Chiral separation of amino acids in biological fluids by micellar electrokinetic chromatography with laser-induced fluorescence detection

A method is presented for the chiral analysis of amino acids in biological fluids using micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) and laser-induce d fluorescence (LIF). The amino acids are derivatized with the chiral reage nt (+/-)-1-(9-anthryl)-2-propyl chloroformate (APOC) and separated using a mixed micellar separation system. No tedious pre-purification of samples is required. The excellent separation efficiency and good detection capabilit ies of the MEKC-LIF system are exemplified in the analysis of urine and cer ebrospinal fluid. This is the first time MEKC has been reported for chiral analysis of amino acids in biological fluids. The amino acids D-alanine, D- glutamine, and D-aspartic acid have been observed in cerebrospinal fluid, a nd D-alanine and D-glutamic acid in urine. To the best of our knowledge no measurements of either D-alanine in cerebrospinal fluid or D-glutamic acid in urine have been presented in the literature before. (C) 2000 Elsevier Sc ience B.V. All rights reserved.