New enantioselective LC method development and validation for the assay of modafinil

A novel mesna-based electrochemical sensor embellished with silver nanoparticles for ultrasensitive analysis of modafinil

Modafinil (MOD) is a CNS stimulant used for the treatment of narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder, excessive daytime sleepiness, and post-COVID 19 neurological symptoms. In the literature, there is no report of square wave voltammetric (SWV) methods being used for the determination of MOD. This study describes, for the first time, the construction and evaluation of the analytical performance of a novel sensor for ultrasensitive SWV detection of MOD. The sensor was constructed by integration of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on Mesna (MSN) layers over a pencil graphite electrode (PGE) surface. The interface and morphological characteristics of the fabricated AgNPs@MSN/PGE sensor were investigated via cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This sensor was found to enhance the electro-oxidation of MOD. The combination of AgNPs@MSN/PGE with SWV enabled the determination of MOD in its bulk form and in pharmaceutical and biological matrices at the nanomolar scale (LOD = 28.59 nM) with excellent recoveries. This study represents the first report describing an electrochemical procedure for MOD detection in human plasma. The established SWV method was also validated, and the results were consistent with ICH criteria. Finally, the presented SWV procedure provides a facile, sensitive, rapid, and cost-effective approach compared to other existing methods.

Innovative computationally designed-spectrofluorimetric method for determination of modafinil in tablets and human plasma

A novel computationally designed-spectrofluorimetric method for the determination of a unique antinarcoleptic drug; modafinil (MDF) in tablets and human plasma was theoretically and experimentally established. Firstly, a density functional theory (DFT) computations were performed to investigate MDF-Tb³⁺ complex formation and to study the affinity of Tb³⁺ to MDF in aqueous solution. The computed formation energy of [Tb (MDF)₄]³⁺ (ΔG= -246.0 kcal/mol) assured the ability of Tb³⁺ to recognize MDF in water and proved the strong nature of the Tb³⁺-O coordination bonds in addition to some contribution from inter-ligand hydrophobic interactions. Hence, a spectrofluorimetric method was optimized and validated depending on MDF quenching effect on Tb³⁺ fluorescence via fluorescence resonance energy transfer from Tb³⁺ to MDF. The formed [Tb (MDF)₄]³⁺ complex was measured at λ_ex. 222 nm/λ_em. 497 nm against a reagent blank. The Tb³⁺ fluorescence was significantly reduced upon addition of MDF (linearity range= 0.5-20.0 μg/mL). Detection and quantification limits were 0.129 and 0.391 μg/mL, respectively. Good recoveries (97.47-101.92%) were obtained upon application of the proposed method for the assessment of the target drug in bulk powder, tablets and plasma. According ICH guidelines, the results of the established method were statistically analyzed and validated.

A Polymer-based Monolithic Capillary Column with Polymyxin-B Chiral Selector for the Enantioselective Nano-High Performance Liquid Chromatographic Pharmaceutical Analysis

Herein, we report the first use of Polymyxin-B antibiotic as a enantio-selector in polymer monolithic capillary. The capillaries were functionalised, characterized and tested for the enantioselective nano-HPLC separation of 50 racemic pharmaceutical drugs. They have been easily prepared by immobilizing Polymyxin-B over the organic polymer for 48 h (P1) or encapsulating Polymyxin-B within the organic polymer (P2) and tested for the enantioselective resolution of racemic drugs. Acceptable resolution was achieved for 21 drugs using RP-HPLC conditions on both (P1) and (P2) capillary columns, while no separation was observed under NP-HPLC conditions. Polymyxin-B is commercially available, easily solubilized and stable in both acidic and neutral media. The developed Polymyxin-B-based polymer monolithic capillaries provide a promising expansion of platform in enantioselective HPLC separations.

