Analysis of heparin‐like pharmaceuticals by capillary zone electrophoresis and isotachophoresis

Synthetic sulfated bis-lactobionic acid amides are important heparin-like pharmaceuticals. The synthesis of these compounds yields molecules differing in the number of sulfate groups, and, during the isolation procedure, the required species may partially decompose or take in some impurities. This article shows that capillary zone electrophoresis may serve well as an expedient method for the analysis of the above-mentioned pharmaceuticals. Complex-forming equilibria between the analytes and bivalent cations present in the background electrolyte bring selectivity necessary for the separation, and the detection at various wavelengths serves as an aid in the characterization of admixtures, decomposition products, and impurities. Capillary isotachophoresis may also be used for the analysis of these species, bringing about the potential of micropreparation of individual compounds and opening the chance for continuous free-flow electrophoresis.