Determination of beta-lactams and their biosynthetic intermediates in fermentation media by pre-column derivatisation followed by fluorescence detection

This paper describes a novel and sensitive pre-column derivatisation method for the detection and quantitation of beta-lactams and their biosynthetic precursors at trace levels in fermentation media. Filtered broths from fermentations of strains of Penicillium chrysogenum and Cephalosporium acremonium, after deproteination and centrifugation, were incubated with 9-fluorenylmethylchloroformate for 5 min at 20 degrees C in 0.2 M borate buffer at pH 7.7. Following two-fold pentane extraction of the reagent hydrolysis product, the aqueous layer was injected directly onto a C18 reversed-phase column, and products were detected spectrofluorimetrically with excitation and emission wavelengths of 260 and 313 nm, respectively. Detection limits of 0.01 and 0.05 micrograms ml-1 were achieved for both 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA) and isopenicillin N in borate buffer and filtered fermentation broths, respectively, using a 10-microliter injection volume. A linear calibration for 6-APA in fermentation broth was obtained for a very wide concentration range (0.05-100 micrograms ml-1). Detection limits for solutions of cephalosporin C, deacetylcephalosporin C and deacetoxycephalosporin C in broth were all 0.25 micrograms ml-1. The detection limit for the beta-lactam precursor delta-(L-aminoadipyl)-L-alpha-cysteinyl-D-valine (ACV) dimer in borate buffer was 0.5 microgram ml-1. The cephalosporins and ACV dimer gave linear plots in the ranges 3-25 and 1-100 micrograms ml-1, respectively. Repeated analysis of 6-APA at a concentration of 10 micrograms ml-1 in filtered broth gave a mean peak area of 2.5.10(6) with a standard deviation of 2.6.10(5) using a 10-microliter injection volume. Ampicillin spiked into deproteinated blood serum gave a linear calibration in the concentration range 2-100 micrograms ml-1.     

Simultaneous determination of acetylsalicylic acid and its major metabolites in human serum by second-derivative synchronous fluorescence spectrometry.

A method is described for the simultaneous determination of acetylsalicylic, salicylic, gentisic and salicyluric acids (ASA, SA, GA and SU, respectively) in serum, based on their native fluorescence. The ASA-SA-GA-SU-containing serum samples are extracted with chloroform-1% acetic acid solution; ASA and SA are determined in the organic phase, and GA and SU in the aqueous phase, after removal of protein with trichloroacetic acid, at pH 5.0 and 11.6, respectively. The ASA-SA and GA-SU-SA mixtures are resolved using second-derivative fluorescence spectrometry and the appropriate empirical equations involving the effect of each acid on the signal of the other. Recoveries from sera spiked with ASA (1.0-10 micrograms ml-1), SA (25-50 micrograms ml-1), GA (0.05-0.2 micrograms ml-1) and SU (1.0-5.0 micrograms ml-1) ranged from 100 to 104% (mean 101%), from 93 to 99% (mean 97%), from 94 to 104% (mean 99%) and from 94 to 107% (mean 98%), respectively.     

Spectrophotometric method for the determination of sorbic acid in various food samples with iron(III) and 2-thiobarbituric acid as reagents

A simple, rapid and accurate spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of sorbic acid in various food samples based on the oxidation of sorbic acid by iron(III) at 100 degrees C to malonaldehyde, which then reacts with 2-thiobarbituric acid to form a reddish brown product. The optimum experimental conditions for colour development have been assessed. Absorbance measurements were made at 529 nm in the presence of 0.4% m/V citric acid. The calibration graph was linear for 0-6 micrograms ml-1 of sorbic acid with a slope of 0.131 A micrograms-1 ml. The recoveries of sorbic acid at concentrations of 164-557 micrograms ml-1 ranged from 96 to 103%. The relative standard deviations of ten replicate determinations of sorbic acid in a synthetic cream soda sample spiked with 573 micrograms ml-1 of sorbic acid and in an onion juice sample containing 82 micrograms ml-1 of sorbic acid were 1.6 and 1.9%, respectively. Interferences from several common food additives can be minimised by extracting sorbic acid with diethyl ether and then back-extracting the acid with sodium hydrogen carbonate. The method has been applied successfully to the determination of sorbic acid in a wide range of food samples including beverages, cake, cake mate, garlic bread sprinkle, onion juice, oyster flavoured sauce and grenadine syrup.     

