Application of bare gold nanoparticles in open-tubular CEC separations of polyaromatic hydrocarbons and peptides.

In this study, bare gold nanoparticles (GNPs) immobilized in the sol-gel-pretreated fused-silica (FS) capillary as a stationary phase for open-tubular capillary electrochromatography (OT-CEC) are for the first time shown to be able to separate both hydrophobic polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as well as hydrophilic cationic antimicrobial peptides. Model mixture of four PAHs, naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, and anthracene, was resolved by OT-CEC in the GNP-modified FS capillaries using the hydro-organic background electrolyte (BGE) composed of 20 mmol/L sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7, modified with ACN at 8:2 v/v ratio. On the other hand, three synthetic analogues of an antimicrobial peptide mastoparan PDD-B, basic tetradecapeptides INWKKLGKKILGAL-NH(2), INSLKLGKKILGAL-NH(2) and NWLRLGRRILGAL-NH(2), were separated in aqueous acidic BGEs, pH 2.1-3.1, composed of weak acids (formic and acetic) or amphoteric amino or imino acids (aspartic or iminodiacetic), utilizing the advantage of a slow reversed (anodic) EOF and slightly positive charge of the GNP-modified FS capillary suppressing the adsorption of cationic peptides on the inner capillary wall and improving their resolution.

Affinity capillary electrophoresis and density functional theory employed for the characterization of hexaarylbenzene-based receptor complexation with alkali metal ions.

In this study, affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE) and quantum mechanical density functional theory (DFT) calculations were combined to investigate non-covalent binding interactions between the hexaarylbenzene-based receptor (R) and alkali metal ions, Rb(+) and Cs(+) , in methanol. The apparent binding (stability) constants (K(b) ) of the complexes of receptor R with alkali metal ions in the methanolic medium were determined by ACE from the dependence of effective electrophoretic mobility of the receptor R on the concentration of Rb(+) and Cs(+) ions in the BGE using a non-linear regression analysis. The receptor R formed relatively strong complexes both with rubidium (log K(b) =4.04±0.21) and cesium ions (log K(b) =3.72±0.22). The structural characteristics of the above alkali metal ion complexes with the receptor R were described by ab initio density functional theory calculations. These calculations have shown that the studied cations bind to the receptor R because they synergistically interact with the polar ethereal fence and with the central benzene ring via cation-π interaction.

Affinity capillary electrophoresis and quantum mechanical calculations applied to the investigation of hexaarylbenzene-based receptor binding with lithium ion.

In this study, two complementary approaches, affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE) and quantum mechanical density functional theory (DFT) calculations, have been employed for quantitative characterization and structure elucidation of the complex between hexaarylbenzene (HAB)-based receptor R and lithium ion Li(+) . First, by means of ACE, the apparent binding constant of LiR(+) complex (K LiR +) in methanol was determined from the dependence of the effective electrophoretic mobilities of LiR(+) complex on the concentration of lithium ions in the 25 mM Tris/50 mM chloroacetate background electrolyte (BGE) using non-linear regression analysis. Prior to regression analysis, the effective electrophoretic mobilities of the LiR(+) complex were corrected to reference temperature 25 °C and constant ionic strength 25 mM. The apparent binding constant of the LiR(+) complex in the above methanolic BGE was evaluated as logK LiR + = 1.15±0.09. Second, the most probable structures of nonhydrated LiR(+) and hydrated LiR(+)·3H(2)O complexes were derived by DFT calculations. The optimized structure of the hydrated LiR(+)·3H(2)O complex was found to be more realistic than the nonhydrated LiR(+) complex because of the considerably higher binding energy of LiR(+)·3H(2)O complex (500.4 kJ/mol) as compared with LiR(+) complex (427.5 kJ/mol).

ACE applied to the quantitative characterization of benzo-18-crown-6-ether binding with alkali metal ions in a methanol-water solvent system.

