Indirect UV detection of carbohydrates in capillary zone electrophoresis

Reversed-phase capillary electrochromatography of pre-column derivatized mono- and oligosaccharides with three different ultraviolet absorbing tags

In this research report, an in house developed octadecyl monolithic (ODM) column has been exploited in the reversed-phase capillary electrochromatography (RP-CEC) of precolumn derivatized mono- and oligosaccharides with three different tagging agents, namely 1-naphthylamine (1-NA), 2-aminoanthracene (2-AA) and 3-amino-2,7-naphthalenedisulfonic acid (ANDSA). These three derivatizing agents, which differed in their charges, nonpolar characters and optical absorption properties, led to different RP-CEC elution patterns and UV detection signals. In fact, the limit of detection of the derivatized sugars were 50 µM for the ANDSA- and 1-NA-sugar derivatives and 35 µM for the 2-AA-sugar derivatives due to the presence of three fused aromatic rings in 2-AA versus 2 fused rings in the 1-NA and ANDSA tags. Furthermore, while the longer ANDSA-oligosaccharides eluted later than the shorter ones and the ANDSA-monosaccharides, 1-NA- and 2-AA-sugar derivatives necessitated the presence of borate ions at alkaline pH in the mobile phase to form in situ charged derivatives to facilitate their separation by RP-CEC, and the elution order was the reversal of that observed with the ANDSA-sugar derivatives; that is the mono- eluted later than the larger size oligosaccharides. In addition, plots of log t_R vs. number of glucose residues (n_Glc) for derivatized glucose and maltooligosaccharides yielded straight lines with slopes representing log η where η is the retention time modulus (i.e., ratio of retention time of two neighboring derivatives differing in one glucosyl residue). In the case of 1-NA and 2-AA derivatives, η was smaller than unity while it was greater than unity in the case of ANDSA-sugar derivatives because the elution occurred in the order of decreasing size of the homologous sugar derivatives in the former than in the later derivatives. The prepared ODM column was stable for more than a month of continuous use, a fact that allowed a good repeatability for intraday and interday analyzes.

High resolution and high throughput analytical methods for d-tagatose and process related impurities using capillary electrophoresis

d-tagatose is a low calorie multifunctional rare ketohexose sugar with sweetness similar to that of sucrose and it has high potential benefits for food and pharmaceutical industries. It is found in traces in some fruits as a natural component. In view of its high demand as a substitute for sugar, mass production of d-tagatose through enzymatic conversion of Lactose to d-tagatose is adopted. The existing HPLC method has limitations with respect sensitivity and resolution in quantification and monitoring of d-tagatose in the presence of its process related impurities. In the present investigation a new robust, fast and green analytical technique has been developed based on capillary electrophoresis (CE) for the separation and quantification of d-tagatose in presence of other sugars: Lactose, d-glucose, d-galactose and d-talose. Optimum conditions are found to be: Back Ground Electrolyte (BGE): 36 mM of Na₂HPO₄ and 130 mM of NaOH; pH: 12.6; voltage: +18 kV for high resolution and -18 kV for high throughput methods with direct UV-Detector at 265 nm. At these optimum conditions, good separation between the sugars is achieved in less than 20 min for high resolution and less than 4 min for high throughput methods. The developed methodology is validated as per ICHQ2R1 guide lines and successfully applied for monitoring d-tagatose during the enzymatic conversion of Lactose/d-galactose to d-tagatose and also to determine the unknown amounts of d-tagatose in crystallized samples and further, it is used in identifying the d-tagatose in fruits.

Silicon Photonic Microring Resonator Arrays as a Universal Detector for Capillary Electrophoresis

Electrophoretic separations conventionally rely on chromogenic, fluorogenic, or redox properties for analyte detection that, in many instances, involve chemical modification of samples prior to analysis. For analytes natively lacking chemical signatures, refractive index-based measurements are appealing as a method to detect these molecules without pretreatment. Microring resonators are a type of whispering gallery mode sensor capable of detecting bulk changes in refractive index. Here, we demonstrate the use of silicon photonic microring resonator arrays as a postcolumn detector for capillary electrophoresis. In this approach, we establish the universal detection capabilities of microrings through calibration with analytes lacking unique spectral signatures. Separations of small molecule mixtures are demonstrated using capillary zone electrophoresis. For these separations, the microring resonators maintain a linear response over several orders of magnitude in concentration for three candidate small molecules. Successful separation of three sugars with direct detection is also demonstrated. We further present the successful separation and detection of three model proteins, exemplifying the promise of microring resonators arrays as a biocompatible detector for capillary electrophoresis. Additionally, the spatially offset, array-based nature of the sensing platform enables real-time analysis of analyte mobility and performance characterization-a combination that is not typically provided using single-point detectors.