Simultaneous determination of ascorbic acid, caffeine and paracetamol in drug formulations by differential-pulse voltammetry using a glassy carbon electrode

A simple, rapid and accurate method for the simultaneous determination of ascorbic acid, caffeine and paracetamol in drug formulations has been developed. Peak currents were measured with a glassy carbon electrode at +0.350, +0.618 and +1.425 V versus a saturated calomel electrode for ascorbic acid, paracetamol and caffeine, respectively. Perchloric acid (0.1 M) - methanol (1 + 1) was used both as a solvent and supporting electrolyte. The optimum modulation amplitude, pulse repeat time and scan rate of the polarographic analyser were found to be 50 mV, 0.5 s and 5 mV s-1, respectively and the linear calibration ranges for ascorbic acid, caffeine and paracetamol were 0-35, 0-50, and 0-55 micrograms ml-1, respectively. The relative standard deviations for 9.30 micrograms ml-1 of ascorbic acid, 8.50 micrograms ml-1 of caffeine and 7.30 micrograms ml-1 of paracetamol were 1.3, 2.5 and 0.7%, respectively. Results are reported for several commercially available drugs.     

Electrochemical studies and differential pulse polarographic analysis of lansoprazole in pharmaceuticals

The electrochemical reduction of lansoprazole was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and direct current and differential pulse polarography. The reduction potential was -1.32 V vs. Ag/AgCl with a dropping mercury electrode in a supporting electrolyte consisting of phosphate buffer (pH 9.0)-tetramethylammonium iodide (4 + 1). The reversibility of the electrode reaction and the type of limiting current were studied. The temperature coefficient and the diffusion constant were determined. A mechanism for the electrode reaction was proposed. A new simple and sensitive differential pulse polarographic method was also developed for the quantification of lansoprazole. A linear calibration graph was obtained in the range 0.04-11.35 micrograms ml-1. The limit of detection was 0.03 microgram ml-1 and the intra- and inter-day precisions were 0.84-2.32 and 0.72-3.09%, respectively. The developed method was applied to six different commercial pharmaceutical capsule preparations containing enteric-coated granules. The relative standard deviations ranged from 1.36 to 2.85%. Recovery studies for the accuracy of the method were performed by adding a synthetic mixture to known amounts of lansoprazole and the mean recovery was 100.45%. The data obtained from commercial preparations were compared with those from a published spectrophotometric method. No difference was found statistically.     

Complexation study of diclofenac with beta-cyclodextrin and spectrofluorimetric determination

The inclusional complexation between the anti-inflammatory pharmaceutical diclofenac and beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) was studied by potentiometry, spectrophotometry and spectrofluorimetry, in both acid and neutral pH. Guest-host 1:1 stoichiometries for the complexes in both media were determined, and their equilibrium constants were calculated. The values obtained from the different methods used are in very good agreement and are in the order of 10(3). From the analysis of the pKa value for diclofenac in both the absence and presence of beta-CD (4.84 and 4.90 respectively), it was inferred that in the inclusion complex the carboxylic group is located outside the cavity. Further structural characterization of the inclusate was carried out by means of 1H NMR spectra and AM1 semiempirical calculations. Based on the obtained results, a spectrofluorimetric method for the determination of diclofenac in the presence of beta-CD was developed in the range of 0-5 micrograms ml-1. Better limits of detection (0.03 microgram ml-1) and quantification (0.1 microgram ml-1) were obtained in this latter case with respect to those obtained in the absence of beta-CD. The method was satisfactorily applied to the quantification of diclofenac in pharmaceutical preparations.     

