Separation characteristics of wall-coated open-tubular columns for gas chromatography

The application of the solvation parameter model for the classification of wall-coated open-tubular columns for gas chromatography is reviewed. A system constants database for 50 wall-coated open-tubular columns at five equally spaced temperatures between 60 and 140 degrees C is constructed and statistical and chemometric techniques used to identify stationary phases with equivalent selectivity, the effect of monomer chemistry on selectivity, and the selection of stationary phases for method development. The system constants database contains examples of virtually all commercially available common stationary phases.

Automated robotic liquid handling/laser-based nephelometry system for high throughput measurement of kinetic aqueous solubility

The ability to rapidly and consistently measure aqueous solubility in a preclinical environment is critical to the successful identification of promising discovery compounds. The advantage of an early solubility screen is timely attrition of compounds likely to fail due to poor absorption or low bioavailability before more costly screens are performed. However, due to the large number of compounds and limited sample amounts, thermodynamic solubility measurements are not feasible at this stage. A kinetic solubility measurement is an alternative to thermodynamic measurements at the discovery stage that provides a rank listing of solubility values with minimal sample requirements. A kinetic solubility measurement is attractive from an automation vantage because it features rapid data acquisition and is amenable to multi-well formats. We describe the use of a robotic liquid/plate handler coupled to nephelometry detection for the measurement of kinetic solubility. We highlight the liquid handling validation, serial dilution parameters, and a comparison to the previous method. Experiments to further enhance throughput, or increase confidence in the automation steps, are described and the effects of these experiments are presented. In our integrated nephelometry method, we observe rapid liquid handling with an error of less than 10%, after a series of validation studies, and a sample throughput up to 1800 compounds per week. We compare the nephelometry method with our semi-thermodynamic flow-injection analysis (FIA) method, and find a 75% bin agreement between the methods.

Separation methods for estimating octanol-water partition coefficients

Separation methods for the indirect estimation of the octanol-water partition coefficient (logP) are reviewed with an emphasis on high throughput methods with a wide application range. The solvation parameter model is used to identify suitable separation systems for estimating logP in an efficient manner that negates the need for empirical trial and error experiments. With a few exceptions, systems based on reversed-phase chromatography employing chemically bonded phases are shown to be unsuitable for estimating logP for compounds of diverse structure. This is because the fundamental properties responsible for chromatographic retention tend to be different to those responsible for partition between octanol and water, especially the contribution from hydrogen bonding interactions. On the other hand, retention in several micellar and microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography systems is shown to be highly correlated with the octanol-water partition coefficient. These systems are suitable for the rapid, high throughput determination of logP for neutral, weakly acidic, and weakly basic compounds. For compounds with a permanent charge, electrophoretic migration and electrostatic interactions with the stationary phase results in inaccurate estimation of partition coefficients. The experimental determination of solute descriptors offers an alternative approach for estimating logP, and other biopartitioning properties. A distinct advantage of this approach is that once the solute descriptors are known, solute properties can be estimated for any distribution or transport system for which a solvation parameter model has been established.

Determination of acid dissociation constants by capillary electrophoresis

Capillary electrophoresis affords a simple, automated approach for the measurement of pKa values in the range 2-11 at a throughput of less than 1 h per sample per instrument. Agreement with literature values is usually within 0.20 log units with a precision better than 0.07 log units. The attractive features of capillary electrophoresis for pKa measurements are: (1) conventional instrumentation with a high level of automation are suitable for all measurements; (2) because it is a separation method samples need not be of high purity; (3) samples of low water solubility with suitable chromophores are easily handled (detection limits in the microM range); (4) sample consumption per measurement is in the microgram range; and (5) since only mobilities are measured, exact knowledge of concentrations is not needed. The general approach can be extended to pKa measurements in aqueous-organic solvent mixtures and non-aqueous solvents with suitable calibration. The widespread use of absorbance detection in capillary electrophoresis means that the sample must have a suitable chromophore for detection. The main source of controllable error is the accuracy of buffer standardization and their stability in use, and uncontrollable error, the retentive interactions of the sample with the column wall. The latter seems to be a rare problem in practice for typical operating conditions.

Estimation of octanol-water partition coefficients for neutral and weakly acidic compounds by microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography using dynamically coated capillary columns

Microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography (MEEKC) using dynamically coated capillary columns is shown to be suitable for estimating the octanol-water partition coefficient (log P) for neutral and weakly acidic compounds at pH 3. The solvation parameter model is used to demonstrate that the retention properties of sodium dodecyl sulfate (1.4% w/v), n-butanol (8% v/v) and n-heptane (1.2% v/v) microemulsion are strongly correlated with the octanol-water partition system. For compounds of varied structure and log P values from 0.3 to 5.15, the correlation model is able to estimate log P to better than 0.25 log units. The dynamically coated columns consisting of a bilayer of poly(vinylsulfonate) adsorbed on top of polybrene provide a suitable electroosmotic flow at pH 3 without interfering in the retention properties of the microemulsion. For automated measurements the microemulsion run buffer should be replenished after 10 runs to maintain a stable cycle time and the coated columns replaced after 40-70 runs, depending on sample properties.

Column selectivity from the perspective of the solvation parameter model

The solvation parameter model is a useful tool for delineating the contribution of defined intermolecular interactions to retention of neutral molecules in separation systems based on a solute equilibrium between a gas, liquid or fluid mobile phase and a liquid or solid stationary phase. The free energy for this process is decomposed into contributions for cavity formation and the set up of intermolecular interactions identified as dispersion, electron lone pair, dipole-type and hydrogen bonding. The relative contribution of these interactions is indicated by a series of system constants determined by the difference of the defined interaction in the two phases. The interpretation of these system constants as a function of experimental factors that affect retention in the chromatographic system provides the connection between relative retention (selectivity) and the control variables for the separation system. To aid in the understanding of these processes we perform an analysis of system constants for gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, supercritical fluid chromatography and micellar electrokinetic chromatography as a function of different experimental variables as a step towards gaining a theoretical understanding of selectivity optimization for method development.

