Synthesis and characterization of multifunctional poly(glycidyl methacrylate) microspheres and their use in cell separation

Multifunctional poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) microspheres containing magnetic, fluorescent, and cancer cell-specific moieties were prepared in four steps: (i) preparation of parent PGMA microspheres by dispersion polymerization and their reaction with ethylenediamine to obtain amino groups, (ii) precipitation of iron ions (Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺) to form Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles within the microspheres, (iii) consecutive reactions of folic acid with the amino groups on PGMA, and (iv) incorporation of fluorescein isothiocyanate into the microspheres. The microspheres were superparamagnetic, highly monodispersive, intensively fluorescent, and capable of recognizing and binding cancer cells that overexpress folic acid receptors. It was demonstrated that with these microspheres, HeLa cells could be captured from their suspension and easily moved in the direction of the externally applied magnetic field.     

Direct chiral separations of the enantiomers of phenylpyrazole pesticides and the metabolites by HPLC

The enantiomeric separation of the enantiomers of three phenylpyrazole pesticides (fipronil, flufiprole, ethiprole) and two fipronil metabolites (amide‐fipronil and acid‐fipronil) were investigated by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a CHIRALPAK^® IB chiral column. The mobile phase was n‐ hexane or petroleum ether with 2‐propanol or ethanol as modifier at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The influences of mobile phase composition and column temperature between 15 and 35°C on the separations were studied. All the analytes except ethiprole obtained complete enantiomeric separation after chromatographic condition optimization. Fipronil, flufiprole, amide‐fipronil, and acid‐fipronil obtained complete separation with the best resolution factors of 2.40, 3.40, 1.67, and 16.82, respectively, but ethiprole showed no enantioselectivity under the optimized conditions. In general, n‐ hexane with 2‐propanol gave better separations in most cases. The results showed decreasing temperature and content of modifier in the mobile phase resulted in better separation and longer analysis time as well. The thermodynamic parameters calculated according to linear the Van't Hoff equation indicated the chiral separations in the study were enthalpy‐driven. Fipronil and its two chiral hydrolyzed metabolites obtained baseline separation simultaneously under optimized conditions.     

Role of the cystathionine γ lyase/hydrogen sulfide pathway in human melanoma progression

In humans, two main metabolic enzymes synthesize hydrogen sulfide (H₂S): cystathionine γ lyase (CSE) and cystathionine β synthase (CBS). A third enzyme, 3‐mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3‐MST), synthesizes H₂S in the presence of the substrate 3‐mercaptopyruvate (3‐MP). The immunohistochemistry analysis performed on human melanoma samples demonstrated that CSE expression was highest in primary tumors, decreased in the metastatic lesions and was almost silent in non‐lymph node metastases. The primary role played by CSE was confirmed by the finding that the overexpression of CSE induced spontaneous apoptosis of human melanoma cells. The same effect was achieved using different H₂S donors, the most active of which was diallyl trisulfide (DATS). The main pro‐apoptotic mechanisms involved were suppression of nuclear factor‐κB activity and inhibition of AKT and extracellular signal‐regulated kinase pathways. A proof of concept was obtained in vivo using a murine melanoma model. In fact, either l ‐cysteine, the CSE substrate, or DATS inhibited tumor growth in mice. In conclusion, we have determined that the l ‐cysteine/CSE/H₂S pathway is involved in melanoma progression.     

Solid‐phase extraction with metal–organic frameworks for the analysis of chiral compounds

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are excellent porous materials with nanoscale cavities and high surface areas, which make them promising as novel adsorbents in solid‐phase extraction (SPE). In this article we report a new application of the chiral MOF [Zn₂(D‐Cam)₂(4,4′‐bpy)]_n in SPE used for the measurement of the enantiomeric excess (ee) of (±)‐1,1′‐bi‐2‐naphthol. Several important experimental parameters that may influence the extraction efficiency were investigated and optimized. Under the optimum conditions, a good linearity (R² > 0.999) was found between the ee value and the reciprocal of the peak areas. When compared with the actual ee measured using chiral HPLC, the SPE‐based assay also showed good accuracy and precision. The results showed that SPE based on chiral MOFs as adsorbents is a simple and effective method for the determination of the ee values of chiral compounds.     