Analysis of trifluralin and other dinitroaniline herbicide residues by zero-order and derivative ultraviolet spectrophotometry

The utility of zero-order and first- and second-derivative ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometry for the identification of benfluralin, trifluralin, isopropalin and oryzalin is discussed. These four herbicides were determined by zero-order and first-derivative UV spectrophotometry, with linear calibration graphs established between 50 and 100 concentration units and limits of detection ranging from 1 to 7 micrograms ml-1. The application of these techniques to the residue analysis of fortified soils and niebe and peanut leaves is described. Trifluralin residues were found to be 6.7, 8 and 1.7 micrograms ml-1 in samples of fortified soils, niebe leaves and peanut leaves, respectively. Isopropalin residues were found to range from 62 to 154 micrograms ml-1 in samples of fortified niebe leaves.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of cefonicid in human plasma and urine

A high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for determination of cefonicid concentrations in human plasma and urine samples has been developed using cefazolin as an internal standard. For the analysis of plasma samples two calibration curves were utilized covering the cefonicid concentration ranges of 0.05-1.0 microgram/ml and 1.0-50.0 micrograms/ml, respectively. Coefficients of variation of 7.4% or less were obtained for cefonicid concentrations of 0.05-50.0 micrograms/ml. Mean bias was +6.0% at 0.05 micrograms/ml cefonicid and between -2.1% and +1.6% for 1.0-50.0 micrograms/ml cefonicid. Plasma samples containing 30 ng/ml cefonicid could be well distinguished from blank plasma samples. Urine samples were analysed by using a calibration curve for cefonicid concentrations between 1.0 and 50.0 micrograms/ml. ranged from 8.6% at a cefonicid concentration of 1.0 microgram/ml to 0.5% at 50.0 micrograms/ml with a mean bias between -3.0% and +0.3%.     

Determination of thyreostatics in animal feed by micellar electrokinetic chromatography

The determination of the thyreostatics 2-thiouracil, its derivatives (4-methyl-2-thiouracil, 4-propyl-2-thiouracil and 4-phenyl-2-thiouracil) and methimazole in manufactured dried animal feed by micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) is described. A 99 +/- 5% extraction yield at the 20 micrograms g-1 level (n = 8) was achieved by shaking the milled fodder with methanol-1 M NaOH (80 + 20). Aliquots of the supernatant were injected in a 75 microns x 33.5 cm uncoated silica capillary using pressure; separation was performed at 23 degrees C with 15 kV (positive polarity) in a background electrolyte (BGE) containing 40 mM sodium dihydrogenphosphate, 50 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate and 15 mM Tween 20 at pH 9. When the surfactants were added to the BGE, all the thyreostatics were well resolved and the fodder extracts showed lower backgrounds. The peaks appeared within the 2.25-5.2 min range with efficiencies in the 2.5 x 10(4)-8 x 10(4) range; methimazole appeared in the vicinity of the electroosmotic migration time. Calibration curves were linear within the studied range (20-200 micrograms ml-1, r2 > 0.998). Limits of detection in the extracts of spiked fodder samples ranged from 0.25 to 0.4 microgram ml-1, which corresponded to 0.6-1.0 microgram of drug per gram of fodder. Peak area repeatabilities were about 4% at the 20 micrograms ml-1 level.     

