Fast, selective, and sensitive analysis of low-abundance peptides in human plasma by electromembrane extraction.

A totally new concept based on electrokinetic migration was evaluated for the extraction of three biologically active peptides from human plasma. Angiotensin 2, leu-enkephalin, and endomorphin 1 migrated from a diluted human plasma sample (2 mL, positive electrode), through a supported liquid membrane (SLM) of 1-octanol, di-isobutylketon, and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (DEHP) (55:35:10, w/w/w), and into an acidified acceptor solution (25 µL 50 mM HCl, negative electrode) by the application of an electrical potential (20 V) across the SLM. After only five min of extraction, the acceptor solution was injected and analyzed directly by liquid chromatography. The three peptides were quantified by tandem mass spectrometry, with acceptable linearity ranging from 100.0 to 1000.0 pg mL(-1) (r(2) in the range 0.9736-0.9988), and repeatability (RSD) ranging between 15% and 24% (n=5), using plasma spiked with the three peptides in 100 pg mL(-1) concentration. The estimated detection limits (S/N ratio of 3:1) for angiotensin 2, leu-enkephalin, and endomorphin 1, were 60, 24, and 24 pg mL(-1), respectively. With this novel approach based on electromembrane extraction (EME) coupled to LC-MS/MS, endogenous concentrations of the peptides were detected in non-spiked human plasma samples, with a total analysis time less than 50 min. These experimental findings were highly interesting, and showed the opportunities for EME with regard to future peptide extractions.

Electromembrane extraction of peptides--fundamental studies on the supported liquid membrane.

A large screening of different components in the supported liquid membrane (SLM) in electromembrane extraction (EME) was performed to test the extraction efficiency on eight model peptides. Electromembrane extraction from a 500 µL acidified aqueous sample containing the model peptides in the concentration 10 µg/mL was used. Extraction time was 5 min with an electric potential of 10 V and 900 rpm agitation of the sample vial. The samples were extracted through a hollow fiber-based SLM with different compositions of organic solvents and carriers. A small volume of acidified acceptor solution (25 µL) was after extraction analyzed directly, or with some dilution, on CE or HPLC. This article has identified mono- or di-substituted phosphate groups as the prominent group of carrier molecules needed to obtain acceptable recoveries. For the organic solvents, primary alcohols and ketones have shown promise regarding recovery and reproducibility, with some differences in selectivity. A new composition of the SLM, namely 2-octanone and tridecyl phosphate (90:10 w/w) has proved to give higher extraction recoveries and lower standard deviation than SLMs previously reported in the literature.

Fundamental studies on the electrokinetic transfer of net cationic peptides across supported liquid membranes.

By the application of an electrical potential difference (25 V), 37 different peptides were extracted from 500 µL aqueous sample (10 mM formic acid, positive electrode), through a supported liquid membrane (SLM) impregnated in the walls of a porous hollow fiber, and into 25 µL aqueous acceptor solution (100 mM formic acid, negative electrode) present inside the lumen of the fiber. Most of the peptides were obtained by tryptic digestion of cytochrome c and bovine serum albumin, which yielded complex samples for extraction. Three different SLMs were utilized to correlate the peptides extractability with the highly variable physical-chemical properties of the peptides. The first SLM (pure eugenol) provided an electromembrane extraction system for hydrophobic and intermediate peptides (hydrophilicity values below 0.2), where the extraction of peptides into the SLM was mainly based on solvent interactions. The second SLM (1-octanol/di-isobutylketone/di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate) extracted both hydrophobic and hydrophilic peptides (hydrophilicity values in the range from -2 to+1) successfully, and the transfer of peptides was principally based on ionic interactions with di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate. The third SLM (1-octanol/15-crown-5 ether) was selective for hydrophobic peptides (negative hydrophilicity values), and complexation of the peptides with the crown ether was important for the migration of peptides into the acceptor solution.

Potential-driven peptide extractions across supported liquid membranes: investigation of principal operational parameters.

