Capillary electrophoresis coupled with a capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detector (CE-C(4)D) has been employed for the determination of the β-blocker drugs (atenolol and amiloride) in pharmaceutical formulations. 150 mM acetic acid was used as background electrolyte. The influence of several factors (detector excitation voltage and frequency, buffer concentration, applied voltage, capillary temperature, and injection time) was studied. Non-UV absorbing L-valine was used as an internal standard; the analytes were all separated in less than 7 min. The separation was carried out in normal polarity mode at 28 °C, 25 kV, and using hydrodynamic injection (25 s). The separation was effected in a bare fused-silica capillary 75 μm × 52 cm. The CE-C(4)D method was validated with respect to linearity, limit of detection and quantification, accuracy, precision, and selectivity. Calibration curves were linear over the range 5-250 μg mL(-1) for the studied analytes. The relative standard deviations of intra- and inter-day precisions of migration times and corrected peak areas were less than 6.0%. The method showed good precision and accuracy and was successfully applied to the simultaneous determination of the β-blocker drugs in different pharmaceutical tablets.
Online preconcentration using electrokinetic supercharging (EKS) was proposed to enhance the sensitivity of separation for endocrine disrupting chemical (methylparaben (MP)) and phenolic pollutants (2-nitrophenol (NP) and 4-chlorophenol (CP)) in water sample. Important EKS and separation conditions such as the concentration of BGE; the choice of terminating electrolyte (TE); and the injection time of leading electrolyte (LE), sample, and TE were optimized. The optimum EKS-CE conditions were as follows: BGE comprising of 12 mM sodium tetraborate pH 10.1, 100 mM sodium chloride as LE hydrodynamically injected at 50 mbar for 30 s, electrokinetic injection (EKI) of sample at -3 kV for 200 s, and 100 mM CHES as TE hydrodynamically injected at 50 mbar for 40 s. The separation was conducted at negative polarity mode and UV detection at 214 nm. Under these conditions, the sensitivity of analytes was enhanced from 100- to 737-fold as compared to normal CZE with hydrodynamic injection, giving LOD of 4.89, 5.29, and 53 μg/L for MP, NP and CP, respectively. The LODs were adequate for the analysis of NP and CP in environmental water sample having concentration at or lower than their maximum admissible concentration limit (240 and 2000 μg/L for NP and CP). The LOD of MP can be suitable for the analysis of MP exists at mid-microgram per liter level, even though the LOD was slightly higher than the concentration usually found in water samples (from ng/L to 1 μg/L). The method repeatabilities (%RSD) were in the range of 1.07-2.39% (migration time) and 8.28-14.0% (peak area).
The accumulation of paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) in contaminated shellfish is a serious health risk making early detection important to improve shellfish safety and biotoxin management. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) has been proven as a high resolution separation technique compatible with miniaturization, making it an attractive choice in the development of portable instrumentation for early, on-site detection of PSTs. In this work, capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detector (C(4)D) and UV detection were examined with counter-flow transient isotachophoresis (tITP) to improve the sensitivity and deal with the high conductivity sample matrix. The high sodium concentration in the sample was used as the leading ion while l-alanine was used as the terminating electrolyte (TE) and background electrolyte (BGE) in which the toxins were separated. Careful optimization of the injected sample volume and duration of the counter-flow resulted in limit of detections (LODs) ranging from 74.2 to 1020 ng/mL for tITP-CZE-C(4)D and 141 to 461 ng/mL for tITP-CZE-UV, an 8-97 fold reduction compared to conventional CZE. The LODs were adequate for the analysis of PSTs in shellfish samples close to the regulatory limit. Intra-day and inter-day repeatability values (percentage relative standard deviation, n=3) of tITP-CZE-C(4)D and tITP-CZE-UV methods for both migration time and peak height were in the range of 0.82-11% and 0.76-10%, respectively. The developed method was applied to the analysis of a contaminated mussel sample and validated against an Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC)-approved method for PSTs analysis by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection (FLD) after pre-column oxidation of the sample. The method presented has potential for incorporation in to field-deployable devices for the early detection of PSTs on-site.
Peptides with biological properties, that is, bioactive peptides, are a class of biomolecules whose health-promoting properties are increasingly being exploited in food and health products. However, research on targeted techniques for the detection and quantification of these peptides is still in its infancy. Such information is needed in order to enhance the biological and chemometric characterization of peptides and their subsequent application in the functional food and pharmaceutical industries. In this review, the role of classic techniques such as electrophoretic, chromatographic, and peptide mass spectrometry in the structure-informed detection and quantitation of bioactive peptides are discussed. Prospects for the use of aptamers in the characterization of bioactive peptides are also discussed. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Although bioactive peptides have huge potential applications in the functional foods and health area, there are limited techniques in enhancing throughput detection, quantification, and characterization of these peptides. This review discusses state-of-the-art techniques relevant in complementing bioactive detection and profiling irrespective of the small number of amino acid units. Insights into challenges, possible remedies and prevailing areas requiring thorough research in the extant literature for food chemists and biotechnologists are also presented.
