The separation of methadone enantiomers by cationic capillary isotachophoresis (CITP) and recycling isotachophoresis (RITP) having (2-hydroxypropyl)-beta-cyclodextrin (OHP-beta-CD) as chiral selector in the leading electrolyte is described. Sodium acetate/acetic acid (pH between 4 and 5) served as leading electrolyte (catholyte) and acetic acid as terminator (anolyte). Complete separation of the enantiomers was obtained by CITP in a 50 microm internal diameter (ID) fused-silica capillary and in a 500 microm ID Teflon capillary. In the first approach, enantiomeric separation could be monitored via UV absorbance detection at low wavelength. With the second instrumental setup, an additional conductivity sensor permitted the visualization of the enantiomeric separation and the characterization of the buffer system employed. A 10 mM sodium acetate/acetic acid leading buffer of pH 4.3, containing 5 mM OHP-beta-CD, was found to provide best enantiomeric separation and was thus chosen for RITP. With RITP processing of a few mg of racemic methadone, partial separation of methadone enantiomers was obtained. R-(-)-methadone and S-(+)-methadone were found to be significantly (up to about 80%) enriched at the front and back side, respectively, of the isotachophoretic zone. The enantiomeric composition of methadone in the collected fractions was assessed by chiral capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) and circular dichroism spectroscopy. CZE was found to represent a simple and efficient method for the determination of the enantiomeric excess, whereas the latter technology was noted to be the superior approach for properly characterizing fractions that contain similar amounts of the two enantiomers. Furthermore, chiral RITP and analysis of the collected fractions by circular dichroism spectroscopy is shown to be potentially useful for identification of single enantiomers in absence of pure chiral standards.

Using capillary zone electrophoresis with a phosphate buffer at pH 3, containing 4.3 mM hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin as chiral selector, the simultaneous separation of the enantiomers of methadone and its primary metabolite, 2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine (EDDP), is reported. After solid-phase extraction and analysis of the reconstituted extracts in a 60 cm fused-silica capillary of 50 microns ID within about 25 min, the mean S/R enantiomeric ratio of methadone in the urines of eight patients undergoing methadone therapy is shown to be 0.653 (range: 0.502-0.842). The mean enantiomeric ratio for the metabolite is 0.630 (range: 0.517-0.729). These data document the stereoselectivity of the methadone metabolism. Finally, the EDDP/ methadone ratio is shown to vary between 0.357 and 2.917 with a mean value of 1.731. The capillary electrophoretic assay described is simple, inexpensive and neither requires any sample derivatization, nor large amounts of organic solvents or expensive separation columns.

Continuous- or free-flow electrophoresis is based upon a thin film of fluid flowing between two parallel plates. The electrolytes and the sample are continuously admitted at one end of the electrophoresis chamber and are fractionated by an array of outlet tubes at the other. Using the Octopus apparatus in a horizontal position, continuous preparative separation of methadone enantiomers in the presence of (2-hydroxypropyl)-β-cyclodextrin as a chiral selector was investigated under conditions of continuous-flow zone electrophoresis and continuous-flow isotachophoresis. The enantiomeric composition of methadone in the collected fractions was assessed by chiral capillary electrophoresis and circular-dichroism spectroscopy. In both electrophoretic modes, partial separation of the two enantiomers with an enrichment of about 80% and a throughput of 10-20 mg of racemic methadone per hour was obtained. Operating the Octopus apparatus with interrupted buffer flow during electrophoresis, a process termed interval-flow electrophoresis, resulted in complete separation of milligram quantities of the two methadone enantiomers. Furthermore, commencing with racemic methadone, continuous multistage isotachophoretic processing is shown to be suitable to purify (R)-(-)-methadone, the enantiomer with higher pharmacological activity, on a mg/h scale and at a mM concentration in the collected product stream.

Using capillary zone electrophoresis with a phosphate buffer at pH 2.5 containing 30 mM (2-hydroxypropyl)-beta-cyclodextrin as chiral selector, the simultaneous separation of the enantiomers of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or Ecstasy) and its two metabolites 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymethamphetamine (HMMA) and 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) in human urine is reported. The assay described is based upon enzymatic hydrolysis of conjugated HMMA (major urinary metabolite) and solid-phase extraction followed by injection of a few nL of the extract onto a 50 microm internal diameter (ID) fused-silica capillary of 60 cm length. Solutes are detected via on-column absorbance at 195 nm. For 375 ng/mL drug levels, intraday and interday imprecision is < 4%. With 5 mL urine samples, the detection limit is in the 20-50 ng/mL range. Via analysis of the urines of two patients, the metabolism of MDMA is demonstrated to be enantioselective, with significantly higher urinary amounts of R-(-)-MDMA being excreted compared to S-(+)-MDMA. Within 72h after drug administration one patient was determined to excrete 42.28 and 10.16% of the racemic MDMA dose (1.5 mg/kg body weight) as R-(-) and S-(+)-MDMA enantiomers, respectively. Corresponding values for the second subject were found to be 28.63 and 9.34%. The metabolism of the enantiomers of the two metabolites showed interindividual differences. The first and second detected HMMA enantiomers represented 3.79 and 5.42% (first subject) and 8.51 and 4.36% (second), respectively, of the administered MDMA dose. For the MDA enantiomers, corresponding values were 2.44, 1.76, 0.75, and 0.79%, respectively.