Electrochromatographic characterization of etched chemically-modified capillaries with small synthetic peptides

Investigations into the interaction thermodynamics of TRAP-related peptides with a temperature-responsive polymer-bonded porous silica stationary phase

The interaction thermodynamics of the thrombin receptor agonistic peptide (TRAP-1), H-Ser-Phe-Leu-Leu-Arg-Asn-Pro-OH, and a set of alanine scan substitution peptides, have been investigated with an n-octadecylacrylic polymer-bonded porous silica (Sil-ODA₁₈) and water-acetonitrile mobile phases at temperatures ranging from 5 to 80 °C in 5 °C increments. The retention of these peptides on the Sil-ODA₁₈ stationary phase decreased as the water content in the mobile phase was lowered from 80% (v/v) to ca. 45% (v/v) and reached a minimum value for each peptide at a specific water-acetonitrile composition. Further decreases in the water content of the mobile phase led to increased retention. The magnitude of the changes in enthalpy of interaction, Δ H a s s o c 0 , changes in entropy of interaction, Δ S a s s o c 0 , and changes in heat capacity, Δ C p 0 , were found to be dependent on the molecular properties of the mobile phase, the temperature, the structure/mobility of the stationary phase, and the conformation and solvation state of the peptides. With water-rich mobile phases, the retention behaviour of the TRAP analogues was dominated by enthalpic processes, consistent with the participation of strong hydrogen bonding effects, but became dominated by entropic effects with acetonitrile-rich mobile phases as the temperature was increased. These changes in the retention behaviour of these TRAP peptides are consistent with the generation of water or acetonitrile clusters in the mobile phase depending on the volume fractions of the organic solvent as the Sil-ODA₁₈ stationary phase transitions from its crystalline to its isotropic state.

Preparation of a β-Cyclodextrin-Based Open-Tubular Capillary Electrochromatography Column and Application for Enantioseparations of Ten Basic Drugs

An open-tubular capillary electrochromatography column was prepared by chemically immobilized β-cyclodextrin modified gold nanoparticles onto new surface with the prederivatization of (3-mercaptopropyl)-trimethoxysilane. The synthesized nanoparticles and the prepared column were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy and ultraviolet visible spectroscopy. When the column was employed as the chiral stationary phase, no enantioselectivity was observed for ten model basic drugs. So β-cyclodextrin was added to the background electrolyte as chiral additive to expect a possible synergistic effect occurring and resulting in a better separation. Fortunately, significant improvement in enantioselectivity was obtained for ten pairs of drug enantiomers. Then, the effects of β-cyclodextrin concentration and background electrolyte pH on the chiral separation were investigated. With the developed separation mode, all the enantiomers (except for venlafaxine) were baseline separated in resolutions of 4.49, 1.68, 1.88, 1.57, 2.52, 2.33, 3.24, 1.63 and 3.90 for zopiclone, chlorphenamine maleate, brompheniramine maleate, dioxopromethazine hydrochloride, carvedilol, homatropine hydrobromide, homatropine methylbromide, venlafaxine, sibutramine hydrochloride and terbutaline sulfate, respectively. Further, the possible separation mechanism involved was discussed.

Our favorite materials: silica hydride stationary phases

"Chance favors the prepared mind." Louis Pasteur. "Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one". Albert Einstein. As so succinctly stated by these two famous scientists, it is sometimes necessary to step outside the bounds of traditional thinking and look at ideas that many claim to be impossible based on preconceived notions rather than experimental data. This review is dedicated to those open-minded scientists who are willing to evaluate new concepts objectively rather than dismiss new approaches with outdated theories.

Retention of proteins and metalloproteins in open tubular capillary electrochromatography with etched chemically modified columns

Etched chemically modified capillaries with two different bonded groups (pentyl and octadecyl) are compared for their migration behavior of several common proteins and metalloproteins as well as metalloproteinases. Migration times, efficiency and peak shape are evaluated over the pH range of 2.1-8.1 to determine any effects of the bonded group on the electrochromatographic behavior of these compounds. One goal was to determine if the relative hydrophobicity of the stationary phase has a significant effect on proteins in the open tubular format of capillary electrochromatography as it does in HPLC. Reproducibility of the migration times is also investigated.

