Lynn Hewson
☆    

Uruguay,
2014-05-12 19:17
(4031 d 10:21 ago)

Posting: # 12932
Views: 5,267
 

 Chiral Columns [Bioanalytics]

Dear all,
We are developing am HPLC/MS method to measure omeprazole enantiomers in human plasma.

So far, we have tried two column brands but were not lucky with any of them.
The first brand (Phenomenex Lux) showed lack of robustness: when switching from one column batch to another there was a shift in retention times, changes in resolution between enantiomer peaks and a significant decrease in the slope of the calibration curve. With one particular column we even had a lack of linearity in the calibration curve range.

So we decided to try another brand, hoping for consistency in results. We decided to try a Chiralpack IC-3, based on published data.
We employed chromatographic conditions as per recommendations of the manufacturer of the column and resolution between peaks was ok when using standard solutions (without plasma). But, as soon as we injected the calibration curve in plasma, the peaks did not resolve at all.

The manufacturer claims that the column was not meant to be used with plasma samples. But, in this particular case, plasma samples were cleaned-up by SPE extraction prior to injection, and only 11 injections of plasma samples were performed!

So we think that there is a problem with this column in particular.

Does anyone have any experience (good/bad) with chiral columns?

Any suggestions are welcomed. Chiral columns are very expensive and it has been very frustrating not to be able to find a suitable one.

Thank you very much!

Lyn
AngusMcLean
★★  

USA,
2014-05-24 01:44
(4020 d 03:54 ago)

@ Lynn Hewson
Posting: # 13004
Views: 4,249
 

 Chiral Columns

Lyn: I have a lot of experience with chiral columns. For the analysis of mixtures of dextro and levoamphetamine in plasma. The plasma extract was an elaborate procedure involving extraction, back-extraction into acid, basifying and then extracting finally into organic solvent. The column we used was a normal phase chiral column so it was like old established normal phase chromatography eluting wiht organic solvents. The sample preparation as always with plasma is the crucial step. We ran lots of samples supporting NDA type studies.

Hope this helps,

Angus
Helmut
★★★
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Vienna, Austria,
2014-05-24 02:51
(4020 d 02:47 ago)

@ AngusMcLean
Posting: # 13005
Views: 4,281
 

 Column-switching?

Hi Angus & Lyn,

repetitive extraction/back-extraction is indeed an excellent procedure to get very “clean” extracts. Unfortunately it requires the analyte to be stable in all pHs employed. Omeprazole has a half-life of a couple of seconds (!) in strong acidic pH. Remaining options:
  • LLE at ~neutral pH with ethyl acetate. Dirty extracts, since EtAc after centrifugation contains ~5% H20. Quite often greasy residues which are difficult to dissolve in mobile phase.
    Et2O would be another option allowing back-extraction to basic buffer.
  • LLE in strongly basic conditions with unpolar solvents like CH2Cl2 and/or hexane. Does not remove basic contaminants – which are more prevalent than acidic ones by far…
  • SPE: Not so nice as well. Only mild washing with low percentages of organic modifier possible.
  • Protein precipation: Most commonly applied method for omeprazole. High dilution may help in limiting carrying over contaminants to the LC.
@Lyn: Do you use a pre-column? Did you consider online-SPE or (probably even better) column-switching (i.e., the first column diol / CN or even RP in HILC-style and heart-cutting only the analyte-fraction to the chiral column)? Both should protect the main column from most of the nasty stuff.

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AngusMcLean
★★  

USA,
2014-06-02 22:45
(4010 d 06:53 ago)

@ Helmut
Posting: # 13027
Views: 4,224
 

 Column-switching?

Lyn: Helmut is indeed correct the above sample preparation procedure for a stable amine is not applicable to an acid labile drug like omeprazole. I think as Helmut suggest SPE may work or perhaps an extraction with a solvent of minimal polarity yet still cable of extracting the drug.

Angus
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