Petr Kozlík

Effect of silica gel modification with cyclofructans on properties of hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography stationary phases

Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) offers very good possibilities for separation of polar compounds as an alternative to reversed phase HPLC where polar compounds are not sufficiently retained. HILIC is becoming more popular for the analysis of biologically interesting (active) analytes. Various stationary phases are commercially available however, development of new materials (sorbents) suitable for HILIC systems still continues. Silica gel columns can be used directly but their modification can improve separation ability of the stationary phases. Cyclofructan-based stationary phases are demonstrated as possible HILIC columns in this work. The effect of silica gel modification by cyclofructan and a derivatized cyclofructan was studied in detail. HILIC separation systems with silica gel, cyclofructan and isopropyl cyclofructan modified silica stationary phases were compared. The detailed study of chromatographic behavior of peptides revealed that multimodal retention mechanism is present in systems with these stationary phases. Mobile phase composition changes the types of interactions and their strengths. It appears that ability to donate protons and dispersion forces are the main interactions that affect retention in HILIC with cyclofructan-based columns while they are less important in separation systems with bare silica stationary phase. Suitability of cyclofructan-based stationary phases in HILIC for separation of pentapeptides and nonapeptides was demonstrated.

Controlled gentamicin release from multi-layered electrospun nanofibrous structures of various thicknesses

Polyvinyl alcohol nanofibers incorporating the wide spectrum antibiotic gentamicin were prepared by Nanospider™ needleless technology. A polyvinyl alcohol layer, serving as a drug reservoir, was covered from both sides by polyurethane layers of various thicknesses. The multilayered structure of the nanofibers was observed using scanning electron microscopy, the porosity was characterized by mercury porosimetry, and nitrogen adsorption/desorption measurements were used to determine specific surface areas. The stability of the gentamicin released from the electrospun layers was proved by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and inhibition of bacterial growth. Drug release was investigated using in vitro experiments with HPLC/MS quantification, while the antimicrobial efficacy was evaluated on Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Both experiments proved that the released gentamicin retained its activity and showed that the retention of the drug in the nanofibers was prolonged with the increasing thickness of the covering layers.

Development of a solid-phase extraction with capillary liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry for analysis of estrogens in environmental water samples.

Capillary liquid chromatography (cLC) hyphenated with tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS) was used to separate and quantitate trace concentrations of five estrogens in aqueous samples. New C(18)-based sorption materials bound to the silica support by monomeric and polymeric mechanisms were compared and tested for solid-phase extraction (SPE) of selected analytes with respect to optimization of their preconcentration yield. Application of an endcapped, monomer-bound preconcentration Discovery DSC-18Lt column under the optimized conditions provides yields in the range from 95 to 100% with a high repeatability (n=3, RSD≤7.2%). Using the electrospray ionization in the positive mode (ESI+), the cLC-MS-MS system (the Zorbax SB C18 capillary column and a binary mobile phase of acetonitrile and water containing 0.1% formic acid in both the components) was optimized to attain a sufficient retention of the early eluting estriol, a satisfactory resolution of the analytes and the maximum sensitivity of the determination. Both the isocratic and gradient elution were used and the optimized gradient method permitted analyses of aqueous environmental samples in 14 min within a linearity range from 6.1 to 25.0 (LOQ of analytes) to 500 ng/L and with a very good linearity (r>0.9981) for all the estrogens studied. The detection limits are in the range from 3.0 to 6.8 ng/L (1 μL injection volume). Six environmental water samples were analyzed and the studied estrogens were found in the Vltava river sample collected in Prague (13.2 ng/L for 17β-estradiol) and in the inlet to the wastewater treatment plant in Prague, at an overall concentration of 371.4 ng/L.

Properties of two amide-based hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography columns.

Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography is a separation technique suitable for the separation of moderately and highly polar compounds. Various stationary phases (SPs) for hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography are commercially available. While the SPs based on the same type of ligand are available from different providers, they can display a distinct retention characteristics and separation selectivity. The current work is focused on characterization and comparison of the separation systems of two amide-based HPLC columns from two producers, i.e. XBridge Amide column and TSK gel Amide-80 column. Several characterization procedures (tests) were used to investigate the differences between these columns. The chromatographic behavior of selected analytes indicates that multimodal interactions are responsible for retention and separation on these columns. Multiple testing approaches were used in order to reveal subtle differences between the SPs. Both amide-based columns showed certain differences in retention, selectivity, and plate counts. Based on the tests used in this study, we conclude that the investigated columns provide a different degree of H-bonding interactions.

Surfactin production enhances the level of cardiolipin in the cytoplasmic membrane of Bacillus subtilis.

Surfactin is a cyclic lipopeptide antibiotic that disturbs the integrity of the cytoplasmic membrane. In this study, the role of membrane lipids in the adaptation and possible surfactin tolerance of the surfactin producer Bacillus subtilis ATCC 21332 was investigated. During a 1-day cultivation, the phospholipids of the cell membrane were analyzed at the selected time points, which covered both the early and late stationary phases of growth, when surfactin concentration in the medium gradually rose from 2 to 84μmol·l(-1). During this time period, the phospholipid composition of the surfactin producers membrane (Sf(+)) was compared to that of its non-producing mutant (Sf(-)). Substantial modifications of the polar head group region in response to the presence of surfactin were found, while the fatty acid content remained unaffected. Simultaneously with surfactin production, a progressive accumulation up to 22% of the stress phospholipid cardiolipin was determined in the Sf(+) membrane, whereas the proportion of phosphatidylethanolamine remained constant. At 24h, cardiolipin was found to be the second major phospholipid of the membrane. In parallel, the Laurdan generalized polarization reported an increasing rigidity of the lipid bilayer. We concluded that an enhanced level of cardiolipin is responsible for the membrane rigidification that hinders the fluidizing effect of surfactin. At the same time cardiolipin, due to its negative charge, may also prevent the surfactin-membrane interaction or surfactin pore formation activity.

Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric detection applied for analysis of pteridines in two Graphosoma species (Insecta: Heteroptera).

A new separation method involving hydrophilic interaction chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric detection has been developed for the analysis of pteridines, namely biopterin, isoxanthopterin, leucopterin, neopterin, xanthopterin and erythropterin in the cuticle of heteropteran insect species. Two columns, Atlantis HILIC Silica and ZIC(®)-HILIC were tested for the separation of these pteridines. The effect of organic modifier content, buffer type, concentration and pH in mobile phase on retention and separation behavior of the selected pteridines was studied and the separation mechanism was also investigated. The optimized conditions for the separation of pteridines consisted of ZIC(®)-HILIC column, mobile phase composed of acetonitrile/5mM ammonium acetate, pH 6.80, 85/15 (v/v), flow rate 0.5mL/min and column temperature 30°C. Detection was performed by tandem mass spectrometry operating in electrospray ionization with Agilent Jet Stream technology using the selected reaction monitoring mode. The optimized method provided a linearity range from 0.3 to 5000ng/mL (r>0.9975) and repeatability with relative standard deviation<8.09% for all the studied pteridines. The method was applied to the analysis of pteridines in the cuticle of larvae and three adult color forms of Graphosoma lineatum and one form of Graphosoma semipunctatum (Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). The analysis shows that different forms of Graphosoma species can be characterized by different distribution of individual pteridines, which affects the coloration of various forms. Only isoxanthopterin was found in all the five forms tested.

Determination of dasatinib in the tablet dosage form by ultra high performance liquid chromatography, capillary zone electrophoresis, and sequential injection analysis

Dasatinib is a novel oral prescription drug proposed for treating adult patients with chronic myeloid leukemia. Three analytical methods, namely ultra high performance liquid chromatography, capillary zone electrophoresis, and sequential injection analysis, were developed, validated, and compared for determination of the drug in the tablet dosage form. The total analysis time of optimized ultra high performance liquid chromatography and capillary zone electrophoresis methods was 2.0 and 2.2 min, respectively. Direct ultraviolet detection with detection wavelength of 322 nm was employed in both cases. The optimized sequential injection analysis method was based on spectrophotometric detection of dasatinib after a simple colorimetric reaction with folin ciocalteau reagent forming a blue-colored complex with an absorbance maximum at 745 nm. The total analysis time was 2.5 min. The ultra high performance liquid chromatography method provided the lowest detection and quantitation limits and the most precise and accurate results. All three newly developed methods were demonstrated to be specific, linear, sensitive, precise, and accurate, providing results satisfactorily meeting the requirements of the pharmaceutical industry, and can be employed for the routine determination of the active pharmaceutical ingredient in the tablet dosage form.