ACE was applied to the quantitative evaluation of noncovalent binding interactions between benzo-18-crown-6-ether (B18C6) and several alkali metal ions, Li(+), Na(+), K(+), Rb(+) and Cs(+), in a mixed binary solvent system, methanol-water (50/50 v/v). The apparent binding (stability) constants (K(b)) of B18C6-alkali metal ion complexes in the hydro-organic medium above were determined from the dependence of the effective electrophoretic mobility of B18C6 on the concentration of alkali metal ions in the BGE using a nonlinear regression analysis. Before regression analysis, the mobilities measured by ACE at ambient temperature and variable ionic strength of the BGE were corrected by a new procedure to the reference temperature, 25 degrees C, and the constant ionic strength, 10 mM. In the 50% v/v methanol-water solvent system, like in pure methanol, B18C6 formed the strongest complex with potassium ion (log K(b)=2.89+/-0.17), the weakest complex with cesium ion (log K(b)=2.04+/-0.20), and no complexation was observed between B18C6 and the lithium ion. In the mixed methanol-water solvent system, the binding constants of the complexes above were found to be about two orders lower than in methanol and about one order higher than in water.

Melectin MAPs: the influence of dendrimerization on antimicrobial and hemolytic activity.

The recently described antimicrobial peptide melectin (MEP, GFLSILKKVLPKVMAHMK-NH2) exhibits high antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Here we describe the synthesis and biological activities of 23 new analogues of MEP. We studied the influence of dimerization and tetramerization (MAP-constructs of MEP) on the antimicrobial and hemolytic activities, as well as the role of Met in positions 14 and 17 of the peptide chain. Oxidation of the Met to Met(O) and Met(O2) decreases antimicrobial activity of all tested bacteria if the peptide is in the monomeric form, however, only to Staphylococcus aureus if in the form of dimer or tetramer. Dimerization and tetramerization increase the undesirable hemolytic activity of the peptides. Interestingly, substitution of Leu for Val in position 6 leads to the decrease of hemolytic activity. Introduction of the isosteric amino acid Nle into positions 14 or 17 or both leads to slight increase of hemolytic activity under preservation of high antimicrobial activities. Unfortunately, dimerization again leads to an increase of hemolytic activity.

Capillary electrophoretic and computational study of the complexation of valinomycin with rubidium cation.

This study is focused on the characterization of interactions of valinomycin (Val), a macrocyclic dodecadepsipeptide antibiotic ionophore, with rubidium cation, Rb(+). Capillary affinity electrophoresis was employed for the experimental evaluation of the strength of the Val-Rb(+) complex. The study involved the measurement of the change of effective electrophoretic mobility of Val at increasing concentration of Rb(+) cation in the BGE. From the dependence of Val effective electrophoretic mobility on the Rb(+) cation concentration in the BGE (methanolic solution of 100 mM Tris, 50 mM acetic acid, 0-1 mM RbCl), the apparent binding (stability) constant (K(b)) of the Val-Rb(+) complex in methanol was evaluated as log K(b)=4.63+/-0.27. According to the quantum mechanical density functional theory calculations employed to predict the most probable structure of Val-Rb(+) complex, Val is stabilized by strong non-covalent bond interactions of Rb(+) with six ester carbonyl oxygen atoms so that the position of the "central" Rb(+) cation in the Val cage is symmetric.

Capillary affinity electrophoresis and ab initio calculation studies of valinomycin complexation with Na+ ion.

In a combined experimental and theoretical approach, the interactions of valinomycin (Val), macrocyclic depsipeptide antibiotic ionophore, with sodium cation Na(+ )have been investigated. The strength of the Val-Na(+ )complex was evaluated experimentally by means of capillary affinity electrophoresis. From the dependence of valinomycin effective electrophoretic mobility on the sodium ion concentration in the BGE (methanolic solution of 20 mM chloroacetic acid, 10 mM Tris, 0-40 mM NaCl), the apparent binding (stability) constant (K(b)) of the Val-Na(+ )complex in methanol was evaluated as log K(b) = 1.71 +/- 0.16. Besides, using quantum mechanical density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the most probable structures of the nonhydrated Val-Na(+) as well as hydrated Val-Na(+).H(2)O complex species were proposed. Compared to Val-Na(+), the optimized structure of Val-Na(+).H(2)O complex appears to be more realistic as follows from the substantially higher binding energy (118.4 kcal/mol) of the hydrated complex than that of the nonhydrated complex (102.8 kcal/mol). In the hydrated complex, the central Na(+) cation is bound by strong bonds to one oxygen atom of the respective water molecule and to four oxygens of the corresponding C=O groups of the parent valinomycin ligand.