Grapevine tissues and phenology differentially affect soluble carbohydrates determination by capillary electrophoresis

Soluble carbohydrates distribution depends on plant physiology and, among other important factors, determines fruit yield and quality. In plant biology, the analysis of sugars is useful for many purposes, including metabolic studies. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) proved to be a powerful green separation technique with minimal sample preparation, even in complex plant tissues, that can provide high-resolution efficiency. Matrix effect refers to alterations in the analytical response caused by components of a sample other than the analyte of interest. Thus, the assessment and reduction of the matrix factor is fundamental for metabolic studies in different matrices. The present study evaluated the source and levels of matrix effects in the determination of most abundant sugars in grapevine tissues (mature and young leaves, berries and roots) at two phenological growth stages. Sucrose was the sugar that showed the least matrix effects, while fructose was the most affected analyte. Based on plant tissues, young leaves presented the smaller matrix effects, irrespectively of the phenology. These changes may be attributed to considerable differences at chemical composition of grapevine tissues with plant development. Therefore, matrix effect should be an important concern for plant metabolomics.

Current landscape of protein glycosylation analysis and recent progress toward a novel paradigm of glycoscience research

This review covers the basics and some applications of methodologies for the analysis of glycoprotein glycans. Analytical techniques used for glycoprotein glycans, including liquid chromatography (LC), capillary electrophoresis (CE), mass spectrometry (MS), and high-throughput analytical methods based on microfluidics, were described to supply the essentials about biopharmaceutical and biomarker glycoproteins. We will also describe the MS analysis of glycoproteins and glycopeptides as well as the chemical and enzymatic releasing methods of glycans from glycoproteins and the chemical reactions used for the derivatization of glycans. We hope the techniques have accommodated most of the requests from glycoproteomics researchers.

Quantification of Carbohydrates in Grape Tissues Using Capillary Zone Electrophoresis

Soluble sugars play an important role in freezing tolerance in both herbaceous and woody plants, functioning in both the reduction of freezing-induced dehydration and the cryoprotection of cellular constituents. The quantification of soluble sugars in plant tissues is, therefore, essential in understanding freezing tolerance. While a number of analytical techniques and methods have been used to quantify sugars, most of these are expensive and time-consuming due to complex sample preparation procedures which require the derivatization of the carbohydrates being analyzed. Analysis of soluble sugars using capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) under alkaline conditions with direct UV detection has previously been used to quantify simple sugars in fruit juices. However, it was unclear whether CZE-based methods could be successfully used to quantify the broader range of sugars present in complex plant extracts. Here, we present the development of an optimized CZE method capable of separating and quantifying mono-, di-, and tri-saccharides isolated from plant tissues. This optimized CZE method employs a column electrolyte buffer containing 130 mM NaOH, pH 13.0, creating a current of 185 μA when a separation voltage of 10 kV is employed. The optimized CZE method provides limits-of-detection (an average of 1.5 ng/μL) for individual carbohydrates comparable or superior to those obtained using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and allows resolution of non-structural sugars and cell wall components (structural sugars). The optimized CZE method was successfully used to quantify sugars from grape leaves and buds, and is a robust tool for the quantification of plant sugars found in vegetative and woody tissues. The increased analytical efficiency of this CZE method makes it ideal for use in high-throughput metabolomics studies designed to quantify plant sugars.

