Rapid chiral separation and impurity determination of levofloxacin by ligand-exchange chromatography

Preparation and evaluation of two chiral stationary phases based on imidazolyl-functionalized bromoethoxy pillar[5]arene-bonded silica

Chiral pillar[5]arene-based mesoporous silica, an emerging class of chiral structure, possesses excellent characteristics such as abundant chiral active sites, encapsulated cavity and excellent chiral modification, which make them a promising candidate as new chiral stationary phases (CSPs) in enantioseparation. In this study, two imidazole-containing (S)-1-(4-phenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)ethanamine and (S)-Histidinol were respectively modified to bromoethoxy pillar[5]arene-bonded silica to construct new chiral stationary phases (sPIE-BP5-Sil and sHol-BP5-Sil) for the separation and analysis of enantiomers. The separation conditions such as mobile phase composition, flow rate and temperature were optimized. Under optimal conditions, both sPIE-BP5-Sil and sHol-BP5-Sil showed good separation performance for different types of enantiomers. Interestingly, sPIE-BP5-Sil and sHol-BP5-Sil showed better enantioselectivity for chiral aromatic compounds and chiral aliphatic compounds, respectively. This enantioseparation result was closely related to the presence of additional aromatic rings and abundant hydroxyl groups in the side chains of the two chiral groups. In addition, the enantioseparation process was further studied by molecular docking simulation. Therefore, this work provided a new strategy for the preparation and application of imidazolyl-derived pillar[5]arene-based chiral stationary phases, which can be efficiently used for screening and separating enantiomers.

Cellulose tris-(3,5-dimethyl phenyl carbamate) as a chiral stationary phase for enantiomeric determination of ofloxacin enantiomers and molecular docking study on the chiral separation mechanism

The higher the BE value, the harder the enantiomer was to elute, which was in agreement with the enantiomer elution order.

Optimization of a Ligand Exchange Chromatography Method for the Enantioselective Separation of Levofloxacin and Its Chiral Impurity

BACKGROUND

Levofloxacin is a third-generation fluoroquinolone that has several advantages over its (R) ofloxacin isomer. It is used to treat different types of infection, including urinary infection and prostatitis.

OBJECTIVE

A new HPLC method for the enantioselective separation of levofloxacin and its chiral impurity was developed and validated to improve the separation of the enantiomers of levofloxacin [impurity(R) and active principle (S)] by increasing the value of the resolution between the eutomer and the distomer.

METHOD

Chromatographic separation was performed on a Prodigy ODS -2, 5 µm 4.6 × 150 mm column, with a gradient of buffer solution and methanol (80:20, v/v). A Box-Behnken design was considered when optimizing the enantioseparation involving the effects of many factors such as the concentration of d-phenylalanine, the pH of the buffer, the percentage of organic modifier in the mobile phase, the flow rate, the temperature of the column, and the type of column.

RESULTS

Chiral separation was achieved with an optimal resolution of 3.8. The method was successfully validated following the International Conference on Harmonization Q2 (R1) guideline, fulfilling the acceptance criteria for selectivity [no interference in the retention time of (S) levofloxacin and (R) levofloxacin], linearity (r ≥0.999 in the range 1.25-3.75 µg/mL for all enantiomers), and precision (RSD <2%). Accuracy was assessed by the application of the analytical method to an analyte of known purity, providing evidence for the usefulness of this monitoring system.

CONCLUSIONS

The method was successfully used for the determination of levofloxacin impurity in raw material and pharmaceutical dosage forms.

HIGHLIGHTS

The following method is accurate and robust to quantify and characterize the presence of levofloxacin impurity in raw material for pharmaceutical compounds.

