An Efficient Method of Birch Ethanol Lignin Sulfation with a Sulfaic Acid-Urea Mixture.

For the first time, the process of birch ethanol lignin sulfation with a sulfamic acid-urea mixture in a 1,4-dioxane medium was optimized experimentally and numerically. The high yield of the sulfated ethanol lignin (more than 96%) and containing 7.1 and 7.9 wt % of sulfur was produced at process temperatures of 80 and 90 °C for 3 h. The sample with the highest sulfur content (8.1 wt %) was obtained at a temperature of 100 °C for 2 h. The structure and molecular weight distribution of the sulfated birch ethanol lignin was established by FTIR, 2D 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography. The introduction of sulfate groups into the lignin structure was confirmed by FTIR by the appearance of absorption bands characteristic of the vibrations of sulfate group bonds. According to 2D NMR spectroscopy data, both the alcohol and phenolic hydroxyl groups of the ethanol lignin were subjected to sulfation. The sulfated birch ethanol lignin with a weight average molecular weight of 7.6 kDa and a polydispersity index of 1.81 was obtained under the optimum process conditions. Differences in the structure of the phenylpropane units of birch ethanol lignin (syringyl-type predominates) and abies ethanol lignin (guaiacyl-type predominates) was manifested in the fact that the sulfation of the former proceeds more completely at moderate temperatures than the latter. In contrast to sulfated abies ethanol lignin, the sulfated birch ethanol lignin had a bimodal and wider molecular weight distribution, as well as less thermal stability. The introduction of sulfate groups into ethanol lignin reduced its thermal stability.

Evaluation of the effect of background electrolyte composition and independence of parameters in determining binding constants of betulin derivatives to ß- and dimethyl-ß-cyclodextrins by affinity capillary electrophoresis.

The values of the apparent binding constants for ß-cyclodextrin complexes of betulin derivatives determined by mobility shift affinity capillary electrophoresis were found to be independent of the composition of the two background electrolytes used (tetraborate buffer, pH 9.18, and phosphate buffer, pH 8.00, both of them with 20 mM ionic strength). It has been found that if there is not a constant plateau on the binding curve then four independent parameters can be determined: binding constants (also referred to as stability, association, or formation constants) and ionic mobilities of 1:1 and 1:2 complexes. However, at least 10-12 data points in the binding curve should be used to reliably estimate the parameters. For the first time, the apparent binding constants for complexes of ester betulin derivatives with dimethyl-ß-cyclodextrin have been determined by mobility shift affinity capillary electrophoresis. The logarithms of the constants for 1:1 and 1:2 complexes at 25°C for betulin 3,28-diphthalate with a 95% confidence interval are 4.98 (4.95-5.01) and 7.52 (7.26-7.68); for betulin 3,28-disulfate, the values are 4.97 (4.89-5.03) and 8.24 (6.82-8.52). It has been found that betulin 3,28-disuccinate forms only a 1:1 complex and the binding constant logarithm is 5.25 ± 0.02.

Electrophoretic mobility of ester betulin derivatives and their complexation with γ-cyclodextrin studied by capillary electrophoresis in aqueous solutions at different pH values.

In this article, capillary electrophoresis was used to measure the effective electrophoretic mobility of ester betulin derivatives as a pH function and to study their complexation with γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD). The electrophoretic mobility of betulin 3,28-diphthalate (DPhB) and 3,28-disuccinate (DScB) changed unusually with decreasing pH: instead of decreasing, it first increased and then decreased. This fact as well as the turbidity of sample solutions at pH from 2.5 to 6, broadening of electrophoretic peaks and a decrease in the surface tension of the solutions indicates that these betulin derivatives, being amphiphilic compounds and weak acids, exist as micelles in aqueous solutions at pH 6 and below. The inclusion complexation of betulin derivatives with γ-CD at pH 9.18 and 4.5 was studied by mobility shift affinity capillary electrophoresis. At pH 9.18, the apparent binding (stability) constant logarithms for 1:1 γ-CD complexes of DPhB, betulin 3,28-disulfate (DSB) and DScB with 95% confidence interval limits were equal to 7.44 ± 0.02, 7.09 (7.01-7.19), and 6.97 (6.87-7.08) at 25°C, respectively. At pH 4.5, the binding constant for the DSB complex was slightly lower, while the micelle formation did not allow determining the exact values of the constants for the DPhB and DScB complexes.