Separation and Characterization of Synthetic Polyelectrolytes and Polysaccharides with Capillary Electrophoresis

The development of macromolecular engineering and the need for renewable and sustainable polymer sources make polymeric materials progressively more sophisticated but also increasingly complex to characterize. Size-exclusion chromatography (SEC or GPC) has a monopoly in the separation and characterization of polymers, but it faces a number of proven, though regularly ignored, limitations for the characterization of a number of complex samples such as polyelectrolytes and polysaccharides. Free solution capillary electrophoresis (CE), or capillary zone electrophoresis, allows usually more robust separations than SEC due to the absence of a stationary phase. It is, for example, not necessary to filter the samples for analysis with CE. CE is mostly limited to polymers that are charged or can be charged, but in the case of polyelectrolytes it has similarities with liquid chromatography in the critical conditions: it does not separate a charged homopolymer by molar mass. It can thus characterize the topology of a branched polymer, such as poly(acrylic acid), or the purity or composition of copolymers, either natural ones such as pectin, chitosan, and gellan gum or synthetic ones.

Monolithically integrated biophotonic lab-on-a-chip for cell culture and simultaneous pH monitoring

A poly(dimethylsiloxane) biophotonic lab-on-a-chip (bioPhLoC) containing two chambers, an incubation chamber and a monitoring chamber for cell retention/proliferation and pH monitoring, respectively, is presented. The bioPhLoC monolithically integrates a filter with 3 μm high size-exclusion microchannels, capable of efficiently trapping cells in the incubation chamber, as well as optical elements for real-time interrogation of both chambers. The integrated optical elements made possible both absorption and dispersion measurements, which were comparable to those made in a commercially available cuvette. The size-exclusion filter also showed good and stable trapping capacity when using yeast cells of variable size (between 5 and 8 μm diameter). For cell culture applications, vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), with sizes between 8 and 10 μm diameter, were used as a mammalian cell model. These cells were efficiently trapped in the incubation chamber, where they proliferated with a classical spindle-shaped morphology and a traditional hill-and-valley phenotype. During cell proliferation, pH changes in the culture medium due to cell metabolism were monitored in real time and with high precision in the monitoring chamber without interference of the measurement by cells and other (cell) debris.

Analysis of monosaccharides and oligosaccharides in the pulp and paper industry by use of capillary zone electrophoresis: a review

Carbohydrate analysis is an important source of the information required for understanding and control of pulp and paper processes. The behavior of cellulose and hemicelluloses in the process, carbohydrate-lignin interactions, and the enzymatic treatment of fibers are examples of situations for which reliable, fast, qualitative, and quantitative methods are required. New uses of lignocellulosic material have further increased the need for carbohydrate analysis. This review collates and summarizes the most important findings and approaches in the analysis of wood-based carbohydrates by use of capillary zone electrophoresis and provides an analysis of the effect of different conditions on the separation, showing the advantages and limitations of the methods used. It provides guidelines for achieving higher quality and improved separation efficiency in carbohydrate analysis.

Simple and robust determination of monosaccharides in plant fibers in complex mixtures by capillary electrophoresis and high performance liquid chromatography

Carbohydrates partially liberated by acid hydrolysis of plant fiber can be separated by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC), ligand-exchange liquid chromatography or other forms of LC with ion-exchange columns. However, the robust hydrogen-exchange columns show co-elution of galactose, xylose and mannose. Free solution capillary electrophoresis (CE) can be used without derivatization at pH 12.6 and was found to provide a higher resolution of galactose and xylose than common LC with no sample pre-treatment required, other than dilution, within 26min. CE was able to provide resolution higher than 0.79 for all separated carbohydrates, and the RSDs of determined concentrations lower than 10% for concentrations above 1.3gL(-1). A quantitative comparison between CE and HPLC revealed that up to 22% more carbohydrates are quantified with CE. Direct UV detection in CE of mono- and disaccharides is unexpectedly possible at 270nm. NMR analysis shows that alkaline degradation is too slow to explain this detection. This CE detection sensitivity is increased by the electric field and our CE and NMR analyses are consistent with a photo-oxidation process.

Glycan labeling strategies and their use in identification and quantification

Most methods for the analysis of oligosaccharides from biological sources require a glycan derivatization step: glycans may be derivatized to introduce a chromophore or fluorophore, facilitating detection after chromatographic or electrophoretic separation. Derivatization can also be applied to link charged or hydrophobic groups at the reducing end to enhance glycan separation and mass-spectrometric detection. Moreover, derivatization steps such as permethylation aim at stabilizing sialic acid residues, enhancing mass-spectrometric sensitivity, and supporting detailed structural characterization by (tandem) mass spectrometry. Finally, many glycan labels serve as a linker for oligosaccharide attachment to surfaces or carrier proteins, thereby allowing interaction studies with carbohydrate-binding proteins. In this review, various aspects of glycan labeling, separation, and detection strategies are discussed.

