Experimental design-based development of a rapid capillary electrophoresis method for determining impurities in the tetrapeptide H-Tyr-(D)Arg-Phe-Phe-NH2

A capillary electrophoresis (CE) method has been developed and validated for separating the tetrapeptide H-Tyr-(D)Arg-Phe-Phe-NH2 and nine related substances. The method was developed using experimental design in a four-step procedure, in which eight variables were investigated in a total of 47 experiments. The preferred background electrolyte (BGE) consisted of 0.1M malonic acid at pH 2.5 with 7 mM heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl)-beta-cyclodextrin (2,6-DM-beta-CD). The separation of H-Tyr-(D)Arg-Phe-Phe-NH2 and the related substances was accomplished within 15 min, with a resolution greater than 1.5 between all peaks. The method was then investigated with respect to its selectivity, linearity, precision, detection limit (LOD) and quantitation limit (LOQ). In addition, a system suitability test was performed and response factors were determined, essentially following International Conference of Harmonization guidelines for the validation of analytical methods. LOD and LOQ for the related substance H-Arg-Phe-NH2 were found to be 0.3 and 0.8 microg/ml, respectively, at a target H-Tyr-(D)Arg-Phe-Phe-NH concentration of 1mg/ml. The method performed well with respect to all of the validation parameters.     

Cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate)-based chiral stationary phases as effective tools for enantioselective HPLC separation of structurally different disubstituted binaphthyls

Cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate)-based chiral stationary phases (CSPs) were used for a study of the HPLC retention and enantioseparation behavior of 2,2'-disubstituted or 3,2,2'-trisubstituted 1,1'-binaphthyls and 8,3'-disubstituted 1,2'-binaphthyls. The effects of the mobile phase composition in normal- (NP) and reversed-phase (RP) separation modes were investigated. The NP mobile phases contained n-hexane and propane-2-ol at various volume ratios, the RP ones were obtained by mixing acetonitrile with water or a 20 mM phosphate buffer of pH 6.0 or 3.0. The RP separation mode has been found more suitable for enantioresolution of most of the analytes. The best enantioseparation of 2,2'-diacetyl-1,1'-binaphthyl, 2-hydroxy-2'-(phenylamino)-1,1'-binaphthyl-3-carboxylic acid and 2-amino-2'-hydroxy-1,1'-binaphthyl-3-carboxylic acid was obtained in the mobile phase of ACN/20 mM phosphate buffer, pH 3.0, 40/60 (v/v), whereas N-(2'-hydroxy-1,1'-binaphthyl-2-yl)acetamide, N-(3'-methoxy-1,2'-binaphthyl-8-yl)acetamide, and N-(3'-hydroxy-1,2'-binaphthyl-8-yl)acetamide yielded better results in ACN/water at the same v/v ratio. The analyte-CSP interaction mechanism was found to be temperature independent but the enantioresolution improved at an elevated temperature. The mechanism of the enantioselective discrimination is discussed on the basis of the thermodynamic parameters obtained. Semi-preparative separation conditions have been proposed for 2-amino-2'-hydroxy-1,1'-binaphthyl-3-carboxylic acid, N-(3'-methoxy-1,2'-binaphthyl-8-yl)acetamide, and N-(3'-hydroxy-1,2'-binaphthyl-8-yl)acetamide.     

Sugaring out: A new method for removal of acetonitrile from preparative RP-HPLC eluent for protein purification

Reverse phase-high pressure liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) with an acetonitrile–water mixture as the eluent is widely used for purification of proteins. The separation of acetonitrile (ACN) in RP-HPLC eluent is important for protein recovery. Cooling below subzero temperature and salting out have been used to remove ACN, each with its limitations. In this work we have explored the use of sugaring-out, a new phase separation method developed at University of Illinois for the separation of ACN from a simulated preparative RP-HPLC effluent. The effect of glucose concentration, temperature, and initial amount of ACN in the effluent on phase separation was investigated. Results showed that a good phase separation can be achieved at near room temperature (18 °C). With the optimized conditions, we found that more than 60% (w/w) of ACN was removed and more than 95% (w/w) of water-soluble proteins (bovine serum albumin, trypsin, and pepsin) were recovered.     

