Electromembrane extraction of levamisole from human biological fluids

Electromembrane extraction coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultraviolet (UV) detection was developed for the determination of levamisole in some human biological fluids. Levamisole migrated from 4 mL of different acidized biological matrices, through a thin layer of 2-nitrophenyl octyl ether containing 5% tris-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate immobilized in the pores of a porous hollow fiber, into a 20-μL acidic aqueous acceptor solution present inside the lumen of the fiber. The parameters influencing electromigration were investigated and optimized. Within 15 min of operation at 200 V, levamisole was extracted from different biological fluid samples with recoveries in the range of 59-65%, which corresponded to preconcentration factors in the range of 118-130. The calibration curves showed linearity in the range of 0.5-10, 0.2-10 and 0.1-10 μg/mL for plasma, urine and saliva, respectively. Limits of detection of 0.1, 0.07 and 0.05 μg/mL and limits of quantification of 0.5, 0.2 and 0.1 μg/mL were obtained for plasma, urine and saliva, respectively. The relative standard deviations of the analysis were found to be in the range of 5.6-9.7% (n = 3). Electromembrane extraction was successfully processed for determination of levamisole in plasma, urine and saliva samples.     

Aminorex and rexamino as metabolites of levamisole in the horse

Administration studies of levamisole in horses were carried out using two different levamisole preparations, namely, levamisole hydrochloride oral bolus and levamisole phosphate injectable solution. These preparations were analysed in detail for the presence of aminorex-like impurities. Both levamisole preparations were found to contain 1-(2-mercaptoethyl)-4-phenyl-2-imidazolidinone (I) and 4-phenyl-2-imidazolidinone (II) as degradation impurities, but neither aminorex nor rexamino was detected in these preparations. After the administration of these preparations to horses, aminorex, rexamino, in addition to levamisole and compound II, were detected in post-administration urine and plasma samples, among which compound II was found to have the longest detection time. Administration study of compound II was then performed on another horse to investigate whether it could be a metabolic precursor of aminorex and/or rexamino. However, no aminorex and rexamino was detected in the post-administration samples, suggesting that compound II was not a metabolic precursor of aminorex or rexamino. A metabolite (III) of compound II, tentatively identified to be a hydrolysis product of compound II, was observed instead.It has been established unequivocally that the normal use of levamisole products in horses can lead to the presence of aminorex, rexamino and 4-phenyl-2-imidazolidinone (II) in their urine and blood samples. As compound II has the longest detection time, the detection of aminorex (and in some cases rexamino) in some of the official samples from racehorses can be ascribed to the use of levamisole products as long as compound II is also present as a marker. These findings should be of direct relevance to the investigation of some of the cases of aminorex detection in official doping control samples from racehorses.     

Nickel quantification in serum by a validated sector-field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry method: Assessment of tentative reference values for an Italian population

The daily exposure to Ni from food, industrial processes, jewellery and coins makes the determination of Ni in human serum an important way to monitor the health status in non-occupationally exposed subjects. To this end, a method based on sector-field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was developed and validated. The limits of detection (LoD) and quantification (LoQ), sensitivity, linearity range, trueness, repeatability, within-laboratory reproducibility and robustness were the considered issues of the validation process. The uncertainty associated with the measurements was also calculated, according to the Eurachem/Citac Guide. The method LoD and LoQ were 0.03 and 0.09 ng mL(-1), linearity was over two order of magnitude, trueness was -3.57%, and the repeatability and reproducibility showed relative standard deviations equal to 4.56% and 6.52%, respectively. The relative expanded uncertainty was 21.8% at the Ni levels found in the general population. The tentative reference value for serum Ni was 0.466 +/- 0.160 ng mL(-1) with a related interval between 0.226 and 1.026 ng mL(-1).     

超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法测定牛奶和奶粉中残留的左旋咪唑

建立了一种专属、灵敏的超高效液相色谱-串联质谱(UPLC-MS/MS)测定牛奶和奶粉中左旋咪唑残留量的方法。在碱性环境下用乙酸乙酯超声波提取试样中的左旋咪唑,再经稀盐酸反提取、强阳离子交换(SCX)固相萃取柱净化,采用BEHC18超高效液相色谱柱、乙腈-0.1%甲酸(体积比为15∶85)流动相分离,以电喷雾离子源正离子检测方式进行质谱分析。实验结果表明,在2.0～100.0 μg/L浓度范围内左旋咪唑呈良好的线性关系,其相关系数r=0.997。在低、中、高3个浓度添加水平下,左旋咪唑的回收率为64.5%～102.0%,相对标准偏差小于13.1%。牛奶中左旋咪唑检出限为0.4 μg/kg,奶粉中左旋咪唑检出限为2.0 μg/kg。     

Analysis of lysergic acid amide in human serum and urine after ingestion of Argyreia nervosa seeds

The ergot alkaloid lysergic acid amide (LSA) is a secondary plant constituent in a number of plants, but it is mainly present in considerable amounts in Convolvulaceae, like Argyreia nervosa. Due to its close structural similarity to lysergic acid diethylamide, LSA is considered as psychedelic and therefore promoted as so-called “legal high” in various internet forums. During a human behavioral study with orally administered seeds of A. nervosa, blood and urine samples were obtained. The present study describes the validation of a sensitive and robust high performance liquid chromatography method with fluorescence detection, which was applied to the study samples. The limit of detection (LOD) and lower limit of quantification in human serum were 0.05 and 0.17 ng/mL, respectively, and in urine, the LOD was 0.15 ng/mL. Intra- and interday precision and accuracy were below 15 % relative standard deviation with a bias better than ±15 %. No conversion of LSA to its epimer iso-LSA was noted during analyses. The LSA concentrations in the authentic human serum samples were in the range of 0.66 to 3.15 ng/mL approximately 2 h after ingestion. In urine, LSA could be found 1–24 h after ingestion; after 48 h, no LSA could be detected. The LSA epimer iso-LSA was also detected in serum and urine in varying ratios. In conclusion, LSA serum levels in the low nanogram per milliliter range correlated with severe vegetative adverse effects (nausea, weakness, fatigue, tremor, blood pressure elevation) and a psychosis-like state, which led to study termination.     

