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A sensitive method using CZE-UV detection has been developed for the determination of five tetracycline antibiotics in human urine samples. To improve the sensitivity of the method, an on-line preconcentration strategy, named field-amplified sample injection, has been developed, based on the electrokinetic injection of the sample, which requires only a 1:100 dilution with sample solvent before injection. Under optimum conditions, sensitivity enhancement factors ranged from 450 to 800 for the studied compounds. The applicability of the proposed method was demonstrated by the determination of these antibiotics in spiked urine samples. The limits of quantification were lower than 0.8 mg/L and the precision (intra- and inter-day), expressed as %RSD was below 14%. Recoveries ranged from 92.1 to 96.7%. Thus, the proposed procedure is a simple, fast and efficient strategy which could be used as therapeutic drug monitoring in human urine samples., (© 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

A selective and rapid method has been developed to determine 15 antibiotic residues (eight tetracyclines and seven quinolones) in milk samples by capillary zone electrophoresis coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (CZE-Q-TOF-MS). The use of this hybrid mass spectrometer allowed obtaining full scan and full MS/MS spectra for quantification/confirmation purposes in a single run. In addition, solid phase extraction (SPE) using the new Oasis PRiME HLB cartridge was proposed for the extraction, achieving excellent results in terms of sample throughput. The proposed method was validated using whole cow milk as representative matrix. Good linearity was obtained (R 2 >0.99) for all the studied compounds. The precision, expressed as relative standard deviation (%, RSD), at two concentration levels (50 and 100μgkg -1 ) was below 13%. Recoveries obtained from goat milk, whole cow milk and semi-skimmed cow milk, at two concentration levels, ranged from 76 to 106%, while limits of quantification ranged from 1.5 to 9.6μgkg -1 , being lower than the established maximum residue limits in the European legislation. Matrix effect was negligible in all cases, showing that with this new SPE sorbent cleanest extracts were obtained with a minimum number of steps in the sample treatment. Thus, the proposed SPE-CZE-Q-TOF-MS method is suitable for multiclass multiresidue monitoring in different types of milk samples., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A new analytical method based on capillary zone electrophoresis-tandem mass spectrometry is proposed and validated for the identification and simultaneous quantification of nine aminoglycosides in honey samples. Detection using an ion trap mass analyzer operating in the multiple reaction monitoring mode was used. Different parameters were optimized in order to obtain an adequate separation combined with the highest sensitivity. In order to achieve high selectivity in the sample treatment, a commercially-available molecularly imprinted polymer has been used for the solid phase extraction of the analytes. Under optimum conditions, recoveries for fortified samples ranged from 88.2 to 99.8%, with relative standard deviations lower than 8%. The limits of detection ranged from 0.4 to 28.5 μg kg(-1). Furthermore, the decision limit and the detection capability were evaluated, ranging from 3.5 to 60.5 μg kg(-1) and from 6.0 to 103.1 μg kg(-1), respectively, demonstrating the sensitivity and applicability of this fast and simple method., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In this work molecularly imprinted polymers have been evaluated as sorbent for the construction of an in-line solid phase extraction analyte concentrator in capillary electrophoresis coupled with mass spectrometry for the determination of the eight regulated veterinary quinolones in bovine milk samples. Different parameters affecting the analyte concentrator performance, such as sample pH, volume and composition of the elution plug and injection time, were studied. Sample volumes of 22μL (2bar for 15min) were loaded on the MISPE microcartridge and the retained analytes were eluted by injecting a plug of MeOH/H2O/NH3 (60/37/3 by volume) for 125s at 50mbar (60nL). The proposed method is simple for the monitoring of these antibiotic residues in milk samples, allowing the direct injection of the samples with minimum sample pretreatment, achieving limits of detection between 3.8 and 4.7μgkg(-1) and unequivocal identification of the compounds working in tandem mass spectrometry. Recoveries ranging from 70.0 to 102.3% were obtained and satisfactory intra-day and inter-day RSDs were achieved (≤12% and 15% respectively). Reproducibility among different constructed analyte concentrators showed RSD≤11%., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The analysis of the chemical composition of fingerprints is important for the development and improvement of existing fingerprint enhancement techniques. This study demonstrates the first analysis of a latent fingerprint sample, using an optimized CE-MS method. In total 12 amino acids were detected in the fingerprint sample. MS/MS fragmentation was used to provide additional identity confirmation, for which eight of the twelve detected amino acids generated confirmatory product ions. Nine amino acids were quantified and their relative abundances were consistent with previous studies with serine and glycine being the most abundant. The successful detection of amino acids from latent fingerprints demonstrates that CE-MS is a potential future technique for further study of such compounds in fingerprint samples., (© 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

