HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of atenolol and chlorthalidone in human breast milk

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method was optimized and validated for the determination of atenolol and chlorthalidone (CT) in human breast milk. The milk samples were extracted and purified using ACN and phosphoric acid for precipitation of proteins followed by removal of ACN and milk fats by extraction with methylene chloride. The samples were applied, after an extraction procedure, to a cyanide column using a mobile phase consisting of ACN/water (35:65 v/v) and buffered at pH 4.0 with flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. Quantitation was achieved with UV detection at 225 nm using guaifenesin as the internal standard. The effectiveness of protein precipitation and clean up procedure were investigated. The method was validated over the range of 0.3-20 microg/mL for atenolol and 0.25-5 microg/mL for CT.