Molecular Characterization of Acanthamoeba spp. Occurring in Water Bodies and Patients in Poland and Redefinition of Polish T16 Genotype

Acanthamoeba genus is divided into 20 genotypes (T1–T20) on the basis of the gene encoding 18S rRNA sequence. Using of at least 2 kbp gene fragments is strongly recommended to identify new genotypes and 5% difference is commonly used as a criterion of new genotypes, however, this value is questionable. In this paper, Polish Acanthamoeba strains described earlier on the basis of ~850 bp Ami fragment of 18S rRNA gene as T4, T11 and a new T16 genotype, have been analyzed using near‐complete sequence of the gene. This analysis was needed because the Ami fragment does not reveal full variability within 18S rRNA gene. Phylogenetic analysis based on Ami fragment is biased by artifacts in the construction of the tree, so the fragment should not be used for identification of new putative Acanthamoeba genotypes. The analysis confirmed that the Polish sequences represent T4 and T11 genotypes and that the strains described earlier as T16 genotype are in fact a new subgroup of the T20 genotype and that this genotype should be divided into two subgroups: T20a (two strains described by [J. Eukaryot. Microbiol. 62 (2015) 69]) and T20b (11 Polish strains described in this study). The T20b subgroup was isolated from both clinical samples and water bodies used by people as bathing places and there is a risk of infection for humans during contact with water.     

Enantiomeric Separations of Pyriproxyfen and its Six Chiral Metabolites by High‐Performance Liquid Chromatography

Pyriproxyfen is a chiral insecticide, and over 10 metabolites have been identified in the environment. In this work the separations of the enantiomers of pyriproxyfen and its six chiral metabolites were studied by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Both normal phase and reverse phase were applied using the chiral columns Chiralpak IA, Chiralpak IB, Chiralpak IC, Chiralcel OD, Chiralcel OD‐RH, Chiralpak AY‐H, Chiralpak AD‐H, Chiracel OJ‐H, (R,R)‐Whelk‐O 1, and Lux Cellulose‐3. The effects of the chromatographic parameters such as mobile phase composition and temperature on the separations were investigated and the enantiomers were identified with an optical rotation detector. The enantiomers of these targets could obtain complete separations (resolution factor Rs > 1.5) on Chiralpak IA, Chiralpak IB, Chiralcel OD, Chiralpak AY‐H, or Chiracel OJ‐H under normal conditions. Chiralcel OJ‐H showed the best chiral separation results with n‐hexane as mobile phase and isopropanol (IPA) as modifier. The simultaneous enantiomeric separation of pyriproxyfen and four chiral metabolites was achieved on Chiralcel OJ‐H under optimized condition: n‐hexane/isopropanol = 80/20, 15°C, flow rate of 0.8 ml/min, and UV detection at 230 nm. The enantiomers of pyriproxyfen and the metabolites A , C , and D obtained complete separations on Chiralpak IA, Chiralpak IC, and Lux Cellulose‐3 under reverse phase using acetonitrile/water as the mobile phase. The retention factors (k) and selectivity factors (α) decreased with increasing temperature, and the separations were better under low temperature in most cases. The work is of significance for the investigation of the environmental behaviors of pyriproxyfen on an enantiomeric level. Chirality 28:245–252, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Circularly polarized luminescence of Sm (III) and Eu (III) complexes with chiral ligand (R/S)‐BINAPO

