Simultaneous determination of phenolic xenoestrogens by solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

A highly sensitive and selective method for simultaneous determination of some hydroxyl group-containing endocrine disruptors, including bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol B (BPB), bisphenol E (BPE), bisphenol F (BPF) and 4-nonylphenol (4-NP), was developed. The method consists of precolumn derivatization of the analytes, solid-phase extraction (SPE) and subsequent chromatographic analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. 4,4'-Cyclohexylidenebisphenol (BPZ) was used as an internal standard. Derivatization was carried out using 4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)benzoyl chloride (DIB-Cl) as a label. Parameters of the derivatization reaction (temperature, time, concentration of reagent, stability, etc.) and of the solid-phase extraction (recovery, solvent, etc.) were studied in detail. Detection limits of compounds studied in standard solutions ranged from 0.08-1.3 ppb (ng/ml). The proposed method was successfully applied to plastic samples; BPA was found in both polycarbonate and polyvinyl chloride plastics, while 4-NP was found in plastics made of polyvinyl chloride and another polymer.     

Simultaneous determination of mycophenolic acid and valproic acid based on derivatization by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A reliable and validated reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method using fluorescence detection is reported for the simultaneous quantitation of mycophenolic acid (MPA) and valproic acid (VPA) in human plasma. The method is based on the pre-column derivatization of valproic acid with 4-bromomethyl-6, 7-dimethoxycoumarin (BrMMC) and online solvatochromism of MPA by pH adjustment. The linear calibration range was 0.50-30 microg/mL for MPA and 5.00-150 microg/mL for VPA. The relative standard deviations of the method of intra- and inter-day analyses (n = 6) were below 6.5 and 6.7% for MPA, and 5.8 and 6.3% for VPA, respectively. Dichloromethane was used for the simultaneous extraction of MPA and VPA from acidified plasma. This reliable method can be applied in the analysis of MPA and VPA in human plasma using only a small volume (100 microL).     

Simultaneous determination of codeine, norcodeine and morphine in biological fluids by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A novel high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of codeine, norcodeine and morphine in plasma and urine has been developed. The compounds were separated on a cyano column (15 cm x 4.6 mm, 5 microns particle size) using a mobile phase of acetonitrile-triethylamine-distilled water (4:0.1:95.9, v/v) pH 3.1 and then determined by fluorescence detection. Calibration curves in the range 5-200 ng/ml for plasma and 0.1-10 micrograms/ml for urine were linear and passed through the origin. The imprecision and inaccuracy of the assay were less than 10% and the limits of detection were 2 ng/ml for all three compounds in human plasma.     

Application of micro-scale liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection to the determination of thiols

Different thiol compounds of biological and pharmacological interest were separated on a packed reversed-phase fused-silica capillary column and determined with fluorescence detection. Conventional inexpensive liquid chromatographic equipment could be adapted for such purposes, providing a highly efficient analytical system. The different compounds were derivatized with the fluorogenic reagents SBD-F and ABD-F and chromatographed both isocratically and in the gradient mode in order to separate a series of thiols with widely varying polarities. Subsequently the derivatives were measured at lambda ex. = 380 nm and lambda em. = 510 nm. Application of the system to biological and pharmacological samples is suggested.     

Simultaneous analysis of three avermectins in soils by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A simple and sensitive method has been developed and validated for the determination of abamectin B_1a (ABA B_1a), emamectin B_1a (EMA B_1a) benzoate and ivermectin H₂B_1a (IVM H₂B_1a) in soils. The avermectins (AVMs) residues were extracted from soils with acetonitrile/water (9?:?1, v/v) and then were purified on C₁₈ solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridge. After being derivatised by N-methylimidazole (N-MIM) and trifluoroacetic anhydride (TFAA), the residues of three AVMs were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD). The method was validated in terms of system suitability, linearity, selectivity, precision, recovery, specificity and stability. There was a good linear relationship (R ^2?>?0.99) for three AVMs ranged from 0.01 to 5?µg?mL^?1. The LOD and LOQs of ABA B_1a, EMA B_1a benzoate and IVM H₂B_1a for standard solutions were 1.1–1.7 and 3.6–5.7?µg?L^?1 respectively. The accuracy of AVMs in soils was from 83.7 to 115.5% with precision less than or equal to 12.4%. Using the developed method, 9 soil samples with 9.3–12806.3?µg?kg^?1 of AVMs residues had been detected.     

