Modified Gaussian models applied to the description and deconvolution of peaks in chiral liquid chromatography.

The description of the profiles of chromatographic peaks has been studied extensively, with a large number of proposed mathematical functions. Among them, the accuracy achieved with modified Gaussian models that describe the deviation of an ideal Gaussian peak as a change in the peak variance or standard deviation over time, has been highlighted. These models are, in fact, a family of functions of different complexity with great flexibility to adjust chromatographic peaks over a wide range of asymmetries and shapes. However, an uncontrolled behaviour of the signal may occur outside the region being fitted, forcing the use of different strategies to overcome this problem. In this work, the performance of the LMG (Linear Modified Gaussian), PVMG (Parabolic Variance Modified Gaussian), and PLMG (Parabolic-Lorentzian Modified Gaussian) models is compared with variants obtained by combination of the modified Gaussian models with an equation that adds an exponential tail and with other functions that limit the growth of the independent variable. The behaviour of the approaches is checked through the simultaneous fitting of enantiomeric peaks showing a wide range of characteristics, obtained in the separation of drugs with chiral activity by liquid chromatography using enantioselective columns. The study is also carried out with the purpose of performing the deconvolution of the peaks of the enantiomers, when these are not completely resolved, in order to evaluate the enantiomeric fraction.

Prospective computational design and in vitro bio-analytical tests of new chemical entities as potential selective CYP17A1 lyase inhibitors.

The development and advancement of prostate cancer (PCa) into stage 4, where it metastasize, is a major problem mostly in elder males. The growth of PCa cells is stirred up by androgens and androgen receptor (AR). Therefore, therapeutic strategies such as blocking androgens synthesis and inhibiting AR binding have been explored in recent years. However, recently approved drugs (or in clinical phase) failed in improving the expected survival rates for this metastatic-castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients. The selective CYP17A1 inhibition of 17,20-lyase route has emerged as a novel strategy. Such inhibition blocks the production of androgens everywhere they are found in the body. In this work, a three dimensional-quantitative structure activity relationship (3D-QSAR) pharmacophore model is developed on a diverse set of non-steroidal inhibitors of CYP17A1 enzyme. Highly active compounds are selected to define a six-point pharmacophore hypothesis with a unique geometrical arrangement fitting the following description: two hydrogen bond acceptors (A), two hydrogen bond donors (D) and two aromatic rings (R). The QSAR model showed adequate predictive statistics. The 3D-QSAR model is further used for database virtual screening of potential inhibitory hit structures. Density functional theory (DFT) optimization provides the electronic properties explaining the reactivity of the hits. Docking simulations discovers hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions as responsible for the binding affinities of hits to the CYP17A1 Protein Data Bank structure. 13 hits from the database search (including five derivatives) are then synthesized in the laboratory as different scaffolds. Ultra high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) in vitro experiments reveals three new chemical entities (NCEs) with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values against the lyase route at mid-micromolar range with favorable selectivity to the lyase over the hydroxylase route (one of them with null hydroxylase inhibition). Thus, prospective computational design has enabled the design of potential lead lyase-selective inhibitors for further studies.

Fit-for-purpose chromatographic method for the determination of amikacin in human plasma for the dosage control of patients.

In this paper, a simple, rapid and sensitive method based on liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection (HPLC-FLD) for the determination of amikacin (AMK) in human plasma is developed. Determination is performed by pre-column derivatization of AMK with ortho-phtalaldehyde (OPA) in presence of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) at pH 9.5 for 5 min at 80 °C. In our knowledge, this is the first time that NAC has been used in AMK derivatization. Derivatization conditions (pH, AMK/OPA/NAC molar ratios, temperature and reaction time) are optimized to obtain a single and stable, at room temperature, derivative. Separation of the derivative is achieved on a reversed phase LC column (Kromasil C18, 5 µm, 150 × 4.6 i.d. mm) with a mobile phase of 0.05 M phosphate buffer:acetonitrile (80:20, v/v) pumped at flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. Detection is performed using 337 and 439 nm for excitation and emission wavelengths, respectively. The method is fitted for the purpose of being a competitive alternative to the currently used method in many hospitals for AMK dosage control: fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA). The method exhibits linearity in the 0.17-10 µg mL(-1) concentration range with a squared correlation coefficient higher than 0.995. Trueness and intermediate precision are estimated using spiked drug free plasma samples, which fulfill current UNE-EN ISO15189:2007 accreditation schemes. Finally, for the first time, statistical comparison against the FPIA method is demonstrated using plasma samples from 31 patients under treatment with AMK.