Simultaneous separation of atenolol enantiomers and its acid/alkaline degradation impurities on mixed-mode chiral ligand exchange stationary phases

Simultaneous separation of the enantiomer and impurities is a huge challenge for the quality control of the chiral drug. In this work, mixed-mode chiral ligand exchange stationary phases (CSPs) modified by octyl and sulfhydryl ligands were prepared by vapor deposition and click chemistry methods. Qualitative and quantitative determination of the prepared CSPs were achieved by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, solid-state ¹³ C CP/MAS NMR, and elemental analysis. The chiral resolution of CSPs was investigated through a comprehensively chromatographic evaluation of various racemates. Besides, the thermodynamic experiment was carried out to elucidate the contribution of hydrophobic ligand to the improvement of chiral recognition and selectivity. Atenolol and its degradation products were analyzed on the synthesized CSPs and compared with the commercial chiral column. A good separation of atenolol enantiomers from its acid and alkaline degradation impurities was simultaneously achieved on the C₈ /L-Hypro CSP. This new CSP is expected to have more applications in the quality control of other chiral drugs.

Enantiomeric resolution of quinolones on crown ether CSP: Thermodynamics, chiral discrimination mechanism and application in biological samples

The enantiomers of quinolone racemates were resolved using chiral crown ether within 8 min. Thermodynamics data and modeling results were used to determine chiral recognition mechanism. The column used was (+)-Crownpack column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) with three mobile phases I: ACN:Water (80:20) + 10 mM H₂SO₄ and 10 mM CH₃COONH₄, II: ACN:Water (80:20) + 20 mM perchloric acid and III: EtOH:Water (80:20) + 20 mM perchloric acid. The flow rate of the mobile phases was 1.0 mL/min with UV detection at different wavelengths. The ranges of retention (k), separation (α), and resolution (Rs) factors were 1.00-5.40, 1.37-2.00 and 1.50-3.30. The tailing factor was 1.o for all peaks with 900-2325 as the number of theoretical plates were 8.0-10.0 and 32.4-22.1 µg. The difference in enthalpy, entropy and free energy varied in the range of -0.350 to -0.024, 18.74 × 10^-4 to 3.94 × 10^-4 and -0.918 to -0.143, respectively. The thermodynamic and docking results showed chiral discrimination due to physical forces of amnio group cations penetration into the chiral cavity of the chiral selector following hydrogen bindings. The binding energy of S-enantiomers was higher than R-enantiomers; confirming stronger binding of S-enantiomers with CSP than R-enantiomers. The described chiral-HPLC method was used for the analysis of the quinolone enantiomers in urine samples and the results were quite satisfactory. Therefore, the reported method may be used for the enantiomeric separation of quinolone enantiomers in urine samples.

Dispersive solid-phase extraction of racemic drugs using chiral ionic liquid-metal-organic framework composite sorbent

Nowadays, enantioseparation of racemic pharmaceuticals in preparations is a prime concern by drug authorities across the globe. In the present work, it was attempted to develop novel enantioselective extraction method for five clinically used drugs (atenolol, propranolol, metoprolol, racecadotril, and raceanisodamine in their tablets) as racemates. The enantioselective solid-liquid extraction of these racemic drugs was carried out successfully by the use of chiral ionic liquid (CIL) in combination with a metal organic framework (MOF) for the first time. The composite CIL@MOF was synthesized from tropine based chiral ionic liquids with L-proline anion ([C_nTr][L-Pro], n=3-6) and HKUST-1 type MOF, which was comprehensively characterized before being used as sorbent for enantioselective dispersive solid-liquid extraction. Preliminary selection of appropriate CIL was carried out on thin layer chromatography (TLC); under the joint participation of copper ion in the developing reagent, [C₃Tr][L-Pro] ionic liquid showed better resolution performance with ΔR_f value of 0.35 between the enantiomers was obtained for racemic atenolol. Moreover, the effect of copper salt dosage, amount of CIL, soli-liquid ratio and extraction time were investigated. The optimal conditions were obtained after thorough investigations; i.e. sample solution: ethanol, elution solvent: methanol, solid-liquid ratio: 12.5 mg:50 mL, amount of copper salt: 8 mg L^-1, amount of impregnated CIL: 30% and extraction time of 30 min. As a result, enantiomeric excess values are 90.4%, 95%, 92%, 81.6% and 83.2% for atenolol, propranolol, metoprolol, racecadotril and raceanisodamine, respectively. The developed enantioselective method was validated following ICH guidelines and it was proved to be simple, effective and enantioselective way for separation of racemic pharmaceuticals with similar behaviors.

