is widely used as parasympatolytic, anticholinergic and antiemetic drugs. It is one of the preferred antidote for immediate management of toxicity associated with nerve agents. Stereoselective separation was achieved with a prepacked alpha1-acid glycoprotein column without any derivatization procedure. The liquid chromatography system is coupled to mass spectrometry with an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization interface in the positive-ion mode. The chromatographed analytes are detected in selective ion monitoring after optimisation using factorial experimental design. Small amount of enantiomeric composition can be evaluated either by MS or by UV spectrometry (less than 5%).

Separation of four isomeric tropane alkaloids from Schizanthus grahamii by non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis

The potential of non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis was investigated for the separation of four isomeric tropane alkaloids, namely 3alpha-senecioyloxy-7beta-hydroxytropane, 3alpha-hydroxy-7beta-senecioyloxytropane, 3alpha-hydroxy-7beta-angeloyloxytropane and 3alpha-hydroxy-7beta-tigloyloxytropane extracted from Schizanthus grahamii. The composition of the organic solvent and the nature of the electrolyte were of considerable importance with respect to selectivity. Different organic solvents (i.e. methanol, ethanol, acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran) and mixtures thereof were investigated. Moreover, different electrolytes such as formate, acetate and trifluoroacetate were tested. After optimisation, an electrolyte consisting of 1 M trifluoroacetic acid and 25 mM ammonium trifluoroacetate in methanol:ethanol (40:60, v:v) was selected. It provided an efficient separation of the four positional isomers as well as a good repeatability of migration time (RSD < 0.2%). The method was successfully used with electrospray MS to confirm the molecular mass of the tropane alkaloids.

Determination of pravastatin in tablets by capillary electrophoresis

Pravastatin (PRA) is an inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase enzyme, which is clinically used as a hypolipidemic agent to reduce cholesterol level. A capillary electrophoretic method for the determination of PRA in pharmaceutical tablet formulations is described. PRA and lansoprazole as an internal standard (IS) were well migrated in the background electrolyte of 10 mM borate buffer (pH 8.5) and 10% acetonitrile using a fused silica capillary. The separation was achieved by applying 27.5 kV, detecting at 200 nm and injecting the sample for 0.5 s and with an average migration time (tm) for PRA and IS of 4.7 and 3.9 min, respectively, at ambient temperature. The results were precise and repeatable for areas of the peaks and peak normalization ratio (PNPRA/PNIS). Linearity was found in the concentration range of 1.56-7.78 x 10(-5) M. Intra-day and Inter-day assays were performed and reliable results were obtained. Limit of detection and limit of quantitation were 8 x 10(-6) and 2.4 x 10(-5) M, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied for the analysis of PRA in the pharmaceutical tablet formulation. The method proved simple, precise and fast since the analysis can be performed in less than 5 min.

Comprehensive strategy for chiral separations using sulfated cyclodextrins in capillary electrophoresis

This review focuses on the emerging role of sulfated cyclodextrins in the capillary electrophoretic (CE) separation of chiral analytes. Since being introduced as enantioselective agents for CE in 1995, these anionic additives have continued to demonstrate remarkable application universality. The broad spectrum of chiral compounds successfully separated using this approach includes acidic, basic, neutral, and zwitterionic species. This impressive array of analyte structures is derived from a growing diversity of compound classes including pharmaceuticals, plant extracts, biomarkers, herbicides, alkaloids, fungicides, and metal ions. Moreover, literature reports highlight the minimal optimization required to achieve a successful separation. Based on these findings, sulfated cyclodextrins appear to be well suited for the development of a more universal, comprehensive separation strategy for chiral compounds. This review explores this proposition by beginning with the structure and migration properties of sulfated cyclodextrins, using applications to highlight the separating power of this technique and ending with a pragmatic, comprehensive separation strategy.