A method for the simultaneous determination of four fluoroquinolones of veterinary use (ciprofloxacin, danofloxacin, enrofloxacin and sarafloxacin) in two complex matrixes, such as bovine raw milk and pig kidney, has been established and validated. The method is based on the use of capillary electrophoresis (CE) coupled with a very sensitive detection mode, such as laser induced fluorescence (LIF) detection, due to the fact the all the compounds selected show native fluorescence. In order to achieve high selectivity in the sample treatment procedure, a commercially available molecularly imprinted polymer has been used for the solid phase extraction of the analytes. Once the retention and elution processes were optimized, the final extract was analyzed by CE-LIF using a 325 nm He-Cd laser. Optimum separation was obtained in a 70 cm x75 microm capillary using a 125 mM phosphoric acid solution at pH 2.8 with 36% methanol as background electrolyte. The method provided very low detection limits, ranging from 0.17 to 0.98 microg/kg for milk and 1.10 to 10.5 microg/kg for kidney, with acceptable precision and satisfactory recoveries., (Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A sensitive capillary electrophoresis-laser-induced fluorescence method has been developed for the determination of six fluoroquinolones of human (ofloxacin, lomefloxacin, and norfloxacin) and veterinary use (danofloxacin, enrofloxacin, and sarafloxacin) in different kinds of water. Fluorescence detection was achieved using a He-Cd laser, with a wavelength of 325 nm. Separation was performed in a fused-silica capillary, and conditions were optimized to obtain the most adequate separation and with the best sensitivity. The separation was carried out in a 70-cm-long capillary (75 microm internal diameter, effective length 55 cm) by using a 125 mM phosphoric acid separation buffer at pH 2.8, with 36% of methanol. The water sample pretreatment involved the separation and preconcentration of the analytes by solid phase extraction. Two reverse-phase cartridges have been evaluated, namely Oasis hydrophilic-liphophilic balance and Strata-X; the latter provided the best recoveries for the selected analytes. The method shows very low detection limits (0.3-1.9 ng/L) with acceptable recoveries and precisions and has been successfully applied to the analysis of well and tap water samples.

In this paper we review applications of capillary electrophoresis (CE) to the determination of antibiotic residues in food derived from animals and in environmental samples. Although many CE methods have been used to determine antibiotics in the pharmaceutical field (drug quality control or therapeutic monitoring in biological samples), food and environmental applications have been increasing in recent years. Due to the maximum residue limits established by the EU, in Directive 2377/90/EEC, for foodstuffs of animal origin and considering the low levels that can be found in environmental or waste waters or soils, different strategies to increase sensitivity have been developed, including off-line preconcentration, on-line stacking modes to use higher sample volumes, or in-line solid-phase extraction. Also, several detection techniques, such as fluorescence, laser-induced fluorescence, electrochemical detection, or mass spectrometry have been used; the last of these also enables unequivocal identification of the residues, required by Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. All these aspects will be discussed in this paper, in relation to the main groups of antibiotics used in veterinary and human medicine, for which applications in food and environmental samples have been developed by using CE as an efficient alternative to liquid chromatography.

