Recent applications of stereoselective chromatography

[Separation of chiral pharmaceutical drugs by chromatographic and electrophoretic techniques]

SUMMARY

A large number of pharmaceutical drugs possess one or more centers of asymmetry giving rise to enantiomers whose pharmacological properties and toxicity are often different. At successive stages of drug discovery, the enantiomers of any chiral molecule must be isolated and analyzed and their enantiomeric purity determined. The electrophoretic and chromatographic techniques have become the most important tools to routinely determine the enantiomeric purity of pharmaceutical molecules. Liquid chromatography (LC) is the most widely used because of the large number of columns marketed, the variety of selectivities available and the ease at which analytical results can be scaled up to the preparative level. In particular, more than 80% of enantioseparations of pharmaceutical molecules are successful with polysaccharide-derivative stationary phases (cellulose, amylose) for multiple system solvents (normal phase, polar organic phase or reverse phase). Complementary selectivities can be achieved more rapidly with other types of stationary phase (glycopeptides, Pirkle, cyclodextrins) but their application is hindered by problems of stability (proteins) or transfer to the preparative scale (cyclodextrins). At the present time, glycopeptide phases offer very promising prospects for the separation of amino acids (and derivatives) and peptide enantiomers. In addition, because of its faster analysis and environmental benefits, supercritical chromatography (SFC) has given rise to renewed interest. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is an orthogonal technique complementary to chromatographic methods. Its principle involves the formation of diastereoisomer complexes after addition of anionic (HS-beta-CD, HS-gamma-CD CM-beta-CD) or neutral (TM-beta -CD, HP-beta-CD, DM-beta-CD, HP-gamma-CD) cyclodextrins to the running buffer. Compared to LC, CE analyses are cheaper (no chiral column, no solvent, low consumption of chiral selector) and peak efficiencies are higher by one order of magnitude. Furthermore, the mechanism of separation in CE is much simpler to understand and predict. However, the low capacity of CD column prevents its use at the preparative scale and consequently hampers its development as an analytical technique. Today, the increasing number of new drug candidate molecules produced daily, and for which the determination of enantiomeric purity is required before further development, encourages the pharmaceutical industry to seek fast chiral analysis methods based on simple protocols. The speed of analysis is more important than resolution. Thus, screening strategies are implemented with HPLC, SFC and CE including the selection of a limited number of chiral selectors with strong powers of chiral recognition.

Evaluation of enantioselective binding of basic drugs to plasma by ACE

The present paper deals with the evaluation of the stereoselective binding of antihistamines (brompheniramine, chlorpheniramine, hydroxyzine, orphenadrine and phenindamine), phenothiazines (promethazine and trimeprazine) and a local anesthetic (bupivacaine) to human plasma proteins. Since all of them are drugs highly bound to proteins, a methodology to determine the bound fraction of each drug enantiomer was proposed. This methodology includes the incubation of samples containing plasma and racemic drug, ultrafiltration of the mixture and the chiral separation of enantiomers in the bound drug fraction using affinity EKC (AEKC)-partial filling technique and HSA as chiral selector. The results shown in this paper represent the first evidence of the enantioselective binding of some antihistamines such as brompheniramine, hydroxyzine, orphenadrine and phenindamine and the phenothiazines, promethazine and trimeprazine, to human plasma proteins. The binding of phenindamine to plasma presented the highest enantioselectivity (ES) (ES = 2.5) followed by trimeprazine (ES = 1.5) and promethazine (ES = 1.4).