Fundamental experiments on electromembrane extraction were performed to increase the basic knowledge about the current and the mass transfer of target peptides and background electrolyte ions. Three peptides (angiotensin 2, bradykinin, and enkephalin) were extracted from 500 microL aqueous donor solution (1 mM HCl, positive electrode), through a 200 microm supported liquid membrane (SLM) of 1-octanol/di-isobutylketon/di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (55:35:10 w/w/w) sustained in the pores of a porous hollow fiber, and into 25 microL aqueous acceptor solution (50 mM HCl, negative electrode) present inside the lumen of the fiber by the application of an electrical potential (50 V) and agitation (1050 rpm). Recoveries were typically in the range of 55-65% after 5 min of extraction and were principally determined by the chemical composition of the SLM and by the applied voltage. The electrical current in the system was measured during the extraction and was close to 350 microA. The current arose to some extent from mass transfer of the target peptides, but the major contribution was due to a background current from di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate in the SLM and from mass transfer of background electrolytes. Operation at relatively low background current was important to maintain a stable system.

Rapid isolation of angiotensin peptides from plasma by electromembrane extraction.

The present study has for the first time demonstrated the isolation of peptides from human plasma by electromembrane extraction (EME). Angiotensin 1, angiotensin 2, and angiotensin 3 migrated from 500 microL of diluted plasma, through a thin layer of 1-octanol and 8% di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate immobilized as a supported liquid membrane (SLM) in the pores of a porous hollow fiber, and into a 25 microL aqueous acceptor solution present inside the lumen of the fiber. The driving force for the extraction was a 15 V potential difference applied across the SLM. After only 10 min of EME, the peptides were isolated from diluted plasma (pH 3) with extraction recoveries between 25 and 43%. After optimization, the extraction system was evaluated using spiked plasma samples of angiotensin 2. The evaluation was performed by liquid chromatography electrospray mass spectrometry, showing linearity of angiotensin 2 in the range 2.5-125.0 ng/mL (r(2)=0.989), and repeatability (RSD) between 5.6 and 11.6% (n=6). The results demonstrate the possibility of isolating angiotensin peptides from plasma in only 10 min, using electromembrane extraction. The experimental findings are therefore promising with regard to future peptide extractions.

Electromembrane extraction of peptides.

Rapid extraction of eight different peptides using electromembrane extraction (EME) was demonstrated for the first time. During an extraction time of 5 min, the model peptides migrated from a 500 microL aqueous acidic sample solution, through a thin supported liquid membrane (SLM) of an organic liquid sustained in the pores in the wall of a porous hollow fiber, and into a 25 microL aqueous acidic acceptor solution present inside the lumen of the hollow fiber. The driving force of the extraction was a 50 V potential sustained across the SLM, with the positive electrode in the sample and the negative electrode in the acceptor solution. The nature and the composition of the SLM were highly important for the EME process, and a mixture of 1-octanol and 15% di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate was found to work properly. Using 1mM HCl as background electrolyte in the sample and 100 mM HCl in the acceptor solution, and agitation at 1050 rpm, enrichment up to 11 times was achieved. Recoveries were found to be dependent on the structure of the peptide, indicating that the polarity and the number of ionized groups were important parameters affecting the extraction efficiency. The experimental findings suggested that electromembrane extraction of peptides is possible and may be a valuable tool for future extraction of peptides.

Electrokinetic migration of acidic drugs across a supported liquid membrane.

Electrokinetic cross membrane extraction of acidic drugs was demonstrated for the first time. The acidic drugs were extracted from an alkaline aqueous donor solution (300 microl), through a thin supported liquid membrane of 1-heptanol sustained in the pores of the wall of a porous hollow fiber, and into an aqueous alkaline acceptor solution (30 microl) present inside the lumen of the hollow fiber by the application of a d.c. electrical potential. The negative electrode was placed in the donor solution, and the positive electrode was placed in the acceptor solution. Optimal extractions were accomplished with 1-heptanol as the supported liquid membrane, with 50 V as the driving force, and with pH 12.0 in both the donor and acceptor solutions, respectively (NaOH). Equilibrium extraction conditions were obtained after 5 min of operation with the whole assembly agitated at 1200 rpm. Eleven different acidic drugs were extracted with recovery values between 8 and 100%, and initial data supported that electrokinetic cross membrane extraction provided repeatable data and linear response between original donor concentration and final acceptor concentration of the acidic model compounds.