Binding constants for the enantiomers of modafinil with the negatively charged chiral selector sulfated-β-CD (S-β-CD) using CE technique is presented. The calculations of the binding constants employing three different linearization plots (double reciprocal, X-reciprocal and Y-reciprocal) were performed from the electrophoretic mobility values of modafinil enantiomers at different concentrations of S-β-CD in the BGE. The highest inclusion affinity of the modafinil enantiomers were observed for the S-enantiomer-S-β-CD complex, in agreement with the computational calculations performed previously. Binding constants for each enantiomer-S-β-CD complex at different temperatures, as well as thermodynamic parameters for binding, were calculated. Host-guest binding constants using the double reciprocal fit showed better linearity (r(2)>0.99) at all temperatures studied (15-30°C) and compared with the other two fit methods. The linear van't Hoff (15-30°C) plot obtained indicated that the thermodynamic parameters of complexation were temperature dependent for the enantiomers.
A capillary electrophoretic method for the separation of the enantiomers of both ofloxacin and ornidazole is described. Several parameters affecting the separation were studied, including the type and concentration of chiral selector, buffer pH, voltage and temperature. Good chiral separation of the racemic mixtures was achieved in less than 16 min with resolution factors Rs=5.45 and 6.28 for ofloxacin and ornidazole enantiomers, respectively. Separation was conducted using a bare fused-silica capillary and a background electrolyte (BGE) of 50 mM H(3)PO(4)-1 M tris solution; pH 1.85; containing 30 mg mL(-1) of sulfated-beta-cyclodextrin (S-beta-CD). The separation was carried out in reversed polarity mode at 25 degrees C, 18 kV, detection wavelength at 230 nm and using hydrodynamic injection for 15 s. Acceptable validation criteria for selectivity, linearity, precision, and accuracy were studied. The limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantitation (LOQ) of the enantiomers (ofloxacin enantiomer 1 (OF-E1), ofloxacin enantiomer 2 (OF-E2), ornidazole enantiomer 1 (OR-E1) and ornidazole enantiomer 2 (OR-E2)) were (0.52, 0.46, 0.54, 0.89) and (1.59, 1.40, 3.07, 2.70) microg mL(-1), respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied to the assay of enantiomers of both ofloxacin and ornidazole in pharmaceutical formulations. The computational calculations for the enantiomeric inclusion complexes rationalized the reasons for the different migration times between the ofloxacin and ornidazole enantiomers.
A three-phase hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction (HF-LPME) coupled either with capillary electrophoresis (CE) or high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection methods was successfully developed for the determination of trace levels of the anti-diabetic drug, rosiglitazone (ROSI) in biological fluids. The analyte was extracted into dihexyl ether that was immobilized in the wall pores of a porous hollow fiber from 10 mL of aqueous sample, pH 9.5 (donor phase), and was back extracted into the acceptor phase that contained 0.1M HCl located in the lumen of the hollow fiber. Parameters affecting the extraction process such as type of extraction solvent, HCl concentration, donor phase pH, extraction time, stirring speed, and salt addition were studied and optimized. Under the optimized conditions (extraction solvent, dihexyl ether; donor phase pH, 9.5; acceptor phase, 0.1M HCl; stirring speed, 600 rpm; extraction time, 30 min; without addition of salt), enrichment factor of 280 was obtained. Good linearity and correlation coefficients of the analyte was obtained over the concentration ranges of 1.0-500 and 5.0-500 ng mL(-1) for the HPLC (r(2)=0.9988) and CE (r(2)=0.9967) methods, respectively. The limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantitation (LOQ) for the HPLC and CE methods were (0.18, 2.83) and (0.56, 5.00) ng mL(-1), respectively. The percent relative standard deviation (n=6) for the extraction and determination of three concentration levels (10, 250, 500 ng mL(-1)) of ROSI using the HPLC and CE methods were less than 10.9% and 13.2%, respectively. The developed methods are simple, rapid, sensitive and are suitable for the determination of trace amounts of ROSI in biological fluids.