Separation of nucleoside phosphoramidate diastereoisomers by high performance liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis

Separations of five diastereoisomers of nucleoside phosphoramidate derivatives (pronucleotides) were performed by both HPLC method using derivatized cellulose and amylose chiral stationary phases and CE method using anionic cyclodextrins added in the background electrolyte (BGE). An optimal baseline separation (Rs > 1.5) was readily obtained with all silica-based celluloses and amyloses using in a normal-phase methodology. Capillary electrophoresis was used as an alternative technique to HPLC for the separation of pronucleotides. The diastereoisomers were fully resolved with sulfated cyclodextrins at both BGE pH (2.5 and 6.2). Limits of detection and limits of quantification, calculated for both methods, are up to 200 times higher in CE separations than in HPLC separations. The analytical HPLC method was then applied in a preliminary study for the pronucleotide 1 quantification in cellular extract.     

Salt-induced phase separation can effectively remove the acetonitrile from the protein sample after the preparative RP-HPLC

Acetonitrile (ACN)–water system is one of the most commonly used mobile phases in practical reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). However, a higher concentration of ACN (normally greater than 60% (v/v)) is required to elute the target protein from the RP-HPLC column in which, further steps to remove the ACN from the protein samples are demanded. It has been demonstrated that the phase separation occurring under the sub-zero temperature could easily remove the majority of ACN from the effluent of RP-HPLC. Recently, we found that the comparable phase separation could be achieved by adding a small amount of proper salts, such as K₂HPO₄ and KH₂PO₄, and the phase separation could take place effectively at 4 °C where the protein-purification processes were usually carried out. In addition, the pH value of the solution could be maintained properly by using potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0). With an optimized condition for this salt-induced phase separation, we demonstrated that greater than 60% of ACN could be easily removed; on the other hand, more than 90% of water-soluble protein could be successfully recovered within five hours.     

Possible uses of micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography for the chiral discrimination of some pyrethroids

Micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were used for the separation of stereoisomers of the lipophilic uncharged pyrethroids cypermethrin, alphamethrin, permethrin, and fenpropathrin. Different kinds of cyclodextrin (β-cyclodextrin, hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin, dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin, and γ-cyclodextrin), surfactants (sodium dodecyl sulphate [SDS] and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide [CTAB]), and cations of background electrolyte (sodium, ammonium, TRIS, and Ammediol) were tested. Optimized conditions (background electrolyte: 50 mmol/l sodium phosphate, pH ≈ 2.5, 150 mmol/l SDS, 150 mg/ml γ-cyclodextrin) allowed the separation of alphamethrin, the eight cypermethrin stereoisomers being eluted in seven peaks and the separation of two enantiomers of fenpropathrin with resolution R_s = 10 and with n ≃ 500,000 theoretical plates. Different experimental conditions, e.g., mobile phase composition, temperature, injected amount, and flow rate, were also optimized in HPLC experiments. The optimal conditions (stationary phase: ChiraDex, 5 μm; mobile phase: 150 mmol triethylamine/l with H₂SO₄ in water (pH = 3.5) with methanol or acetonitrile; flow rate: 0.8 or 0.6 ml/min; temperature: ambient or 30°, 20°, or 10°C; experimental conditions were modified according to the type of analysis) allow chiral discrimination of alphamethrin enantiomers and analysis of permethrin stereoisomers. MECC offers higher efficiency and shorter analysis time than HPLC, but under tested conditions it was shown that the methods complement each other. Chirality 9:162–166, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Liquid chromatographic retention behavior and enantiomeric separation of three chiral center beta-blocker drug (nadolol) using heptakis (6-azido-6-deoxy-2, 3-di-O-phenylcarbamolyted) beta-cyclodextrin bonded chiral stationary phase