Determining binding constants for 1:1 and 1:2 inclusion complexes of ester betulin derivatives with (2-hydroxypropyl)-ß-cyclodextrin by affinity capillary electrophoresis.

The complexation of ester betulin derivatives with (2-hydroxypropyl)-ß-cyclodextrin (HP-ß-CD) was studied by mobility shift affinity CE. Electrophoretic mobility for triangular peaks was calculated using the parameter a1 of the Haarhoff-Van der Linde function instead of the peak top time. Dependences of the viscosity corrected electrophoretic mobility on HP-ß-CD concentration were not described on the basis of only complexes with 1:1 stoichiometry due to the fact that these binding curves did not reach a plateau. However, the dependences were well described taking into account both 1:1 and 1:2 complexes. The presence of higher order equilibria was also revealed by x-reciprocal plots. The values of apparent binding constant logarithm, obtained for the first time, for 1:1 and 1:2 HP-ß-CD complexes of betulin 3,28-diphthalate and betulin 3,28-disuccinate with 95% confidence interval limits in brackets are the same within error and are equal to 4.85 (4.73-4.95), 8.56 (7.75-8.82), 4.92 (4.86-4.97), and 8.54 (8.23-8.72) at 25°C, respectively. These values for 1:1 and 1:2 HP-ß-CD complexes of betulin 3,28-disulfate at 25°C are 4.61 (4.57-4.64) and 7.11 (6.57-7.34), respectively. The binding constants for betulin 3,28-disulfate agree with the previously obtained results from the separation in the thermostatted capillary segment.

Determination of binding constants for strong complexation by affinity capillary electrophoresis: the example of complexes of ester betulin derivatives with (2-hydroxypropyl)-γ-cyclodextrin.

Complexation plays an important role in many biological phenomena, the analysis of different samples, optimization of separation processes, and increasing the pharmacological activity of drugs. This paper discusses the features of using mobility shift affinity capillary electrophoresis for studying strong complexation. Electrophoretic peaks for this case are often triangular. It was shown that the use of electrophoretic mobility obtained from the peak apex time to calculate binding constants leads to significant systematic and random errors, and the parameter a1 of the Haarhoff-Van der Linde function should be used instead of the apex time. Distorted triangular peaks with dips were shown to be observed at too high a ratio of analyte concentration in the sample to ligand concentration in the background electrolyte, and the peaks and parameter a1 significantly shifted. It was found that the permissible excess of analyte concentration over ligand concentration was approximately 10-35, provided that the parameter a1 was used, but the peak shape should be used as a landmark, and only triangular peaks without dips should be fitted with the function. The lowest possible analyte concentration should be utilized, which allows the use of a wider range of ligand concentration leading to higher precision of determining the binding constants values. Kinetically labile 1:1 complexes between (2-hydroxypropyl)-γ-cyclodextrin (HP-γ-CD) and betulin 3,28-diphthalate (DPhB) and betulin 3,28-disuccinate (DScB) were studied as an example. The binding constant logarithms at 25 °C are 7.23 ± 0.03 and 7.13 ± 0.10 for the HP-γ-CD complexes of DPhB and DScB, respectively. Graphical Abstract.

Strong complexation of water-soluble betulin derivatives with (2-hydroxypropyl)-γ-cyclodextrin studied by affinity capillary electrophoresis.