Capillary zone electrophoresis coupled with a capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detector (CE-C(4)D) has been employed for the determination of atenolol and amiloride in pharmaceutical formulations. Acetic acid (150 mm) was used as background electrolyte. The influence of several factors (detector excitation voltage and frequency, buffer concentration, applied voltage, capillary temperature and injection time) was studied. Non-UV-absorbing L-valine was used as internal standard; the analytes were all separated in less than 7 min. The separation was carried out in normal polarity mode at 28 degrees C, 25 kV and using hydrodynamic injection (25 s). The separation was effected in an uncoated fused-silica capillary (75 microm, i.d. x 52 cm). The CE-C(4)D method was validated with respect to linearity, limit of detection and quantification, accuracy, precision and selectivity. Calibration curves were linear over the range 5-250 microg/mL for the studied analytes. The relative standard deviations of intra- and inter-day migration times and corrected peak areas were less than 6.0%. The method showed good precision and accuracy and was successfully applied to the simultaneous determination of atenolol and amiloride in different pharmaceutical tablet formulations.
Capillary zone electrophoresis methods for the simultaneous determination of the beta-blocker drugs, atenolol, chlorthalidone and amiloride, in pharmaceutical formulations have been developed. The influences of several factors (buffer pH, concentration, applied voltage, capillary temperature and injection time) were studied. Using phenobarbital as internal standard, the analytes were all separated in less than 4 min. The separation was carried out in normal polarity mode at 25 degrees C, 25 kV and using hydrodynamic injection (10 s). The separation was effected in an uncoated fused-silica capillary (75 mum i.d. x 52 cm) and a background electrolyte of 25 mm H(3)PO(4) adjusted with 1 m NaOH solution (pH 9.0) and detection at 198 nm. The method was validated with respect to linearity, limit of detection and quantification, accuracy, precision and selectivity. Calibration curves were linear over the range 1-250 microg/mL for atenolol and chlorthalidone and from 2.5-250 microg/mL for amiloride. The relative standard deviations of intra- and inter-day migration times and corrected peak areas were less than 6.0%. The method showed good precision and accuracy and was successfully applied to the simultaneous determination of atenolol, chlorthalidone and amiloride in various pharmaceutical tablets formulations.
Haemoglobin Constant Spring (Hb CS) mutation and single gene deletions are common underlying genetic abnormalities for alpha thalassaemias. Co-inheritance of deletional and non-deletional alpha (alpha) thalassaemias may result in various thalassaemia syndromes. Concomitant co-inheritance with beta (beta) and delta (delta) gene abnormalities would result in improved clinical phenotype. We report here a 33-year-old male patient who was admitted with dengue haemorrhagic fever, with a background history of Grave's disease, incidentally noted to have mild hypochromic microcytic red cell indices. Physical examination revealed no thalassaemic features or hepatosplenomegaly. His full blood picture showed hypochromic microcytic red cells with normal haemoglobin (Hb) level. Quantitation of Hb using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and capillary electrophoresis (CE) revealed raised Hb F, normal Hb A2 and Hb A levels. There was also small peak of Hb CS noted in CE. H inclusions was negative. Kleihauer test was positive with heterocellular distribution of Hb F among the red cells. DNA analysis for alpha globin gene mutations showed a single -alpha(-3.7) deletion and Hb CS mutation. These findings were suggestive of compound heterozygosity of Hb CS and a single -alpha(-3.7) deletion with a concomitant heterozygous deltabeta thalassaemia. Co-inheritance of Hb CS and a single -alpha(-3.7) deletion is expected to result at the very least in a clinical phenotype similar to that of two alpha genes deletion. However we demonstrate here a phenotypic modification of alpha thalassemia presumptively as a result of co-inheritance with deltabeta chain abnormality as suggested by the high Hb F level.
One of the most cited limitations of capillary (and microchip) electrophoresis is the poor sensitivity. This review continues to update this series of biennial reviews, first published in Electrophoresis in 2007, on developments in the field of on-line/in-line concentration methods in capillaries and microchips, covering the period July 2014-June 2016. It includes developments in the field of stacking, covering all methods from field amplified sample stacking and large volume sample stacking, through to isotachophoresis, dynamic pH junction, and sweeping. Attention is also given to on-line or in-line extraction methods that have been used for electrophoresis.
A fast and simple capillary zone electrophoresis method was developed and validated for the determination of lidocaine in skin using tape samples. Separation was performed in a 350 mm (265 mm to window) x 50 microm i.d. fused silica capillary using a background electrolyte of phosphoric acid-Tris pH 2.5. The extraction of lidocaine from tape samples was achieved using methanol, which was diluted to 50% with water before injection. Procaine was the internal standard. The migration times for procaine and lidocaine were 2.9 and 3.2 min, respectively. The limit of quantification for lidocaine was 50 microg, with signal to noise ratio greater than 10. The calibration curve was linear from 50 to 1000 microg with r(2) greater than 0.99. The CV for both within- and between-assay imprecision and the percentage of inaccuracy for the quality control samples including lower and upper limits of quantitation were 97%. The accuracy and selectivity of this method allowed the measurement of lidocaine in tape samples obtained from a skin tape stripping study of local anesthetics in healthy subjects.