Analysis of Carbohydrates in Seized Heroin Using Capillary Electrophoresis

Illicitly produced heroin is commonly cut with carbohydrates to increase bulk. The analysis of these solutes is important for legal and intelligence purposes. A capillary electrophoresis (CE) method was developed for the qualitative analysis of dextrose, lactose, sucrose, inositol, and mannitol in heroin exhibits. For this method, a 64 cm (55.5 cm to detector window) by 50 mum capillary was used with the Agilent Basic Anion Buffer modified to pH 12.1. This separation was performed at 25 degrees C with a voltage of 20 kV and indirect detection with 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid as the visualization reagent. The methodology is also applicable for the screening of inorganic and organic anions using indirect detection, and acidic adulterants using direct detection. For a run time of 13 min, the relative standard deviation (n = 6) of the methodology was better than 0.36% for migration times and less than 2.6% for corrected peak areas. For the analysis of carbohydrates and acidic adulterants in seized heroin, excellent agreement was obtained between CE and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

High-performance capillary electrophoresis with indirect UV detection for determination of alpha-galactosides in Leguminosae and Brassicaceae

A rapid, easy, and reproducible capillary electrophoresis method for determination of raffinose family oligosaccharides (alpha-galactosides) was developed. Sucrose, raffinose, stachyose, verbascose, and ajugose were determined with indirect UV detection at moderate alkaline pH 9.2, using pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid as background electrolyte in a sodium tetraborate buffer with added cetyltrimethylammonium bromide. The separation efficiency measured by the number of theoretical plates (N) ranged from 1.4 x 10(5) to 2.3 x 10(5). The precision of the method, measured by the relative standard deviation (RSD), was less than 0.53% for the migration times and better than 3.4% for normalized areas (NA), considering all sugars except verbascose (RSD(NA) = 11.8%). Detection limits were about 110 microg/mL, corresponding to 150-320 microM. Relative response factors (RRF) were calculated on the basis of linearity studies and used for quantification of alpha-galactosides in a lupine sample (Lupinus angustifolius).

Determination of glycosaminoglycan monosaccharides by capillary electrophoresis using laser-induced fluorescence detection

A newly developed capillary electrophoretic method using laser-induced fluorescence detection (CE-LIF) for the analysis of monosaccharides released from acid hydrolysis of glycosaminoglycans was studied. The method was compared with a previously published method using indirect LIF detection (CE-ILIF). For the CE-LIF method, electrophoretic conditions for the separation of the monosaccharides derivatised with 8-aminopyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonate (APTS) were optimised. The best separations were obtained using 100 mM acetate at pH 4.5 as running buffer. The influence of the injection vial volume on the precision and stability of the sample in different conditions was studied. The detection limits of the CE-LIF method were found to be 0.4-0.6 nM, while those obtained by CE-ILIF ranged from 11.4 to 14.3 microM. Other quality parameters of the method, such as run-to-run precision, day-to-day precision, and linearity were also determined. Finally, the new method was applied to the analysis of the acid hydrolysis products from a glucosaminoglycan (heparin) and a galactosaminoglycan (dermatan sulfate) and cross-contamination between the two solutions was determined. The high sensitivity of the new method allows the determination of dermatan sulfate contaminations in a heparin raw sample down to 0.04% (w/w) and broadens the practical applicability of CE-LIF for the quantitation of the endogenous levels of glycosaminoglycans in animal samples and for pharmacokinetic control after therapeutical heparin administration.

Determination of the artificial sweetener Sucralose by capillary electrophoresis

The artificial intense sweetener 1,6-dichloro-1,6-dideoxy-beta-D-fructofuranosyl-4-chloro-4-deoxy-alpha-D-galactopyranose (Sucralose) was determined by capillary electrophoresis with indirect ultraviolet absorption in a 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid buffer at pH 12.1. The method allowed determination of Sucralose in low-calorie soft drinks, without any sample clean-up over a linear range of 42-1000 mg x l(-1) (r=0.9991). The limits of detection and determination were 28 and 42 mg x l(-1), respectively, and the repeatability for a mean concentration of 100 mg x l(-1) was 4.2% for the signal area and 3.6% for the migration time, which were deemed satisfactory for use in food control.