Fast-multivariate optimization of chiral separations in capillary electrophoresis: anticipative strategies.

The design of experiments (DOE) is a good option for rationally limiting the number of experiments required to achieve the enantioresolution (Rs) of a chiral compound in capillary electrophoresis. In some cases, the modeled Rs after DOE analysis can be unsatisfactory, maybe because the range of the explored factors (DOE domain) was not the adequate. In these cases, anticipative strategies can be an alternative to the repetition of the process (e.g. a new DOE), to save time and money. In this work, multiple linear regression (MLR)-steepest ascent and a new anticipative strategy based on a multiple response-partial least squares model (called PLS2-prediction) are examined as post-DOE strategies to anticipate new experimental conditions providing satisfactory Rs values. The new anticipative strategy allows to include the analysis time (At) and uncertainty limits into the decision making process. To demonstrate their efficiency, the chiral separation of hexaconazole and penconazole, as model compounds, is studied using highly sulfated-ß-cyclodextrin (HS-ß-CD) in electrokinetic chromatography (EKC). Box-Behnken DOE for three factors (background electrolyte pH, separation temperature and HS-ß-CD concentration) and two responses (Rs and At) is used. Using commercially available software, the whole modeling and anticipative process is automatic, simple and requires minimal skills from the researcher. Both strategies studied have proven to successfully anticipate Rs values close to the experimental ones for EKC conditions outside the DOE domain for the two model compounds. The results in this work suggest that PLS2-prediction approach could be the strategy of choice to obtain secure anticipations in EKC.

Cyclodextrins in capillary electrophoresis: recent developments and new trends.

Despite the fact that extensive research in the field of separations by capillary electrophoresis (CE) has been carried out and many reviews have been published in the last years, a specific review on the use and future potential of cyclodextrins (CDs) in CE is not available. This review focuses the attention in the CD-CE topic over the January 2013-February 2014 period (not covered by previous more general CE-reviews). Recent contributions (reviews and research articles) including practical uses (e.g. solute-CD binding constant estimation and further potentials; 19% of publications), developments and applications (mainly chiral and achiral analysis; 38 and 24% of publications, respectively) are summarized in nine comprehensive tables and are commented. Statistics and predictions related to the CD-CE publications are highlighted in order to infer the current and expected research interests. Finally, trends and initiatives on CD-CE attending to real needs or practical criteria are outlined.

Modeling the chiral resolution ability of highly sulfated ß-cyclodextrin for basic compounds in electrokinetic chromatography.

Despite the fact that extensive research in the field of enantioseparations by capillary electrophoresis has been carried out, it is difficult to predict whether a concrete chiral selector would be useful for the separation of a racemic compound. Hence, several experimental effort is necessary to test the abilities of individual chiral selectors, usually by trial and error procedures. Thus, the enantioseparation of a new racemate becomes a time- and money-consuming task. In this work, the ability of highly sulfated ß-cyclodextrin (HS-ß-CD) as chiral selector in electrokinetic chromatography (EKC) is modeled for the first time, using exclusively directly-available structural data of forty compounds (structurally unrelated basic drugs and pesticides). A discriminant partial least squares (PLS)-based quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) approach is simplified, resulting in a consistent, predictive and descriptive model. It is converted into an explicit equation able to predict the enantioresolution level (Rs) of new compounds, from four structure properties available in an on-line open database: logarithm of octanol-water partition coefficient estimated at pH 7.4 (lgD), polar surface area (PSA), number of hydrogen bond donors (HBD) and acceptors (HBA). For the cases in which the model predicts good Rs only in concrete experimental conditions, a Box-Behnken experimental design is proposed for the fast PLS-based optimization of the most influential experimental variables: cyclodextrin concentration, temperature and pH.

In-line capillary electrophoretic evaluation of the enantioselective metabolism of verapamil by cytochrome P3A4.