A new approach based on the integration of the free liquid membrane (FLM) into electrokinetic supercharging (EKS) was demonstrated to be a new powerful tool used in order to enhance online preconcentration efficiency in capillary electrophoresis (CE). A small plug of water immiscible organic solvent was used as a membrane interface during the electrokinetic sample injection step in EKS in order to significantly enhance the analyte stacking efficiency. The new online preconcentration strategy was evaluated for the determination of paraquat and diquat present in the environmental water samples. The optimised FLM-EKS conditions employed were as follows: hydrodynamic injection (HI) of 20mM potassium chloride as leading electrolyte at 50mbar for 75s (3% of the total capillary volume) followed by the HI of tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (TEHP) as FLM at a 1mm length (0.1% of the capillary volume). The sample was injected at 10kV for 360s, followed by the HI of 20mM cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as terminating electrolyte at 50mbar for 50s (2% of the total capillary volume). The separation was performed in 12mM ammonium acetate and 30mM NaCl containing 20% MeOH at +25kV with UV detection at 205nm. Under optimised conditions, the sensitivity was enhanced between 1500- and 1866-fold when compared with the typical HI at 50mbar for 50s. The detection limit of the method for paraquat and diquat was 0.15-0.20ng/mL, with RSDs below 5.5%. Relative recoveries in spiked river water were in the range of 95.4-97.5%. A comparison was also made between the proposed approach with sole preconcentration of the field-enhanced sample injection (FASI) and EKS in the absence of the FLM.
A capillary electrophoretic method for the separation of the aminoglutethimide (AGT) enantiomers using methylated-beta-cyclodextrin (M-beta-CD) as chiral selector is described. Several parameters affecting the separation were studied, including the type and concentration of chiral selector, buffer pH, voltage and temperature. Good chiral separation of the racemic mixture was achieved in less than 9 min with resolution factor Rs=2.1, using a fused-silica capillary and a background electrolyte (BGE) of tris-phosphate buffer solution (50 mmol L(-1), pH 3.0) containing 30 mgm L(-1) of M-beta-CD. The separation was carried out in normal polarity mode at 25 degrees C, 16 kV and using hydrostatic injection. Acceptable validation criteria for selectivity, linearity, precision, and accuracy/recovery were included. The proposed method was successfully applied to the assay of AGT enantiomers in pharmaceutical formulations. The computational calculations for the inclusion complexes of the R- and S-AGT-M-beta-CD rationalized the reasons for the different migration times between the AGT enantiomers.
A capillary electrophoresis (CE) method has been developed that allows the separation and estimation of primaquine enantiomers using hydroxypropyl-gamma-cyclodextrin (HP-gamma -CD) as a chiral selector. The influence of chemical and instrumental parameters on the separation, such as type and concentration of CD, buffer concentration, buffer pH, applied voltage, capillary temperature, and injection time, were investigated. Good separation of the racemic mixture of primaquine was achieved using a fused-silica capillary (52.5 cm effective length x 50 microm id) and a background electrolyte composed of tris-phosphate buffer solution (50 mM, pH 2.5) containing 15 mM HP-gamma-CD as a chiral selector. The recommended applied voltage, capillary temperature, and injection time were 15 kV, 25 degrees C, and 6 s, respectively. Within-day and interday reproducibility of peak area and migration time gave relative standard deviation values ranging from 1.05-3.30%. Good recoveries (range of 96.8-104.9%) were obtained from the determination of placebos that were spiked with 0.25-1.00 mg/L primaquine. The proposed CE method was successfully applied to the assay of primaquine diphosphate in pharmaceutical formulations (tablets).
A capillary zone electrophoretic method has been developed and validated for the determination of the impurity quinocide (QC) in the antimalarial drug primaquine (PQ). Different buffer additives such as native cyclodextrins and crown ethers were evaluated. Promising results were obtained when either beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) or 18-crown-6 ether (18C6) were used. Their separation conditions such as type of buffer and its pH, buffer additive concentration, applied voltage capillary temperature and injection time were optimized. The use of 18C6 offers slight advantages over beta-CD such as faster elution times and improved resolution. Nevertheless, migration times of less than 5 min and resolution factors (R(s)) in the range of 2-4 were obtained when both additives were used. The method was validated with respect to selectivity, linearity, limits of detection and quantitation, analytical precision (intra- and inter-day variability) and repeatability. Concentrations of 2.12 and 2.71% (w/w) of QC were found in pharmaceutical preparations of PQ from two different manufacturers. A possible mechanism for the successful separation of the isomers is also discussed.