The effect of tandem coupling of NicoShell and TeicoShell columns in sub/supercritical fluid chromatography on enantioresolution

The coupling of columns in sub/supercritical fluid chromatography presents a great opportunity for influencing the separation efficiency and extending the selectivity of the separation system. Combinations of different types of chiral stationary phases could positively affect the enantioresolution if single ones are complementary to each other. In this work, two superficially porous particle (2.7 μm) macrocyclic glycopeptide-based columns, namely TeicoShell and NicoShell, were serially coupled and tested in sub/supercritical fluid chromatography for the first time. The influence of the column arrangement on the enantioseparation of structurally diverse biologically active compounds was examined. The obtained results showed how the column order crucially affected the enantioresolution of compounds tested, but the retention was negligibly affected in most cases. We also demonstrated that single TeicoShell and NicoShell columns are very promising towards the development of highly efficient and fast/ultrafast sub/supercritical fluid chromatography methods for structurally different chiral compounds. The optimized methods for sub-minute enantioselective separation of certain biologically important compounds were proposed.

Daptomycin: A Novel Macrocyclic Antibiotic as a Chiral Selector in an Organic Polymer Monolithic Capillary for the Enantioselective Analysis of a Set of Pharmaceuticals

Daptomycin, a macrocyclic antibiotic, is here used as a new chiral selector in preparation of chiral stationary phase (CSP) in a recently prepared polymer monolithic capillary. The latter is prepared using the copolymerization of the monomers glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) in the presence of daptomycin in water. Under reversed phase conditions (RP), the prepared capillaries were tested for the enantioselective nanoliquid chromatographic separation of fifty of the racemic drugs of different pharmacological groups, such as adrenergic blockers, H1-blockers, NSAIDs, antifungal drugs, and others. Baseline separation was attained for many drugs under RP-HPLC. Daptomycin expands the horizon of chiral selectors in HPLC.

Enantioselective Liquid Chromatographic Separations Using Macrocyclic Glycopeptide-Based Chiral Selectors

Numerous chemical compounds of high practical importance, such as drugs, fertilizers, and food additives are being commercialized as racemic mixtures, although in most cases only one of the isomers possesses the desirable properties. As our understanding of the biological actions of chiral compounds has improved, the investigation of the pharmacological and toxicological properties has become more and more important. Chirality has become a major issue in the pharmaceutical industry; therefore, there is a continuous demand to extend the available analytical methods for enantiomeric separations and enhance their efficiency. Direct liquid chromatography methods based on the application of chiral stationary phases have become a very sophisticated field of enantiomeric separations by now. Hundreds of chiral stationary phases have been commercialized so far. Among these, macrocyclic glycopeptide-based chiral selectors have proved to be an exceptionally useful class of chiral selectors for the separation of enantiomers of biological and pharmacological importance. This review focuses on direct liquid chromatography-based enantiomer separations, applying macrocyclic glycopeptide-based chiral selectors. Special attention is paid to the characterization of the physico-chemical properties of these macrocyclic glycopeptide antibiotics providing detailed information on their applications published recently.

Simultaneous Quantification and Pharmacokinetic Study of Five Homologs of Dalbavancin in Rat Plasma Using UHPLC-MS/MS

Dalbavancin is a novel semisynthetic glycopeptide antibiotic that comprises multiple homologs and isomers of similar polarities. However, pharmacokinetic studies have only analyzed the primary components of dalbavancin, namely B₀ and B₁. In this study, an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method was developed to simultaneously determinate and investigate the five homologous components of dalbavancin, namely, A₀, A₁, B₀, B₁, and B₂, in rat plasma. In this method, methanol was used to precipitate plasma, and a triple-bonded alkyl chromatographic column was used for molecule separation, using 0.1% formic acid-acetonitrile as the mobile phase for gradient elution. Targeted homologs were analyzed by a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer using positive electrospray ionization in multiple reaction monitoring mode. The linearity range was 50–2500 ng/mL with a high correlation coefficient (r² > 0.998). This method was successfully applied in the pharmacokinetic analysis of dalbavancin hydrochloride to investigate dalbavancin components in rats.