HPLC separation technique for analysis of bufuralol enantiomers in plasma and pharmaceutical formulations using a vancomycin chiral stationary phase and UV detection

A sensitive and selective high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of bufuralol enantiomers in plasma and pharmaceutical formulations. Enantiomeric resolution was achieved on a vancomycin macrocyclic antibiotic chiral stationary phase (CSP) known as Chirobiotic V with UV detection set at 254 nm. The polar ionic mobile phase (PIM) consisting of methanol-glacial acetic acid-triethylamine (100:0.015:0.010, v/v/v) has been used at a flow rate of 0.5 ml/min. The method is highly specific where other coformulated compounds did not interfere. The stability of bufuralol enantiomers under different degrees of temperature was also studied. The results showed that the drug is stable for at least 7 days at 70 degrees C. The method was validated for its linearity, accuracy, precision and robustness. An experimental design was used during validation to evaluate method robustness. The calibration curves in plasma were linear over the range of 5-500 ng/ml for each enantiomer with detection limit of 2 ng/ml. The mean relative standard deviation (RSD) of the results of within-day precision and accuracy of the drug were <or=10%. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) between inter- and intra-day studies for each enantiomer which confirmed the reproducibility of the assay method. The mean extraction efficiency for S-(-)- and R-(+)-bufuralol from plasma was in the range 97-102% at 15-400 ng/ml level for each enantiomer. The overall recoveries of bufuralol enantiomers from pharmaceutical formulations was in the range 99.6-102.2% with %RSD ranging from 1.06 to 1.16%. The assay method proved to be suitable as chiral quality control for bufuralol formulations by HPLC and for therapeutic drug monitoring.

Enantioseparation of tetrahydropalmatine and Tröger's base by molecularly imprinted monolith in capillary electrochromatography

Two chiral compounds, Tröger's base and tetrahydropalmatine, were enantioseparated on the (5S, 11S)-(-)-Tröger's base and l-tetrahydropalmatine imprinted monolithic capillary columns with CEC, respectively. The monoliths were prepared by in situ thermal-initiated copolymerization of methacrylic acid (MAA) and ethylene dimethacrylate (EDMA). After optimizing the ratio of porogens (toluene and dodecanol), the obtained monolithic capillary columns show good flow-through property and enantioselectivity. The influences of CEC parameters such as pH of the buffer, organic solvent and salt concentration on the electroosmotic flow (EOF) and recognition selectivity were systematically investigated. Under the optimal conditions, baseline resolutions of two chiral compounds were achieved. In addition, the fast separation was obtained within 4 min by applying higher voltage and assisting pressure of 6 bar.

Chiral analysis by mass spectrometry using the kinetic method in flow systems

Chiral analysis is an important task of analytical chemistry. Besides separation techniques, mass spectrometry can be applied in this field. One mass spectrometric approach is based on Cooks' kinetic method. The method was successfully applied in a static system in which the concentration of the analyte as well as the chiral selector solution was constant during the experiment. The application of the kinetic method in dynamic systems (changing concentration of analyte) is presented. Such systems allow the speeding up of the analytical process (flow injection analysis (FIA)) or the use of the kinetic method for chiral detection after liquid chromatographic separation. The influence of the concentration of the components of the chiral selector solution as well as its flow rate on the recognition of enantiomers was evaluated. A new procedure for correction for the differences between ratio of enantiomers in the liquid phase and their observed ratio in the gas phase is also described. A significant improvement in accuracy using this procedure was achieved. Applicability of the method was demonstrated in the analysis of amino acids using FIA as well as HPLC/MS. After an achiral separation of leucine and isoleucine, chiral mass spectrometric detection was successfully used for enantiomeric recognition.

Applicability of bioanalysis of multiple analytes in drug discovery and development: review of select case studies including assay development considerations