Luminescent lanthanide (III) ions have been exploited for circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) for decades. However, very few of these studies have involved chiral samarium (III) complexes. Complexes are prepared by mixing axial chiral ligands (R/S))‐2,2’‐bis(diphenylphosphoryl)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl (BINAPO) with europium and samarium Tris (trifluoromethane sulfonate) (Eu (OTf)₃ and Sm (OTf)₃). Luminescence‐based titration shows that the complex formed is Ln((R/S)‐BINAPO)₂(OTf)₃, where Ln = Eu or Sm. The CPL spectra are reported for Eu((R/S)‐BINAPO)₂(OTf)₃ and Sm((R/S)‐BINAPO)₂(OTf)₃. The sign of the dissymmetry factors, g_em, was dependent upon the chirality of the BINAPO ligand, and the magnitudes were relatively large. Of all of the complexes in this study, Sm((S)‐BINAPO)₂(OTf)₃ has the largest g_em = 0.272, which is one of the largest recorded for a chiral Sm³⁺ complex. A theoretical three‐dimensional structural model of the complex that is consistent with the experimental observations is developed and refined. This report also shows that (R/S)‐BINAPO are the only reported ligands where g_em (Sm³⁺) > g_em (Eu³⁺).     

Comparison of separation performances of amylose‐ and cellulose‐based stationary phases in the high‐performance liquid chromatographic enantioseparation of stereoisomers of β‐lactams

High‐performance liquid chromatographic methods were developed for the separation of the enantiomers of 19 β‐lactams. The direct separations were performed on chiral stationary phases containing either amylose‐tris‐3,5‐dimethylphenyl carbamate, (Kromasil® AmyCoat? column) or cellulose‐tris‐3,5‐dimethylphenyl carbamate, (Kromasil® CelluCoat? column) as chiral selector. The different methods were compared in systematic chromatographic examinations. The separations were carried out with good selectivity and resolution. The AmyCoat? and CelluCoat? columns appear to be highly complementary. The best separations of bi‐ and tricyclic β‐lactam stereoisomers were obtained with the AmyCoat? column, whereas the 4‐aryl‐substituted β‐lactams were better separated on the CelluCoat? column. The elution sequence was determined in all cases; no general rule could be established. Chirality 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Chiral separation of neonicotinoid insecticides by polysaccharide‐type stationary phases using high‐performance liquid chromatography and supercritical fluid chromatography

The enantiomeric separations of three neonicotinoid insecticides (identified as compounds 1 , 2 , and 3 ) were performed on three polysaccharide‐type chiral columns, that is, Chiralcel OD‐H, Chiralpak AD‐H, and Chiralpak IB, by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). Effects of the modifier percentage and column temperature on chiral recognitions of chiral stationary phases were also studied. Both 1 and 2 could be resolved on all three columns selected, with the highest R_s values obtained on Chiralpak AD‐H and Chiralcel OD‐H, respectively. However, satisfactory separation of the four stereoisomers of 3 was only achieved on Chiralcel OD‐H. Considering the effects of ethanol on the values of k, α, and R_s, we concluded that hydrogen bonding, π–π, and/or dipole–dipole interactions might be all responsible for the chiral separation. In comparison to HPLC, a shorter run time was achieved for 1 and 2 by SFC. However, 3 could not be stereoselectively resolved using SFC. On the basis of the calculated thermodynamic parameters, we found that the separation processes of enantiomers of 1 and 2 were entropy controlled and enthalpy controlled, respectively. Chirality, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Investigation of the Enantioselectivity of Tetramethylammonium L‐hydroxyproline Ionic Liquid as a Novel Chiral Ligand in Ligand‐Exchange CE and Ligand‐Exchange MEKC