Colistin Sulfate Chiral Stationary Phase for the Enantioselective Separation of Pharmaceuticals Using Organic Polymer Monolithic Capillary Chromatography

A new functionalized polymer monolithic capillary with a macrocyclic antibiotic, namely colistin sulfate, as chiral selector was prepared via the copolymerization of binary monomer mixtures consisting of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) in porogenic solvents namely 1-propanol and 1,4-butanediol, in the presence of azobisiso-butyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator and colistin sulfate. The prepared capillaries were investigated for the enantioselective nano-LC separation of a group of racemic pharmaceuticals, namely, α- and β-blockers, anti-inflammatory drugs, antifungal drugs, norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors, catecholamines, sedative hypnotics, antihistaminics, anticancer drugs, and antiarrhythmic drugs. Acceptable separation was achieved for many drugs using reversed phase chromatographic conditions with no separation achieved under normal phase conditions. Colistin sulfate appears to be useful addition to the available macrocyclic antibiotic chiral phases used in liquid chromatography.

High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Enantioseparations Using Macrocyclic Glycopeptide-Based Chiral Stationary Phases: An Overview

Since their introduction by Daniel W. Armstrong in 1994, antibiotic-based chiral stationary phases have proven their applicability for the chiral resolution of various types of racemates. The unique structure of macrocyclic glycopeptides and their large variety of interactive sites (e.g., hydrophobic pockets, hydroxy, amino and carboxyl groups, halogen atoms, aromatic moieties) are the reasons for their wide-ranging selectivity. The commercially available Chirobiotic™ phases, which display complementary characteristics, are capable of separating a broad variety of enantiomeric compounds with good efficiency, good column loadability, high reproducibility, and long-term stability. These are the major reasons for the frequent use of macrocyclic antibiotic-based stationary phases in HPLC enantioseparations.This overview chapter provides a brief summary of general aspects of antibiotic-based chiral stationary phases including their preparation and their application to direct enantioseparations of various racemates focusing on the literature published since 2004.

Enantioseparation, Stereochemical Assignment and Chiral Recognition Mechanism of Sulfoxide-Containing Drugs

The distinct pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of enantiopure sulfoxide drugs have stimulated us to systematically investigate their chiral separation, stereochemical assignment, and chiral recognition mechanism. Herein, four clinically widely-used sulfoxide drugs were chosen and optically resolved on various chiral stationary phases (CSPs). Theoretical simulations including electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculation and molecular docking were adopted to assign the stereochemistry and reveal the underlying chiral recognition mechanism. Our results showed that the sequence of calculated mean binding energies between each pair of enantiomers and CSP matched exactly with experimentally observed enantiomeric elution order (EEO). It was also found that the length of hydrogen bond might contribute dominantly the interaction between two enantiomers and CSP. We hope our study could provide a fresh perspective to explore the stereochemistry and chiral recognition mechanism of chiral drugs.

Quantitative determination of armodafinil in human plasma by liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry: Application to a clinical study

Armodafinil is a wake-promoting agent approved in 2007 by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of excessive sleepiness. A rapid, sensitive and selective liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the determination of armodafinil in human plasma was developed and validated. Armodafinil and internal standard (armodafinil d-10) were extracted from human plasma using protein precipitation combined with liquid-liquid extraction. This developed method only requires 50 μL of plasma for the analysis. The chromatographic separation was performed with a Waters symmetry, C₁₈ , 4.6 × 150 mm, 5 μm column using formic acid, water and acetonitrile as solvent delivered at a 0.7 mL/min flow rate. The total run time of the method was 3 min. The method was validated according to regulatory guidance in terms of specificity, selectivity, linearity, matrix effect, recovery and stability. Optimized Q1/Q3 mass transitions for armodafinil and armodafinil d-10 were 274.1/167.2 (m/z) and 284.4/177.4 (m/z) respectively. The method showed linearity within the tested concentration range of 10-10,000 ng/mL. The method was successfully applied to quantify armodafinil concentrations after single oral administration of a 250 mg tablet in a clinical study conducted in healthy volunteers. Significant advantages of this method are minimal sample volume, short run time and a lower LLOQ.