In this paper a methodology for the in-line evaluation of enantioselective metabolism by capillary electrophoresis has been developed and applied to the study of verapamil metabolism by cytochrome P3A4. The developed methodology comprises an in-capillary reaction step carried out by electrophoretically mediated microanalysis and a separation step in which highly sulfated ß-cyclodextrin with partial filling technique has been employed as chiral selector for verapamil and norverapamil enantiomers resolution, joining the advantages of both methodologies in a unique assay. Kinetic parameters of the enzymatic reaction (Km and Vmax) have been evaluated for both verapamil enantiomers by non-linear fitting of experimental data obtained under intermediate precision conditions to Michaelis-Menten equation. Km and Vmax estimated values were 51±9 µM and 22±2 pmol min(-1) (pmol CYP)(-1) for S-VER and 47±9 µM and 21±2 pmol min(-1) (pmol CYP)(-1) for R-VER. Consequently, slight enantioselectivity was found for the CYP3A4 metabolism of verapamil. However, since confidence intervals of estimates overlap, we cannot assure a significant enantioselectivity. Intrinsic clearance values were also estimated from Km and Vmax for both enantiomers.

Experimental-like affinity constants and enantioselectivity estimates from flexible docking.

Experimental-like affinity constants and enantioselectivity estimates, not predicted so far computationally, were obtained using a novel flexible modeling/docking combined strategy. The S- and R-warfarin-human serum albumin (HSA, site I) complexes were used as an interaction model. The process for a verified estimation includes the following: (i) ionized open chain forming at physiological pH (a recent focus); (ii) conformational search (molecular mechanics and Monte Carlo methods); (iii) rigid protein-flexible ligand docking (GlideXP) generating low energy paired S- and R-poses; (iv) graphical comparison against the X-ray crystal structure (unsatisfactory verification step); (v) quantum polarized ligand docking (insufficient verification step); (vi) induced fit docking (one pose satisfying the verification criterion; selection step); (vii) converting docking scores to affinity and enantioselectivity estimates (log K(S) = 5.43, log K(R) = 5.34, ES = K(S)/K(R) = 1.23) and numerical comparison against equivalent literature data from bioanalytical techniques (validation step); (viii) intermolecular forces explaining ES (hydrogen bonding and π-π interactions).

Permeability and toxicological profile estimation of organochlorine compounds by biopartitioning micellar chromatography.

This paper points out the usefulness of biopartitioning micellar chromatography (BMC) as a high-throughput primary screening tool providing key information about the oral absorption, skin permeability (K(p)), brain-blood distribution coefficient (BB) and ecotoxicological parameters such as median lethal concentration (LC(50)) and bioconcentration factors of 15 organochloride compounds. The retention data of compounds in BMC conditions were interpolated in previously developed quantitative-retention activity relationships by our research group. Results show that the compounds studied readily cross the intestinal barrier (oral absorption > 90%) and the blood-brain barrier (log BB > 0.4). In addition, the organochlorines DDE, chlorobenzene, 1,3-dichlorobenzene and 1,2-dichlorobenzene are the compounds which can more quickly cross the skin barrier (log K(p ) > -0.74 cm/h). From a ecotoxicological point of view, it can be concluded that the most retained compounds, DDE, DDD, hexachlorobenzene and dicofol, are the most toxic and bioacumulative.

Determination of lead and cadmium in seawater by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry: fit-for-purpose partial validation and internal quality aspects.

The main thrust of this work involves method validation, quality control and sample uncertainty estimations related to the determination of cadmium and lead in marine water by anodic stripping voltammetry. We have followed a step-by-step protocol to evaluate and harmonize the internal quality aspects of this method. Such protocol involves a statement of the method's scope (analytes, matrices, concentration level) and requisites (external and/or internal); selection of the method's (fit-for-purpose) features; prevalidation and validation of the intermediate accuracy (under intermediate precision conditions) and its assessment (by Monte Carlo simulation); validation of other required features of the method (if applicable); and a validity statement in terms of a "fit-for-purpose" decision, harmonized validation-control-uncertainty statistics (the "u-approach") and short-term routine work (with the aim of proposing virtually "ready-to-use" methods).

Chromatographic retention-activity relationships for prediction of the toxicity pH-dependence of phenols.