Nadolol, a beta-blocker used in the management of hypertension and angina pectoris, has three chiral centers and is currently marketed as an equal mixture of its four stereoisomers. Enantiomeric separation of nadolol by high-performance liquid chromatography was studied on a column packed with novel heptakis (6-azido-6-deoxy-2, 3-di-O-phenylcarbamolyted) beta-cyclodextrin bonded chiral stationary phase. The retention behavior and resolution of nadolol enantiomers were investigated and discussed with respect to the mobile phase composition and flow rate, pH, ionic strength, and temperature. The optimal separation condition was found; the mobile phase contained 80% buffer solution (1% triethylamine acetate, pH 5.5) and 20% methanol with 0.3 ml/min mobile phase flow rate at a temperature of 20 degrees C. At the optimal conditions, resolution of three stereoisomers of nadolol was obtained with a complete separation of the most active enantiomer, (RSR)-nadolol. Thermodynamic properties including enthalpy and entropy change of binding to the CSP for the enantiomeric separation were also determined.     

Direct enantioselective separation of some propranolol analogs by HPLC on normal and reversed cellulose chiral stationary phases

The enantiomeric separation of several racemic aryloxyaminopropan-2-ol derivatives related to propranolol on normal and reversed phase of cellulose tris (3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) chiral stationary phases known as Chiralcel OD and Chiralcel OD-R were studied. It was observed that the chiral separation depends on the substitution pattern of the aryl group, i.e., 1-naphthyl, 2-naphthyl, and phenyl group and polarity on the basic nitrogen in the side chain. In both normal and reversed phase modes the (+)-R-enantiomer eluted first in all of the analogs resolved. It can be concluded that: (1) substituents on the side chain did affect the interaction of the enantiomers with the polar carbamate moiety in the CSP; and (2) the dipole-dipole stacking between the π-donor 3,5-dimethylphenyl carbamate group pending from the glucose rings of the CSP and π-acceptor aryl group of the analyte is crucial for the efficient chiral discrimination. The chiral recognition mechanism(s) between these analogs and the chiral stationary phases are proposed. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Chromatographic separations of serum proteins on immobilized metal ion stationary phases

The separation of proteins on stationary phases consisting of a bound organic chelator and a chelated divalent transition metal has been studied as a function of (A) metal ion species; (B) mobile phase composition and pH; and (C) anion and cation concentration. Optimum separation was observed at alkaline pH on chelated nickel stationary phases. Ammonium and Tris salts reduced the affinity of the metal chelate packing for serum proteins. Halide ions caused the proteins to be more strongly bound to the stationary phase. High salt concentrations had only a small effect on the binding of serum proteins in the absence of amine containing buffers or salts. It was also observed that the ease of elution and the recovery of protein were dependent on pH and upon the presence of halides. The general order of elution of serum proteins, based on isoelectric focusing, was independent of metal ion species and elution conditions, suggesting that a single mechanism or a unique sequence of mechanisms was operative. The results suggest that ligand exchange is the major mechanism of separation under basic conditions and that hydrophobic effects are the result of the competition of nonnitrogen ions with ammonium ions or amines for ligand binding sites modifying or participating in protein binding. Protein binding studies under weak acidic conditions are also presented although the mechanism responsible for protein binding is unclear.     