Capillary electrophoresis of pterin derivatives responsible for the warning coloration of Heteroptera

A new capillary electrophoretic (CE) method has been developed for analysis of 10 selected derivatives of pterin that can occur in the integument (cuticle) of true bugs (Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera), specifically L-sepiapterin, 7,8-dihydroxanthopterin, 6-biopterin, D-neopterin, pterin, isoxanthopterin, leucopterin, xanthopterin, erythropterin and pterin-6-carboxylic acid. Pterin derivatives are responsible for the characteristic warning coloration of some Heteroptera and other insects, signaling noxiousness or unpalatability and are used to discourage potential predators from attacking. Regression analysis defining the parameters significantly affecting CE separation was used to optimize the system (the background electrolyte (BGE) composition, pH value and applied voltage). The optimized separation conditions were as follows: BGE with composition 2 mmol L(-1) the disodium salt of ethylendiamintetraacetic acid, 100 mmol L(-1) tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane and 100 mmol L(-1) boric acid, pH 9.0, applied voltage 20 kV and UV detection at 250 nm. Under these conditions, all the 10 studied derivatives of pterin were baseline separated within 22 min. The optimized method was validated from the viewpoint of linearity (R(2)≥0.9980), accuracy (relative error ≤7.90%), precision (for repeatability RSD≤6.65%), detection limit (LOD in the range 0.04-0.99 μg mL(-1)) and limit of quantitation (LOQ in the range 0.13-3.30 μg mL(-1)). The developed method was used for identification and determination of the contents of pterin derivatives in adults of four species of Heteroptera (Eurydema ornata cream color morph, Scantius aegyptius, Pyrrhocoris apterus and Corizus hyoscyami) and their distribution in the individual species was determined.

Historical injection solutions of quinine analyzed by HPLC/MS

Two injection solutions of quinine 79, 77 resp., years were analyzed using RP-HPLC. The conditions of separation were optimized. The quinine content is decreased about 13% for 79-year-old sample and about 8% for 77-year-old sample, respectively. Quinotoxine has been found as the decomposition product. The compounds were identified by MS2, and the ESI fragmentation mechanisms of compounds found were proposed.Graphical abstract

Development of the fast, simple and fully validated high performance liquid chromatographic method with diode array detector for quantification of testosterone esters in an oil-based injectable dosage form

Counterfeit steroids are available on the black market, ultimately to consumers who believe they are buying a legitimate pharmaceutical item from the labeled company. In many cases, counterfeit steroids can contain lower doses or some products can be overdosed. This can unwittingly expose users to a significant health risks. The mixture of testosterone propionate, phenylpropionate, isocaproate and decanoate in an oil-based injectable dosage form belongs to the one of the most misused illicit drugs by a variety of athletes. This study developed a new, fast, simple and reliable HPLC method combined with a simple sample preparation step to determine testosterone propionate, phenylpropionate, isocaproate and decanoate in an oil-based injectable dosage form without the use of sophisticated and expensive instrumentation. The developed analytical procedure provides high throughput of samples where LC analysis takes only 6min and sample preparation of oil matrix in one step takes approximately 10min with precision ranging from 1.03 to 3.38% (RSD), and accuracy (relative error %) within ±2.01%. This method was found to be precise, linear, accurate, sensitive, selective and robust for routine application in screening of commercial pharmaceutical products based on content of mentioned testosterone esters in their oil-based injectable dosage form for counterfeit drugs. This method was successfully applied to the analysis of nine samples of commercial testosterone mixtures purchased from various sources and will be further used as an effective screening method for determination of previously mentioned testosterone esters in samples confiscated by Institute of Forensic Science (Slovakia) during the illegal trade.