Fluorimetric determination of aluminium in serum

A convenient fluorimetric method for the routine determination of aluminium in serum has been developed using lumogallion [4-chloro-3-(2,4-dihydroxyphenylazo)-2-hydroxybenzene-1-sulphonic acid]. Losses of aluminium during deproteinisation of the serum were prevented by treatment with a combination of 20 or 30% m/V trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and 5% m/VTCA. Iron(III) was removed by extraction into chloroform with capriquat (methyltrioctylammonium chloride) as an Fe3+-lumogallion-capriquat ternary complex. The interference from Cu2+ was eliminated by using thiosulphate as a masking agent. The detection limit was 3.6 ng ml-1 and the calibration graph was linear up to 1.4 micrograms ml-1 of aluminium. Using the proposed method, the average concentration of aluminium in the serum of healthy subjects was found to be 6.8 ng ml-1, in agreement with values reported in the literature.     

Indirect atomic absorption spectrometric determination of sulfate in human blood serum.

An indirect method for the determination of sulfate by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) is described. Sulfate forms a stable ion-association complex, [Cu(neocuproine)2]2+(SO4(2-)), in neutral medium, which can be extracted into isobutyl methyl ketone in the presence of a polar medium (methanol) with an efficiency higher than 98.0% and the extract can be analysed directly for copper (and hence indirectly for sulfate) by AAS. Measurement of the copper atomic absorption signal from the organic phase allows the indirect determination of 0.14-1.12 micrograms ml-1 of sulfate, giving a 450-fold increase in sensitivity over the conventional method of precipitation with barium. The limit of detection (3 sigma) is 3.2 ng ml-1 which is better than that of ion chromatography (0.15 micrograms ml-1). Indirect AAS allows the accurate assay of inorganic sulfate anion in biological fluids and tissues. The sulfate concentration determined by the proposed method in human blood serum (n = 6 in each instance) was 35.4-43.3 micrograms ml-1 in normal persons, 50.3-62.5 micrograms ml-1 in jaundice patients and 83.3-155.6 micrograms ml-1 in diabetic patients. A good correlation between measured sulfate and the sulfate added to blood serum was obtained.     

Determination of nucleic acids with crystal violet by a resonance light-scattering technique

For the first time, Crystal Violet (CV) was used to determine nucleic acid concentrations using the resonance light-scattering (RLS) technique. Based on the enhancement of the RLS of CV by nucleic acids, a new quantitative determination method for nucleic acids in aqueous solutions has been developed. At pH 5.03 and ionic strength 0.005 mol kg-1, the interaction of CV with nucleic acids results in three characteristic RLS peaks at 344.0, 483.0 and 666.0 nm. With 4.0 x 10(-5) mol l-1 of CV, linear relationships were found between the enhanced intensity of RLS at 666.0 nm and the concentration of nucleic acids in the range 0-2.5 micrograms ml-1 for herring sperm DNA, 0-4.0 micrograms ml-1 for calf thymus DNA and 0-4.5 micrograms ml-1 for yeast RNA. The limits of determination were 13.8 ng ml-1 for herring sperm DNA, 36.8 ng ml-1 for calf thymus DNA and 69.0 ng ml-1 for yeast RNA. The assay is convenient, rapid, inexpensive and simple.     

Spectrophotometric determination of taurine in food samples with phenol and sodium hypochlorite as reagents and an ion-exchange clean-up

A simple and accurate spectrophotometric method is proposed for the determination of taurine in food samples using phenol and sodium hypochlorite as reagents, which form a blue colour with taurine at room temperature and pH 10.35. Ion exchange was used to improve the selectivity of the method. Absorbance measurements were made at 630 nm and the calibration graph was linear from 0 to 180 micrograms ml-1 of taurine with a slope of 0.00242 A (p.p.m.)-1. The precision for the determination of taurine (156 micrograms ml-1) was 0.8% (n = 10). The method was applied successfully to the determination of taurine in milk products and energy drinks.     

