Analysis of drugs, natural and bioactive compounds containing phenolic groups by capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry

Determination of Phenolic Compounds by Capillary Zone Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry

A CZE-MS method was developed for the determination of several phenolic compounds (phenolic acids, flavonoids). Since the analysis of these components necessitates the application of basic conditions for CZE separation and negative ionization mode for MS detection, the simplest choice was to use 0.5 M NH₄OH and IPA:water (1:1 v/v%) as the background electrolyte and sheath liquid, respectively. The LOD values ranged between 0.004-1.9 mg/L showing that there are relatively large differences in the ionization (and chemical) features of these compounds. The precision data were better than 0.75 RSD% for migration times and were between 5-8 RSD% for peak areas. In order to test the applicability of the developed method, a honey sample was analyzed.

Simultaneous Determination of Ferulic Acid and Vanillin in Vanilla Extracts Using Voltammetric Sensor Based on Electropolymerized Bromocresol Purple

Natural phenolic antioxidants are one of the widely studied compounds in life sciences due to their important role in oxidative stress prevention and repair. The structural similarity of these antioxidants and their simultaneous presence in the plant samples stipulate the development of methods for their quantification. The current work deals with the simultaneous determination of vanillin and its bioprecursor ferulic acid using a voltammetric sensor for the first time. A sensor based on the layer-by-layer deposition of the polyaminobenzene sulfonic acid functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (f-SWCNTs) and electropolymerized bromocresol purple has been developed for this purpose. The best response of co-existing target analytes was registered for the polymer obtained from the 25 µM dye by 10-fold potential cycling from 0.0 to 1.2 V with the scan rate of 100 mV s⁻¹ in 0.1 M phosphate buffer (PB), pH 7.0. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) confirmed the effectivity of the sensor developed. The linear dynamic ranges of 0.10–5.0 µM and 5.0–25 µM for both analytes with the detection limits of 72 nM and 64 nM for ferulic acid and vanillin, respectively, were achieved in differential pulse mode. The sensor was applied for the analysis of vanilla extracts.

Quantifying several adulterants of notoginseng powder by near-infrared spectroscopy and multivariate calibration

The authentication of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is critically important for public-health and economic terms. Notoginseng, a classical TCM of high economic and medical value, could be easily adulterated with Sophora flavescens powder (SFP), corn flour (CF) or other analogues of low-grade (ALG) because of their similar tastes, appearances and much lower cost. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of applying of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and multivariate calibration for identifying and quantifying several common adulterants in notoginseng powder. Two datasets were prepared for experiment. The competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) was used to select informative variables. Two different schemes were used for sample set partition. Model population analysis (MPA) was made. The results showed that, the constructed partial least squares (PLS) model using a reduced set of variables from CARS can provide superior performance to the full-spectrum PLS model. Also, the sample set partition is very of great importance. It seems that the combination of NIR spectroscopy, CARS and PLS is feasible to quantify common adulterants in notoginseng powder.

Method development for simultaneous detection of ferulic acid and vanillin using high-performance thin layer chromatography

Background

A simple, accurate, and reliable high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method was developed for separation and detection of ferulic acid and vanillin.

Methods

Separation of ferulic acid and vanillin was carried out on 20 × 10 cm thin layer chromatography (TLC) plates using mobile phase containing toluene/1, 4-dioxan/acetic acid in the ratio 9:2.5:0.4 (v/v). The FA and vanillin were scanned at 320 and 312 nm, respectively. Method was validated for linearity, accuracy, precision, robustness, limit of detection, limit of quantification, and specificity.

Results

Retention factor (Rf) obtained for ferulic acid and vanillin was 0.48 and 0.56, respectively. The correlation coefficients, 0.9975 and 0.9991 with an average recovery of 98.77% and 98.45% obtained for ferulic acid and vanillin respectively by this method were satisfactory.

Conclusion

The optimized method was found to be efficient, precise, accurate, specific, and economic. Therefore, the method would be useful for both qualitative and quantitative routine analysis in pharmaceutical, food industry, and research laboratories.