Enhancement of detection sensitivity for indirect photometric detection of anions and cations in capillary electrophoresis

This review focuses on the indirect photometric detection of anions and cations by capillary electrophoresis. Special emphasis has been placed on the sensitivity of the technique and approaches taken to enhance detection limits. Theoretical considerations and requirements have been discussed, including buffering, detection sensitivity, separation of cations, and detector linearity. A series of tables detailing highly absorbing probes and the conditions of their use for indirect photometric detection are included.

Determination of the composition of the oligosaccharide phosphate fraction of Pichia (Hansenula) holstii NRRL Y-2448 phosphomannan by capillary electrophoresis and HPLC

The promising new anticancer agent, PI-88, is prepared by the sulfonation of the oligosaccharide phosphate fraction of the extracellular phosphomannan produced by the yeast Pichia (Hansenula) holstii NRRL Y-2448. The composition of the oligosaccharide phosphate fraction was determined by capillary electrophoresis (CE) with indirect UV detection using 6 mM potassium sorbate at pH 10.3 as the background electrolyte. Further confirmation of the composition was obtained by HPLC analysis of a sample dephosphorylated by treatment with alkaline phosphatase. The structure of the hexasaccharide component has been determined by isolation and NMR spectroscopic analysis of its dephosphorylated derivative. Additionally, the structure of a second, previously undetected tetrasaccharide component (a hexosamine) has been determined by isolation and NMR spectroscopic analysis of the acetate of its dephosphorylated derivative. It is demonstrated that CE is an ideal method for the quality control of the oligosaccharide phosphate fraction for use in the production of PI-88.

Capillary electrophoresis method for the analysis of inorganic anions, organic acids, amino acids, nucleotides, carbohydrates and other anionic compounds

A previously developed capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method with indirect UV detection for the simultaneous determination of inorganic and organic anions, amino acids and carbohydrates using 20 mM 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (PDC) as the background electrolyte was extended to allow determination of 206 anions including those above--mentioned and physiological amino acids, nucleotides, aromatic acids, haloacetic acids, alcohols, phosphorylated saccharides, oxyhalides, metal oxoacids, metal-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) complexes, forensic anions, Good's buffers and herbicides. Every compound could be analyzed and their electrophoretic mobility determined simply by selecting detection wavelength. This method is simple and universal for anion analysis, and could be readily applied to the simultaneous determination of anionic compounds. In this work, it was used to identify and quantify important anions in sea urchin and sake.

Determination of carbohydrates by capillary electrophoresis with electrospray-mass spectrometric detection

A method for the determination of underivatized carbohydrates using capillary electrophoresis (CE) with detection by electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) presented. Highly alkaline carrier electrolytes based on volatile organic bases like is diethylamine (DEA) combined with MS detection in the negativ-ion mode proved to be the optimum solution for the separation and detection of these analytes. Optimization of the carrier electrolyte composition has been performed with respect to its pH, ionic strength as well as the addition of an organic modifier. The influence of the DEA concentration in the sheath liquid on parameters like peak shapes or signal-to-noise (S/N) ratios was also investigated. Limits of detection (LOD) were in the range of 0.5-3.0 mgL(-1) and calibration was linear over an order of magnitude for almost all solutes investigated. Finally, the applicability of this method for the analysis of real samples was demonstrated with wine samples.

Direct determination of amino acids and carbohydrates by high-performance capillary electrophoresis with refractometric detection

This is an initial report to propose a novel approach in high-performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE) for the direct detection of compounds without natural absorbance in the UV and visible spectral range, such as amino acids and carbohydrates. A refractometry detector with the 2 nl cell (Applied Systems, Minsk, Belarus) was employed to identify amino acids and carbohydrates without derivatization. The first results are provided on separation of seven free amino acids in the phosphate running buffer and three free carbohydrates in the borate-sodium dodecyl sulfate running buffer and detection by refractometer. Fused capillaries of 50 or 75 microm internal diameter and separation voltage (10-23 kV) were applied. Detection limits ranged typically from 10 to 100 fmol and the response was linear over two orders of magnitude for most of the amino acids and carbohydrates. The HPCE system demonstrated good long-term stability and reproducibility with a relative standard deviation, less than 5% for the migration time (n=10).

