Optimization of a Capillary Electrophoresis Method for the Separation of Quinolone Derivatives

Background: In this work the applicability of capillary zone electrophoresis for the separation of quinolones from different generations has been studied.
Objective: Our aim was to develop a capillary electrophoretic method for the simultaneous separation of four quinolones and also to optimize the analytical conditions.
Material and methods: Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is a family of related techniques that use narrow-bore fused-silica capillaries to perform high efficiency separations of both small and large molecules. For this we chose four quinolones: a naftiridine derivate (nalidixic acid), a pyrido-pyrimidine derivate (pipemidic acid) and two second generation fluoroquinolones with different structures (ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin).
Results: A fast and reliable method has been developed, using a separation buffer composed of 40 mM natrium tetraborate and 5% methanol as organic modifier, with whom we achieved the separation of the studied quinolones in less than 10 minutes.
Conclusions: CE proved to be an efficient tool in the separation of quinolones from different generations.

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