Packed-column capillary electrochromatography and capillary electrochromatography-mass spectrometry using a lithocholic acid stationary phase

The preparation and characterization of a novel lithocholic acid (LCA)-based liquid crystalline (LC) stationary phase (SP) suitable for application in packed-column CEC and CEC coupled to MS is described. The extent of bonding reactions of LCA-SP was assessed using 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and elemental analysis. This characterization is followed by application of the LCA-SP for separation of beta-blockers, phenylethylamines (PEAs), polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Using the optimum mobile phase operating conditions (pH 3.0-4.5, 10 mM ammonium acetate, 85% v/v ACN), a comparison of the chromatographic ability of the aminopropyl silica phase vs. the LCA-bonded phase was conducted. The results showed improved selectivity for all test analytes using the latter phase. For example, the CEC-MS of beta-blockers demonstrated that the LCA-bonded phase provides separation of six out of seven beta-blockers, whereas the amino silica phase provides four peaks of several co-eluting beta-blockers. For the CEC-MS analysis of PEAs, the LCA-bonded phase showed improved resolution and different selectivity as compared to the aminopropyl phase. An evaluation of the retention trends for PEAs on both phases suggested that the PEAs were retained based on varying degree of hydroxyl substitution on the aromatic ring. In addition, the MS characterization shows several PEAs fragment in the electrospray either by loss of an alkyl group and/or by loss of H2O. Finally, the LCA-bonded phase displayed significantly higher separation selectivity for PAHs and PCBs as compared to the amino silica phase.

Open tubular capillary electrochromatography migration behavior of enkephalins in etched chemically modified fused silica capillaries

Fused silica capillaries for use in electrophoretic analyses are etched with ammonium bifluoride in the presence of a second inorganic salt (CuCl(2), CrCl(3), NaNO(3), or (NH(4))(2)CO(3)). The effects of the presence of these inorganic components in the surface matrix on the electromigration behavior of enkephalins are evaluated. Resolution, efficiency and peak shape are used to compare the various columns. In some cases the etched surface is then modified by the addition of an octadecyl moiety using a silanization/hydrosilation procedure. The surface properties of the etched capillaries can also be evaluated by electroosmotic flow measurements. RSDs of migration times under identical experimental conditions were <1%.

Preparation and characterisation of dual-layer latex-coated columns for open-tubular capillary electrochromatographic preconcentration of cations combined in-line with their separation by capillary electrophoresis

A dual-layer ion-exchange latex-coated column was prepared and characterised for on-capillary preconcentration of cations using an open-tubular ion-exchange CEC format. After preconcentration, the analyte cations were eluted with a transient isotachophoretic gradient and separated by CE. The latex double layer was established by first coating the negatively charged wall of the capillary with a layer of cationic quaternary ammonium anion-exchange Dionex AS5A latex particles (60 nm diameter), and then coating a layer of anionic sulphonated cation-exchange Dionex CS3 latex particles (300 nm diameter) onto the underlying AS5A layer. The adhesion of layers is based on electrostatic attractions. Several dual-layer capillaries were characterised for their EOF and ion-exchange capacity and this showed that coatings could be prepared reproducibly by a simple flushing procedure. The dual-layer columns exhibited a moderate, pH-independent EOF (ca. 26 x 10(-9 )m2V(-1)s(-1)) and an ion-exchange capacity of 57 microequiv./g (or 2.69 nequiv./column). Using an 8 cm length of coated capillary combined with a 72 cm length of untreated capillary, a method for on-line preconcentration and separation of monovalent organic bases, alkali metal ions and alkaline earth metal ions by CE was developed. Recoveries for the preconcentration step were 48% for 4-methylbenzylammonium, 43% for benzylammonium, 30-32% for alkali metal ions and 71-75% for alkaline earth cations. In all cases, recoveries were reproducible with RSDs being less than 6.2%. The influences of the ion-exchange selectivity coefficient of the analyte and the sample-loading rate on analyte recovery were also examined. The proposed method was utilised for the determination of alkaline earth cations and low microM detection limits were obtained.