A new analytical method based on CZE coupled with tandem MS detection (CE-MS/MS) has been developed for the simultaneous determination of nine penicillins of human and veterinary use (nafcillin, dicloxacillin, cloxacillin, oxacillin, ampicillin, penicillin G, amoxicillin, penicillin V and piperacillin), whose levels are regulated by the EU Council regulation No. 2377/90 in animal edible tissues. CE separation conditions, sheath liquid composition and electrospray parameters have been carefully optimized to reach high sensitivity and precision. Separation was carried out in a 96 cm total length fused-silica capillary (50 microm id, 360 microm od) using 60 mM ammonium acetate at pH 6.0 as running buffer. Lomefloxacin was used as internal standard. MS/MS experiments were carried out using an IT as analyzer operating in multiple reaction monitoring mode to achieve the minimum number of identification points established by the 2002/657/EC European Decision. The use of an SPE procedure in two steps, combining Oasis hydrophilic-liphophilic balance and Alumina N cartridges provide a satisfactory preconcentration and clean up treatment for meat samples after extraction of the compounds with ACN. Only Oasis hydrophilic-liphophilic balance cartridges were necessary in water samples to obtain adequate recoveries. The method has been characterized for its use in meat and water samples, using matrix-matched calibrations. For chicken muscle samples, LODs between 8 and 12 microg/kg have been obtained, in all cases lower than the maximum residue limits permitted. For water samples LODs from 0.18 to 0.26 microg/L could ensure its satisfactory application in aquatic samples.

A CZE method with UV-Vis detection has been established and validated for the determination of nine sulfonamides: sulfapyridine, sulfamethazine, sulfamerazine, sulfamether, sulfadiazine, sulfadimethoxine, sulfamethoxazole, sulfachlorpyridazine, and sulfamethizole. Optimum separation was obtained on a 64.5 cm x 75 microm bubble cell capillary using a buffer containing 45 mM sodium phosphate and 10% methanol at pH 7.3, with temperature and voltage of 27 degrees C and 25 kV, respectively. p-Aminobenzoic acid was used as an internal standard . Taking into account the lack of sensitivity of the UV-Vis detection, the application of an on-line preconcentration methodology, such as large-volume sample stacking with polarity switching has been proposed. This procedure combined with a solvent extraction/SPE method applied for off-line preconcentration and cleanup provides a significant improvement in the LODs, ranging from 2.59 to 22.95 mug/L for the studied compounds; the quantification of these residues being possible below the levels established by EU legislation in animal food products, such as meat. Satisfactory recoveries were also obtained in the analysis of these compounds in ground water.

A CE instrument coupled with chemiluminescence (CL) detection was designed for the determination of promethazine hydrochloride (PTH) and promazine hydrochloride (PMH) in real samples. An important enhancement of the CL emission of luminol with potassium ferricyanide was observed in the presence of these phenothiazines; so this system was selected for their detection after CE separation. Parameters affecting the electrophoretic separation were optimized in a univariate way, while those affecting CL detection were optimized by means of a multivariate approach based on the use of experimental designs. Chemometrics was also employed for the study of the robustness of the factors influencing the postcolumn CL detection. The method allows the separation of the phenothiazines in less than 4 min, achieving LODs of 80 ng/mL for PMH and 334 ng/mL for PTH, using sample injection by gravity. Electrokinetic injection was used to obtain lower LODs for the determination of the compounds in biological samples. The applicability of the CE-CL method was illustrated in the determination of PTH in pharmaceutical formulations and in the analysis of PMH in human urine, using a previous SPE procedure, achieving an LOD of 1 ng/mL and recoveries higher than 85%.

An overview is presented on the power and drawbacks of the relatively unfamiliar chemiluminescence-based detection technique applied in analysis by capillary electrophoresis, for determining chemically derivatized biomolecules. Examples of the most common systems are given for many series of biologically active compounds as well as for some pharmaceuticals. The most common chemiluminescent systems include the application of peroxyoxalate ester chemiluminescence, acridinium esters, luminol and derivatives, detection based on the tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(III) system, the huge potentials offered by direct oxidations-though often with still unelucidated reaction mechanisms-and the powerful area of bioluminescence techniques, revealing as well the fast developing area of microchip-based analysis employing this specific luminescence principle.