Roelof Mol

Spherical molecularly imprinted polymer particles: A promising tool for molecular recognition in capillary electrokinetic separations

Spherical molecularly imprinted polymer particles obtained via precipitation polymerization, were introduced as a pseudostationary phase in capillary electrophoresis (CE) to study molecular recognition. Analyses were performed via a partial filling technique using (+)‐ephedrine‐imprinted microspheres (100–200 nm) which were polymerized from methacrylic acid and 1,1,1‐Tris(hydroxymethyl)propanetrimethacrylate using acetonitrile as the solvent. The influence of pH and the modifier content on the separation was investigated. A 0.1% w/v suspension in an aqueous 10 mM phosphate buffer (pH 2.5 with 40% acetonitrile) was hydrodynamically injected into the CE system (80% of the effective capillary length) and led to full baseline separation of racemic ephedrine within 10 min.

On-line micellar electrokinetic chromatography-mass spectrometry: feasibility of direct introduction of non-volatile buffer and surfactant into the electrospray interface

An on-line method for the coupling of micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) and mass spectrometry (MS) is presented which allows conventional MEKC conditions to be employed without further modification. The MEKC system is coupled directly to electrospray ionization (ESI) MS using a triaxial interface. A systematic study of the influence of the surfactant concentration, the nature and concentration of buffer salts and presence of organic modifier on the interface performance indicated the feasibility of the MEKC-MS approach. Effective interfacing of MEKC was achieved with both single quadrupole and ion-trap MS instruments. Using a background electrolyte containing 20 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and 10 mM sodium phosphate buffer, it is demonstrated that full MEKC runs of test mixtures of mebeverine and related compounds can be monitored by ESI-MS with satisfactory sensitivity. Sub-microg/ml levels of the analytes can still be detected in full scan mode, while detection limits are in the 10-50 ng/ml range when selected ion monitoring is applied. It is shown that such sensitivity would allow full-scan MS detection of 0.1% (w/w) levels of potential impurities in mebeverine. With the ion-trap instrument successful MEKC-MS/MS experiments were carried out providing information-rich MS spectra of the related compounds. Repeated MEKC-MS analyses proved that in the course of 1 day the migration time of mebeverine remained fairly constant while the MS-signal intensity only gradually decreased to approximately 65% of its original value. Once-a-day cleaning of the first part of the ion source, which takes only 5 min, suffices to preserve an optimal interface performance for a prolonged period of time.

Influence of the BGE composition on analyte response in CD‐mediated NACE‐MS

The influence of the BGE composition, including the addition of a single‐isomer sulfated β‐CD derivative, on the ionization performance of the model compound carvedilol in NACE‐ESI‐MS was studied using an alternative infusion method. This approach employs voltage‐induced infusion of the BGE containing the analyte, and takes into account the effects of variations in EOF and effective analyte mobility on the ESI‐MS intensity. First, the optimal composition of the sheath liquid for CE‐MS in terms of signal abundance and stability was determined. The BGE ammonium formate, acetate, and camphorsulfonate were found to have similar effects on analyte ionization. Addition of single‐isomer sulfated β‐CD derivatives (available as sodium salt) to the BGE revealed that the anionic CD derivatives did not give rise to the same ionization suppression effect. This result can be attributed to differences in the dissociation state of these sodium salts. Finally, it is shown that information about chiral selectivity can also be obtained with the applied infusion method.

On-line coupling of electrokinetic chromatography and mass spectrometry

The use of pseudostationary phases (PSPs) in capillary electrophoresis provides powerful separation systems of high efficiency, selectivity and flexibility. Such electrokinetic chromatographic (EKC) systems are particularly useful for chiral analysis or for the analysis of samples containing a broad range of compounds. As the availability of mass and/or structural data on (unknown) sample constituents is increasingly important, the on-line coupling of EKC and mass spectrometry (MS) has gained attention. However, commonly used PSPs, such as micelles and cyclodextrines, may strongly interfere with electrospray ionization (ESI), making on-line EKC-MS quite a challenging task. This review covers the various approaches that have been proposed and developed to combine EKC and MS. A distinction is made between methodologies that prevent the PSP from entering the MS system, and methodologies that allow introduction of PSPs into the ion source. Various approaches such as partial filling of the separation capillary with PSP, use of reverse-migrating PSPs, employment of volatile PSPs, and alternative ionization modes, are outlined. Specific applications are described and overview tables are provided. It is concluded that there is no general solution for EKC-MS available yet, but new ionization techniques like atmospheric pressure photoionization may offer attractive perspectives for achieving full compatibility.

Enantioseparation of ofloxacin in urine by capillary electrokinetic chromatography using charged cyclodextrins as chiral selectors and assessment of enantioconversion

A method was developed for the enantioseparation of ofloxacin, a member of the fluoroquinolones, using an anionic cyclodextrin‐derivative with or without combination with a neutral cyclodextrin‐derivative, as the chiral selector (s) in an electrokinetic chromatography system. The best results were obtained with 0.35 mM sulfated β‐cyclodextrin dissolved in a 50 mM phosphate buffer, pH 2.5, and at 15°C. Under these conditions, a resolution of 2 was readily achieved. Furthermore, under adequate separation conditions, studies were performed in order to assess possible in vitro and in vivo enantioconversion of levofloxacin. The current method allows detection of 2 μg R‐(+)‐ofloxacine/mL diluted urine without the necessity of sample cleanup.

Coupling of non-aqueous electrokinetic chromatography using cationic cyclodextrins with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Non-aqueous electrokinetic chromatography (NAEKC) using cationic cyclodextrins (CDs) was coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). A methanolic background electrolyte (BGE) was used which contained the hydrochloride salts of the single-isomer derivative cyclodextrins 6-monodeoxy-6-mono(2-hydroxy)propylamino-beta-cyclodextrin (IPA-beta-CD) or 6-monodeoxy-6-mono(3-hydroxy)propylamino-beta-cyclodextrin (PA-beta-CD). Applying a reversed capillary electrophoresis (CE) polarity (-30 kV), efficient separation of negatively charged compounds was achieved with plate numbers of up to 190,000. PA-beta-CD appeared to be the most suitable for the separation of various acidic drugs while also providing a high chiral selectivity. Analyte detection was achieved by ESI-MS in the negative-ion mode using a sheath-liquid interface. In order to prevent current drops caused by the cathodic electroosmotic flow, a pressure of 15 mbar was applied on the inlet vial during NAEKC/MS analysis. The effect of the cationic CDs on the MS signal intensities of acidic test drugs was thoroughly studied. When a voltage is applied across the CE capillary, the overall mobility of the cationic CDs is towards the inlet vial so that no CD molecules enter the ion source. The chloride counter ions of the CDs, which migrated towards the capillary outlet, were found to cause ionization suppression, although significant analyte signals could still be detected. Depending on the CD concentration in the BGE, limits of detection for acidic drugs were in the 50-400 ng/mL range in full-scan mode.