Electrophoretic analysis of biomarkers using capillary modification with gold nanoparticles embedded in a polycation and boron doped diamond electrode.

Field-amplified sample stacking using a fused silica capillary coated with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) embedded in poly(diallyl dimethylammonium) chloride (PDDA) has been investigated for the electrophoretic separation of indoxyl sulfate, homovanillic acid (HVA), and vanillylmandelic acid (VMA). AuNPs (27 nm) exhibit ionic and hydrophobic interactions, as well as hydrogen bonding with the PDDA network to form a stable layer on the internal wall of the capillary. This approach reverses electro-osmotic flow allowing for fast migration of the analytes while retarding other endogenous compounds including ascorbic acid, uric acid, catecholamines, and indoleamines. Notably, the two closely related biomarkers of clinical significance, HVA and VMA, displayed differential interaction with PDDA-AuNPs which enabled the separation of this pair. The detection limit of the three analytes obtained by using a boron doped diamond electrode was approximately 75 nM, which was significantly below their normal physiological levels in biological fluids. This combined separation and detection scheme was applied to the direct analysis of these analytes and other interfering chemicals including uric and ascorbic acids in urine samples without off-line sample treatment or preconcentration.

Analysis of catecholamines and related substances using porous graphitic carbon as separation media in liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Capillary porous graphitic carbon (PGC) columns have been utilized for separation of several catecholamines and related compounds (i.e. L-tyrosine, L-DOPA, 3-O-methyl-DOPA, dopamine, 3,4-dihydroxy-phenyl-acetic acid (DOPAC), homovanillic acid, noradrenaline, vanillomandelic acid and adrenaline) on-line with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS). The use of a mobile phase without ion-pairing agents and with high content of organic modifier facilitated the coupling to the selective and sensitive mass spectrometric detection. Minimum detectable sample concentration (MDC sample) for noradrenaline, dopamine and L-tyrosine in a standard solution was estimated to 3, 10 and 30 nM, respectively (3 S/N corresponds to MDQ for L-tyrosine of approximately 8 x 10(-14)mol). The developed strategy was applied for analysis of brain tissue, i.e. a substantia nigra (ns) sample.

Method development of enantiomer separations by affinity capillary electrophoresis, cyclodextrin electrokinetic chromatography and capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry.

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) has become a powerful tool for enantiomer separations during the last decade. Since 1993, the author has investigated enantiomer separations by affinity capillary electrophoresis (affinity CE) with some proteins and by cyclodextrin electrokinetic chromatography (CDEKC) with some charged cyclodextrins (CDs). Many successful enantiomer separations are demonstrated from our study in this review article. In the enantiomer separations by affinity CE, the deterioration of detection sensitivity was observed under high concentration of the protein in running solutions. The partial filling technique was practically useful to solve the serious problem. It allowed operation at high protein concentrations, such as 500 mumol/L, without the detection problem. Charged CDs had several advantages for the enantiomer separations over neutral ones. Strong electrostatic interactions between a charged CD and oppositely charged analytes should be effective for the formation of the complex. A large difference in electrophoretic mobility between the free analyte and the inclusion complex should also enhance the enantiomeric resolution. In CE-mass spectrometry (CE-MS), the partial filling technique was applied to avoid the introduction of nonvolatile chiral selectors into the CE-MS interface. By replacing the nonvolatile electrolytes in the running buffer by volatile ones, the separation conditions employed in CE with the UV detection method could be transferred to CE-MS.

Separation of enantiomers by affinity electrokinetic chromatography using avidin.

Avidin, a basic protein isolated from egg white, was employed as a chiral selector in affinity electrokinetic chromatography (EKC) for the separation of acidic enantiomers. Optical isomers of vanilmandelic acid, warfarin, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, flurbiprofen, and folinic acid were successfully resolved within 20 min with 25 microM avidin in a linear polyacrylamide-coated capillary under weakly acidic conditions. The effects of pH, the concentration of avidin, addition of an organic solvent such as ethanol and 2-propanol, and temperature on enantioselectivity were investigated. The choice of pH and the organic solvent additive was critical to improve the separation. Some general considerations about affinity EKC are also described, based on a simple one-site interaction model.

HPLC-ED determination of catecholamines and their metabolites in urine.

High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection (ED) was applied for the monitoring of catecholamines (epinephrine - E, norepinephrine - NE, dopamine - DA) and their main metabolites (homovanillic acid - HVA, vanillylmandelic acid - VMA) in urine samples of patients with the pheochromocytoma diagnosis. Both amperometric and colorimetric detectors were tested for the clinical applications and the results were compared. The optimization of separation conditions was worked out, especially the effects of mobile phase compositions (pH, ionic strength, organic modifier and ion-pair agent concentrations). Dependences of capacity ratio values k' on all optimized components of the mobile phases were evaluated. Chromatographic conditions were optimized for the suitable chromatographic resolution (Rij > 1.25). Extraction recoveries for liquid-liquid and solid-phase extractions have been worked-out. Detection limits for catecholamines in urine were in the range of 0.3-0.6 ng/ml and 10-20 ng/ml for HVA, VMA using coulometric detector.