An investigation of the use of the chromatographic retention (log k) as an in vitro approach for modeling the pH-dependence of the toxicity to Guppy of phenols is developed. A data set of 19 phenols with available experimental toxicity-pH data was used. The importance of the mechanism of toxic action (MOA) of phenols was studied. log k data at three pH values were used for the phenols classification and two groups or 'MODEs' were identified. For one 'MODE' a quantitative retention-activity relationship (QRAR) model was calculated. Finally, the model was used to assess the toxicity to Guppy of phenols at different pH values. The results of this investigation suggest that chromatographic retention data allows fish toxicity modeling, in the 5.5-8 pH range of interest.

Biopartitioning micellar chromatography: an alternative high-throughput method for assessing the ecotoxicity of anilines and phenols.

An investigation of the use of the chromatographic retention (log k) as an in vitro approach for modelling the toxicity to Fathead Minnows of anilines and phenols is developed. A data set of 65 compounds with available experimental toxicity data was used. Log k data at three pH values were used for the compounds classification and two groups or 'MODEs' were identified. For one 'MODE' a quantitative retention-activity relationship (QRAR) model was calculated. Finally, it was used to estimate the toxicity to Fathead minnows of anilines and phenols for which experimental data are not available. These estimations were compared to those obtained from another toxicity (to Tetrahymena pyriformis) data set and those estimated from a U.S. EPA QSAR approach (ECOSAR software) to decide on the toxicity level according to the Directive 3/21/EEC.

A diagnostic tool for determining the quality of accuracy validation. Assessing the method for determination of nitrate in drinking water.

Realistic internal validation of a method implies the performance validation experiments under intermediate precision conditions. The validation results can be organized in an X (NrxNs) (replicates x runs) data matrix, analysis of which enables assessment of the accuracy of the method. By means of Monte Carlo simulation, uncertainty in the estimates of bias and precision can be assessed. A bivariate plot is presented for assessing whether the uncertainty intervals for the bias (E +/- U(E)) and intermediate precision (RSDi +/- U(RSDi) are included in prefixed limits (requirements for the method). As a case study, a method for determining the concentration of nitrate in drinking water at the official level set by 98/83/EC Directive is assessed by use of the proposed plot.

Uncertainty-based internal quality control. Harmonization considerations.

Three main quality aspects for analytical laboratories are internal method validation, internal quality control (IQC), and sample result uncertainty. Unfortunately, in the past they have been used in a nonharmonized way. The most universal IQC tool is the mean chart, but some criteria used to fix their control limits do not fit the real nature of analytical results. A new approach for fixing these limits is proposed (the u-approach). The key is the combined uncertainty, u, obtained from the method validation information, also used for estimating the sample result uncertainty. A comparative study on "in-control" simulated, bibliographic, and real laboratory data suggests that the u-approach is more reliable than other well-established criteria. In addition, the u-approach mean chart emerges as an IQC tool, consistent with chemical assays, which harmonizes the validation-control-uncertainty process.

Quantitative structure-retention relationships for ionic and non-ionic compounds in biopartitioning micellar chromatography.

Quantitative structure-retention relationships, QSRRs, represent a powerful tool in chromatography. The objectives of QSRR studies are to predict the chromatographic retention behaviour of solutes based on their structural properties, to elucidate retention mechanisms, to optimize the separation of complex mixtures or to prepare experimental designs. In this paper, using the retention factors of 151 structurally unrelated solutes that cover a wide range of hydrophobicity, molecular size, hydrogen bonding properties and ionization degrees obtained in biopartitioning micellar chromatography (BMC) at different Brij35 micellar concentrations, several multivariate QSRR models are tested. It is demonstrated that the chromatographic retention of any molecule in BMC, independently of its family, can be adequately described by its hydrophobicity (expressed as log P) and its anionic and cationic total molar charge (expressed as alpha(A) and alpha(B)).

Comparison between sodium dodecylsulphate and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as mobile phases in the micellar liquid chromatography determination of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in pharmaceuticals.