Chiral ionic liquids (ILs) have drawn more and more attention in separation science; however, only a few papers focused on the application of chiral ILs as chiral ligands in LE‐CE. In this article, a novel amino acid ionic liquid (AAIL), tetramethylammonium L‐hydroxyproline ([TMA][L‐OH‐Pro]), was first applied as a chiral ligand to evaluate its enantioselectivity towards several aromatic amino acids in ligand‐exchange capillary electrophoresis (LE‐CE) and ligand‐exchange micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (LE‐MEKC). In the LE‐CE system, excellent separations were achieved for tryptophan (Rs = 3.03) and 3, 4‐dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) (Rs = 4.35). Several parameters affecting the enantioseparation were systematically investigated, including AAIL concentration, type and concentration of central metal ion, buffer pH, as well as applied voltage. The optimum separation was obtained with 60 mM AAIL containing 30 mM Cu (II) at pH 4.5. Additionally, an LE‐MEKC system was established to further study the enantioselectivity of [TMA][L‐OH‐Pro] towards selected analytes. As observed, the separations of the enantiomers of tryptophan, phenylalanine, and histidine were all improved compared to the LE‐CE system. The results indicated that the application of AAILs as chiral ligands is a promising method in chiral separation science. Chirality 27:58–63, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Enantioseparation of chiral perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) by supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC): Effects of the chromatographic conditions and separation mechanism

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is one of the most frequently detected perfluoroalkyl substances in environmental and human samples. Previous studies have shown that nonracemic PFOS in biological samples can be used as a marker of PFOS exposure sources. In recent years, supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) has emerged as a powerful method to separate chiral compounds. In this study, a method of perfluoro‐1‐methylheptane sulfonate (1 m‐PFOS) enantioseparation by SFC was established. The optimal separation was obtained using a Chiralpak QN‐AX column with CO₂/2‐propanol (70/30, v/v) as the mobile phase with a flow rate of 1 mL/min, column temperature was 32°C, and BPR pressure was 1800 psi. The resolution (Rs) and retention time were 0.88 and 130 minutes, respectively. This method is more economic and greener than HPLC. Modifier pH and column temperature were determined to be significant factors of SFC chiral separation. Modifier pH is negatively correlated with the retention factors and Rs. Adsorption thermodynamics were used to explain the influence of temperature change, and it was concluded that the transfer of two enantiomers from the mobile phase to the stationary phase is enthalpy‐driven. Enantioseparation of 1 m‐PFOS by SFC follows the same rules of ion exchange as those for the chiral separation by HPLC.     

Comparative HPLC Enantioseparation of Thirty‐Six Aromatic Compounds on Four Columns of the Lux® Series: Impact of Substituents,Shapes and Electronic Properties

With the aim to define a combined computational/chromatographic empirical approach useful for the high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method development of new chiral compounds, 36 racemic aromatic compounds with different chemical structures were used as test probes on four polysaccharide‐based chiral stationary phases (CSPs) of the Lux series, namely Lux Cellulose‐1, Lux Cellulose‐2, Lux Cellulose‐4, and Lux Amylose‐2, using classical n‐hexane/2‐propanol mixtures as mobile phase. Electrostatic potential surfaces (EPSs) determined using Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were used to derive size, shape, and electronic properties of each analyte. Then a comparative HPLC screening was carried out in order to evaluate the impact of substituents, shapes, and electronic properties of the analytes on the chromatographic behavior as the column changes. The four CSPs showed good complementary recognition ability. The elution sequence was determined in 30 cases out of 36. The success rate to afford baseline separations (R_s ≥ 1.5) was estimated: 29 compounds out of 36 showed baseline enantioseparation on at least one of the four selected CSPs. The combined computational‐chromatographic screening furnished useful collective structure‐chromatographic behavior relationships and a map of the chiral discrimination abilities of the considered CSPs towards the analytes. On this basis, the chromatographic behavior of new analytes on a set of polysaccharide‐based CSPs can be mapped through the qualitative correlation of chromatographic parameters (k, α, R_s) to computed molecular properties of the analytes. Chirality 25:709–718, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Liquid and subcritical fluid chromatographic enantioseparation of Nα‐Fmoc proteinogenic amino acids on Quinidine‐based zwitterionic and anion‐exchanger type chiral stationary phases. A comparative study

