Evaluation of a multiarray system for pharmaceutical analysis by microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Separation Science
• Drug Discovery

Background:

• High-throughput screening is crucial for accelerating drug discovery.
• Multiplexed capillary electrophoresis (CE) offers potential for increased sample throughput.
• Microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography (MEEKC) is a technique used in CE separations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a 96-channel multiplexed CE system for high-throughput screening in drug discovery.
• To describe the method transfer from a single-channel to a multichannel CE system.
• To identify limitations and optimize performance for MEEKC applications.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a 96-channel multiplexed capillary electrophoresis (CE) system.
• Employed microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography (MEEKC) for separation.
• Investigated method transfer and performance parameters including efficiency, migration times, and precision.
• Assessed heat dissipation, current limitations, detector cross-talk, and impurity detection limits.

Main Results:

• The 96-channel system faced challenges with Joule heat dissipation and a maximum usable channel count due to current limits.
• Precision remained below 8% for migration times and 9% for peak areas.
• UV detector cross-talk interference was observed between adjacent channels.
• The multiplexed system detected impurities at 0.5%, a tenfold improvement over single-channel systems.
• An array of 24 capillaries yielded higher efficiency and improved figures of merit, including sensitivity and reduced cross-talk.

Conclusions:

• The multiplexed CE system demonstrates promise for high-throughput drug discovery screening.
• Optimization, particularly regarding heat dissipation and channel configuration, is necessary for optimal performance.
• A 24-capillary array offers superior efficiency and sensitivity, making it a viable configuration for MEEKC applications.