Biocompatible sample pretreatment for immunochemical techniques using micellar liquid chromatography for separation of corticosteroids

Micellar liquid chromatography (MLC) using Tween 20 as surfactant was evaluatd as a biocompatible sample pretreatment preceding immunoassay in order to obtain an increased selectivity of the assay and a simplification of the sample pretreatment procedure. Different stationary phases and chromatographic conditions were studied for the separation of budesonide and cortisol and some steroids known to interfere in immunoassay of these compounds. The separation was dependent on several parameters, for example, temperature, the concentration of Tween 20, pH and ionic strength of the mobile phase, and nature of the stationary phase. A precolumn venting system was used, which allowed for 140 direct injections of 25 μl of human blood plasma, without loss of chromatographic performance. Results obtained from the coupling of MLC to an immunoassay for cortisol illustrates the selectivity which can be obtained, and that simplification of the sample pretreatment is possible using this technique.     

Synthesis and evaluation of polymeric continuous bed (monolithic) reversed-phase gradient stationary phases for capillary liquid chromatography and capillary electrochromatography

There is a demand of novel high resolution separation media for separation of complex mixtures, particularly biological samples. One of the most flexible techniques for development of new separation media currently is synthesis of the continuous bed (monolithic) stationary phases. In this study the capillary format gradient stationary phases were formed using continuous bed (monolith) polymerization in situ. Different reversed-phase stationary phase gradients were tailored and their resolution using capillary liquid chromatography and capillary electrochromatography at isocratic mobile phase conditions was evaluated. It is demonstrated, that efficiency and resolution of the gradient stationary phases can be substantially increased comparing to the common (isotropic) stationary phases. The proposed formation approach of the gradient stationary phase is reproducible and compatible with the capillary format or microchip format separations. It can be easily automated for the separation optimizations or mass production of the capillary columns or chips.     

Optimization of the separation of a complex mixture of natural and synthetic anabolic steroids by micellar liquid chromatography

A systematic optimization of the HPLC separation of a complex mixture containing natural and synthetic anabolic steroids by micellar liquid chromatography using a Hypersil (150 mm x 3.0 mm i.d., 5 microm) C18 column and UV detection at 245 nm (exception is made for oxymetolone and danazol which were monitorized at 280 nm) has been carried out. The isocratic micellar mobile phases (from binary to quaternary) consisted of sodium dodecyl sulphate and organic modifiers such as acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran, propanol, butanol or pentanol. The effect of the organic modifiers, surfactant concentration, temperature, ionic strength and flow-rate on the separation has been studied. A micellar mobile phase 5% propanol and 40 mM surfactant allowed the separation of 12 steroids out of 14 tested in about 20 min. A bivariant optimization method for the micellar mobile phase propanol-surfactant corroborated the above results.     

Synthesis and evaluation of polymeric continuous bed (monolithic) reversed-phase gradient stationary phases for capillary liquid chromatography and capillary electrochromatography

There is a demand of novel high resolution separation media for separation of complex mixtures, particularly biological samples. One of the most flexible techniques for development of new separation media currently is synthesis of the continuous bed (monolithic) stationary phases. In this study the capillary format gradient stationary phases were formed using continuous bed (monolith) polymerization in situ. Different reversed-phase stationary phase gradients were tailored and their resolution using capillary liquid chromatography and capillary electrochromatography at isocratic mobile phase conditions was evaluated. It is demonstrated, that efficiency and resolution of the gradient stationary phases can be substantially increased comparing to the common (isotropic) stationary phases. The proposed formation approach of the gradient stationary phase is reproducible and compatible with the capillary format or microchip format separations. It can be easily automated for the separation optimizations or mass production of the capillary columns or chips.     

Use of a Novel Sub‐2 µm Silica Hydride Vancomycin Stationary Phase in Nano‐Liquid Chromatography. II. Separation of Derivatized Amino Acid Enantiomers

