Accumulation of S(+) enantiomer in human beings after general anaesthesia with isoflurane racemate.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Isoflurane is a chiral, volatile anaesthetic with low metabolic rate (0.17%) that is routinely administered in its racemic form. Knowledge about the distribution of the enantiomers in human beings may give some important information about the understanding of the mechanisms of volatile anaesthetics. METHODS: Blood samples were drawn immediately after tracheal extubation and daily up to 8 days postoperatively from patients undergoing general anaesthesia with isoflurane racemate. The enantiomer enrichment of isoflurane was determined by headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. RESULTS: At all time points, there was a statistically significant accumulation of the S(+) enantiomer in blood, especially at days 2 (52.01%) and 7 (52.1%). Separate analysis of obese patients or in a small group of patients with co-existing lung disease did not show any difference to the total population. In addition, duration of anaesthesia did not influence the enantiomer concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that a slower association and dissociation rate is responsible for the S(+) enrichment.

Quantitative determination of isoflurane enantiomers in blood samples during and after surgery via headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

The quantitative analysis of the chiral volatile anesthetic isoflurane (1) for biomedical applications by means of enantioselective gas chromatography (mass sensitive detector, selected ion monitoring) was studied. Two methods for the quantification of the enantiomers in blood samples drawn during and after narcosis were compared. Either the isomeric enflurane (2) was selected as an internal standard or a single enantiomer of 1 was used for the standard addition method, an approach referred to as 'enantiomer labeling'. Concentrations up to 0.3 micromol/l of the single enantiomers could be differentiated two days after anesthesia. The presented data imply that the body clearance for (+)-(S)-1 and (-)-(R)-1 proceeds to a measurable degree of enantioselectivity.

Dual chiral recognition system involving cyclodextrin derivatives in capillary electrophoresis II. Enhancement of enantioselectivity.

The enantiomer separation of hexobarbital was investigated by open tubular electrochromatography (OTEC) using the chiral stationary phase (CSP) CHIRASIL-DEX (a permethylated beta-cyclodextrin covalently linked to a dimethylpolysiloxane) and by cyclodextrin-electrokinetic chromatogaphy (CD-EKC) using anionic beta-cyclodextrin-sulfo-n-propyl ether (SPE-beta-CD) and cationic beta-cyclodextrin-2-hydroxy-3-trimethylammoniumpropyl ether chloride (HTAP-beta-CD) added to the running buffer. By employing two chiral selectors, the enantiomer separation of hexobarbital was then studied simultaneously by OTEC with CHIRASIL-DEX and by CD-EKC with either SPE-beta-CD or HTAP-beta-CD in the dual chiral recognition mode. In conjunction with CHIRASIL-DEX, anionic SPE-beta-CD decreased the chiral separation factor alpha due to compensation of enantioselectivity whereas the cationic additive HTAP-beta-CD increased the chiral separation factor alpha due to enhancement of enantioselectivity. It is concluded that CHIRASIL-DEX imparts an opposite enantioselectivity to the enantiomers of hexobarbital as compared to the charged CDs SPE-beta-CD and HTAP-beta-CD. Unusual peak broadening phenomena are observed in the dual chiral recognition system comprised of CHIRASIL-DEX and HTAP-beta-CD. The possible consequences of accidental dual chiral recognition systems caused by wall stacking effects of the mobile phase additives onto the inner surface of the capillary column are discussed.

Electrokinetic chromatography employing an anionic and a cationic beta-cyclodextrin derivative.

beta-Cyclodextrin, 1, can act as a chiral buffer additive in capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) owing to its ability to form diastereomeric complexes with the enantiomers of ionic compounds. Reaction of 1 with 2,3-epoxy-propyltrimethylammonium chloride gave preponderantly 6-O-(2-hydroxy-3-trimethylammoniopropyl) derivatives (2) of varying degrees of substitution (d.s.). Analogous reaction of 1 with 1,3-propanesultone yielded 6-O-(sulfo-n-propyl) derivatives (SPE-beta-CD, 3) of varying d.s. The purity and the d.s. of 2 and 3 were determined by 1H NMR and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). These charged beta-cyclodextrin derivatives were used for the chromatographic enantiomer separation of a series of neutral barbiturates, of chlorthalidone, terbutaline, warfarin, salbutamol and brompheniramine by cyclodextrin electrokinetic chromatography (CD-EKC). During the separation of chlorthalidone with 3 as chiral additive, a reversible interconversion of the enantiomers (enantiomerization) was observed at temperatures below 20 degrees C.

Analysis of charged cyclomalto-oligosaccharides (cyclodextrin) derivatives by ion-spray, matrix-assisted laser-desorption/ionization time-of-flight and fast-atom bombardment mass spectrometry, and by capillary electrophoresis.

The use of electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry (ESIMS), matrix-assisted laser-desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDITOFMS), and fast-atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FABMS) for the rapid determination of molecular weight, degree of substitution (ds), and purity is demonstrated for charged derivatives of cyclomalto-heptaose (beta CD) and -octaose (gamma CD). The access to anionic sulfoalkyl ethers (alkyl: ethyl, n-propyl, and n-butyl) and to beta CD-2-hydroxy-3-trimethylammoniumpropyl ether chlorides (HTAP-beta CD) leads only to mixtures of products, the compositions of which can be determined directly from ESI and MALDITOF mass spectra. All charged derivatives consist of a mixture of unreacted and higher substituted compounds. The substitution patterns obtained by MS are in good agreement with the results of experiments on the separation of beta CD-sulfoalkyl ethers by capillary electrophoresis (CE).

Unified enantioselective capillary chromatography on a Chirasil-DEX stationary phase. Advantages of column miniaturization.

Immobilized Chirasil-DEX (mono-6-O-octamethylenepermethyl-beta-cyclodextrin chemically linked to dimethylpolysiloxane) can be employed as a versatile chiral stationary phase in chromatography. The chiral polymer has a long lifetime and is configurationally and thermally stable. The concept of unified enantioselective chromatography has been demonstrated for the enantiomer separation of hexobarbital by gas chromatography, supercritical fluid chromatography, liquid chromatography and capillary electrochromatography on a single open-tubular column (1 m x 50 microns I.D.) coated with Chirasil-DEX. The advantages of miniaturization in contemporary chromatographic enantiomer separation are demonstrated. Chirasil-DEX coated on porous silica is also useful for enantiomer separation in high-performance liquid chromatography.