On the use of dispersed nanoparticles modified with single layer β-cyclodextrin as chiral selecor to enhance enantioseparation of clenbuterol with capillary electrophoresis

A new strategy for chiral separation by capillary electrophoresis employing modified-nanoparticles as chiral selector is described for clenbuterol analysis. Nanoparticles modified with beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) form a large surface area platform to serve as a pseudostationary chiral phase, which can be applied for the enhancement of the enantioseparation. The application of four kinds of nanoparticles was investigated (multi-walled nanotubes (MWNTs), polystyrene (PS), TiO2 and Al2O3) modified with single layer P-Cl) as chiral selector in the enantioseparation of clenbuterol by capillary electrophoresis (CE). Successful clenbuterol enantioseparation could be achieved with the beta-CD-modified MWNTs as chiral selector. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the beta-CD modification of the nanoparticles. The effects of nanoparticles, surfactant, chiral selector (beta-CD) and run buffer were studied in relation to the enantiomeric separation of clenbuterol. This study opens attractive perspectives for the use of modified nanoparticles for chiral separational purposes in CE. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.