Stereoselective high‐performance liquid chromatographic and subcritical fluid chromatographic separations of 19 N^α‐Fmoc proteinogenic amino acid enantiomers were carried out by using Quinidine ‐based zwitterionic and anion‐exchanger‐type chiral stationary phases Chiralpak ZWIX(−) and QD‐AX. For optimization of retention and enantioselectivity, the ratio of bulk solvent components (MeOH/MeCN, H₂O/MeOH, or CO₂/MeOH) and the nature and concentration of the acid and base additives (counter‐ and co‐ions) were systematically varied. The effect of column temperature on the enantioseparation was investigated and thermodynamic parameters were calculated from the van't Hoff plots ln α vs. 1/T. The thermodynamic parameters revealed that the enantioseparations were enthalpy‐driven. The elution sequence was determined in all cases and with the exception of Fmoc‐Cys(Trt)‐OH, it was identical on both chiral stationary phases whereby the L‐enantiomers eluted before the D‐enantiomers.     

Synthesis and Chiral Recognition of Nickel(II) Macrocyclic Complex with (R)‐Naphthylethyleneamine Pendant Groups and its Self‐Assembled Framework

A novel nickel(II) hexaaza macrocyclic complex, [Ni(L^R,R)](ClO₄)₂ ( 1 ), containing chiral pendant groups was synthesized by an efficient one‐pot template condensation and characterized (L^R,R═1,8‐di((R)‐α‐methylnaphthyl)‐1,3,6,8,10,13‐hexaazacyclotetradecane). The crystal structure of compound 1 was determined by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. The complex was found to have a square‐planar coordination environment for the nickel(II) ion. Open framework [Ni(L^R,R)]₃[C₆H₃(COO)₃]₂ ( 2 ) was constructed from the self‐assembly of compound 1 with deprotonated 1,3,5‐benzenetricarboxylic acid, BTC^3?. Chiral discrimination of rac‐1,1′‐bi‐2‐naphthol and rac‐2,2,2‐trifluoro‐1‐(9‐anthryl)ethanol was performed to determine the chiral recognition ability of the chiral complex ( 1 ) and its self‐assembled framework ( 2 ). Binaphthol showed a good chiral discrimination on the framework ( 2 ). The optimum experimental conditions for the chiral discrimination were examined by changing the weight ratio between the macrocyclic complex 1 or self‐assembled framework 2 and racemates. The detailed synthetic procedures, spectroscopic data including single‐crystal X‐ray analysis, and the results of the chiral recognition for the compounds are described. Chirality, 25:54‐58, 2013 © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Mutual inversion of flurbiprofen enantiomers in various rat and mouse strains

Flurbiprofen (F) is a nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug (NSAID) used therapeutically as the racemate of (R)‐enantiomer and (S)‐enantiomer. The inversion of RF to SF and vice versa was investigated in C57Bl/6 and SJL mice and Dark Agouti and Lewis rats. The enzyme α‐methylacyl‐CoA racemase (AMACR) is involved in the chiral inversion pathway that converts members of the 2‐arylpropionic acid NSAIDs from the R‐enantiomer to the S‐enantiomer. We studied C57Bl/6 mice deficient in AMACR postulating that they should show reduced inversion of RF to SF. In line with the data of others in mice, (R)‐inversion to (S)‐inversion was relatively high in both the C57Bl/6 and SJL mice (fraction inverted, F_I = 37.7% and 24.7%, respectively). In contrast, in AMACR deficient mice, there was no measurable peak for SF after administration of RF. The results in both rat strains (Dark Agouti and Lewis rats, F_I = 1.4% and 4.1%, respectively) confirm the low chiral inversion of the enantiomers of flurbiprofen in the rat, as observed by other authors in the Sprague‐Dawley strain (<5%). From the present results, we conclude that for the study of flurbiprofen enantiomers, the rat is more suitable than the mouse as a model for the human in which (R)‐inversion to (S)‐inversion is negligible.     