Metallomesogenic stationary phase for open-tubular capillary electrochromatography

A synthetic coppermesogenic polymer is prepared and then covalently bonded to the siloxane-based deactivated column as the stationary phases of open-tubular CEC with essentially high phase ratio. The EOF generated from the modified phase is surveyed through conventional aqueous buffers and hydroorganic mobile phases. Zeta potentials, which are computed from the EOF data and the ratio of dielectric constant to viscosity, are plotted as a function of pH, ionic molarity, and compositional range. These plots responsible for the electroosmotic characteristic of the bonded phases are found to be like those of bare fused-silica or deactivated columns through decreasing or increasing the ACN content in the mobile phase, respectively. This two-phase characteristic is basically derived from the polymeric configuration with carboxylato ligands attached onto the polysiloxane backbone. Phthalates and amino acids are suitable probes to examine the two phenomena, more-polar and less-polar mediums, respectively, and to judge whether the chromatographic retention is the major source of separation mechanism. With the mixing modes of Lewis acid-base interaction, dispersive force, and shape discrimination, the chromatographic partition adequately accomplishes the uneasily resolved separations by only CZE mode, although the electrophoretic migration is truly somewhat involved.

Stepwise gradient of buffer concentration for capillary electrochromatography of peptides on sulfonated naphthalimido-modified silyl silica gel

The advantage of using a stepwise gradient of buffer concentration in CEC was demonstrated with the mixed-mode stationary phase, 3-(4-sulfo-1,8-naphthalimido)propyl-modified silyl silica gel (SNAIP). Before the application of a stepwise gradient, the effect of buffer concentration on the separations of six peptides and tryptic digests was investigated. Bubble formation caused by Joule heating at currents up to 95 microA was successfully suppressed by using SNAIP column even without pressurization, which contributed to a stepwise gradient of buffer concentration. Utilizing the stepwise gradient improved and shortened the separation of six peptides as compared to the separation under an isocratic elution.

Alkylthiol gold nanoparticles in sol-gel-based open tubular capillary electrochromatography

A novel open-tubular capillary electrochromatography (OTCEC) column was prepared by immobilizing dodecanethiol gold nanoparticles on prederivatised fused-silica capillary columns with sol-gel technology. 3-Mercaptopropyl-trimethoxysilane (MPTMS) was selected as sol-gel precursor to develop a sol-gel layer on the inner wall of the capillary, prior to assembly of dodecanethiol gold nanoparticles onto the generated sol-gel layer through specific interaction between the gold nanoparticles and surface terminating thiol groups. The electrochromatographic behaviour of the sol-gel gold nanoparticle capillary was compared with a gold nanoparticle capillary prepared via MPTMS surface functionalisation, through variation of the percentage of the organic modifier, pH, and separation voltage. Efficient separation for a "reversed-phase" test mixture of thiourea, naphthalene, and biphenyl and for selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was obtained on the sol-gel based gold nanoparticle capillaries. OTCEC separations of three selected drug substances (propiophenone, benzoin, and warfarin) were also demonstrated. Scanning electron microscopy was used for the characterization of the sol-gel gold nanoparticle capillary surface. The results confirm that dodecanethiol gold nanoparticles, bound on the sol-gel-based inner layer of fused-silica capillary, can provide sufficient solute-bonded phase interactions for OTCEC with reproducible retention as well as characteristic reversed-phase behaviour.

