Mixed polymer networks in the direct analysis of pharmaceuticals in urine by capillary electrophoresis

Two-component polymer mixtures of polyethylene oxide-polydextran have been investigated as unique separation media for capillary electrophoresis. The effects of concentration of the individual polymers and their mixtures on the electroosmotic velocity and electrophoretic mobility of small pharmaceutical compounds were investigated. The molecular masses of polymers, buffer concentrations and percentages of organic solvents and cyclodextrins were varied to explore their effects on the separation process. The plate height against field strength curves were also generated for a better understanding of the kinetic processes involved. The two-component polymer mixtures were found as stable and selective media for the analysis of an anti-ulcer drug famotidine directly in untreated urine.