Separation of the catecholamine metabolites 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy- and 3-hydroxy-4-methoxymandelic acid by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography.

The catecholamine metabolites 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy- and 3-hydroxy-4-methoxymandelic acid can be completely separated by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography with chemically bonded octadecylsilane as stationary phase and a citrate/ammonium phosphate buffer (pH 4.5) containing 8% methanol as mobile phase. The two isomers can be electrochemically detected and produce different hydrodynamic voltammograms.

Capillary gas-chromatographic determination of urinary homovanillic acid and vanillylmandelic acid.

This relatively simple, rapid method for quantification of homovanillic acid (HVA) and vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) involves solvent extraction and capillary gas chromatography. With use of this extraction method, the overall analytical recovery from an aqueous solution is 92.5% for HVA and 79.2% for VMA. 3,4-Dihydroxybenzoic acid is the internal standard. Minimal detectable quantities with this method are less than 1 mg/g of creatinine. Capillary gas chromatography produces a chromatogram that is superior to that of packed-column gas chromatography. We also report quantitative results for urinary HVA and VMA in neuroblastoma patients and in normal individuals, demonstrating the diagnostic value of this method.

Determination of urinary vanillylmandelic acid by liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.

We describe an improved method for the assay of urinary vanillylmandelic acid by "high-performance" liquid chromatography, with electrochemical detection. A 1-mL aliquot of urine is acidified and extracted with ethyl acetate, then the ethyl acetate extract is extracted with phosphate buffer, pH 8.5. An acidified aliquot of the phosphate extract is injected into a reversed-phase column and vanillylmandelic acid is detected electrochemically. The between-day CV is 5-6% for concentrations ranging from 10 to 75 mumol/L. We also discuss the critical steps for extraction and calibration.

Urinary 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymandelic (vanillylmandelic) acid, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylacetic (homovanillic) acid, and 5-hydroxy-3-indoleacetic acid determined by liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.

We describe a simple liquid-chromatographic assay of urinary 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymandelic (vanillylmandelic) acid, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylacetic (homovanillic) acid, and 5-hydroxy-3-indoleacetic acid with electrochemical detection, with direct injection of the sample. The first two analytes are measured simultaneously; 5-hydroxy-3-indoleacetic acid is measured separately. Chromatographic conditions for assay of the three were: column temperature, 65 and 60 degrees C; mobile phase, potassium phosphate buffer (0.2 mol/L, pH 3.0) for 6 min, then potassium phosphate buffer plus acetonitrile (9/1 by vol) for 20 min; flow rate, 0.7 mL/min; oxidation potential, 600 and 450 mV vs an Ag/AgCl reference electrode; and sensitivity, 40 and 160 nA at full scale. Values so obtained agreed well with those obtained for samples that were first solvent-extracted.

Simultaneous determination of free 3-methoxy-4-hydroxymandelic acid and free 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol in plasma by liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.

A new assay method is described for the simultaneous determination of free 3-methoxy-4-hydroxymandelic acid and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol in plasma utilizing separation and purification by Bio-Gel P-10 followed by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. This technique is sensitive and reliable, and offers an inexpensive and practical alternative to gas chromatographic--mass fragmentographic methods for the monitoring of plasma levels of these catecholamine metabolites in the study of selective metabolic pathways of endogenous norepinephrine originating in the peripheral and the central nervous systems.

Thin-layer chromatographic separation of the 3-O-methylated metabolites of noradrenaline.

The use of sodium borate impregnated thin-layer silica gel plates for the separation of noradrenaline and its 3-O-methylated metabolites is described. Its application to studies of the metabolism of tritiated I-noradrenaline by isolated tissues is illustrated for the rabbit uterus.

Reverse-phase chromatography of polar biological substances: separation of catechol compounds by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Catecholamines and their metabolites have been separated isocratically by reverse-phase chromatography with aqueous (no organic solvent admixed) eluents. Unlike ion-exchange or ion-pair chromatography, mixtures of both acidic and basic substances can be separated in a single chromatographic run, because the retention is governed by hydrophobic interactions between the nonpolar moiety of the solute molecules and the octadecyl-silica stationary phase. The relative retention values strongly depend on the pH of the eluent, which governs the degree of dissociation of ionogenic solutes. The reproducibility of the results and the stability and efficiency of the chromatographic systems make this approach particularly attractive for use in clinical analysis.