Miniaturisation of microchip capillary electrophoresis (MCE) is becoming an increasingly important research topic, particularly in areas related to micro total analysis systems or lab on a chip. One of the important features associated with the miniaturised MCE system is the portable power supply unit. In this work, a very low electric field MCE utilising an amperometric detection scheme was designed for use in DNA separation. The device was fabricated from a glass/polydimethylsiloxane hybrid engraved microchannel with platinum electrodes sputtered onto a glass substrate. Measurement was based on a three-electrode arrangement, and separation was achieved using a very low electric field of 12 V/cm and sample volume of 1.5 µl. The device was tested using two commercial DNA markers of different base pair sizes. The results are in agreement with conventional electrophoresis, but with improved resolution. The sensitivity consistently higher than 100 nA, and the separation time approximately 45 min, making this microchip an ideal tool for DNA analysis.
The SNPforID consortium identified a panel of 52 SNPs for forensic analysis that has been used by several laboratories worldwide. The original analysis of the 52 SNPs was based on a single multiplex reaction followed by two single-base-extension (SBE) reactions each of which was analyzed using capillary electrophoresis. The SBE assays were designed for high throughput genetic analyzers and were difficult to use on the single capillary ABI PRISM 310 Genetic Analyzer and the latest generation 3500 Genetic Analyzer, as sensitivity on the 310 was low and separation of products on the 3500 with POP-7™ was poor. We have modified the original assay and split it into four multiplex reactions, each followed by an SBE assay. These multiplex assays were analyzed using polymer POP-4™ on ABI 310 PRISM® and polymers POP-4™, POP-6™ and POP-7™ on the 3500 Genetic Analyzer. The assays were sensitive and reproducible with input DNA as low as 60 pg using both the ABI 310 and 3500. In addition, we found that POP-6™ was most effective with the 3500, based on the parameters that we assessed, achieving better separation of the small SBE products; this conflicted with the recommended use of POP-7™ by the instrument manufacturer. To support the use of the SNP panel in casework in Malaysia we have created an allele frequency database from 325 individuals, representing the major population groups within Malaysia. Population and forensic parameters were estimated for all populations and its efficacy evaluated using 51 forensic samples from challenging casework.
The growth in driving force and popularity of cyclodextrin (CDs) and ionic liquids (ILs) as promising materials in the field of analytical chemistry has resulted in an exponentially increase of their exploitation and production in analytical chemistry field. CDs belong to the family of cyclic oligosaccharides composing of α-(1,4) linked glucopyranose subunits and possess a cage-like supramolecular structure. This structure enables chemical reactions to proceed between interacting ions, radical or molecules in the absence of covalent bonds. Conversely, ILs are an ionic fluids comprising of only cation and anion often with immeasurable vapor pressure making them as green or designer solvent. The cooperative effect between CD and IL due to their fascinating properties, have nowadays contributed their footprints for a better development in analytical chemistry nowadays. This comprehensive review serves to give an overview on some of the recent studies and provides an analytical trend for the application of CDs with the combination of ILs that possess beneficial and remarkable effects in analytical chemistry including their use in various sample preparation techniques such as solid phase extraction, magnetic solid phase extraction, cloud point extraction, microextraction, and separation techniques which includes gas chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, capillary electrophoresis as well as applications of electrochemical sensors as electrode modifiers with references to recent applications. This review will highlight the nature of interactions and synergic effects between CDs, ILs, and analytes. It is hoped that this review will stimulate further research in analytical chemistry.
One of the major drawbacks of electrophoresis in both capillary and microchip is the unsatisfactory sensitivity. Online sample preconcentration techniques can be regarded as the most common and powerful approaches commonly applied to enhance overall detection sensitivity. While the advances of various online preconcentration strategies in capillary and microchip employing aqueous background electrolytes are well-reviewed, there has been limited discussion of the feasible preconcentration techniques specifically developed for capillary and microchip using nonaqueous background electrolytes. This review provides the first consolidated overview of various online preconcentration techniques in nonaqueous capillary and microchip electrophoresis, covering the period of the last two decades. It covers developments in the field of sample stacking, isotachophoresis, and micellar-based stacking. Attention is also given to multi-stacking strategies that have been used for nonaqueous electrophoresis.