High-performance liquid chromatographic method for monitoring leupeptin in mouse serum and muscle by pre-column fluorescence derivatization with benzoin

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method is described for the determination of leupeptin, a possible therapeutic drug for muscular dystrophy, in mouse serum and muscle. Leupeptin is reduced with sodium borohydride to leupeptinol, and then converted to a fluorescent derivative with benzoin. The derivative is separated on a reversed-phase column (LiChrosorb RP-18) with isocratic elution and determined with fluorescence detection. The detection limits of leupeptin in serum and muscle are 250 pmol/ml (107 ng/ml) and 500 pmol/g (214 ng/g), respectively, corresponding to approximately 150 fmol each in a 100-microliters injection volume. This method is simple and sensitive enough to permit the quantification of leupeptin in biological samples from mice dosed with leupeptin.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of forphenicine in mouse serum and muscle by pre-column fluorescence derivatization using 1,2-diamino-4,5-ethylenedioxybenzene as fluorogenic reagent

A simple and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the determination of forphenicine in biological samples. Forphenicine in the deproteinized sample is converted by reaction with 1,2-diamino-4,5-ethylenedioxybenzene into a fluorescent derivative. The derivative is separated on a reversed-phase column (TSK gel ODS-120T) by isocratic elution with acetonitrile-30 mM phosphate buffer (pH 6.5) (5:1, v/v) and monitored fluorimetrically. The method allows the quantification of forphenicine in serum (100 microliters) and muscle (0.1 g) of mice dosed with forphenicine or forphenicinol. The limits of detection (signal-to-noise ratio of 3) are 7.35 pmol/ml in serum and 5.36 pmol/g in muscle. The distribution of forphenicine and forphenicinol in the mouse serum and muscle after oral administration of these compounds is also described.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of peptides in biological fluids by automated pre-column fluorescence derivatization with fluorescamine

Peptides containing a free alpha- or epsilon-amino group react with fluorescamine under mild alkaline conditions to generate a highly fluorescent but unstable reaction product and, consequently, practical high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) approaches to analysis have typically involved the use of postcolumn derivatization. An automated precolumn approach is reported in which peptides are reacted with fluorescamine just prior to HPLC analysis by a commercially available autoinjector with derivatization capabilities. The autoinjector added base and fluorescamine reagent solutions to a sample vial containing peptide analytes, and the derivatization reaction was allowed to proceed for 5 min at room temperature prior to injection into the HPLC system. The derivatized peptides were analyzed by reversed-phase HPLC with fluorescence detection (excitation at 390 nm; emission 470-nm cut-off filter) on an octylsilica column. Optimization of the precolumn reaction conditions and the use of narrower HPLC columns (2 mm I.D.) resulted in a typical on-column detection limit of 30-50 fmol of peptide, which was substantially lower than that in previously reported post-column methods. This approach was applied to the HPLC of several naturally occurring and synthetic peptides containing alpha- and epsilon-amino groups. In combination with solid-phase extraction, prior to automated precolumn fluorescence derivatization and chromatographic analysis, the methodology was used for the determination of a synthetic growth hormone-releasing peptide in plasma samples.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of cyanide in human red blood cells by pre-column fluorescence derivatization.

A method for the determination of cyanide in human red cells has been developed. Cyanide was extracted from red cells by adding water and methanol, and then derivatized with 2,3-naphthalene-dialdehyde and taurine to give a fluorescent product, which was determined by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. The recovery of cyanide from red cells was ca. 83%, and the limit of detection was 100 pmol/ml. The mean concentrations of red cell cyanide from ten smokers and from ten non-smokers were 705 and 466 pmol/ml, respectively. The method was also applicable to whole blood.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of valproic acid in plasma using a micelle-mediated pre-column derivatization

A method for the determination of valproic acid (2-propylpentanoic acid) in plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) after pre-column derivatization is described. The derivatization of valproic acid with a fluorophore and UV label, 4-bromomethyl-7-methoxycoumarin, is performed in plasma diluted with an aqueous micellar system. No extraction or solvent evaporation steps are required. The mechanism of the derivatization of the carboxylic acid is based on phase-transfer catalysis. The sample preparation, including the derivatization step, is rapid and very simple. The proposed HPLC-method was evaluated and compared with a standard immunological assay used for the determination of valproic acid in plasma.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic measurement of guanidino compounds of clinical importance in human urine and serum by pre-column fluorescence derivatization using benzoin