Graphene/poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) composite electrode fabricated by melt compounding for capillary electrophoretic determination of flavones in Cacumen platycladi

In this report, a graphene/poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) composite electrode was fabricated by melt compounding for the amperometric detection of capillary electrophoresis. The composite electrode was fabricated by packing a mixture of graphene and melted poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) in a piece of fused silica capillary under heat. The structure of the composite was investigated by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results indicated that graphene sheets were well dispersed in the composite to form an interconnected conducting network. The performance of this unique graphene-based detector has been demonstrated by separating and detecting rutin, quercitrin, kaempferol, and quercetin in Cacumen platycladi in combination with capillary electrophoresis. The four flavones have been well separated within 9 min in a 50-cm-long capillary at a separation voltage of 12 kV using a 50 mM sodium borate buffer (pH 9.2). The graphene-based detector offered significantly lower operating potentials, substantially enhanced signal-to-noise characteristics, lower expense of operation, high resistance to surface fouling, and enhanced stability. It showed long-term stability and repeatability with relative standard deviations of <5% for the peak current (n = 15).

Rapid screening and determination of designer drugs in saliva by a nib-assisted paper spray-mass spectrometry and separation technique

A method for the rapid screening and determination of amphetamine-type designer drugs in saliva by a novel nib-assisted paper spray-mass spectrometry procedure is described. Under optimized conditions, the limit of detections for amphetamine derivatives (model samples: o-, m-, p-chloroamphetamine and o-, m-, p-fluoroamphetamine, respectively) were determined to 0.1 μg/mL by the nib-assisted paper spray-mass spectrometry method. This method is easier and has a higher sensitivity than similar methodologies, including atmospheric pressure/matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry and electrospray-assisted laser desorption ionization/mass spectrometry. Data obtained using more classical separation methods, including liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis, are also reported.

Determination of carbohydrates in Folium Lysium Chinensis using capillary electrophoresis combined with far-infrared light irradiation-assisted extraction

In this work, a method based on capillary electrophoresis with amperometric detection and far-infrared-assisted extraction has been developed for the determination of mannitol, sucrose, glucose and fructose in Folium Lysium Chinensis, a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine. The water-soluble constituents in the herbal drug were extracted with double distilled water with the assistance of far-infrared radiations. The effects of detection potential, irradiation time, and the voltage applied on the infrared generator were investigated to acquire the optimum analysis conditions. The detection electrode was a 300-μm-diameter copper disk electrode at a detection potential of +0.65 V. The four carbohydrates could be well separated within 18 min in a 50-cm length fused-silica capillary at a separation voltage of 9 kV in a 50-mM NaOH aqueous solution. The relation between peak current and analyte concentration was linear over about three orders of magnitude with detection limits (S/N=3) ranging from 0.66 to 1.15 μM for all analytes. The results indicated that far infrared significantly enhanced the extraction efficiency of the carbohydrates in Folium Lysium Chinensis. The extraction time was significantly reduced to 7 min compared with several hours for conventional hot solvent extraction.

Polystyrene/graphene composite electrode fabricated by in situ polymerization for capillary electrophoretic determination of bioactive constituents in Herba Houttuyniae

A novel graphene/polystyrene composite electrode was developed for the enhanced amperometric detection of CE in this work. The composite electrode was fabricated on the basis of the in situ polymerization of a mixture of graphene and prepolymerized styrene in the bore of a piece of fused-silica capillary under heat. SEM, XRD, and FTIR offered insights into the nature of the composite. The results indicated that graphenes were well dispersed and embedded throughout the PS matrix to form an interconnected conducting network. The performance of this unique graphene-based detector has been demonstrated by separating and detecting rutin, isoquercitrin, quercitrin, and chlorogenic acid in Herba Houttuyniae (a traditional Chinese medicine) in combination with CE. The prepared graphene-based CE detector offered significantly lower detection potential, yielded enhanced signal-to-noise characteristics, and exhibited high resistance to surface fouling and enhanced stability. It showed long-term stability and reproducibility with a relative standard deviation of 3.1% for the peak current (n = 15).