Determination of acid-base dissociation constants of azahelicenes by capillary zone electrophoresis.

CZE was employed to determine acid-base dissociation constants (pK(a)) of ionogenic groups of azahelicenes in methanol (MeOH). Azahelicenes are unique 3-D aromatic systems, which consist of ortho-fused benzene/pyridine units and exhibit helical chirality. The pK(a) values of pyridinium groups of the studied azahelicenes were determined from the dependence of their effective electrophoretic mobility on pH by a nonlinear regression analysis. The effective mobilities of azahelicenes were determined by CZE at pH range between 2.1 and 10.5. Thermodynamic pK(a) values of monobasic 1-aza[6]helicene and 2-aza[6]helicene in MeOH were determined to be 4.94 +/- 0.05 and 5.68 +/- 0.05, respectively, and pK(a) values of dibasic 1,14-diaza[5]helicene were found to be equal to 7.56 +/- 0.38 and 8.85 +/- 0.26. From these values, the aqueous pK(a) of these compounds was estimated.

Separation of aromatic hydrophobic sulfonates by micellar electrokinetic chromatography.

Two different buffer systems for the separation of 12 aromatic hydrophobic sulfonates by micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) were developed. The following buffer systems were used: aqueous phosphate buffers containing either cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) or sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Eleven aromatic sulfonates were simultaneously separated in less than 35 min employing 20 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7.0 containing 50 mM SDS and 10% of acetonitrile.

Characterization of phenolic profiles of Northern European berries by capillary electrophoresis and determination of their antioxidant activity.

Berries are known to contain phenolic substances (i.e., flavonoids and phenolic acids), which comprise two large and heterogeneous groups of biologically active nonnutrients. This investigation evaluated the content and profile of the phenolic compounds present in six different berries found in Northern Europe. The latter included bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), cowberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccus), strawberry (Fragaria ananassa), black currant (Ribes nigrum), and red currant (Ribes rubrum). The study was focused on two areas. The first involved the extraction and analysis of berries for total phenolic content and determination of their antioxidant activity. The total phenolic level of berries was correlated with their antioxidant activity. Second, the berry extracts were analyzed by capillary electrophoresis to determine the content and profile of selected bioactive compounds. The analytes of interest included trans-resveratrol, cinnamic acid, ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, quercetin, and morin.

Affinity capillary electrophoresis and density functional theory applied to binding constant determination and structure elucidation of hexaarylbenzene-based receptor complex with ammonium cation.

Affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE) and quantum mechanical density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been employed for the investigation of noncovalent interactions between hexaarylbenzene-based receptor (R) and ammonium cation NH(4)(+). Firstly, by means of ACE, the binding constant of the NH(4)R(+) complex in methanol was estimated from the dependence of the effective electrophoretic mobility of the receptor R (in advance corrected by our earlier developed procedure to a reference temperature of 25°C) on the concentration of ammonium ion in the background electrolyte using non-linear regression analysis. The logarithmic form of the apparent binding (stability) constant of NH(4)R(+) complex in the methanolic background electrolyte (25 mM Tris, 50 mM chloroacetate, pH(MeOH) 7.8) was evaluated as log K(NH(4)R) = 4.03 ± 0.15. Secondly, the structural characteristics of NH(4)R(+) complex were determined by DFT calculations.

Determination of acid-base dissociation constants of very weak zwitterionic heterocyclic bases by capillary zone electrophoresis.