Experimental design approach for the optimisation of a HPLC-fluorimetric method for the quantitation of the angiotensin II receptor antagonist telmisartan in urine

A high performance liquid chromatographic method with fluorimetric detection has been developed for the quantitation of the angiotensin II receptor antagonist (ARA II) 4-((2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(1-methylbenzimidazol-2-yl)-benzimidazol-1-yl)methyl)biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (telmisartan) in urine, using a Novapak C18 column 3.9 x 150 mm, 4 microm. The mobile phase consisted of a mixture acetonitrile-phosphate buffer (pH 6.0, 5 mM) (45:55, v/v) pumped at a flow rate of 0.5 ml min(-1). Effluent was monitored at excitation and emission wavelengths of 305 and 365 nm, respectively. Separation was carried out at room temperature. Chromatographic variables were optimised by means of experimental design. A clean-up step was used for urine samples consisting of a solid-phase extraction procedure with C8 cartridges and methanol as eluent. This method proved to be accurate (RE from -12 to 6%), precise (intra- and inter-day coefficients of variation (CV) were lower than 8%) and sensitive enough (limit of quantitation (LOQ), ca. 1 microg l(-1)) to be applied to the determination of the active drug in urine samples obtained from hypertensive patients. Concentration levels of telmisartan at different time intervals (from 0 up to 36 h after oral intake) were monitored.

Development and validation of a capillary zone electrophoresis method for the determination of ephedrine and related compounds in urine without extraction

A capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method, with UV detection and in the presence of dimethyl-beta-CD, was optimized by means of an experimental design for the separation and the simultaneous quantitation of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, norephedrine (phenylpropanolamine) and norpseudoephedrine (cathine) in urine without any extraction. In this application, the optimization of the analytical conditions with an experimental design was preferred to a univariate study. Therefore, a central composite design was used and the following factors were investigated and varied simultaneously: buffer concentration, buffer pH and dimethyl-beta-CD concentration. In order to evaluate the influence of each experimental parameter on the analytical separation, the resolutions between the four compounds, as well as the separation time and generated current were observed and established as responses of the experimental design. A model was obtained for each response by linear multiple regression of a second-degree mathematical expression. After acceptance of the mathematical models, the most favorable conditions were determined by maximizing the resolutions between the four compounds and by setting the other responses at threshold values. Successful results were obtained with a 260 mM Tris-phosphate buffer at pH 3.5 in the presence of 13.3 mM dimethyl-beta-CD at 25 degrees C and with an applied voltage of 30 kV. Under these optimized conditions, a baseline separation of the four compounds was achieved in less than 6 min. The method was validated in terms of precision, linearity, accuracy and successfully applied for the determination of these compounds in urine samples without any extraction as well as in nutritional supplements.

Central composite design as a powerful optimisation technique for enantioresolution of the rac-11-dihydrooracin--the principal metabolite of the potential cytostatic drug oracin

Three types of chiral stationary phase were used to achieve chromatographic resolution of enantiomers of rac-11-dihydrooracin (DHO), the principal metabolite of a potential cytostatic drug oracin. Chiralcel OD-R as a chiral stationary phase with mobile phase comprising acetonitrile (modifier) and sodium perchlorate (buffering component) proved to be the most suitable system. Chemometric optimisation based on the Box-Wilson central composite design was employed to find the optimum resolution. The optimum factor space was defined by three parameters: temperature, modifier concentration and buffer concentration. Newly designed chromatographic response functions based on a combination of resolution R(S) and retention time of the last component eluted t(RL) were employed to evaluate the resolution with regard to quality and quantity. Optimum values predicted from those models of response surfaces were in excellent agreement with the experimental results. The chromatographic resolution of DHO enantiomers is suitable for xenobiochemical studies on stereoselectivity and stereospecificity of biotransformation enzymes.

Analysis of tropane and related alkaloids

The current methods for tropane alkaloid chromatographic separation and determination are summarised. The alkaloids included are: the medicinally applied tropic acid esters hyoscyamine and scopolamine and their derivatives, cocaine and derivatives, the metabolites and degradation products of these compounds occurring in plant material, calystegines as nortropane alkaloids, anatoxins as homonortropane alkaloids, pelletierines and pseudopelletierines as alkaloids with isomeric structures. Developments in GC, HPLC, CE and TLC are presented and the advantages of each method for plant analysis are discussed. A summary for each chromatographic method lists the instrumentation and parameters applied for tropane alkaloids.

Selected fundamental aspects of chiral electromigration techniques and their application to pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

While capillary electrophoresis has been established as a major enantioseparation technique within the last decade, the potential of capillary electrochromatography is still studied extensively. This review summarizes recent applications of electromigration techniques with regard to the enantioseparation of chiral drugs. The first part discusses the general aspects of migration models and the enantiomer migration order. The application of capillary electrophoresis to chiral pharmaceutical analysis considers recent literature on: (1) chiral resolutions of non-racemic mixtures of enantiomers for the development of assays and the determination of the stereochemical purity of the drugs, (2) chiral separations of compounds in pharmaceutical formulations and products, and (3) enantioseparations of drugs in biological samples. A shorter section devoted to chiral electrochromatography discusses some fundamental aspects as well as the application to the chiral analysis of drugs including bioanalysis.