Determination of lasalocid with sensitized terbium(III) luminescence detection

The luminescence of the lasalocid-terbium(III) system in the presence of Triton X-100 and trioctylphosphine oxide has been studied by obtaining kinetic and equilibrium measurements and using the stopped-flow mixing technique. The initial rate and luminescence signal of this system are directly proportional to the lasalocid concentration, which allows one to develop very simple, fast, automatic methods for the determination of this analyte. Kinetic and equilibrium data can be obtained in only 0.1 and 10 s, respectively. The calibration graphs were linear over the range 0.004-5.0 mug ml(-1) (kinetic method) and 0.01-5.0 mug ml(-1) (equilibrium method) and the detection limits achieved were 1 and 3 ng ml(-1), respectively, equivalent to 2 and 6 ng g(-1) lasalocid in a chicken liver sample, which are similar to those afforded by the chromatographic methods described for this determination. The relative standard deviation of both methods was close to 2%. The analytical recoveries obtained by applying the kinetic and equilibrium methods to drinking water, poultry feed and chicken liver samples ranged from 95.6 to 102.1% and from 95.9 to 104.9%, respectively.     

Residue study of doxycycline and 4-epidoxycycline in pigs medicated via-drinking water.

A study was performed to determine the residues in edible tissues of healthy pigs after continuous administration of doxycycline with drinking water for five consecutive days at a dose rate of 10.5 mg doxycycline kg-1 body weight (BW) per day. Quantitation was performed using a validated HPLC method with fluorescence detection. The method was able to separate doxycycline and its 4-epimer, 4-epidoxycycline. This epimer was found in kidney, liver, skin, fat and muscle tissue. The method was validated at the maximum residue limit (MRL), at half the MRL and at double the MRL for both doxycycline and 4-epidoxycycline. Linear calibration curves were obtained in spiked tissues (r > 0.99). The accuracy of the calibrators of the calibration curves was within -20% to +10%. The accuracy and precision (expressed as the within-run repeatability) were found to be within the required ranges for the specific concentration. The limits of detection and limits of quantification were below one-half of the MRL. The quantification limits were 50 micrograms kg-1 for doxycycline and 100 micrograms kg-1 for 4-epidoxycycline in kidney and liver, 20 micrograms kg-1 for doxycycline and 50 micrograms kg-1 for 4-epidoxycycline in skin and fat and 10 micrograms kg-1 for doxycycline and 50 micrograms kg-1 for 4-epidoxycycline in muscle tissue. The withdrawal time was calculated according to the recommendations of the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA/CVMP/036/95) and was set at 3 days. The plasma concentration of doxycycline and the stability of doxycycline in drinking water were also determined during the treatment period. The mean plasma concentration of doxycycline during the treatment period ranged from 0.83 to 0.96 microgram ml-1. Thirty-six hours after the withdrawal from medicated drinking water, no plasma levels could be detected. Samples of medicated water were taken at time zero and at 24 h after addition of doxycycline to the drinking water. No statistically significant difference in the mean drinking water concentration was seen at time zero and at time 24 h (Student's t-test, alpha = 0.05).     

Colorimetric method for the quantitative determination of the antibilharzial drug praziquantel and its application to pharmaceutical preparations.

A method for the colorimetric assay of praziquantel has been developed. For the colorimetric assay, it was necessary to hydrolyse praziquantel with 3 mol dm-3 NaOH, 6 mol dm-3 HCl and 85% phosphoric acid separately. 4-Chloro-7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (NBD-Cl) reacts with the basic hydrolysis product in methanolic aqueous phosphate buffer (pH 7.4), resulting in the formation of an orange product with a characteristic absorption maximum at 478 nm. The red-orange product of the interaction between the hydrochloric acid hydrolysis product and NBD-Cl showed an absorption maximum at 486 nm. The colours obtained were stable for 24 h. The colour system obeyed Beer's law in the concentration range 2-15 and 2-18 micrograms ml-1 for the basic hydrolysis product and the acid hydrolysis product, respectively. The results obtained showed good recoveries with relative standard deviations of 0.378 and 0.47% for the basic and the acid hydrolysis product, respectively. The determination limit was found to be 0.124 and 0.150 micrograms ml-1 for the praziquantel basic hydrolysis product and the acid hydrolysis product, respectively. The coloured reaction products obtained with the proposed method were synthesized. The structures of these products were studied and the compounds identified.     