Liquid chromatographic methods for separation, determination, and bioassay of enantiomers of etodolac: A review

The control of enantiomeric purity and determination of individual enantiomeric drug molecules remains the subject of importance for clinical, analytical, and regulatory purposes and to facilitate an accurate evaluation of the risks posed by them to human health. A large number of pharmaceuticals are marketed and administered as racemates. Etodolac is among such nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Overall literature reports on its enantioseparation are scanty. Liquid chromatography (LC) methods of enantioseparation of (±)-etodolac, including certain unconventional ones, are well covered and discussed in this paper. Methods of direct approach without using chiral columns or chiral thin-layer chromatography plate and of indirect approach using certain chiral derivatizing agents such as (S)-naproxen and (S)-levofloxacin are described. Most interesting aspects include establishment of structure and molecular asymmetry of chemically different types of diastereomeric derivatives using liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (LC-MS), ¹ H NMR spectroscopy and by drawing conformations in three dimensional views by using certain software. The methods provide chirality recognition even in the absence of pure enantiomers. Besides, recovery of pure enantiomers by detagging or via solubility difference of chiral inducing reagent and the analyte, without racemization at any stage, has been achieved. The limits of detection and quantification are much lower than the industry benchmarks.

Enantioseparations by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Based on Chiral Ligand Exchange

Although the first application of chiral ligand-exchange chromatography (CLEC) in HPLC dates back to late 1960s, this enantioselective strategy still represents the elective choice for the direct analysis of compounds endowed with chelating moieties. As a specific feature of the CLEC mechanism, the interaction between the chiral selector and the enantiomer does not take place in direct contact. Indeed, it is mediated by a central metal ion that, acting as a Lewis acid, simultaneously coordinates the two species, selector and analyte, through the activation of dative bonds. As a consequence, two diastereomeric mixed ternary complexes are generated in the column, ultimately leading to the stereoisomeric discrimination. CLEC applications can be carried out both with the chiral selector included in the mobile phase (chiral mobile phase, CMP), or as a part of the stationary phase. In the latter case, the chiral selector can be either covalently immobilized onto a solid support (bonded CSP, B-CSP) or physically adsorbed onto a conventional packing material, coated chiral stationary phase (C-CSP).In this chapter, a selection of CLEC applications with CMP- and C-CSP-based chiral systems is presented.

Liquid Chromatographic Enantioseparation of Some Fluoroquinoline Drugs Using Several Polysaccharide-Based Chiral Stationary Phases

The enantioseparation of three fluoroquinoline antibacterial drugs, namely, flumequine, ofloxacin and lomefloxacin using high-performance liquid chromatography was optimized on seven polysaccharide-derived chiral stationary phases, namely, Chiralpak® IB, chiralpak® IA, Chiralpak® AD, Chiralcel® OJ, Chiralcel® OD, Chiralcel® OD-H and Chiralcel® OZ-3 and applying different mobile phases in isocratic mode is described. The role of addition of organic additives was also investigated. A baseline separation of flumequine, ofloxacin and lomefloxacin enantiomers was achieved. Parameters influencing enantioseparation including mobile phase, organic additive and chemical nature of the chiral selector found to be highly influencing on the enantiomeric separation were investigated. Chiral recognition mechanism(s) are also presented.

