The principles for evaluation of conditional association constants between drug enantiomers and proteins, exemplified here by alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), using capillary zone electrophoresis employing a partial filling technique, is presented. In the partial filling technique only the first part of the capillary is filled with the selector, and this selector zone (plug) length can be varied by introducing the selector solution at different times at constant pressure. An important feature of the technique is the low consumption of selector solution in this study only 40-290 nL is used per run, of special importance when the availability of the selector is limited, and also in case it is expensive. Conditions are chosen so that the protein has a net negative charge and migrates toward the anode, while the analytes migrate toward the detector at the cathodic side. The resolution is linearly related to the effective plug length, as shown in separations of the enantiomers of disopyramide and remoxipride. The effective plug length can be calculated, which forms the basis to apply this technique for determinations of association constants. The association between the enantiomers of the solutes and AGP varied with increasing temperature, as shown by determined association constants. It was found that the association between the enantiomers and AGP was strongest at 25 degrees C and decreased at both lower and higher temperatures. This unexpected finding may indicate conformational changes of the protein with temperature variations.

A method using alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) as chiral selector for disopyramide by means of affinity electrokinetic chromatography has been developed. In order to avoid UV absorbance interferences, less than the effective length of the capillary was filled with the chiral selector. The electrophoretic conditions were chosen to give opposite migration directions for the chiral selector and the analyte; AGP migrated away from the detector. Enantiomers of disopyramide were separated on a methylcellulose-coated capillary with 20 cm length to the detector. The enantioresolution of the solute was affected by the concentration of the chiral selector, the plug length of the selector in the capillary, and the applied voltage. Resolution factors and migration times decreased with reduction of the plug length, while the efficiency of the separation system and peak performance were improved by decreasing the separation zone. A special feature of the technique is an enhanced selectivity due to increasing separation of the enantiomers when the fastest has migrated from the selector zone, while the second one still is retained. Equations relating selectivity and resolution with the difference in effective plug lengths between the two enantiomers are developed. Optimized conditions yielding complete resolution, requiring an 0.75 mM AGP plug of only 4.5 cm effective length, also gave high efficiencies (about 400,000 plates/m) for both enantiomer peaks.

The relationship between the relative absorption and increasing oral doses of amoxycillin and bacampicillin, a prodrug of ampicillin, was studied testing the hypothesis that a saturable transport system for aminopenicillins exists in the human gut. Each drug was given in four different doses in a randomized order to 12 fasting subjects. One group of subjects was given amoxycillin in single doses of 375, 750, 1500, and 3000 mg, while the other group received bacampicillin in 400, 800, 1600, and 3200 mg doses. The highest dose was four times larger than that normally used in clinical practice. Amoxycillin, and ampicillin generated from bacampicillin, were determined in plasma and urine by modern column liquid chromatographic methods. With increasing doses of the penicillins, there was a saturable increase in peak plasma concentration, plasma AUC, and urinary recovery. The mean (+/- SD) AUC values after 750, 1500, and 3000 mg amoxycillin were 86% +/- 13%, 70% +/- 16%, and 55% +/- 14% of that expected, when the expected ratio of AUC to dose was that of the 375 mg dose, assuming nonsaturable absorption. The corresponding AUC values after 800, 1600, and 3200 mg bacampicillin were 97% +/- 17%, 89% +/- 19%, and 76% +/- 11% of that expected from the results obtained after the 400 mg dose. The importance of dose of either drug for AUC and urinary recovery was analyzed according to a function implying capacity-limited absorption. The dose-dependency was most pronounced for amoxycillin (P less than 0.001). Renal drug clearance was stable within subjects throughout the dose range. Our results support the concept of capacity-limited absorption of aminopenicillins, probably by carrier-mediated transport. However, limited solubility of the compounds, especially of bacampicillin, may be a confounding factor.

1 The aim of this study was to determine whether concentration-dependent renal clearance of ampicillin and amoxycillin occurs. The drugs were given as single 20 min i.v. infusions in doses ranging from 1.9 to 2.8 g to nine healthy volunteers using a cross-over design. 2 Plasma and urinary concentrations were determined by a selective liquid chromatographic method using frequent sampling up to 10 and 30 h respectively after termination of the infusion. The renal clearance of the drugs was independent of the plasma concentration. The mean (s.d.) renal clearances of ampicillin and amoxycillin were 167 (24) and 157 (20) ml min-' 1.73 m-2 respectively. The net secretion was about 50% of the total renal clearance of both drugs. 3 The plasma concentration and urinary excretion rate versus time curves indicated a polyexponential decline, which could be described by both a biexponential and a triexponential equation. The former proved to be more reliable, especially in the calculation of micro rate constants. There was a tendency to more sustained plasma concentrations after amoxycillin, also illustrated by a significantly lower mean (s.d.) plasma clearance of this drug, viz. 185 (30) ml min-1 1.73 m-2, as compared to ampicillin, 210 (24) ml min-' 1.73 m-2 (P < 0.04). 4 There were no major differences in the disposition rate constants and the distribution volumes of ampicillin and amoxycillin. The mean (s.d.) plasma half-life was 1.7 (0.3) h for both drugs. The urinary excretion rate indicated a slower terminal disposition rate however, with ampicillin and amoxycillin half-lives of 3.4 (2.0) and 3.9 (1.2) h respectively. The longer half-life in the terminal phase may be due to increased tubular reabsorption at low urinary concentrations. It was not possible to determine in this study whether the half-life was affected by changes in clearance or volume of distribution. 5 The urinary solubility of the drugs was dependent on pH. This could explain the massive macroscopic crystalluria seen in one subject after amoxycillin. Three hours after termination of the infusion, crystals could no longer be found in the sediment. There was no clinical or laboratory evidence of renal damage.