An integrated process for measuring the physicochemical properties of drug candidates in a preclinical discovery environment

Automated log P, pK(a), solubility, and chemical stability systems comprise an integrated process that provides early stage physicochemical property data to the discovery research organization. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) techniques are used to experimentally determine pK(a) and log P. Solubility is determined using a quasi-equilibrium approach employing sample quantitation by flow injection analysis with ultraviolet (UV) detection at 256 nm. Chemical stability is assessed by challenging compounds with pH 2, pH 7, pH 12, and 3% hydrogen peroxide solutions overnight, and comparing the chromatographic profiles of the stability challenged solutions to that of a freshly prepared control. Validation of the log P method using a set of drug-like compounds demonstrates that the method yields log P values within +/-0.5 units of literature values. The log P method is valid over the range -0.5-5.0, and the technique is compatible with acidic, neutral, and basic compounds. The pK(a) technique yields results within +/-0.2 units of corresponding values obtained by potentiometric titration over a pK(a) range of 2 to 12. Solubility is reported in a 3-60 microg/mL range, and the results are generally within 20% of values measured by equilibrium solubility techniques. The current level of automation supports the measurement of the physicochemical properties of 100 compounds per week. Physicochemical property data for approximately 2000 compounds have been generated to date.

Rapid method for estimating the octanol--water partition coefficient (log P ow) by microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography

Several surfactant systems were evaluated based on their system constants determined by the solvation parameter model for the design of a surrogate chromatographic model for the rapid estimation of octanol-water partition coefficient (log Pow) by microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography. The system constant ratios responsible for the log Pow partition system are (nearly) the same as those for the microemulsion system containing sodium dodecyl sulfate (1.4% w/v), butan-1-ol (8% v/v) and heptane (1.2% v/v). Neutral and basic compounds are analyzed using a fused-silica capillary column with a 50 mM sodium phosphate-sodium borate (3:2) buffer at pH 10. Weakly acid compounds require the use of sulfonated silica capillary column and a 50 mM sodium phosphate buffer at pH 3. For 29 varied neutral and weakly basic compounds the average error between log Pow estimated using MEEKC and literature values was +/-0.12 over a log Pow range from 0.3 to 5.8.

Chromatographic models for the sorption of neutral organic compounds by soil from water and air

The solvation parameter model is used to construct models for the estimation of the soil-water and soil-air distribution constants and to characterize the contribution of fundamental intermolecular interactions to the underlying sorption processes. Wet soil is shown to be quite cohesive and polar but relatively non-selective for dipole-type, lone-pair electron and hydrogen-bond interactions. Using a comparison of system constant ratios chromatographic systems employing reversed-phase liquid chromatography on polar bonded phases are shown to provide suitable models for estimating soil-water distribution constants. No suitable gas chromatographic models were found for the soil-air distribution constant but the requirements for such a system are indicated. Models are also provided for adsorption at the air-water interface. Estimation methods based on either the solvation parameter model or chromatographic model reproduce experimental distribution constants for a wide variety of compounds with a similar error (0.2-0.3 log units) to that expected in the experimental data.

Determination of kinetic and retention properties of cartridge and disk devices for solid-phase extraction

The kinetic properties of cartridge and disk solid-phase extraction devices are determined by forced-flow liquid chromatography. Typical cartridges provide about 5-15 theoretical plates per cm of bed height and particle-loaded membranes provide about 4-9 theoretical plates for a 0.5-mm-thick membrane. It is shown that cartridge devices fail to provide their maximum trapping performance because of inadequate packing density and that the required packing density could be easily achieved in practice with particles of a standard size. The retention properties of common sorbents for extraction from water and air are characterized with the solvation parameter model. For predominantly aqueous solutions a favorable cavity term results in increased retention while polar interactions tend to reduce retention. Retention on porous polymer sorbents is more complicated because of their capacity to absorb significant amounts of the sample processing solvent resulting in solvent-dependent changes in retention properties. For trapping organic volatiles from air cavity formation and dispersion interactions are important, and in the case of Tenax its capacity for induction interactions is also significant.

Separation of pharmaceutically important estrogens by micellar electrokinetic chromatography

Baseline separation of ten estrogens of the type found in conjugated estrogens tablets from pregnant mares' urine were separated by micellar electrokinetic chromatography with a 20 mM sodium borate-sodium phosphate buffer (pH 8) containing either 75 mM sodium cholate and 15 mM beta-cyclodextrin or 50 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate and 20 mM gamma-cyclodextrin. The system containing sodium cholate was used to identify estrogens in a pharmaceutical tablet formulation of conjugated estrogens and to determine the amounts and ratio of sodium equilin sulfate to sodium estrone sulfate to confirm tablet conformity with regulatory requirements. Baseline separation of the seven ethynyl steroids registered as oral contraceptives in the USA was obtained with the system 20 mM sodium borate-sodium phosphate buffer (pH 8) containing 50 mM sodium cholate and 10% (v/v) methanol. Factors that affect selectivity and reproducibility of the above separation systems are discussed.

Progress in densitometry for quantitation in planar chromatography

The principal methods for obtaining quantitative information from separations performed by planar chromatographic techniques are reviewed. Recent advances in obtaining structural information for sample identification of separated components are also discussed. Reasonable expectations concerning future developments in densitometry are made.