Column chromatographic pre-concentration of iron(III) in alloys and biological samples with 1-nitroso-2-naphthol-3,6-disulphonate and benzyldimethyltetradecylammonium-perchlorate adsorbent supported on naphthalene using atomic absorption spectrometry

The solid ion-pair material produced from the reaction between benzyldimethyltetradecylammonium chloride (BDTA) and sodium perchlorate on naphthalene provides the basis for a simple, rapid and selective technique for pre-concentrating iron from up to 500 ml of aqueous solution. Iron reacts with disodium 1-nitroso-2-naphthol-3,6-disulphonate (Nitroso-R salt) to form a water-soluble coloured chelate anion. The iron chelate anion forms a water-insoluble, stable iron-Nitroso-R-BDTA complex on naphthalene packed in a column. Trace amounts of iron are quantitatively retained on naphthalene in the pH range 3.5-7.5 and at a flow-rate of 1-2 ml min-1. The solid mass is dissolved out from the column with 5 ml of N,N-dimethylformamide and iron is determined by means of an atomic absorption spectrometer at 248 nm. The calibration graph is linear for concentrations of iron over the range of 0.5-20 micrograms in 5 ml of final solution. The standard deviation and relative standard deviation were calculated. The detection limit of the method was 0.0196 micrograms ml-1 of iron. The sensitivity for 1% absorption was 0.072 microgram ml-1 (0.165 microgram ml-1 by direct atomic absorption spectrometry of aqueous solution). The proposed method was applied to the determination of iron in standard alloys and biological samples.     

Use of palladium(II) chloride as a colour-forming reagent for the determination of N-acetyl-L-cysteine in water and fluimukan injections

The formation of the complex between N-acetyl-L-cysteine and palladium(II) chloride in Britton-Robinson buffer solution in the pH range 2.08-8.00 was studied. The optimum conditions for this reaction were ascertained and a spectrophotometric method was developed for the determination of N-acetyl-L-cysteine in the concentration range 4.0-65.3 micrograms ml-1, using PdCl2 as the reagent. The detection limit was 1.63 micrograms ml-1 and the relative standard deviation varied from 0.63 to 1.92%. The method was applied to the determination of N-acetyl-L-cysteine in water and in injection solutions.     

Solid-phase reactors as high stability reagent sources in flow analysis: selective flow injection spectrophotometric determination of cysteine in pharmaceutical formulations

The flow injection spectrophotometric determination of cysteine was carried out by reaction with cobalt(II) ions entrapped in a polymeric material and filling a packed-bed reactor; the released cobalt(II) complexed with the amino acid was monitored at 360 nm. The method worked with a high repeatability, even with independent reactors, days and solutions. Selectivity of the procedure was tested with twenty different foreign compounds found in pharmaceutical formulations containing cysteine, parent amino acids included; no serious interferences were observed. The calibration graph for cysteine was linear over the range 1-90 micrograms ml-1 with a relative standard deviation of 0.8% at 60 micrograms ml-1 (n = 158). The calculated sample throughput was 90 h-1. The method was applied to determine the content of cysteine in pharmaceutical formulations.     

Enzymic method for the spectrophotometric determination of aspartame in beverages

A sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of aspartame in beverages is described. The method involves the enzymic conversion of aspartame into formaldehyde by the alpha-chymotrypsin-alcohol oxidase system, followed by the formation of a chromophore with 4-aminopent-3-en-2-one. The calibration graph was linear in the range 2.0-30.0 micrograms ml-1 of aspartame. Many common ingredients of beverages do not interfere with the proposed method. The method was applied to the determination of the aspartame content of various real samples, and the results obtained were compared with those given by high-performance liquid chromatography.