Standard systems for measurement of pKs and ionic mobilities

Evaluation of the effect of background electrolyte composition and independence of parameters in determining binding constants of betulin derivatives to β- and dimethyl-β-cyclodextrins by affinity capillary electrophoresis

The values of the apparent binding constants for β-cyclodextrin complexes of betulin derivatives determined by mobility shift affinity capillary electrophoresis were found to be independent of the composition of the two background electrolytes used (tetraborate buffer, pH 9.18, and phosphate buffer, pH 8.00, both of them with 20 mM ionic strength). It has been found that, if there is not a constant plateau on the binding curve, then four independent parameters can be determined: binding constants (also referred to as stability, association or formation constants) and ionic mobilities of 1:1 and 1:2 complexes. However, at least 10-12 data points in the binding curve should be used to reliably estimate the parameters. For the first time, the apparent binding constants for complexes of ester betulin derivatives with dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin have been determined by mobility shift affinity capillary electrophoresis. The logarithms of the constants for 1:1 and 1:2 complexes at 25°C for betulin 3,28-diphthalate with a 95 % confidence interval are 4.98 (4.95-5.01) and 7.52 (7.26-7.68); for betulin 3,28-disulfate, the values are 4.97 (4.89-5.03) and 8.24 (6.82 - 8.52). It has been found that betulin 3,28-disuccinate forms only a 1:1 complex and the binding constant logarithm is 5.25 ± 0.02. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Extension of the Internal Standard Method for Determination of Thermodynamic Acidity Constants of Compounds Sparingly Soluble in Water by Capillary Zone Electrophoresis

The paper extends applicability of the internal standard method published in 2009 (Fuguet E. et al., J. Chromatogr. A 2009, 1216(17), 3646). Although the original capillary zone electrophoresis method was suggested to determine thermodynamic acidity constants of compounds sparingly soluble in aqueous solutions by carrying out only runs at two different pH values (i.e., without the need to perform many experiments over the appropriate pH range including the form of a low-ionized analyte), we proved that the approach also virtually overcomes any interactions of the analyte in mixed solvents, so that the experiments can be carried out in a methanol-water buffer where the solubility is much better. Applicability of the extended method is illustrated on six selected β-blockers.

Internal standard capillary electrophoresis as a high-throughput method for pKa determination in drug discovery and development

A novel high-throughput method for determining acidity constants (pKa) by capillary electrophoresis (CE) is developed. The method, based on the use of an internal standard (IS-CE), is implemented as a routine method for accurate experimental pKa determination of drugs undergoing physicochemical measurements in drug discovery laboratories. Just two electropherograms at 2 different pH values are needed to calculate an acidity constant. Several ISs can be used in the same buffer and run to enhance precision. With 3 ISs, for example, the pKa of the test compound (TC) can be obtained in triplicate in less than 3 min of electrophoresis. It has been demonstrated that the IS-CE method eliminates some systematic errors, maintaining, or even increasing the precision of the results compared with other methods. Furthermore, pH buffer instability during electrophoretic runs is not a problem in the IS-CE method. It is also proved that after 16 h of electroseparation using the same buffer vial, pH may change by around one unit; but the pKa calculated by the IS-CE method remains constant. Thus, IS-CE is a powerful high-throughput method for pKa determination in drug discovery and development.