Recent developments in chiral capillary electrophoresis and applications of this technique to pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

This paper provides an overview of the current status of chiral capillary electrophoresis (CE). The emphasis is placed on the application of CE in chiral separation of various racemic compounds. During the last two years about 280 papers, several review articles, and two entire issues, edited by S. Fanali (Electrophoresis 1999, 20, 2577-2798, and H. Nishi and S. Terabe (J. Chromatogr. A 2000, 879, 1-471.) have been devoted to chiral CE. Enantiomeric separations of various compounds, e.g., pharmaceuticals, drug candidates, drugs and related metabolites in biological fluids, amino acids, di- and tri peptides, pesticides and fungicides, have been performed using different chiral selectors. Native and derivatized cyclodextrins continue to be the most widely used chiral selectors. Other chiral selectors such as natural and synthetic chiral micelles, crown ethers, chiral ligands, proteins, oligo- and polysaccharides, and macrocyclic antibiotics have also been applied to chiral CE separations.

On-line capillary electrophoresis-electrospray mass spectrometry for the stereoselective analysis of drugs and metabolites

The on-line combination of partial-filling capillary electrophoresis and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry was demonstrated for the enantioseparation of pharmaceutical drugs and metabolites, namely amphetamines, methadone, venlafaxine and selected tropane alkaloids. The partial-filling technique proved to be a suitable and efficient approach to avoid mass spectrometry (MS) source contamination, as well as signal suppression due to nonvolatile additives. To achieve chiral separation, various chiral selectors were applied, including neutral and particularly negatively charged cyclodextrins. Because of the countercurrent contribution, charged cyclodextrins were found more suitable for the on-line MS detection of separated enantiomers. Hyphenation of capillary electrophoresis (CE) with mass spectrometry was found appropriate for the stereoselective analysis of methadone in real serum samples. Moreover, the use of MS in the selected ion monitoring mode resulted in a very high selectivity, as well as improved sensitivity compared to UV detection. Finally, with atropine as a model compound, the quantitative performances of the method were evaluated and showed high sensitivity, as well as good repeatability in terms of migration time and peak area ratio.

LC determination of atropine sulfate and scopolamine hydrobromide in pharmaceuticals

An accurate, simple, reproducible and sensitive method for the determination of atropine sulfate and scopolamine hydrobromide has been developed and validated. Atropine sulfate and scopolamine hydrobromide were separated using a microBondapack C(18) column by isocratic elution with flow rate 1.0 ml/min. The mobile phase composition was methanol, water, formic acid (165:35:1; v/v/v) and pH adjusted 8.3 with triethylamine. The samples were detected at 230 nm using photo-diode array detector. The linear range of detection for atropine sulfate (I) and scopolamine hydrobromide (II) were between 10.38 and 1038 microg/ml with a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 10.38, 10.00 and 1034 microg/ml with an LOQ of 10.00 microg/ml respectively. The linearity, range, peak purity, selectivity, system performance parameters, precision, accuracy, robustness and ruggedness for (I) and (II) were also shown acceptable values.

Fast development of separation methods for the chiral analysis of amino acid derivatives using capillary electrophoresis and experimental designs

The use of experimental design in method development was studied for the chiral separation of several amino acid derivatives with capillary electrophoresis. The aim of this study was to define rapidly experimental conditions under which the enantiomers can be sufficiently separated for quantification and to derive a methodology for the separation of new compounds. Three modified cyclodextrins (CDs) were used as chiral selectors: hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin, carboxymethyl-beta-CD and sulfobutylether-beta-CD. The following factors were examined: the type of cyclodextrin, the CD concentration, the pH and the % of organic modifier (methanol) of the electrolyte. Two types of fractional factorial design were used depending on the type of analyte and on the number of factors selected: a 3(4-2) fractional factorial design (4 factors studied at 3 different levels) and a 2(3-1) fractional factorial design (3 factors at 2 different levels). From the 14 compounds investigated, 12 could be separated with one or another CD and not more than 9 experiments were required. No generalisation of the best analysis conditions was possible within this family of compounds. Specific analysis conditions must be defined for each analyte. Experimental designs have shown to be very useful to determine rapidly conditions under which each enantiomer can be separated with an acceptable resolution.