The development of sound bioanalytical method(s) is of paramount importance during the process of drug discovery and development culminating in a marketing approval. Although the bioanalytical procedure(s) originally developed during the discovery stage may not necessarily be fit to support the drug development scenario, they may be suitably modified and validated, as deemed necessary. Several reviews have appeared over the years describing analytical approaches including various techniques, detection systems, automation tools that are available for an effective separation, enhanced selectivity and sensitivity for quantitation of many analytes. The intention of this review is to cover various key areas where analytical method development becomes necessary during different stages of drug discovery research and development process. The key areas covered in this article with relevant case studies include: (a) simultaneous assay for parent compound and metabolites that are purported to display pharmacological activity; (b) bioanalytical procedures for determination of multiple drugs in combating a disease; (c) analytical measurement of chirality aspects in the pharmacokinetics, metabolism and biotransformation investigations; (d) drug monitoring for therapeutic benefits and/or occupational hazard; (e) analysis of drugs from complex and/or less frequently used matrices; (f) analytical determination during in vitro experiments (metabolism and permeability related) and in situ intestinal perfusion experiments; (g) determination of a major metabolite as a surrogate for the parent molecule; (h) analytical approaches for universal determination of CYP450 probe substrates and metabolites; (i) analytical applicability to prodrug evaluations-simultaneous determination of prodrug, parent and metabolites; (j) quantitative determination of parent compound and/or phase II metabolite(s) via direct or indirect approaches; (k) applicability in analysis of multiple compounds in select disease areas and/or in clinically important drug-drug interaction studies. A tabular representation of select examples of analysis is provided covering areas of separation conditions, validation aspects and applicable conclusion. A limited discussion is provided on relevant aspects of the need for developing bioanalytical procedures for speedy drug discovery and development. Additionally, some key elements such as internal standard selection, likely issues of mass detection, matrix effect, chiral aspects etc. are provided for consideration during method development.

Supercritical fluid chromatography tandem-column method development in pharmaceutical sciences for a mixture of four stereoisomers

A tandem-column method using Chiralpak AD-H and Chiralcel OD-H columns was achieved for baseline separation of a mixture of chiral pharmaceutical compounds (i.e., four stereoisomers) via supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) with a mobile phase consisting of 90% liquid carbon dioxide and 10% ethanol:isopropanol (50:50 v/v). On the contrary, this mixture (mixture A) could not be baseline separated by SFC conditions explored with individual Chiralpak AD-H and Chiralcel OD-H columns. The effects of various mobile phases on elution order, capacity factor, selectivity, and resolution were determined with mixture A on the individual aforementioned columns to develop the tandem-column method.

A validated LC method for the determination of vesamicol enantiomers in human plasma using vancomycin chiral stationary phase and solid phase extraction

An enantioseparation high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed and validated to determine D-(+)- and L-(-)-vesamicol in human plasma. The assay involved the use of a solid phase extraction for plasma sample clean up prior to HPLC analysis utilizing a C18 Bond-Elute column. Chromatographic resolution of the vesamicol enantiomers was performed on a vancomycin macrocyclic antibiotic chiral stationary phase (CSP) known as Chirobiotic V with a polar ionic mobile phase (PIM) consisting of methanol:glacial acetic acid:triethylamine (100:0.1:0.05 (v/v/v)) at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min and UV detection set at 262 nm. All analyses were conducted at ambient temperature. The method was validated over the range of 1-20 microg/ml for each enantiomer concentration (R2>0.999). Recoveries for D-(+)- and L-(-)-vesamicol enantiomers were in the ranges of 96-105% at 3-16 microg/ml level. The method proved to be precise (within-run precision ranged from 1.3 to 2.7% and between-run precision ranged from 1.5 to 3.4%) and accurate (within-run accuracies ranged from 0.8 to 3.4% and between-run accuracies ranged from 1.7 to 5.0%). The limit of quantitation (LOQ) and limit of detection (LOD) for each enantiomer in human plasma were 1.0 and 0.5 microg/ml (S/N=3), respectively.

Effect of the eluent on enantiomer separation of controlled drugs by liquid chromatography–ultraviolet absorbance detection–electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry using vancomycin and native β-cyclodextrin chiral stationary phases

Enantioseparation of nine amphetamine derivatives, methorphan and propoxyphene was studied by comparing two different chiral stationary phases, macrocyclic antibiotic vancomycin and native beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD). Effects of 46 eluent compositions on enantioseparation in reversed-phase (RP) and polar organic phase modes were investigated. beta-CD was found to be more suitable to phenethylamines in general and vancomycin for methorphan and propoxyphene. An eluent system capable of separating the enantiomers of all phenethylamines in one run was developed. Also, systems providing competitive analysis times for enantioseparation of methorphan and propoxyphene were reported. The suitability of the eluent systems to electrospray ionisation (ESI) was discussed and methods using a tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) detection were developed. The suitability of chiral LC-ESI-MS/MS was tested with 14 seized drug samples. The results were in agreement with conventional non-chiral methods. Repeatability of the methods was good and limits of detection were 25-100 ng/ml for most compounds using mass spectrometric detection.