Fabrication of graphene/poly(methyl methacrylate) composite electrode for capillary electrophoretic determination of bioactive constituents in Herba Geranii

This report describes the development and application of a novel graphene/poly(methyl methacrylate) composite electrode as a sensitive amperometric detector of capillary electrophoresis. The composite electrode was fabricated on the basis of the in situ polymerization of a mixture of graphene and prepolymerized methyl methacrylate in the microchannel of a piece of fused silica capillary under heat. SEM, XRD and FT-IR offered insights into the nature of the composite. The results indicated that graphenes were well dispersed in the composite to form an interconnected conducting network. The performance of this unique graphene-based detector has been demonstrated by separating and detecting seven naturally occurring phenolic compounds in Herba Geranii in combination with capillary electrophoresis. The graphene-based detector offered significantly lower operating potentials, substantially enhanced signal-to-noise characteristics, and lower expense of operation. The simplicity and significant performance exhibited by the graphene/poly(methyl methacrylate) composite electrode also indicate great promise for microchip CE, flowing injection analysis, and other microfluidic analysis systems.

Determination of salidroside and tyrosol in Rhodiola by capillary electrophoresis with graphene/poly(urea-formaldehyde) composite modified electrode

This report describes the fabrication and application of a novel graphene/poly(urea-formaldehyde) composite modified electrode as a sensitive amperometric detector of CE. The composite electrode was fabricated on the basis of the in situ polycondensation of a mixture of graphenes and urea-formaldehyde prepolymers on the surface of a platinum disc electrode. It was coupled with CE for the separation and detection of salidroside and tyrosol in Rhodiola, a traditional Chinese medicine, to demonstrate its feasibility and performance. Salidroside and tyrosol have been well separated within 6 min in a 40 cm long capillary at a separation voltage of 12 kV using a 50 mM borate buffer (pH 9.8). The prepared graphene-based CE detector offered significantly lower detection potential, yielded enhanced signal-to-noise characteristics, and exhibited high resistance to surface fouling and enhanced stability. It showed long-term stability and reproducibility with relative standard deviations of less than 5% for the peak current (n = 15).

Phenolic acids and flavonoids: occurrence and analytical methods

Phenolics are structurally assorted and are generally part of a complex mixture isolated from plant and biological origin matrices. A wide gamut of natural products have been the focus of main study for phenolic compounds while urine and blood are the two main biological fluids that have been analyzed for metabolism studies. Traditional and more advanced techniques have come to prominence for sample preparation, detection, and identification. This review is devoted to a short discussion of the occurrence of phenolic acids and flavonoids, their role in human health, and focuses on a detailed presentation of the analytical methods, concluding with the advantages of analytical methods employed so far and prospects. Strategies and practical aspects for the determination of phenolic acids and flavonoids in biological fluids, beverages, plants, and food are reported. Novel and past applications are provided with significant treatment and detection-related developments on the basis of the employment of separation and non-separation analytical techniques.

Extraction, separation, and detection methods for phenolic acids and flavonoids

The impetus for developing analytical methods for phenolic compounds in natural products has proved to be multifaceted. Hundreds of publications on the analysis of this category of compounds have appeared over the past two decades. Traditional and more advanced techniques have come to prominence for sample preparation, separation, detection, and identification. This review provides an updated and extensive overview of methods and their applications in natural product matrices and samples of biological origin. In addition, it critically appraises recent developments and trends, and provides selected representative bibliographic examples.

