Chiral electromigration techniques in pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Effectively enhancing the enantioseparation ability of β-cyclodextrin derivatives by de novo design and molecular modeling

Rational engineering of native β-CD as an ideal chiral selector for a definite analyte in capillary electrophoresis represents a challenge in separation science. Herein, a rational and systematic strategy that combines the de novo design and molecular modeling is firstly described to expedite the manipulation and selection of effective selector for enantioseparation in capillary electrophoresis. Using β-adrenoreceptor agonists as model analytes, we demonstrate how this strategy efficiently improves the enantiorecognition in chiral discrimination sites of inclusion complexes. The evolved β-CD derivative could be utilized as a chiral receptor to achieve the effective enantioseparation (R_s > 1.5) of racemic β-adrenoreceptor agonists. We highlight a novel strategy for efficiently and rapidly manipulating native CD based on the characteristics of analyte so as to gain an excellent chiral selector.

Recent advances in capillary electrophoretic migration techniques for pharmaceutical analysis

Since the introduction about 30 years ago, CE techniques have gained a significant impact in pharmaceutical analysis. The present review covers recent advances and applications of CE for the analysis of pharmaceuticals. Both small molecules and biomolecules such as proteins are considered. The applications range from the determination of drug-related substances to the analysis of counterions and the determination of physicochemical parameters. Furthermore, general considerations of CE methods in pharmaceutical analysis are described.

Role of cationization and multimers formation for diastereomers differentiation by ion mobility-mass spectrometry

Stereochemistry plays an important role in biochemistry, particularly in therapeutic applications. Indeed, enantiomers have different biological activities, which can have important consequences. Many analytical techniques have been developed in order to allow the identification and the separation of stereoisomers. Here, we focused our work on the study of small diastereomers using the coupling of traveling wave ion mobility and mass spectrometry (TWIMS-MS) as a new alternative for stereochemistry study. In order to optimize the separation, the formation of adducts between diastereomers (M) and different alkali cations (X) was carried out. Thus, monomers [M + X](+) and multimers [2M + X](+) and [3M + X](+) ions have been studied from both experimental and theoretical viewpoints. Moreover, it has been shown that the study of the multimer [2Y + M + Li](+) ion, in which Y is an auxiliary diastereomeric ligand, allows the diastereomers separation. The combination of cationization, multimers ions formation, and IM-MS is a novel and powerful approach for the diastereomers identification. Thus, by this technique, diastereomers can be identified although they present very close conformations in gaseous phase. This work presents the first TWIMS-MS separation of diastereomers, which present very close collision cross section thanks to the formation of multimers and the use of an auxiliary diastereomeric ligand.

Differentiation of enantiomers by capillary electrophoresis

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) has matured to one of the major liquid phase enantiodifferentiation techniques since the first report in 1985. This can be primarily attributed to the flexibility as well as the various modes available including electrokinetic chromatography (EKC), micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC), and microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography (MEEKC). In contrast to chromatographic techniques, the chiral selector is mobile in the background electrolyte. Furthermore, a large variety of chiral selectors are available that can be easily combined in the same separation system. In addition, the migration order of the enantiomers can be adjusted by a number of approaches. In CE enantiodifferentiations the separation principle is comparable to chromatography while the principle of the movement of the analytes in the capillary is based on electrophoretic phenomena. The present chapter will focus on mechanistic aspects of CE enantioseparations including enantiomer migration order and the current understanding of selector-selectand structures. Selected examples of the basic enantioseparation modes EKC, MEKC, and MEEKC will be discussed.

Chiral recognition of imperanene enantiomers by various cyclodextrins: a capillary electrophoresis and NMR spectroscopy study

The enantiomers of imperanene, a novel polyphenolic compound of Imperata cylindrica (L.), were separated via cyclodextrin-modified capillary electrophoresis. The anionic form of the analyte at pH 9.0 was subject to complexation and enantioseparation CE studies with neutral and charged cyclodextrins. As chiral selectors 27 CDs were applied differing in cavity size, sidechain, degree of substitution (DS) and charge. Three hydroxypropylated and three sulfoalkylated CD preparations provided enantioseparation and the migration order was successfully interpreted in each case in terms of complex mobilities and stability constants. The best enantioresolution (R(S)  = 1.26) was achieved using sulfobutyl-ether-γ-CD (DS ∼4), but it could be enhanced by extensive investigations on dual selector systems. After optimization (CD concentrations and pH) R(S)  = 4.47 was achieved using a 12.5 mM sulfobutyl-ether-γ-CD and 10 mM 6-monodeoxy-6-mono-(3-hydroxy)-propylamino-β-cyclodextrin dual system. The average stoichiometry of the complex was determined with Job's method using NMR-titration and resulted in a 1:1 complex for both (2-hydroxy)propyl-β- and sulfobutyl-ether-γ-CD. Further NMR experiments suggest that the coniferyl moiety of imperanene is involved in the host-guest interaction.