High-performance liquid chromatographic microanalyses for guanidino compounds in human physiological fluids have been accomplished by means of a pre-column fluorescence derivatization method using benzoin. The guanidino compounds in urine or deproteinized serum after ultrafiltration are converted to the fluorescent derivatives with benzoin in an alkaline medium, and the derivatives are separated simultaneously within 25 min on a reversed-phase column (mu Bondapak Phenyl) with a linear gradient elution of methanol in aqueous mobile phase (pH 8.5). The method permits the quantitative determination of guanidinosuccinic acid, methylguanidine, taurocyamine and guanidinobutyric acid at concentrations of as low as 8-78 pmol/ml in human urine and serum.     

High performance liquid chromatographic determination of N-nitrosoamines by pre-column fluorescence derivatization with acridone-N-acetyl chloride

A sensitive high performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of N-nitrosoamines with pre-column fluorescence derivatization has been developed. N-nitrosoamines are first changed into secondary amines using denitrosation reagent, then react with acridone-N-acetyl chloride (ARC-Cl) to produce corresponding secondary amine derivatives, which exhibit a strong fluorescence. Maximum emission for ARC derivatives is 430 nm (lambda(ex) 404 nm). The labelled derivatives are very stable, less than 4% decomposition occurs after heating at 40 degrees C for 24 h. Fluorescence intensities of derivatives are higher in neutral and alkaline than in acidic solutions. This method, in conjunction with a multi-gradient program, offers a baseline resolution of the ARC derivatives from a linear acetonitrile gradient. Separation is carried out on a reverse phase C(18) column. Derivatization and chromatographic conditions are optimized. The relative standard deviation (n=6) at an analytical concentration of 10 pmol of each N-nitroamine is less than 4.5%. The detection limits at the fmol level. The method described is also suitable for analysis of other amino compounds in different biological samples.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of proteins by post-column fluorescence derivatization with thiamine reagent.

A post-column derivatization method for the high-performance liquid chromatography of peptides and proteins giving a fluorescence intensity proportional to the number of peptide bonds is described. Peptide bonds were chlorinated with hypochlorite and the N-chlorite formed was allowed to react with thiamine to give fluorescent thiochrome. This method was applied the determination of membrane-forming proteins of microorganisms.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of arachidonic acid metabolites by pre-column derivatization using 9-anthryldiazomethane

Arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites produced by washed human platelets and rat macrophages were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using a pre-column derivatization method. The reagent, 9-anthryldiazomethane, used in this study and AA metabolites derivatized by the reagent were purified by gel permeation chromatography (PG-pak C column), prior to normal-phase HPLC analysis. A sample containing eleven derivatives (12-, 15- and 5-hydroxyeicosatetetraenoic acid, 12-L-heptadecatrienoic acid, leukotriene B4, prostaglandins B2, D2, E2 and F2 alpha, thromboxane B2 and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha) was separated on a normal-phase column (PG-pak B); the detection limit is better than 100 pg for all components.     

High performance liquid chromatography determination of cyanide in urine by pre-column fluorescence derivatization

A method for the determination of cyanide in human urine has been developed. The method is based on the reaction of cyanide with 2,3-naphthalenedialdehyde and taurine to give a fluorescent product for reversed-phase HPLC separation and fluorometric detection. After centrifugation followed by dilution of urine samples, the specimens could be analysed directly by this method. The recovery of cyanide added to urine at concentration levels of 50-1000 pmol/mL was 85-96%. The detection limit of cyanide was 30 pmol/mL in urine. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of urine from smokers and nonsmokers. The mean concentrations of cyanide were found to be 215 pmol/mL for the former and 84 pmol/mL for the latter.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic method for determining trichothecene mycotoxins by post-column fluorescence derivatization