Broad-spectrum toxicological analysis of hair based on capillary zone electrophoresis–time-of-flight mass spectrometry

The coupling of capillary electrophoresis-electrospray ionization and time-of-flight mass spectrometry, combining efficiency and speed of separation with high mass accuracy and fast scanning capability, was for the first time applied to the determination of drugs of abuse (amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDA, MDMA, ephedrine, cocaine, morphine, codeine) and their metabolites in hair (6-MAM, benzoylecgonine). Experimental conditions were as follows. Separation: voltage 15 kV, uncoated fused-silica capillary (75 microm ID, 100 cm total length), running electrolyte 25 mM ammonium formate, pH 9.5, field-amplified sample stacking injection. Forensic drugs could be identified by exact mass determination (mass accuracy typically < or = 5 ppm) and by match of the isotopic pattern. The method was fully validated, showing limit of detections (LODs) suitable for the determination of all the compounds below the cut-off usually adopted for hair analysis (0.1 ng/mg). Analytical precision in real matrices (tested at 0.1 and 1.0 ng/mg) was typically characterized by CV's < or = 24% in both intra-day and day-to-day experiments. Quantitative determination was also tested by using a single internal standard (folcodine). Results, although with a moderate accuracy, conceivably depending on the lack of deuterated internal standards, proved useful for diagnostic use of the results from hair analysis. A single liquid-liquid extraction procedure was applied for all analytes, allowing the detection of a broad spectrum of basic drugs and their major metabolites.

Capillary electrophoresis and microchip capillary electrophoresis with electrochemical and electrochemiluminescence detection

Recent advances and key strategies in capillary electrophoresis and microchip CE with electrochemical detection (ECD) and electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detection are reviewed. This article consists of four main parts: CE-ECD; microchip CE-ECD; CE-ECL; and microchip CE-ECL. It is expected that ECD and ECL will become powerful tools for CE microchip systems and will lead to the creation of truly disposable devices. The focus is on papers published in the last two years (from 2005 to 2006).

Comparison of atmospheric pressure photoionization and ESI for CZE-MS of drugs

The performance of atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) and ESI for CZE was compared using a set of seven drugs (basic amines, quaternary amines and steroids) and four different BGEs. The influence of volatile and nonvolatile BGEs of acidic and neutral pH on the MS responses of test compounds was evaluated by infusion of test solutions into the respective ion sources, and by actual CZE-MS experiments. The infusion experiments indicate that sodium phosphate buffers cause ionization suppression in ESI-MS, although for the amines the suppression was modest (25-60% signal reduction). By contrast, APPI-MS responses were not affected by nonvolatile BGEs. With phosphate buffers, ESI-MS responses for the basic amines were still a factor 3-13 higher than the APPI-MS signals, whereas the steroids yielded similar responses in ESI-MS and APPI-MS. The quaternary amines could readily be detected in ESI-MS, but detection in APPI-MS required specific interface conditions. Using typical CZE-APPI-MS settings, quaternary amines remained undetected. Remarkably, the S/Ns observed in CZE-ESI-MS for the test compounds, were generally similar when using volatile and nonvolatile BGEs. For basic compounds, the S/Ns obtained in CZE-ESI-MS were a factor 2-5 higher than in CZE-APPI-MS, whereas steroids yielded equal S/Ns in both methods. Overall, it is concluded that when using relatively low BGE concentrations, the sensitivity of ESI-MS detection in CZE is more favorable than APPI-MS detection, even when nonvolatile BGEs are employed.

Carbon nanotube/poly(methyl methacrylate) composite electrode for capillary electrophoretic measurement of honokiol and magnolol in Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis

This paper describes the development and the application of a novel carbon nanotube/poly(methyl methacrylate) (CNT/PMMA) composite electrode as a sensitive amperometric detector of CE. The composite electrode was fabricated on the basis of the in situ polymerization of a mixture of CNT and prepolymerized methylmethacrylate in the microchannel of a piece of fused-silica capillary under heat. The performance of this unique system has been demonstrated by separating and detecting honokiol and magnolol in traditional Chinese medicine, Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis. Factors influencing their separation and detection processes were examined and optimized. Honokiol and magnolol were well separated within 7 min in a 40 cm long capillary at a separation voltage of 15 kV using a 50 mM borate buffer (pH 9.2). The new CNT-based CE detector offered significantly lower operating potentials, yielded substantially enhanced S/N characteristics, and exhibited resistance to surface fouling and hence enhanced stability. It demonstrated long-term stability and reproducibility with RSDs of less than 5% for the peak current (n = 9) and should also find a wide range of applications in microchip CE, flowing injection analysis, and other microfluidic analysis systems.