Thermodynamic acid-base dissociation (ionization) constants (pK(a)) of seven zwitterionic heterocyclic bases, first representatives of new heterocyclic family (2,3,5,7,8,9-hexahydro-1H-diimidazo[1,2-c:2',1'-f][1,3,2]diazaphosphinin-4-ium-5-olate 5-oxides), originally designed as chiral Lewis base catalysts for enantioselective reactions, were determined by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). The pK(a) values of the above very weak zwitterionic bases were determined from the dependence of their effective electrophoretic mobility on pH in strongly acidic background electrolytes (pH 0.85-2.80). Prior to pK(a) calculation by non-linear regression analysis, the CZE measured effective mobilities were corrected to reference temperature, 25°C, and constant ionic strength, 25 mM. Thermodynamic pK(a) values of the analyzed zwitterionic heterocyclic bases were found to be particularly low, in the range 0.04-0.32. Moreover, from the pH dependence of effective mobility of the bases, some other relevant characteristics, such as actual and absolute ionic mobilities and hydrodynamic radii of the acidic cationic forms of the bases were determined.

Application of capillary affinity electrophoresis and density functional theory to the investigation of valinomycin-lithium complex.

Capillary affinity electrophoresis (CAE) and quantum mechanical density functional theory (DFT) have been applied to the investigation of interactions of valinomycin (Val), a macrocyclic dodecadepsipeptide antibiotic ionophore, with lithium cation Li(+). Firstly, from the dependence of effective electrophoretic mobility of Val on the Li(+) ion concentration in the background electrolyte (BGE) (methanolic solution of 50mM chloroacetic acid, 25 mM Tris, pH(MeOH) 7.8, 0-40 mM LiCl), the apparent binding (stability) constant (K(b)) of Val-Li(+) complex in methanol was evaluated as logK(b)=1.50+/-0.24. The employed CAE method include correction of the effective mobilities measured at ambient temperature, at different input power (Joule heating) and at variable ionic strength of the BGEs to the mobilities related to the reference temperature 25 degrees C and to the constant ionic strength 25 mM. Secondly, using DFT calculations, the most probable structures of the non-hydrated Val-Li(+) and hydrated Val-Li(+) x 3H(2)O complex species were predicted.

Application of affinity capillary electrophoresis and density functional theory to the investigation of benzo-18-crown-6-ether complex with ammonium cation.

Affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE) and quantum mechanical density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been employed for investigation of non-covalent interactions between macrocyclic ligand, benzo-18-crown-6-ether (B18C6) and ammonium cation, NH(4)(+). Firstly, by means of ACE, the strength of the B18C6-NH(4)(+) complex in mixed binary hydro-organic solvent system, methanol-water (50/50, v/v), was determined from the dependence of effective electrophoretic mobility of B18C6 (corrected to reference temperature 25 degrees C and constant ionic strength, 10mM) on the concentration of ammonium ion in the background electrolyte (BGE) using non-linear regression analysis. The logarithmic form of the apparent binding (stability) constant (logK(b)) of B18C6-NH(4)(+) complex in the above binary solvent system was found to be equal to logK(b)=1.63+/-0.10. Secondly, the structural characteristics of B18C6-NH(4)(+) complex were described by quantum mechanical density functional theory (DFT) calculations. According to these calculations, in the energetically most favoured form of the B18C6-NH(4)(+) complex, three strong hydrogen bonds are formed between central ammonium ion and B18C6 ligand, one of them is directed to aryl-O-alkyl (Ar-O-CH(2)) ethereal oxygen and the other two hydrogen bonds are oriented to alkyl-O-alkyl (CH(2)-O-CH(2)) ethereal oxygen atoms of the macrocyclic crown ligand.

Determination of stability constants of valinomycin complexes with ammonium and alkali metal ions by capillary affinity electrophoresis.

Capillary affinity electrophoresis (CAE) has been employed to investigate quantitatively the interactions of valinomycin, macrocyclic depsipeptide antibiotic ionophore, with univalent cations, ammonium and alkali metal ions, K(+), Cs(+), Na(+), and Li(+), in methanol. The study involved measuring the change in effective electrophoretic mobility of valinomycin while the cation concentrations in the BGE were increased. The corresponding apparent stability (binding) constants of the valinomycin-univalent cation complexes were obtained from the dependence of valinomycin effective mobility on the cation concentration in BGE using a nonlinear regression analysis. The calculated apparent stability constants of the above-mentioned complexes show the substantially higher selectivity of valinomycin for K(+) and Cs(+) ions over Li(+), Na(+), and NH(4)(+) ions. CAE proved to be a suitable method for the investigation of both weak and strong interactions of valinomycin with small ions.