Gold Nanoparticle-Modified Etched Capillaries for Open-Tubular Capillary Electrochromatography

The use of gold nanoparticles in conjunction with etched capillary-based open-tubular capillary electrochromatography (OTCEC) to improve the efficiency of separation and the selectivity between selected solutes is described. The fused-silica capillaries (50-microm i.d.) were etched with ammonium hydrogen difluoride, followed by prederivatization of the new surface with (3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane (MPTMS) for the immobilization of dodecanethiol gold nanoparticles, for OTCEC. The electrochromatography of a "reversed-phase" test mixture and of selected polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons was investigated, and efficient separations and high theoretical plate numbers per meter were obtained. The electroosmotic flow characteristics of the etched gold nanoparticle capillary, unetched gold nanoparticle capillary, bare capillary, and etched bare capillary were studied by varying the percentage of organic modifier in buffer, buffer pH, and separation voltage. Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to examine the process of etching and modification and the surface features of the etched gold nanoparticle capillary. The results confirm that dodecanethiol gold nanoparticles bonded on the etched inner wall of the fused-silica capillary can provide sufficient solute-bonded phase interactions to obtain OTCEC separations with reproducible retention, as well as characteristic reversed-phase behavior, even with the inner diameter of the capillary of 50 microm.

Etched chemically modified capillaries: Novel separation media for electrophoretic analyses

The fabrication, properties, and applications of etched chemically modified capillaries for electrophoretic analysis are reviewed. It is shown that the etching process creates a surface that is fundamentally different than a bare fused silica capillary. The new surface matrix produces unique electroosmotic flow properties and is more compatible with basic and biological compounds. After chemical modification of the surface, the bonded organic moiety (stationary phase) contributes to the control of migration of solutes in the capillary. Both electrophoretic and chromatographic processes take place in the etched chemically modified capillaries leading to a variety of experimental variables (pH, buffer type, presence and amount of organic modifier, and temperature) that can be used to optimize separations. A number of examples of separations on these capillaries are presented as well as data on column ruggedness and reproducibility.

Capillary electrochromatography of peptides and proteins

This review surveys the accomplishments in the separation of peptides and proteins by capillary electrochromatography (CEC) over the last decade. A significant number of research articles have been published on this topic since the last review. Peptide and proteins separations have been carried out in all three formats of CEC, i.e., packed bed, continuous bed and open-tubular (OT) format. In addition to electrophoresis, different chromatographic modes have been successfully exploited with the most prevalent being reversed-phase mode followed by ion-exchange. Although many researchers continue to use model proteins and peptides primarily to evaluate the performance of novel stationary phases some researchers have also applied CEC to the analysis of real-life samples. The potential of CEC to yield complementary information and sometimes a superior separation with respect to established techniques, i.e., microbore HPLC and capillary electrophoresis has been demonstrated. Instrumental modifications in order to facilitate coupling of CEC to mass spectrometry have further upgraded the value of CEC for proteomic analysis. Capillaries are still the separation vehicle of choice for most researchers yet the microfluidic platform is gaining momentum, propelled particularly by its potential for multitasking, e.g., performing different chromatographic modes in series.

Recent highlights in stationary phase design for open-tubular capillary electrochromatography

This review examines the most recent innovations made to achieve high performance in open-tubular capillary electrochromatography (OT-CEC) separations, focusing on the ingenious chemical and physical solutions made to increase the surface area and equip the stationary phase with exploitable selectivity. Among the approaches taken are chemically bonded ligands, etching with chemical bonding, sol-gels, molecularly imprinted polymers, porous layers, physically attached or adsorbed phases, and nanoparticle coatings. Particularly noteworthy are modern developments with macrocyclic receptor ligands, nanoparticles and open channel electrochromatography on-chip.

Separation of polyethylene glycol-modified proteins by open tubular capillary electrochromatography

This study involves the characterization of six polyethylene glycol-modified proteins by open tubular capillary electrochromatography, a high-resolution, versatile and reproducible technique for the analysis of biomolecules and pharmaceuticals. Optimized conditions were obtained with respect to type of capillary modification (cholesterol and octadecyl), applied voltage (+20 and -20 kV), buffer pH (2.14-8.14) and addition of methanol modifier to the mobile phase. Electrochromatograms were obtained with both cathodic and anodic applied electric fields. In the case of one PEG-protein, superoxide dismutase, a comparison was made to a previous study. Reproducibility and column lifetime were also evaluated in assessing the usefulness of the method.

