Ectoin is produced by microorganisms to protect them against their extrem environment (like geysers, saline lakes or ice). Ectoin exhibits hydrating effects and encloses adjacent parts like proteins with a stable and protecting water layer.
Structure of Ectoin
Chemically spoken ectoin is a cyclic amino acid, which relocates charges due to mesomeric stabilisation and is able to include very much water by formation of hydrogen bridge bonds. Ectoin is applicated as UV protection because of its protective and antiinflammatory as well moistening effect. For medical purposes it is used for inflammatory diseases of the skin and mucous membranes. Ectoin is only applied for external use and is therefore used in skin care products.
The analysis of ectoin with capillary electrophoresis is done using an acidic electrolyte, where ectoin migrates as a cation.
Ectoin standard solution
- Separation: CZE
- Electrolyte: Phosphate, pH 2,5
- Separation length: 8 cm
- Capillary: fused silica, bubble cell, 50 µm ID, 48 cm in total
- Injection: 5 s, -50 mbar
- Detection: direct UV, 205 nm
- Description: At a pH of 2,5 ectoin migrates as a cation and can be detected with direct UV detection at low wave length. The PDF shows an electropherogram of a solution containing 10 mg/l ectoin as well as the UV spektrum oft he ectoin peak.
Ectoin standard solution
Download: Ectoin-Standard.pdf
Linearity check of ectoin standard solutions
- Separation: CZE
- Electrolyte: Phosphate, pH 2,5
- Separation length: 8 cm
- Capillary: fused silica, bubble cell, 50 µm ID, 48 cm in total
- Injection: 5 s, -50 mbar
- Detection: direct UV, 205 nm
- Description: The linearity of ectoin was checked in a concentration range of 1 to 150 mg/l at eight different levels. The PDF shows six exemplary electropherograms of the different concentrations, the calibration curve and some statistical data of the calibration.
Linearity check of ectoin standard solutions
Download: Ectoin-lin
Ectoin in pharmaceutical products
- Separation: CZE
- Electrolyte: Phosphate, pH 2,5
- Separation length: 8 cm
- Capillary: fused silica, bubble cell, 50 µm ID, 48 cm in total
- Injection: 5 s, -50 mbar
- Detection: direct UV, 205 nm
- Description: Ectoin is included in many eyes and nose drops for moistening an das support for allergies. The PDF shows electropherograms of eye and nose drops. The samples were twentyfold diluted with pure water.
Ectoin in eyedrops
Download: Ectoin-pharmazeutische-Produkte.pdf
Ectoin in skin cream
- Separation: CZE
- Electrolyte: Phosphate, pH 2,5
- Separation length: 8 cm
- Capillary: fused silica, bubble cell, 50 µm ID, 48 cm in total
- Injection: 5 s, -50 mbar
- Detection: direct UV, 205 nm
- Description: The investigated cream includes ectoin fort he supporting therapy of itchy dermatosis. For sapmple preparation 1 g cream were suspended in 20 ml of pure water, homogenized in an ultrasonic bath and then again diluted fourfold with pure water.
Ectoin in a skin cream
Download: Ectoin-Hautcreme.pdf