Theoretical and experimental study of the complexation of valinomycin with ammonium cation.

The interactions of valinomycin, macrocyclic depsipeptide antibiotic ionophore, with ammonium cation NH4+ have been investigated. Using quantum mechanical density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the most probable structure of the valinomycin-NH4+ complex species was predicted. In this complex, the ammonium cation is bound partly by three strong hydrogen bonds to three ester carbonyl oxygen atoms of valinomycin and partly by somewhat weaker hydrogen bonds to the remaining three ester carbonyl groups of the valinomycin ligand. The strength of the valinomycin-NH4+ complex was evaluated experimentally by capillary affinity electrophoresis. From the dependence of valinomycin effective electrophoretic mobility on the ammonium ion concentration in the background electrolyte, the apparent binding (association, stability) constant (Kb) of the valinomycin-NH4+ complex in methanol was evaluated as log Kb = 1.52 +/- 0.22.

On-column capillary electrophoretic monitoring of rapid reaction kinetics for determination of the antioxidative potential of various bioactive phenols.

An on-column capillary electrophoretic procedure for the determination of the antioxidative potential of various bioactive phenols, found in plant, fruit, and vegetable extracts, is described. The assay is based on a rapid mixing of phenols or phenolic extracts before the capillary, followed by pressurized injection of the reaction mixture into the capillary. After incubation of the reaction mixture inside the capillary, high voltage is switched on and separation of reactants and products is performed. Using hydrogen peroxide as a stressor, the kinetics of the oxidation of various bioactive phenols was studied (rutin, chlorogenic acid, quercetin, caffeic acid, gallic acid, and combinations of these) and compared with the oxidation rate of L-ascorbic acid as a reference. The concept was demonstrated for the determination of the antioxidative potential of various polyphenol mixtures and of the methanol extract of the sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.). In most cases quercetin has the highest rate constant of oxidation among the tested phenolic compounds. However, in the mixture L-ascorbic acid/quercetin, the oxidation rate of L-ascorbic acid was enhanced and oxidation of quercetin was strongly inhibited compared with the other combinations of tested polyphenols.

Stroboscopic sampling in comprehensive high-performance liquid chromatography-capillary electrophoresis via a pneumatic sampler.

A new approach is presented to solve the problem of a long separation time in the second dimension of comprehensive two-dimensional chromatography. The need for a rapid separation in the second column is overcome by repeating analysis of a sample many times. In each of these individual analysis cases the sample is injected into the first dimension column and after a delay a low amount of the effluent at the end of the first column is sampled to the second-dimensional column. The time interval between the samplings from the first column to the second column is constantly increased. Thus, the system enables a comprehensive analysis of the effluent emerging from the first into the second column. This approach, which we call stroboscopic sampling, is tested for coupling high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to capillary electrophoresis (CE) by an interface which operates on the principle of transporting the effluent from the HPLC column to the capillary inlet by small pressure pulses (0.5 MPa). The performance of the interface for accomplishing the comprehensive HPLC-CE analysis was demonstrated for an on-line connection of a short ion-exchange column and an ion-exclusion column to the CE capillary.

On-line atmospheric pressure matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry.

A new technique is presented for the coupling of atmospheric pressure matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (AP-MALDI) mass spectrometry with liquid delivery systems. Mass measurements of polymers and peptides are demonstrated using a co-dissolved matrix, e.g. alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (HCCA). Improvements in terms of sensitivity are achieved by optimizing the shape und control of the exit capillary and by using a laser (355 nm) at a 1 kHz repetition rate. Two calibration experiments promise a good applicability of the presented coupling method for quantitative measurements. The limit of detection achieved so far is 500 nM for peptides in methanol solution containing 25 mM HCCA.