Open Tubular Capillary Electrochromatography of Synthetic Peptides on Etched Chemically Modified Columns

Two sets of peptides, each having structurally similar amino acid sequences, have been investigated by capillary electrochromatography (CEC) using etched chemically modified capillaries as the separation medium. In comparison to gradient RP-HPLC, the resolving power of the described CEC methods has been found to be superior. A number of variables have been examined with respect to optimization of the separation of these closely related peptides with several different etched chemically modified capillaries. These experimental variables included the nature of the bonded moiety, the pH, the organic modifier type, and the amount of organic modifier in the buffer electrolyte. Systematic variation of these parameters results in significant changes in the migrational behavior of the investigated peptides and provides important insight into the underlying molecular separation processes that prevail in open tubular CEC. Moreover, under optimized conditions, efficient separations characterized by highly symmetrical peaks were achieved. In addition, this study has permitted the long-term stability as well as the short-term and long-term reproducibility of the etched chemically modified capillaries to be documented.

Separation of structurally related peptides by open-tubular capillary electrochromatography using (metallo)porphyrins as the adsorbed stationary phase

Several (metallo)porphyrins, particularly the porphyrin derivative tetraphenylporphyrin, and complexes of porphyrin derivatives with metal ions (Zn2+, Cu2+, Ni2+, Co2+, Co3+) have been employed as the stationary phase physically adsorbed onto the inner fused-silica capillary surface for open-tubular capillary electrochromatography, and applied for the separation of structurally related peptides. Four octapeptides, derivatives of the B23-B30 fragment of the B-chain of human insulin with minor changes in their sequences (presence of lysine or ornithine in position B-29, presence or absence of phenylacetyl protecting group on the amino group of lysine/ornithine or N-terminal amino group of glycine), were studied as model analytes. Separations were performed both in alkaline (pH 9.0) and in acidic (pH 2.25) background electrolytes, and the changes in the migration/retention behaviour of the model set of peptides were investigated with respect to the porphyrin periphery/central metal atom and the charge of the octapeptides modified. The key moment of successful separation of these peptides seems to be the accessibility of functional groups of the peptides to the interaction with the modifiers tested herein.

Analysis of food proteins and peptides by chromatography and mass spectrometry

The research topics and the analytical strategies dealing with food proteins and peptides are summarized. Methods for the separation and purification of macromolecules of food concern by both high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on conventional packings and perfusion HPLC are examined. Special attention is paid to novel methodologies such those based on multi-dimensional systems that comprise liquid-phase based protein separation, protein digestion and mass spectrometry (MS) analysis of food peptide and proteins. Recent applications of chromatography and MS-based techniques for the analysis of proteins and peptides in food are discussed.

The separation of biomolecules using capillary electrochromatography

The unique properties of capillary electrochromatography such as high performance, high selectivity, minimum consumption of both reagents and samples, and good compatibility with mass spectrometry make this technique an attractive one for the analysis of biomolecules including peptides, proteins, carbohydrates, nucleosides and nucleotides. Irreversible adsorption between the biomolecules and the charged packing surface leads to a lack of reproducibility and serious peak tailing, so various approaches have been taken to overcome this and to improve the technique for future challenges.

Peptide analysis by rapid, orthogonal technologies with high separation selectivities and sensitivities

This article examines the current status of peptide analysis by orthogonal micro-/nano-separation strategies, with emphasis on the complementary use of high performance capillary liquid chromatography (micro-HPLC), capillary zonal electrophoresis (HPCZE), open tubular capillary electrochromatography (ot -CEC) and packed capillary electrochromatography (p -CEC). The ability to interface these techniques with mass spectroscopic (MS) procedures has enabled substantial progress to be made in the analysis of very small quantities of peptides, as well as proteins and other bio-macromolecules. As a consequence, the staged application of these high resolution techniques as part of the standardisation of biological products via robust, sensitive protocols is rapidly becoming a reality. Recent conceptual and theoretical advances have also allowed improved levels of prediction and optimisation of these procedures. Since significant differences in selectivity can be achieved with micro-HPLC, HPCZE and HPCEC respectively, collectively these sophisticated techniques provide unprecedented opportunities for the rapid, orthogonal and sensitive separation of complex mixtures of peptides and proteins. Several advantages of using these technologies in tandem are highlighted.