Selective separation and enrichment of peptides for MS analysis using the microspheres composed of Fe3O4@nSiO2 core and perpendicularly aligned mesoporous SiO2 shell

In this work, we report the development of a novel enrichment protocol for peptides by using the microspheres composed of Fe₃O₄@nSiO₂ Core and perpendicularly aligned mesoporous SiO₂ shell (designated Fe₃O₄@nSiO₂@mSiO₂). The Fe₃O₄@nSiO₂@mSiO₂ microspheres possess useful magnetic responsivity which makes the process of enrichment fast and convenient. The highly ordered nanoscale pores (2 nm) and high‐surface areas of the microspheres were demonstrated to have good size‐exclusion effect for the adsorption of peptides. An increase of S/N ratio over 100 times could be achieved by using the microspheres to enrich a standard peptide, and the application of the microspheres to enrich universal peptides was performed by using myoglobin tryptic digest solution. The enrichment efficiency of re‐used Fe₃O₄@nSiO₂@mSiO₂ microspheres was also studied. Large‐scale enrichment of endogenous peptides in rat brain extract was achieved by the microspheres. Automated nano‐LC‐ESI‐MS/MS was applied to analyze the sample after enrichment, and 60 unique peptides were identified in total. The facile and low‐cost synthesis as well as the convenient and efficient enrichment process of the novel Fe₃O₄@nSiO₂@mSiO₂ microspheres makes it a promising candidate for selectively isolation and enrichment of endogenous peptides from complex biological samples.     

Chiral Separation of the Clinically Important Compounds Fucose and Pipecolic Acid Using CE: Determination of the Most Effective Chiral Selector

In this study, simple electrophoretic methods were developed for the chiral separation of the clinically important compounds fucose and pipecolic acid. In recent years, these analytes, and particularly their individual enantiomers, have attracted considerable attention due to their role in biological functions and disorders. The detectability and sensitivity of pipecolic acid and fucose were improved by reacting them with fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl chloride (FMOC‐Cl) and 5‐amino‐2‐naphthalene‐sulfonic acid (ANSA), respectively. The enantioseparation conditions were optimized by initially investigating the type of the chiral selector. Different chiral selectors, such as polymeric surfactants and cyclodextrins, were used and the most effective ones were determined with regard to resolution and analysis time. A 10‐mM β‐cyclodextrin was able to separate the enantiomers of ANSA‐DL‐fucose and the polymeric surfactant poly(sodium N‐undecanoyl‐LL‐leucine‐valinate) was able to separate the enantiomers of FMOC‐DL‐pipecolic acid, with resolution values of 3.45 and 2.78, respectively. Additional parameters, such as the concentration and the pH of the background electrolyte (BGE), the concentration of the chiral selector, and the addition of modifiers were examined in order to optimize the separations. The addition of the chiral ionic liquid D‐alanine tert‐butyl ester lactate into the BGE was also investigated, for the first time, in order to improve resolution of the enantiomers. Chirality 25:556–560, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Evaluation of the chiral recognition properties and the column performances of three chiral stationary phases based on cellulose for the enantioseparation of six dihydropyridines by high‐performance liquid chromatography

Separations of six dihydropyridine enantiomers on three commercially available cellulose‐based chiral stationary phases (Chiralcel OD‐RH, Chiralpak IB, and Chiralpak IC) were evaluated with high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The best enantioseparation of the six chiral drugs was obtained with a Chiralpak IC (250 × 4.6 mm i.d., 5 μm) column. Then the influence of the mobile phase including an alcohol‐modifying agent and alkaline additive on the enantioseparation were investigated and optimized. The optimal mobile phase conditions and maximum resolution for every analyte were as follows respectively: n‐hexane/isopropanol (85:15, v /v) for nimodipine (R  = 5.80) and cinildilpine (R  = 5.65); n‐hexane/isopropanol (92:8, v /v) for nicardipine (R  = 1.76) and nisoldipine (R  = 1.92); and n‐hexane/isopropanol/ethanol (97:2:1, v /v/v) for felodipine (R  = 1.84) and lercanidipine (R  = 1.47). Relative separation mechanisms are discussed based on the separation results, and indicate that the achiral parts in the analytes' structure showed an important influence on the separation of the chiral column.     