A novel vancomycin silica hydride stationary phase was synthesized and the particles of 1.8 µm were packed into fused silica capillaries of 75 µm internal diameter (I.D.). The chiral stationary phase (CSP) was tested for the separation of some derivatized amino acid enantiomers by using nano‐liquid chromatography (nano‐LC). Some experimental parameters such as the type and the content of organic modifier, the pH, and the concentration of the buffer added to the mobile phase were modified and the effect on enantioselectivity, retention time, and enantioresolution factor was studied. The separation of selected dansyl amino acids (Dns‐AAs), e.g., Asp, Glu, Leu, and Phe in their enantiomers was initially achieved utilizing a mobile phase containing 85% (v/v) methanol (MeOH) and formate buffer measuring the enantioresolution factor and enantioselectivity in the range 1.74–4.17 and 1.39–1.59, respectively. Better results were obtained employing a more polar organic solvent as acetonitrile (ACN) in the mobile phase. Optimum results (Rs 1.41–6.09 and α 1.28–2.36) were obtained using a mobile phase containing formate buffer pH 2.5/water/MeOH/ACN 6:19:12.5:62.5 (v/v/v/v) in isocratic elution mode at flow rate of 130 nL/min. Chirality 27:767–772, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Enantiomeric resolution of kielcorin derivatives by HPLC on polysaccharide stationary phases using multimodal elution

Analytical HPLC methods using carbamate chiral stationary phases of polysaccharide derivatives were developed for the enantiomeric resolution of five racemic mixtures of xanthonolignoids: rac-trans-kielcorin C, rac-cis-kielcorin C, rac-trans-kielcorin D, rac-trans-isokielcorin D, and rac-trans-kielcorin E. The separations were evaluated with the stationary phases cellulose tris-3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate, amylose tris-3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate, amylose tris-(S)-1-phenylethylcarbamate, and amylose tris-3,5-dimethoxyphenylcarbamate under normal, reversed-phase, and polar organic elution conditions. Chiral recognition of those chiral stationary phases, the influence of mobile phases on the enantiomers separation, and the effects of structural features of the solutes on the chiral discrimination observed are discussed. The best performance was achieved on an amylose tris-3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate phase. Polar organic conditions gave shorter retention factors and better resolutions and were a valuable alternative to the alcohol-hexane or reversed-phase conditions.     

Enantiomeric separation of prothioconazole and prothioconazole‐desthio on chiral stationary phases

Prothioconazole is a type of broad‐spectrum triazole thione fungicide developed by the Bayer Company. Prothioconazole‐desthio is the main metabolite of prothioconazole in the environment. In our study, enantiomeric separation of prothioconazole and prothioconazole‐desthio was performed on various chiral stationary phases (CSPs) by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). It was found that polysaccharide CSPs showed better ability than brushing CSPs in enantiomeric separation. The successful chiral separation of prothioconazole could be achieved on self‐made Chiralcel OD, commercialized Chiralcel OJ‐H and Lux Cellulose‐1. Chiralpak IA, Chiralpak IB, Chiralpak IC, Chiralcel OD, Chiralpak AY‐H, Chiralpak AZ‐H, and Lux Cellulose‐1 realized the baseline separation of prothioconazole‐desthio enantiomers. Simultaneous enantiomeric separation of prothioconazole and prothioconazole‐desthio was performed on Lux Cellulose‐1 using acetonitrile (ACN) and water as mobile phase. In most cases, low temperature favored the separation of two compounds. The influence of the mobile phase ratio or type was deeply discussed. We obtained larger Rs and longer analysis time with a smaller proportion of isopropanol (IPA) or ethanol and more water content at the same temperature. The ratio of ACN and water had influences on the outflow orders of prothioconazole‐desthio enantiomers. This work provides a new approach for chiral separation of prothioconazole and prothioconazole‐desthio with a discussion of chiral separation mechanism on different CSPs.     