Analysis of carbohydrates in wood and pulps employing enzymatic hydrolysis and subsequent capillary zone electrophoresis

An efficient method for determining the carbohydrate composition of extractive-free delignified wood and pulp is described here. The polysaccharides in the sample are first hydrolyzed using a mixture of commercially available preparations of cellulase and hemicellulase. The reducing saccharides in the hydrolysate thus obtained are subsequently derivatized with 4-aminobenzoic acid ethyl ester and thereafter quantitated by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) in an alkaline borate buffer with monitoring of the absorption at 306 nm. All reducing sugars (i.e., neutral monosaccharides and uronic acids) which occur as structural elements in the polysaccharides of wood and pulp can be quantitated in a single such analytical run, which can also determine the contents of 4-deoxy-beta-L-threo-hex-4-enopyranosyluronic acid (HexA) residues present in pulps obtained from alkaline processes. CZE analyses were performed using linear regression of standard curves over a concentration range spanning approximately three orders of magnitude. Carbohydrate constituents constituting approximately 0.1% of the dry mass of the sample could be quantitated. The overall precision of this analytical procedure--involving enzymatic hydrolysis, derivatization and CZE--was good (RSD=2.2-7.5%), especially considering the heterogeneity of the wood and pulp samples. The total yield of carbohydrates (93-97%) obtained employing the procedure developed here was consistently higher than that obtained upon applying the traditional procedure for carbohydrate analysis (85-93%) (involving acid hydrolysis and gas chromatographic analysis) to the same pulps. The trisaccharide HexA-xylobiose was the only HexA-containing saccharide detected using the conditions for enzymatic hydrolysis developed here (i.e., 30 h incubation at pH 4 and 40 degrees C); whereas mixtures of HexA-xylobiose and HexA-xylotriose were obtained when the incubation was performed at pH 5 or 6.

Detection in capillary electrophoresis

A review of the four major, on-line, capillary electrophoresis (CE) detection modalities is presented. It is shown that each detection method, fluorescence, absorbance (conventional and nonconventional), electrochemical and refractive index, have distinct advantages and limitations when applied to analysis in a CE format. Various aspects of CE detection are considered and a perspective regarding the applicability of the technique is provided. It is shown that because of widely varying detection limits (ranging from single molecule to 10(-5) M) and detection scheme complexity, the particular application should dictate the selection of detection methodology in CE.

Structural analysis of chromophore-labeled disaccharides by capillary electrophoresis tandem mass spectrometry using ion trap mass spectrometry

Disaccharides tagged with p-aminobenzoic acid (ABA) were separated by capillary electrophoresis (CE) and analyzed on-line with negative ion electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI/MS/MS). The formation of glycosylamine instead of reductive amination was selected as the derivatization reaction. In negative ion ESI, the glycosylamine approach provides more information on linkage and anomeric configuration than reductive amination. In CE analysis of ABA-labeled disaccharides, alpha-cyclodextrin (CD) was found to play a crucial role in the separation of linkage isomers. Although ammonium acetate/alpha-CD provided the best resolution of linkage isomers, the borate buffer was superior to alpha-CD in the separation of disaccharides with the same linkage but different anomeric configuration and/or monosaccharide composition. Both alpha-CD and borate suppressed the ion signal in ESI, and operational conditions were successfully obtained using 10 mM alpha-CD or 10 mM borate.

Analysis of glycosaminoglycan monosaccharides by capillary electrophoresis using indirect laser-induced fluorescence detection

Two methods for monosaccharide analysis by capillary electrophoresis (CE) using counterelectroosmotic and coelectroosmotic modes with indirect laser-induced fluorescence detection were optimised and compared. A mixture of seven glycosaminoglycan-derived hexoses was separated in alkaline fluorescein-based electrolytes and detected in both counterelectroosmotic and coelectroosmotic conditions. The fluorescein concentration and pH of the background electrolyte, and the influence of the reversal of electroosmotic flow by addition of hexadimethrine bromide on the separation were studied. Coelectroosmotic CE conditions provided better resolution and limits of detection. A 10(-6) M fluorescein solution at pH 12.25 containing 0.0005% (w/v) hexadimethrine bromide was used as background electrolyte. Quality parameters such as run-to-run, day-to-day precision and limits of detection were calculated, and better figures of merit were obtained for the coelectrooosmotic conditions than for the counterelectroosmotic mode. The coelectroosmotic method was applied to the quantitation of the hexosamine contents in glycosaminoglycans after acid hydrolysis. The method proved to be suitable for the determination of dermatan sulfate in heparin down to 2% (w/w).