Simultaneous determination of amoxicillin and ampicillin in eggs by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection using pre-column derivatization

A sensitive and robust method is presented for the simultaneous determination of amoxicillin (AMO) and ampicillin (AMP) in eggs by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (RP-HPLC-FLD). This method used a simple liquid-liquid extraction of the samples with acetonitrile and dichloromethane as precipitation of proteins and extraction solvent. AMO and AMP reacted with salicylaldehyde to form fluorescent derivatives, which were then analyzed with RP-HPLC-FLD. Separation was carried out on an Athena C18 column with a mobile phase consisting of 0.01 M potassium dihydrogen phosphate, adjusted to pH 5.5 by 2M potassium hydroxide and acetonitrile. The detector response was linear over the tested concentration range from 5.0 to 800 ng/mL for AMO and AMP. The recovery values ranged from 78.4 to 88.7% for AMO and from 77.6 to 82.0% for AMP. The limits of detection were 1.2 for AMO and 0.4 μg/kg for AMP. The limits of quantification were 3.9 for AMO and 1.5 μg/kg for AMP. The corresponding intra-day and inter-day variation (relative standard deviation) were found to be less than 9.6 and 14.8%, respectively.     

Qualitative and quantitative determination of biologically active low-molecular-mass thiols in human blood by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with photometry and fluorescence detection

The reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method employing photometry and fluorescence detection is described for the precise reproducible simultaneous measurement of total homocysteine (tHcy), cysteine (Cys), and glutathione (GSH) in human blood. Sample preparation involves conversion of disulfides to free thiols with triphenylphosphine, precipitation of proteins with trichloroacetic acid, conjugation of the thiols with monobromobimane (mBrB). The aminothiol assay is optimized by reduction and derivatization step conditions (pH, temperature and time of reactions) to obtain reliable quantitative results within the concentration range corresponding to normal and pathological levels of these thiols in human blood.     

Simultaneous determination of twelve tea catechins by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method with electrochemical detection was developed for the determination of twelve tea catechins including four major catechins: epicatechin (EC), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin gallate (ECG) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG); four of their epimers at the C-2 position, C, GC, CG and GCG; and four methylated catechin derivatives, epigallocatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl)gallate, gallocatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl)gallate, epigallocatechin-3-O-(4-O-methyl)gallate and epicatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl)gallate. These catechins were separated on an ODS C18 reversed-phase column by isocratic elution with 0.1 M NaH2PO4 buffer (pH 2.5)-acetonitrile (87:13) containing 0.1 mM EDTA.2Na. The detection limits (S/N = 3) of these catechins were approximately 10-40 pmol ml-1 at an applied voltage of 600 mV. Extracting these catechins from tea leaf powder with H2O-acetonitrile (1:1) at 30 degrees C for 40 min inhibited the epimerization at C-2 significantly from these epicatechins compared to extraction with hot water at 90 degrees C. This analytical method is sensitive to and appropriate for the simultaneous determination of various biologically active catechins in green tea.     

Simultaneous quantification of five anthraquinones in rat plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method with fluorescence detection (excitation 435 and emission 515 nm) was established and validated for quantification of five anthraquinones (aloe-emodin, rhein, emodin, chrysophanol and physcion) in rat plasma. Following a single-step liquid-liquid extraction, the analytes and internal standard (1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone) were separated on a reversed-phase C(18) column with water-phosphoric acid-methanol as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. The linear ranges of the calibration curves were 6.5-1300 ng/mL for aloe-emodin, 20-4000 ng/mL for rhein, 40-8000 ng/mL for emodin, 15-3000 ng/mL for chrysophanol and 13-2600 ng/mL for physcion. The lower limit of quantification was 6.5 ng/mL for aloe-emodin, 20 ng/mL for rhein, 40 ng/mL for emodin, 15 ng/mL for chrysophanol and 13 ng/mL for physcion. The mean accuracy was 94.3-105.1% for aloe-emodin, 90.3-108.8% for rhein, 92.6-106.7% for emodin, 95.8-103.8% for chrysophanol and 98.7-101.2% for physcion. The within-batch and between-batch precisions were < or = 5.5% and < or = 13.4%, respectively. This method is suitable for determining the five anthraquinones in plasma simultaneously and thus investigating the pharmacokinetics of anthraquinones from Xiexin decoction in rats.     