The retention behaviour of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) using micellar mobile phases of sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS) is studied and compared with that observed with micellar mobile phases of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). A liquid chromatographic procedure for the determination of acemetacin, diclofenac, indomethacin, ketoprofen, naproxen and tolmetin in pharmaceutical preparations is described. The proposed system uses a Kromasil C18 analytical column and a solution of 0.15 M SDS at pH 3 with 10% 1-propanol as mobile phase. Under these conditions, the studied NSAIDs elute between 6 and 10 min at a 1 mL min(-1) flow rate. Limits of detection (LOD) are lower than 0.5 microg mL(-1). Recoveries in the analysis of the pharmaceutical preparations are ranged between 91 and 104% respect to the nominal content declared by the manufacturers and the relative standard deviations are in general lower than 4%.

Potential of biopartitioning micellar chromatography as an in vitro technique for predicting drug penetration across the blood-brain barrier.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is considered to be the main barrier to drug transport into the central nervous system (CNS). The BBB restricts the passive diffusion of many drugs from blood to brain. The ease with which any particular drug diffuses across the BBB is determined largely by the molecular features of drugs, and it is therefore possible to predict the BBB permeability of a drug from its molecular structure. Biopartitioning micellar chromatography (BMC), a mode of micellar liquid chromatography that uses micellar mobile phases of Brij35 in adequate experimental conditions, can be useful in mimicking the drug partitioning process into biological systems. Retention in BMC depends on the hydrophobicity, electronic and steric properties of drugs. In this paper, the usefulness of BMC for predicting the BBB penetration ability of drugs expressed as the brain/blood distribution coefficient (BB) is demonstrated. A multiple linear regression (MLR) model that relates the BB distribution coefficients data with BMC retention data and total molar charge is proposed. The model is obtained using 44 heterogeneous drugs including, neutral, anionic, and cationic compounds. A comparison with other reported methodologies to predict the BBB permeability is also presented.

Reliability of the retention factor estimations in liquid chromatography.

The retention factor is one of the most universally used parameters in chromatography. However, large differences in the experimental retention factor values are observed when the same compound is injected in a given stationary/mobile phase system under intermediate precision conditions. Conventional protocols for estimating retention factors have problems that mainly arise from difficulties in the hold-up time measurements and the omission of the existence of extra-column times by practicing chromatographers. In the present paper, three different approaches for estimating retention factors are tested: (i) classical retention factor estimations based on the gross hold-up time, (ii) based on the real hold-up time (taking into account the extra-column time), and (iii) a new approach that uses 'relative' retention factors based on the use of an external standard. Assays are performed in micellar liquid chromatography (MLC) under intermediate precision conditions (different days, equipments, columns lengths, and mobile phase flow rates). The reliability of the three approaches tested is evaluated by means of precision studies, analysis of factors affecting retention factors, and uncertainty calculations. The approach based on 'relative' retention factors was found to be the most precise, reliable, and robust strategy for estimating retention factors.

Chromatographic multivariate quality control of pharmaceuticals giving strongly overlapped peaks based on the chromatogram profile.

In the present paper, the simultaneous quantification of two analytes showing strongly overlapped chromatographic peaks (alpha = 1.02), under the assumption that both available equipment and training of the laboratory staff are basic, is studied. A pharmaceutical preparation (Mutabase) containing two drugs of similar physicochemical properties (amitriptyline and perphenazine) is selected as case of study. The assays are carried out under realistic working conditions (i.e. routine testing laboratories). Uncertainty considerations are introduced in the study. A partial least squares model is directly applied to the chromatographic data (with no previous signal transformation) to perform quality control of the pharmaceutical formulation. Under the adequate protocol, the relative error in prediction of analytes is within the tolerances found in the pharmacopeia (10%). For spiked samples simulating formulation mistakes, the errors found have the same magnitude and sign to those provoked.

Biopartitioning micellar separation methods: modelling drug absorption.

The search for new pharmacologically active compounds in drug discovery programmes often neglects biopharmaceutical properties as drug absorption. As a result, poor biopharmaceutical characteristics constitute a major reason for the low success rate for candidates in clinical development. Since the cost of drug development is many times larger than the cost of drug discovery, predictive methodologies aiding the selection of bioavailable drug candidates are of profound significance. This paper has been focussed on recent developments and applications of chromatographic systems, particularly those systems based on amphiphilic structures, in the frame of alternative approaches for estimating the transport properties of new drugs. The aim of this review is to take a critical look at the separations methods proposed for describing and predicting drug passive permeability across gastrointestinal tract and the skin.