Recent developments in capillary electrophoresis and capillary electrochromatography of carbohydrate species

This review article is concerned with the recent developments in capillary electrophoresis (CE) and capillary electrochromatography (CEC) of carbohydrates. The literature shows that CE possesses impressive potential in the analysis of carbohydrates. On the other hand, CEC has just started to show promise in the analysis of carbohydrates. Advances in separation and detection approaches of derivatized and underivatized carbohydrates are discussed based on the available literature. In addition, important applications are illustrated.

Development and validation of liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis methods for acarbose determination in pharmaceutical tablets

Liquid chromatography and capillary zone electrophoresis, respectively coupled to an evaporative light scattering detector and a UV detector have been developed for the analysis of acarbose without any derivatization procedure. The electrophoretic separation of acarbose anomers was achieved through the manipulation of the working temperature. Both methods were validated and showed good validation data in terms of precision, accuracy and linearity. The validated methods were successfully applied to the dosage of acarbose in commercially available Glucobay tablets.

A tabulated review of capillary electrophoresis of carbohydrates

This review summarizes publications on capillary electrophoresis (CE) of carbohydrates, covering almost all hitherto published papers on this topic. It is designed to be a convenient tool for the literature search by providing a comprehensive table. Since CE analysis of carbohydrates is generally complicated due to the structural diversity of carbohydrate species, an attempt is made in this table to supply detailed information on the analyzed form (underivatized or derivatized, type of derivative) and analytical conditions (capillary size, state of the inner wall, composition of the electrophoretic solution, applied voltage, detection method, etc.), for each combination of carbohydrate species to be analyzed. In addition, a brief overview is presented to help in the literature search.

Strategies for capillary electrophoresis: method development and validation for pharmaceutical and biological applications

This review is in support of the development of selective, reproducible and validated capillary electrophoretis (CE) methods. Focusing on pharmaceutical and biological applications, the successful use of CE is demonstrated by more than 800 references, mainly from 1994 until 1998. Approximately 80 recent reviews have been catalogued. These articles sum up the existing strategies for method development in CE, especially in the search for generally accepted concepts, but also looking for new, promising reagents and ideas. General strategies for method development were derived not only with regard to selectivity and efficiency, but also with regard to precision, short analysis time, limit of detection, sample pretreatment requirements and validation. Standard buffer recipes, surfactants used in micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC), chiral selectors, useful buffer additives, polymeric separation media, electroosmotic flow (EOF) modifiers, dynamic and permanent coatings, actions to deal with complex matrices and aspects of validation are collected in 20 tables. Detailed schemes for the development of MEKC methods and chiral separations, for optimizing separation efficiency, means of troubleshooting, and other important information for key decisions during method development are given in 19 diagrams. Method development for peptide and protein separations, possibilities to influence the EOF and how to stabilize it, as well as indirect detection are considered in special sections.

Quality control of pentosane polysulfate by capillary zone electrophoresis using indirect detection

Pentosane polysulfate sodium salt (PPS) is a mixture of multiply charged anionic polysaccharides, used for urological treatment. Several constituents of the polysaccharide can be characterized by a highly reproducible fingerprint. In comparison with earlier approaches the separation efficiency has been further improved using an anionic benzene-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid buffer (8.7 mmol l-1, pH = 4.9) with indirect UV detection (lambda = 217 nm) and a special capillary pretreatment (1 M NaOH for 10 h at 25 degrees C applying -20 kV). The method has been optimized with regard to buffer concentration and pH. The robustness was tested on several capillaries. PPS was separated from all major synthetic impurities such a sulfate, chloride and acetate. Twelve PPS batches from two manufactures were measured and compared.