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 β-cyclodextrin (β-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 β-CD as chiral selector in the enantioseparation of clenbuterol by capillary electrophoresis (CE). Successful clenbuterol enantioseparation could be achieved with the β-CD-modified MWNTs as chiral selector. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the β-CD modification of the nanoparticles. The effects of nanoparticles, surfactant, chiral selector (β-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.