Validation of LC/MS electrospray ionisation method for the estimation of ursodiol in human plasma and its application in bioequivalence study

A novel High Performance Liquid Chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometric method has been developed for the estimation of Ursodiol (Ursodeoxycholic acid)--a bile acid, in human plasma using Ornidazole as internal standard. The methodology involved solid phase extraction of the analyte from human plasma matrix. The chromatographic separation was achieved within seven minutes by an isocratic mobile phase containing 1.0 mM ammonium acetate and Acetonitrile (65:35, v/v), flowing through XTerra MS C18, 100 x 2.1, 3.5 microm analytical column, at a flow rate of 0.2 ml/min. Ion signals were measured in negative mode for Ursodiol and internal standard at m/z 391.3 and 278.1, respectively. A detailed validation of the method was performed as per USFDA guidelines and the standard curves were found to be linear in the range 50.0 ng/ml to 3000.0 ng/ml with the mean correlation coefficient more than 0.99. The absolute recovery was more than 54.90% for Ursodiol and 76.51% for internal standard. Ursodiol was stable for sixty-nine days at -70 degrees C and for eight hours at ambient temperature. After extraction from plasma, the reconstituted samples of Ursodiol were stable in autosampler at 10 degrees C for forty-eight hours. Upon subjecting to three freeze thaw cycles, there was no change in the recovery of the analyte. The integrity of the plasma samples remained unaffected even upon four-fold dilution with drug free human plasma. The method was simple, specific, sensitive, precise, accurate and suitable for bioequivalence and pharmacokinetic studies. It was successfully applied to the pilot bioequivalence study of Ursodiol in male human subjects.     

Synthesis, spectra and biomimetic properties of copper(II)-copper(II) and copper(II)-zinc(II) binuclear complexes with CuN5 chromophores

X-band electron spin resonance (ESR) and UV-vis spectra of a homobinuclear [(Bipy)2Cu-E-Im-Cu(Bipy)2](BF4)3 and a heterobinuclear [(Bipy)2Cu-E-Im-Zn(Bipy)2](BF4)3 complexes, E-Im=2-ethylimidazolate ion have been described as possible models for superoxide dismutase (SOD). Magnetic moment and ESR spectral measurements of the homobinuclear complex have shown an antiferromagnetic exchange interaction. From pH-dependent ESR and UV-vis spectral measurements studies, these complexes have been found to be stable over 8.5-10.5 pH range. These complexes catalyze the dismutation of superoxide (O2-) at biological pH. All the observations indicate that these complexes act as good possible models for superoxide dismutase.     

LC–MS Determination of Gabapentin from Human Plasma

Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant drug used for the treatment of epilepsy. It is not bound to plasma protein and is not metabolized. A high performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometric micro method is described in this report for its determination from human plasma. Chromatography was performed on a 50 × 4.6 mm, 4 μm nitrile column and the parent ion detected in the positive ionization mode on single quadrupole analyzer (Q1MI) with atmospheric pressure ionization source. Extraction was carried out on C₁₈, 100 mg/3cc cartridge using 10 μL sample volume. The mean extraction recovery was 97% and within batch and between batch coefficients of variation were <9%. Lack of interference from endogenous substances helped in achieving a highly sensitive method without the need for monitoring fragment ions. The lowest concentration injected on column for calibration curve was 195 pg (range 0.5–64 ng). The method was applied for analysis of samples from a cross-over bio-equivalence study comparing two formulations.     

Dual-label autoradiographic analysis of human skin fibroblast and myoblast proteins by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis using immobilised pH gradients in the first dimension

Horizontal two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with immobilised pH gradients in the first dimension has been applied to the analysis of human skin fibroblast and muscle myoblast total cell proteins. Excellent two-dimensional separations of skin fibroblast proteins were obtained using pH 4-10 immobilised pH gradient gels with a long interelectrode distance (16 cm), but resolution was degraded, particularly of the more acidic proteins, by the use of shorter (10 cm) gels. Improved resolution of acidic and basic proteins was obtained using separate pH 4-7 and pH 7-10 immobilised pH gradient gels respectively in the first dimension. Two-dimensional protein maps of skin fibroblast proteins were visualised both by silver staining and by autoradiography of samples labelled synthetically with [35S]methionine. Horizontal two-dimensional electrophoresis, using pH 4-7 and pH 7-10 immobilised pH gradient gels in the first dimension, was applied to the analysis of protein samples from skin fibroblasts and muscle myoblasts dual-labelled synthetically with [35S]methionine and [75Se]selenomethionine in an attempt to identify sets of proteins specific to each cell type. In addition, two-dimensional maps or protein samples derived from normal individuals and patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy were compared to search for protein changes associated with the disease state. Although sets of qualitative protein spot differences were observed by visual inspection of the two-dimensional gels, more rigorous qualitative and quantitative analysis of the patterns using a computerised analysis system will be required to obtain the maximum amount of information from these data.     