Chiral analysis of butaclamol enantiomers in human plasma by HPLC using a macrocyclic antibiotic (vancomycin) chiral stationary phase and solid phase extraction

An enantioseparation of the antipsychotic drug butaclamol in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with solid phase extraction is presented. The separation was achieved on the vancomycin macrocyclic antibiotic chiral stationary phase (CSP) Chirobiotic V with a polar ionic mobile phase (PIM) consisting of methanol : glacial acetic acid : triethylamine (100:0.2:0.05, v/v/v) at a flow rate of 0.5 ml/min. The detection wavelength was 262 nm. Bond Elut C18 solid phase extraction cartridges were used in the sample preparation of butaclamol samples from plasma. The method was validated over the range of 100-3,000 ng/ml for each enantiomer concentration (R(2) > 0.999). Recoveries for (+)- and (-)-butaclamol were in the range of 94-104% at the 300-2,500 ng/ml level. The method proved to be precise (within-run precision ranged from 1.1-2.6% and between-run precision ranged from 1.9-3.2%) and accurate (within-run accuracies ranged from 1.5-5.8% and between-run accuracies ranged from 2.7-7.7%). The limit of quantitation (LOQ) and limit of detection (LOD) for each enantiomer in human plasma were 100 ng/ml and 50 ng/ml, respectively.

Enantioseparation of racemic N-acylarylalkylamines on various amino alcohol derived tau-acidic chiral stationary phases

Five tau-acidic chiral stationary phases (CSPs), CSP 4, CSP 5, CSP 6, CSP 7 and CSP 8, were prepared by connecting the N-(3,5-dimethylbenzoyl) derivative of (R)-alaninol, (S)-leucinol, (1S,2R)-ephedrine and (S)-tert-leucinol and the O-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl) derivative of (R)-phenylglycinol to silica gel through a carbamate or urea linkage. The CSPs were applied to the resolution of various racemic N-acyl-1-naphthylaminoalkanes by chiral HPLC, and the chromatographic resolution results were compared with those of previously reported CSPs (CSP 2, CSP 3), which are derived from N-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl)-(1S,2R)-norephedrine and N-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl-(R)-phenylglycinol. Based on a comparison of the resolution results for each CSP, the role of each functional group on the five chiral selectors is explained.

Enantioselective determination of arotinolol in human plasma by HPLC using teicoplanin chiral stationary phase

A sensitive enantioselective high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed and validated to determine S-(+)- and R-(-)-arotinolol in human plasma. Baseline resolution was achieved by using teicoplanin macrocyclic antibiotic chiral stationary phase (CSP) known as Chirobiotic T with a polar organic mobile phase consisting of methanol:glacial acetic acid:triethylamine, 100:0.1:0.1, (v/v/v) at a fl ow rate of 0.8 mL/min and UV detection set at 317 nm. Human plasma was spiked with stock solution of arotinolol enantiomers and labetalol as the internal standard. The assay involved the use of liquid-liquid extraction procedure with ethyl ether under alkaline condition for human plasma sample prior to HPLC analysis. Recoveries for S-(+)- and R-(-)-arotinolol enantiomers were in the range 93-103% at 200-1400 ng/mL level. Intra-day and inter-day precision calculated as %RSD was in the ranges 1.3-3.4 and 1.9-4.5% for both enantiomers, respectively. Intra-day and inter-day accuracies calculated as percentage error were in the ranges 1.2-3.5 and 1.5-6.2% for both enantiomers, respectively. Linear calibration curves in the concentration range 100-1500 ng/mL for each enantiomer showed a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.9998. The limit of quantitation (LOQ) and limit of detection (LOD) for each enantiomer in human plasma were 100 and 50 ng/mL (S/N = 3), respectively.