Optimization of CZE for analysis of phytochemical bioactive compounds

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

Recent applications of capillary electrophoresis-electrospray ionisation-mass spectrometry in drug analysis

This review considers applications in 2004-2005 of capillary electrophoresis-electrospray ionisation-mass spectrometry (CE-ESI-MS) to the detection and determination of small molecular mass drug molecules, taken from the Web of Knowledge database. The molecules of small molecular mass less than 1000 Da are chosen according to selected structural classes in which they give ESI signals primarily as [M + H](+) ions. These structural classes are drugs with amine-containing side chains, drugs with N-containing saturated ring structures, 1,4-benzodiazepines, other heterocyclic hypnotics, steroids, bioactive compounds containing phenolic groups, and miscellaneous molecules. Details are given on the fragmentations, where available, that these ionic species exhibit in-source and in ion-trap, triple quadrupole and time-of flight mass spectrometers. The review then gives a critical evaluation of these recent CE-ESI-MS analytical methods for the detection and determination of these small molecular mass drug molecules. Analytical information on, for example, sample concentration techniques, CE separation conditions, recoveries from biological media and limits of detection are provided.

Capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry, an attractive tool for drug bioanalysis and biomarker discovery

The coupling of CE with MS detection, a relatively recent hyphenated technique, has gained increasing respect in the field of bioanalytical applications over the past few years. The first part of this review presents CE-MS applications dealing with drug bioanalysis, including forensic analysis and metabolism studies. Practical considerations to achieve a robust and sensitive CE-MS coupling are also presented. It is indeed essential to strictly control some critical electrospray parameters, such as the sheath liquid composition and flow rate, the nebulizing gas pressure as well as the capillary outlet position. The second part of the review critically describes the applications of CE coupled on-line to MS for the identification of biomarkers in body fluids for diagnostic purposes. Since the sample preparation procedures strongly differ according to the intended use (drug bioanalysis or biomarker discovery), they are discussed separately, taking into account the particular properties of plasma and urine matrices.

Capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry characterisation of secondary metabolites from the antihyperglycaemic plantGenista tenera

Genista tenera is endemic to the Portuguese island of Madeira, where an infusion of the aerial parts of the plant is used in folk medicine as an antidiabetic agent. Consequently the medicinal properties of the secondary metabolites of this plant have been the subject of an ongoing study. A recently reported LC-MS method using a 100 min separation allowed identification of five flavonoid components in an extract of the aerial parts of this plant. In order to obtain additional information on the range and complexity of the plant's secondary metabolite components a CE-MS method has been developed and applied for the analysis of an extract of G. tenera. Twenty-six different components are distinguished in an analysis time of only 10 min. Results demonstrate that CE-MS/MS rapidly generates data complementary to those obtainable by LC-MS/MS and is particularly suited to the analysis of plant metabolites where concentration is not limiting.

Progress in capillary electrophoresis of biomarkers and metabolites between 2002 and 2005

Biomarker discovery and metabolite research is a fast-growing and extremely important domain not only for the early detection of certain diseases but also for controlling its progress as well as in pharmaceutical investigations. For the analytical separation and identification, CE plays an indisputable role. Capillary systems enhancing different selectivity are applied and connected to different kind of detection systems. As the choice of buffer and its composition is responsible for a successful separation, special emphasis is put on solvent effects in this review. Altogether the most important capillary electrophoretic techniques applied for biomarker and metabolites analysis published between 2002 and 2005 are summarized and discussed.

Recent advances in the application of capillary electrophoresis with mass spectrometric detection

This review gives an overview of applications of CE coupled to MS detection published in the literature of the last three years. The works discussed in this paper comprise a wide range of different fields of application. These include important sections such as the analysis of biomolecules, the analysis of pharmaceuticals and their metabolites in different matrices, environmental analysis, and also investigations on the composition of technical products.