CONTRASTING STRUCTURAL IMPACTS INDUCED BY cis-syn CYCLOBUTANE DIMER AND (6–4) ADDUCT IN DNA DUPLEX DECAMERS: IMPLICATION IN MUTAGENESIS AND REPAIR ACTIVITY

Abstract—
The relative biological importance of cis-syn cyclobutane dimer and pyrimidine(6–4)pyr-imidone photoadduct ([6–4] photoadduct) appears to be dependent on the biological species, dipyrimidine sites and the local conformational variation induced at the damaged sites. The single-stranded deoxyn-ucleotide 10-mers containing the site-specific (6–4) adduct or cis-syn cyclobutane dimer of thymidylyl (3'-5')-thymidine were generated by direct photolysis of d(CGCATTACGC) with UVC (220–260 nm) irradiation or UVB (260–320 nm) photosensitization. Three-dimensional structures of the duplex cis-syn and (6–4) decamers of d(CGCATTACGC)d(GCGTAATGCG) were determined by NMR spectroscopy and the relaxation matrix refinement method. The NMR data and structural calculations establish that Watson-Crick base pairing is still intact at the cis-syn dimer site while the hydrogen bonding is absent at the 3'-side of the (6–4) lesion where the T → C transition mutation is predominantly targeted. Overall conformation of the duplex cis-syn decamer was B-DNA and produced a 9° bending in the DNA helix, but a distinctive base orientation of the (6–4) lesion provided a structural basis leading to 44° helical bending. The observed local structure and conformational rigidity at the (6–4) adduct of the thymidylyl(3'-5')-thymidine (T-T [6–4]) lesion site suggest the potential absence of hydrogen bonding at the 3' sides of the (6–4) lesion with a substituted nucleotide during replication under SOS conditions. Contrasting structural distortions induced by the T-T (6–4) adduct with respect to the T-T cis-syn cyclobutane pyrimidine photodimer may explain the large differences in mutation spectrum and repair activities between them.     

Novel stereoselective molecularly imprinted polymers via ring-opening metathesis polymerisation

Stereoselective molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have been synthesised via ring-opening metathesis polymerisation, in essentially, quantitative yield. A covalent imprinting strategy was followed during the network formation of the chiral sorbent. Recognition of the substrate however involved non-covalent interactions; a combination of hydrogen bonding and the chiral environment presented by the imprinted cavities. The enantiomeric excess achievable with these new MIPs is solvent dependent and stereoselectivities of up to 20% e.e. (separation factor α=2.2) were found in batch equilibrations.     

Synthetic analgesics: preparation of racemic 6,7-benzomorphans

A simple preparation of 2-carbomethoxy-2-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-6-one ($\text{7}$ and its conversion to the racemic benzomorphans: $\text{9}$, $\text{10}$, $\text{14}$ are described.     

Extraction-photometric determination of vanadium(V) with N-hydroxy-N-m-tolyl-N′-(2-methyl-5-chloro)phenyl-p-toluamidine hydrochloride in the presence of acetic,monochloroacetic, and phenylacetic acids

N-Hydroxy-N-m-tolyl-N′-(2-methyl-5-chloro)phenyl-p-toluamidine hydrochloride (HTMCPTH), a monobasic and bidentate chelating agent which reacts with vanadium(V) in carboxylic acid media to develop a blue-violet complex, has been employed as a highly selective reagent for extraction and direct photometric determination of the metal. Solvent extraction experiments indicate that from aqueous acetic acid (1.0–10.0 M), monochloroacetic acid (0.1–10.0 M), and phenylacetic acid (at pH 0.5–6.0) vanadium(V) is quantitatively extracted into chloroform. Almost all common ions including Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, Mn²⁺, Cr³⁺, Ti⁴⁺, Zr⁴⁺, and Mo⁶⁺ do not interfere with the proposed method. The procedure has been utilized for accurate determination of vanadium in standard steels.     

σ,π-acetylido complexes via P---C bond cleavage of phosphinoacetylenes: X-ray structure of Fe2(CO)6(CCPh)(PPh2)

Solutions of Co^II salts of organic acids in primary amines absorb molecular oxygen rapidly and irreversibly forming μ-dioxygen—cobalt complexes. Thermolysis leads to a homopolar cleavage of the OO bond with subsequent radical reactions involving ligand amine. After thermolysis the capacity of oxygen uptake is reestablished (catalysis).