The method described here is based on a separation of deoxynivalenol, nivalenol and fusarenon-X on a C18 column using aqueous acetonitrile, and successive post-column fluorescence derivatization involving an alkaline decomposition to form formaldehyde and modified Hantzsch reaction with methyl acetoacetate and ammonium acetate (lambda ex = 370 nm and lambda em = 460 nm). By this method, 5-10 ng of the standard trichothecenes could be determined. By employing a clean-up procedure with a florisil column and a Sep-Pak CN cartridge, 61.4-96.9% recoveries were obtained for deoxynivalenol and nivalenol added to corn, wheat and barley at concentration levels of 0.05-1 ppm.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of netilmicin in guinea-pig and human serum by fluorodinitrobenzene derivatization with spectrophotometric detection

A high-performance liquid chromatographic procedure for netilmicin determination in guinea-pig and human serum using pre-column derivatization with 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and UV detection is described. Linearity was established over the range 0.5-40 micrograms/ml using only 50 microliters of serum. Accuracy and precision were good, with a mean coefficient of variation less than 5% and a mean relative error less than 4%. This procedure correlates well with an enzyme multiplied immunoassay technique and has a sensitivity similar to those of published fluorescence derivatization methods.     

1,2-Diarylethylenediamines as pre-column fluorescence derivatization reagents in high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of catecholamines in urine and plasma

Meso- and dl-1,2-diarylethylenediamines (14 species) were evaluated for pre-column fluorescence derivatization reagents in the high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of catecholamines (norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine) in human urine and plasma. Of the compounds, meso-1,2-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)ethylenediamine was most preferable for all the catecholamines in terms of sensitivity and selectivity. The detection limit for each catecholamine is approximately 0.5 fmol in a 50-microliters injection volume.     

Quantitative liquid chromatographic determination of cefatrizine in serum and urine by fluorescence detection after post-column derivatization

A fast, specific and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic procedure for the determination of cefatrizine, an orally active cephalosporin, in serum and urine is proposed. The drug is determined by the internal standard method, using cephradine as the internal standard. The separation is carried out on a reversed-phase column, filled with octadecylsilane chemically bonded microparticles. The eluent is a mixture of acetonitrile with 0.025 M sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7). Quantitation is effected by fluorescence detection of the fluorophores formed after post-column derivatization with fluorescamine in a packed-bed reactor. The chromatographic conditions and the conditions for the post-column derivatization are discussed. The method has been applied to serum and urine samples, which were analysed after deproteinization with trichloroacetic acid and injection of the clear supernatant. The accuracy and reproducibility of the procedure were investigated by the determination of the cefatrizine content in spiked serum and urine samples.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of serum short-chain fatty acids by direct derivatization

The application of direct derivatization in conjunction with high-performance liquid chromatography is described for the analysis of short-chain fatty acids in serum. The method is based on the reaction of these acids with acidic 2-nitrophenylhydrazine hydrochloride, without complicated isolation steps, which produces their non-volatile hydrazine derivatives. The hydrazides of fourteen saturated and unsaturated, straight and branched, short-chain fatty acids were separated from other acid hydrazides and interfering components by a simple solvent extraction, and were eluted isocratically on a reversed-phase C8 column within 24 min. UV detection demonstrated that the detection limits for the acids were 200-400 fmol per injection with linearity over the range from 400 fmol to 5 nmol per injection. Analytical recoveries ranged from 96.8% to 103.1% and coefficients of variation ranged from 0.9% to 3.8%. The present method is simple, accurate and adequate for the analysis of short-chain fatty acids in biological fluids and tissues of patients suffering from organic acidemias.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of alpha-keto acids in human serum and urine using 1,2-diamino-4,5-methylenedioxybenzene as a precolumn fluorescence derivatization reagent

A simple and highly sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the determination of alpha-keto acids in human serum and urine is described. In an acidic solution, twelve species of alpha-keto acids examined were converted by reaction with 1,2-diamino-4,5-methylenedioxy-benzene into highly fluorescent derivatives. The derivatives were separated isocratically by reversed-phase HPLC on a TSK gel ODS-80TM column and detected fluorimetrically. Eight alpha-keto acids in human serum and eleven alpha-keto acids in human urine can be determined simultaneously. The detection limits (signal-to-noise ratio = 5) are 6-44 fmol in an injection volume of 5 microliters. The intra-assay relative standard deviations for both serum and urine sample analyses are usually ca. 5%.