Measurement of beta-carbolines by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A method using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection was developed for the determination of beta-carboline compounds norharman, harman, norharmol, and harmol in lung. Aqueous derivatization with acetic anhydride was used to facilitate the isolation and separation of the phenolic compounds and to reduce the fluorescence background of the biological samples. Harman was identified and quantitated in rat lung (1.88 +/- 0.55 ng/g) using this method and its identity confirmed by means of gas chromatography-negative-ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry.     

Automated high performance liquid chromatography with on-line reduction of disulfides and chemiluminescence detection for determination of thiols and disulfides in biological fluids

In general, the reduction of disulfide bonds with tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP) is performed using off-line operation, which is not only time-consuming but also vulnerable to the spontaneous re-oxidation of thiols during sample preparation and subsequent analysis procedures. To the best of our knowledge, there has been not any case on the on-line reduction for biological disulfides coupled with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In this study, these obstacles are overcome by packing Zn(II)-TCEP complexes into a home-made column. The as-synthesized Zn(II)-TCEP complexes enable efficient reduction of disulfide bonds at pH 3.0. This acidic pH value was compatible with that of the mobile phase for HPLC separation of thiols and disulfides. Therefore, using fluorosurfactant-prepared triangular gold nanoparticles as HPLC postcolumn specific chemiluminescence (CL) reagents for thiols, the feasibility of the established on-line reduction column has been confirmed for the direct identification of both thiols and disulfides by incorporating this reduction column into a single chromatographic separation. Detection limits for these analytes range from 8.3 to 25.4 nM and the linear range in a log–log plot can comprise three orders of magnitude. Finally, the utility of this automated on-line reduction of disulfides-HPLC-CL system has been demonstrated for the reliable determination of thiols and disulfides in human urine and plasma samples.     

Simultaneous determination of amiodarone and its metabolite desethylamiodarone by high-performance liquid chromatography with chemiluminescent detection

A novel method was developed for the determination of amiodarone and desethylamiodarone by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with chemiluminescent (CL) detection. The procedure is based on the post-column photolysis of the analytes into photoproducts which are active in the tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(III) [Ru(bpy)₃³⁺] CL system. Ru(bpy)₃³⁺ was on-line generated by photo-oxidation of the Ru(II) complex in the presence of peroxydisulfate. The separation was carried out on a Mediterranea C₁₈ column with isocratic elution using a mixture of methanol and 0.017 mol L⁻¹ ammonium sulfate buffer of pH 6.8. Under the optimum conditions, analytical curves, based on standard solutions, were linear over the range 0.1-50 μg mL⁻¹ for amiodarone and 0.5-25 μg mL⁻¹ for desethylamiodarone. The detection limits of amiodarone and desethylamiodarone were 0.02 and 0.11 μg mL⁻¹, respectively. Intra- and inter-day precision values of 0.9% relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) (n = 10) and 1.6% R.S.D. (n = 15), respectively, were obtained. The method was applied successfully to the determination of these compounds in serum and pharmaceutical formulations.     

Rapid determination of succinylcholine in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method with fluorometric detection has been developed for the determination of succinylcholine in human plasma. Succinylcholine shows fluorescence at 282 nm with an excitation at 257 nm. The assay is sensitive, reproducible and linear for concentrations ranging from 100 ng/ml to 100 micrograms/ml of succinylcholine. In a pilot study the plasma concentration-time curve showed a triphasic elimination, with half-lives of 0.4, 1.2 and 8 min, respectively. In a clinical setting, drugs commonly administered during anaesthesia did not interfere with the assay. This method provides a simple and time-saving alternative to existing methods.     

Simultaneous determination of nitroimidazole residues in honey samples by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection

A rapid and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography (LC) method was developed for the simultaneous determination of metronidazole (MNZ), dimetridazole (DMZ), ronidazole (RNZ), tinidazole (TNZ), and 2-hydroxymethyl-1-methyl-5-nitroimidazole (HMMNI) in honey. After extraction with ethyl acetate and evaporation, the residue containing the nitroimidazoles was dissolved in ethyl acetate-hexane and subjected to solid-phase extraction cleanup by amine extraction columns. The effluent was evaporated to dryness, and residues were dissolved and determined by LC with an ultraviolet detector set at 315 nm. The limits of detection were 1.0-2.0 ng/g for MNZ, DMZ, RNZ, TNZ, and HMMNI in honey. Average recoveries ranged from 71.5-101.4% in honey fortified at 10, 20, 50, and 100 ng/g. The method was validated for the analysis of real honey samples.