Chiral separation of quinolones by liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis

The quinolones are derivatives of oxoquinolines and mostly known for their antibacterial and antiviral activities. Many quinolones are chiral compounds having asymmetric centers and important due to their enantioselective biological activities. In order to study the biological activities of quinolone enantiomers, to control the manufacturing of homochiral drugs and to prepare necessary quantities of pure enantiomers for preclinical or clinical trials, respective chiral separation methods are urgently needed. In this context, the present review discusses chromatographic and electrophoretic methods for the enantioseparation of chiral quinolones and provides some useful information on their physical and pharmaceutical properties. The drawbacks of currently used techniques are revealed and ways to overcome them are outlined. Moreover, recommendations for an optimal choice of a separation protocol are given.

Analytical Methods for Determining Third and Fourth Generation Fluoroquinolones: A Review

ABSTRACT

Fluoroquinolones of the third and fourth generation posses wide bactericidal activity. Monitoring concentrations of antibacterial agents provides effective therapy and prevents the increase of bacterial resistance to antibiotics. The pharmacodynamic parameters that best describe fluoroquinalone activity are AUC/MIC and Cmax/MIC. Determining the level of this type of drug is essential to reach the effective concentration that inhibits the growth of bacteria. Determining the pharmaceutical formulation confirms the purity of a substance. Many methods have been developed to determine the level of these substances. They involve mainly the following analytical techniques: chromatography, capillary electrophoresis, and spectroscopy. The separation techniques were combined with different measuring devices, such as ultraviolet (UV), fluorescence detector (FLD), diode array detector (DAD), and mass spectrometry (MS). The analytical procedures require proper sample pre-conditioning such as protein precipitation, extraction techniques, filtration, or dilution. This paper reviews the reported analytical methods for the determining representatives of the third and fourth generation of fluoroquinolones. Attention was paid to pre-conditioning of the samples and the applied mobile phase. This report might be helpful in the selection of the proper procedure in determining the abovementioned drugs in different matrices.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Highly sensitive trivalent copper chelate-luminol chemiluminescence system for capillary electrophoresis chiral separation and determination of ofloxacin enantiomers in urine samples

A simple, fast and sensitive capillary electrophoresis (CE) strategy combined with chemiluminescence (CL) detection for analysis of ofloxacin (OF) enantiomers was established in the present work. Sulfonated β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) was used as the chiral additive being added into the running buffer of luminol–diperiodatocuprate (III) (K₅[Cu(HIO₆)₂], DPC) chemiluminescence system. Under the optimum conditions, the proposed method was successfully applied to separation and analysis of OF enantiomers with the detection limits (S/N=3) of 8.0 nM and 7.0 nM for levofloxacin and dextrofloxacin, respectively. The linear ranges were both 0.010–100 μM. The method was utilized for analyzing OF in urine; the results obtained were satisfactory and recoveries were 89.5–110.8%, which demonstrated the reliability of this method. This approach can also be further extended to analyze different commercial OF medicines.

Chiral recognition by enantioselective liquid chromatography: mechanisms and modern chiral stationary phases

An overview of the state-of-the-art in LC enantiomer separation is presented. This tutorial review is mainly focused on mechanisms of chiral recognition and enantiomer distinction of popular chiral selectors and corresponding chiral stationary phases including discussions of thermodynamics, additivity principle of binding increments, site-selective thermodynamics, extrathermodynamic approaches, methods employed for the investigation of dominating intermolecular interactions and complex structures such as spectroscopic methods (IR, NMR), X-ray diffraction and computational methods. Modern chiral stationary phases are discussed with particular focus on those that are commercially available and broadly used. It is attempted to provide the reader with vivid images of molecular recognition mechanisms of selected chiral selector-selectand pairs on basis of solid-state X-ray crystal structures and simulated computer models, respectively. Such snapshot images illustrated in this communication unfortunately cannot account for the molecular dynamics of the real world, but are supposed to be helpful for the understanding. The exploding number of papers about applications of various chiral stationary phases in numerous fields of enantiomer separations is not covered systematically.