Enantiomeric assay of escitalopram S(+)‐enantiomer and its “in‐process impurities” using two different techniques

The enantiomeric purity of escitalopram oxalate ESC and its “in‐process impurities,” namely, ESC‐N‐oxide, ESC‐citadiol, and R(?)‐enantiomer were studied in drug substance and products using high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)‐UV (Method I), synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy (SFS) (Method IIA), and first derivative SFS (Method IIB). Method I describes as an isocratic HPLC‐UV for the direct resolution and determination of enantiomeric purity of ESC and its “in‐process impurities.” The proposed method involved the use of α_l‐acid glycoprotein (AGP) chiral stationary phase. The regression plots revealed good linear relationships of concentration range of 0.25 to 100 and 0.25 to 10 μg mL^?1 for ESC and its impurities. The limits of detection and quantifications for ESC were 0.075 and 0.235 μg mL^?1, respectively. Method II involves the significant enhancement of the fluorescence intensities of ESC and its impurities through inclusion complexes formation with hydroxyl propyl‐β‐cyclodextrin as a chiral selector in Micliavain buffer. Method IIA describes SFS technique for assay of ESC at 225 nm in presence of its impurities: R(?)‐enantiomer, citadiol, and N‐oxide at ?λ of 100 nm. This method was extended to (Method IIB) to apply first derivative SFS for the simultaneous determination of ESC at 236 nm and its impurities: the R(?)‐enantiomer, citadiol, and N‐oxide at 308, 275, and 280 nm, respectively. Linearity ranges were found to be 0.01 to 1.0 μg mL^?1 for ESC and its impurities with lower detection and quantification limits of 0.033/0.011 and 0.038/0.013 μg mL^?1 for SFS and first derivative synchronous fluorescence spectra (FDSFS), respectively. The methods were used to investigate the enantiomeric purity of escitalopram.     

Chromatographic profiles of tryptophan and kynurenine enantiomers derivatized with (S)‐4‐(3‐isothiocyanatopyrrolidin‐1‐yl)‐7‐(N,N‐dimethylaminosulfonyl)‐2,1,3‐benzoxadiazole using LC–MS/MS on a triazole‐bonded column

d ‐ and l ‐Tryptophan (Trp) and d ‐ and l ‐kynurenine (KYN) were derivatized with a chiral reagent, (S )‐4‐(3‐isothiocyanatopyrrolidin‐1‐yl)‐7‐(N,N‐dimethylaminosulfonyl)‐2,1,3‐benzoxadiazole (DBD‐PyNCS), and were separated enantiomerically by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) equipped with a triazole‐bonded column (Cosmosil HILIC) using tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) detection. Effects of column temperature, salt (HCO₂NH₄) concentration, and pH of the mobile phase in the enantiomeric separation, followed by MS detection of (S )‐DBD‐PyNCS‐d ,l ‐Trp and ‐d ,l ‐KYN, were investigated. The mobile phase consisting of CH₃CN/10 mM ammonium formate in H₂O (pH 5.0) (90/10) with a column temperature of 50–60 °C gave satisfactory resolution (R s) and mass‐spectrometric detection. The enantiomeric separation of d ,l ‐Trp and d ,l ‐KYN produced R s values of 2.22 and 2.13, and separation factors (α) of 1.08 and 1.08, for the Trp and KYN enantiomers, respectively. The proposed LC–MS/MS method provided excellent detection sensitivity of both enantiomers of Trp and KYN (5.1–19 nM).