Electrochromatographic enantioseparation of amino acids using polybutylmethacrylate-based chiral monolithic column by capillary electrochromatography

This article describes the development of a polybutylmethacrylate‐based monolithic capillary column as a chiral stationary phase. The chiral monolithic column was prepared by polymerization of butyl methacrylate (BMA), ethylene dimethacrylate (EDMA), and N‐methacryloyl‐l ‐glutamic acid (MAGA) in the presence of porogens. The porogen mixture included N,N‐dimethyl formamide and phosphate buffer. MAGA was used as a chiral selector. The effect of MAGA content was investigated on electrochromatographic enantioseparation of d,l ‐histidine, d,l ‐tyrosine, d,l ‐phenyl alanine, and d,l ‐glutamic acid. The effect of acetonitrile (ACN) content in mobile phase on electro‐osmotic flow was also investigated. It was demonstrated that the poly(BMA‐EDMA‐MAGA) monolithic chiral column can be used for the electrochromatographic enantioseparation of amino acids by capillary electrochromatography (CEC). The mobile phase was ACN/10 mM phosphate buffer (45:55%) adjusted to pH 2.7. It was observed that l ‐enantiomers of the amino acids migrated before d ‐enantiomers. The separation mechanism of electrochromatographic enantioseparation of amino acids in CEC is discussed. Chirality 24:606–609, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Green chiral HPLC enantiomeric separations using high temperature liquid chromatography and subcritical water on Chiralcel OD and Chiralpak AD

We report here the application of subcritical water in chiral separations on two popular polysaccharide chiral stationary phases (CSPs): Chiralpak AD and Chiralcel OD. The behavior of these two CSPs was studied under reversed phase conditions at room temperature to discover the maximum percentage of water in the mobile phase, which provided the separation of enantiomers of flavanone and benzoin, respectively, in a reasonable time (i.e., less than 1 h). Then, the stability of Chiralpak AD and Chiralcel OD versus temperature was investigated and discussed. Chiralcel OD separation of flavanone racemate was obtained at 120 °C with water and 2-propanol (80/20) as the mobile phase, while benzoin racemate was separated in pure water at 160 °C. Separations of several racemates were also presented, and advantages and limitations of the technique were discussed.     

Direct enantioseparation of mandelic acid by high-performance liquid chromatography using a phenyl column precoated with a small amount of cyclodextrin additive in a mobile phase

Direct enantioseparation of mandelic acid by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a reversed phase column and a mobile phase containing a small amount of hydroxylpropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) was studied as an efficient method for saving consumption of the CD additive. As a result, it was proposed that racemic mandelic acid can be analyzed with a phenyl column by using a mobile phase composed of 10 mM ammonium acetate buffer (pH 4.2) and 0.02% (w/v) HP-β-CD at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min at 40°C after the passage of 10 mM ammonium acetate buffer (pH 4.2) containing 0.1% (w/v) HP-β-CD as a precoating mobile phase for 60 min. It is suggested that HP-β-CD is bound with a phenyl group on the surface of the stationary phase to allow a phenyl column to act as a transient chiral column, and injected mandelic acid can form the ternary complex with the adsorbed HP-β-CD. The longer retention time of D-mandelic acid than the L-isomer for HPLC can be explained from the higher stability of the HP-β-CD complex with D-mandelic acid, which was confirmed by CE experiment with HP-β-CD as a selector. The efficiency of a phenyl column compared with other stationary phases was also discussed.     

Performance of brush-type HPLC chiral stationary phases with tertiary amide in the connecting tether

The replacement of the N-H hydrogen of the secondary amide-tethered Pirkle-concept N-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl)-L-leucine derived chiral stationary phase with various pi-basic or aliphatic groups improved the chiral discrimination ability of new chiral stationary phases, based on the leucine- or alanine-derived chiral selector, for the enantiomers of various racemic neutral analytes with amide functional groups. Retention times decreased while separation and resolution factors increased, thus proving the role of pi-donor aromatic unit as an electron-rich shield in the front of a silica surface. In general, chiral stationary phase (CSP) 5 with the 3,5-dimethylphenyl unit showed best performance, while CSP 3, with phenyl unit, and CSP 7, with 1-naphthyl unit in the tertiary amide connecting tether, were less efficient.