The complexation between (2-hydroxypropyl)-γ-cyclodextrin (HP-γ-CD) and water-soluble betulin derivatives, betulin 3,28-disulfate (DSB) and betulin 3-acetate-28-sulfate (ASB), belonging to the class of pentacyclic lupane triterpenoids, was studied using mobility shift ACE (ms ACE). It was found that the complexation is a high-affinity interaction. In this case, a very low amount of HP-γ-CD should be added to the BGE, and triangular peaks are observed as a result of ligand deficiency in the sample zone. Le Saux et al. showed in 2005 that using the parameter a1 of the Haarhoff-Van der Linde (HVL) function instead of the migration time measured at the peak apex eliminates the effect of ligand deficiency on effective electrophoretic mobility. Therefore, the electrophoretic mobilities of asymmetrical peaks of DSB and ASB were calculated in this way. The obtained experimental data correspond to 1:1 complexes. The calculated values of binding constants logarithms at 25°C are 6.70 ± 0.05 and 7.03 ± 0.10 for the HP-γ-CD complexes of DSB and ASB, respectively.

Thermodynamic parameters for the complexation of water-insoluble betulin derivatives with (2-hydroxypropyl)-γ-cyclodextrin determined by phase-solubility technique combined with capillary zone electrophoresis.

The complexation of betulinic and betulonic acids (BIA and BOA) (pentacyclic lupane triterpenoids) with (2-hydroxypropyl)-γ-cyclodextrin (HP-γ-CD) was studied at different temperatures using the method combining phase-solubility technique and CZE. In contrast to mobility shift ACE utilizing the electrophoretic mobility, in this approach, the peak areas are used. The apparent binding (stability, formation) constants are obtained by the Higuchi and Connors method from the linear segment of compound solubility diagrams in CD solutions. It was found that the apparent binding constants of the HP-γ-CD complexes of BIA and BOA decrease with increasing temperature. The binding constants of BOA complexes are slightly higher than those of BIA complexes; this can be explained by difference in the hydration degrees of carbonyl and hydroxyl groups. On the basis of the binding constants obtained and their temperature dependences (van't Hoff plot), the enthalpy as well as entropy changes and Gibbs free energies were calculated. It was found that the complexation was characterized by negative changes of enthalpy and entropy, that is, it was controlled by enthalpy changes. The results obtained can be used for the optimization of microcapsulation processes of BOA and BIA with the HP-γ-CD application in order to increase solubility and bioavailability of these compounds.

Combination of phase-solubility method and capillary zone electrophoresis to determine binding constants of cyclodextrins with practically water-insoluble compounds.

The combined method based on phase-solubility technique and capillary zone electrophoresis (PS-CZE) was suggested for the determination of binding (stability) constants of cyclodextrins (CD) complexes with water-insoluble organic compounds that have no or weak UV chromophores. In this method, the insoluble compounds are agitated at the desired temperature in CD solutions with different concentration up to the attainment of equilibrium and then CZE is used to determine the concentration of the compounds that have passed into the solutions. To avoid precipitation and complex dissociation, the background electrolyte (BGE) for CZE should contain ethanol and, if necessary, cyclodextrin. The samples should be diluted with the BGE without CD so that the CD concentrations in BGE and samples were equal to preclude a baseline shift. Using the suggested approach, the inclusion complexes between betulinic and betulonic acids, pentacyclic lupane-type triterpenes, and hydroxypropyl-ß- and γ-cyclodextrins (HP-ß-CD and HP-γ-CD) were studied. It was found that solubility of the acids studied in HP-ß-CD solutions did not differ from their solubility in pure water. That is, the HP-ß-CD complexes of the acids studied were not formed in noticeable amount. At the same time, the acids formed inclusion complexes with HP-γ-CD, what possibly was caused by the greater size of the HP-γ-CD molecule as compared to HP-ß-CD. To determine binding constants by Higuchi and Connors method, the acids solubility was determined by CZE after their agitation in the solutions of HP-γ-CD (with 0.6 molar substitution) at 25 °C for 3 days. The dependences of acids solubility on HP-γ-CD concentration deviated from straight line in the range of high concentration (AN mode). This can be explained by a self-association of HP-γ-CD molecules. Using the linear segment of the solubility dependences on CD concentration, the binding constants were determined. Their logarithms for the HP-γ-CD complexes with betulonic and betulinic acids were 3.88 ± 0.14 and 3.82 ± 0.12, respectively.