Determination of ecgonine and seven other cocaine metabolites in human urine and whole blood by ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Ecgonine is suggested to be a promising marker of cocaine (COC) ingestion. A combined mass spectrometry (MS) and tandem MS (MS/MS) method was developed to simultaneously determine ecgonine and seven other metabolites of cocaine in human urine and whole blood with ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The compounds were extracted from as little as 100 μL of sample by solid-phase extraction with a 96-well μElution solid-phase extraction plate. The protonated molecules or fragment ions at accurate mass acquired in MS mode were used to quantify specific analytes, following by dedicated MS/MS identification. The assay was linear in the range from 5 to 50-100 ng/mL for urine samples, except for ecgonine methyl ester (10-200 ng/mL) and ecgonine (40-400 ng/mL), and was linear from 1-2 to 50 ng/mL for whole blood samples, except for ecgonine methyl ester (20-1,000 ng/mL) and ecgonine (40-2,000 ng/mL). The correlation coefficients were all greater than 0.99. The limits of detection ranged from 0.2 to 16 ng/mL, and the lower limits of quantification ranged from 1 to 40 ng/mL. The repeatability and intermediate precision were 18.1 % or less. The accuracy was in the range from 80.0 to 122.9 %, process efficiencies were in the range from 8.6 to 177.4 %, matrix effects were in the range from 28.7 to 171.0 %, and extraction recoveries were in the range from 41.0 to 114.3 %, except for ecgonine (12.8 % and 9.3 % at low and high concentrations, respectively). This method was highly sensitive in comparison with previously published methods. The validated method was successfully applied to the analysis of real samples derived from forensic cases, and the results verified that, on the basis of data from four positive samples, ecgonine is a promising marker of cocaine ingestion.

Development and validation of two LC-MS/MS methods for the detection and quantification of amphetamines, designer amphetamines, benzoylecgonine, benzodiazepines, opiates, and opioids in urine using turbulent flow chromatography

In the context of driving ability diagnostics in Germany, administrative cutoffs for various drugs and pharmaceuticals in urine have been established. Two liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry methods for simultaneous detection and quantification of amphetamines, designer amphetamines, benzoylecgonine, benzodiazepines, opiates, and opioids in urine were developed and validated. A 500-μL aliquot of urine was diluted and fortified with an internal standard solution. After enzymatic cleavage, online extraction was performed by an ion-exchange/reversed-phase turbulent flow column. Separation was achieved by using a reversed-phase column and gradient elution. For detection, a Thermo Fisher TSQ Quantum Ultra Accurate Mass tandem mass spectrometer with positive electrospray ionization was used, and the analytes were measured in multiple-reaction monitoring mode detecting two transitions per precursor ion. The total run time for both methods was about 15 min. Validation was performed according to the guidelines of the Society of Toxicological and Forensic Chemistry. The results of matrix effect determination were between 78 % and 116 %. The limits of detection and quantification for all drugs, except zopiclone, were less than10?ng/mL and less than 25 ng/mL, respectively. Calibration curves ranged from 25 to 200 ng/mL for amphetamines, designer amphetamines, and benzoylecgonine, from 25 to 250 ng/mL for benzodiazepines, from 12.5 to 100 ng/mL for morphine, codeine, and dihydrocodeine, and from 5 to 50 ng/mL for buprenorphine and norbuprenorphine. Intraday and interday precision values were lower than 15 %, and bias values within?±?15 % were achieved. Turbulent flow chromatography needs no laborious sample preparation, so the workup is less time-consuming compared with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry methods. The methods are suitable for quantification of multiple analytes at the cutoff concentrations required for driving ability diagnostics in Germany.     

Development and Validation of a Sensitive LC-MS/MS Method for the Simultaneous Analysis of Three-Tropane Alkaloids in Blood and Urine

A simple and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed for the simultaneous analysis of three tropane alkaloids in blood and urine. After 1 mL of a blood or urine sample was extracted using a liquid–liquid extraction method with ethyl acetate at pH 8 and homatropine as the internal standard, the tropane alkaloids were separated. An Allure PFP propyl column (50 mm × 2.1 mm, 5 µm) separated the tropane alkaloids using an acetonitrile-buffer solution (20 mmol/L ammonium acetate and 0.1% formic acid, pH 4) (70:30) as the mobile phase at a flow-rate of 0.2 mL/min in isocratic mode, with the LC-MS/MS in the positive ionization mode. For each compound, detection was related to two daughter ions (scopolamine: m/z 304.4 → 138.1 and 155.9; atropine: m/z 290.3 → 124.0 and 93.1; anisodamine: m/z 306.3 → 140.1 and 91.1; and homatropine: m/z 276.3 → 124.3 and 142.1). The tropane alkaloids exhibited excellent linearity in the range of 0.05–100 ng/mL in blood and 0.2–100 ng/mL in urine, with a limit of detection range from 0.02 to 0.05 ng/mL for biological materials. The extraction recoveries of atropine, scopolamine, and anisodamine were more than 53% in the blood and urine; the interday and intraday RSDs were less than 10%; the within-day and between-day accuracy were between ?9.8% and +8.8%. The present method is simple and rapid, as shown by its application to a clinical case. This method is useful for routine analysis of tropane alkaloids in cases of suspected tropane alkaloid poisoning.     

Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Glyoxal and Methylglyoxal from Serum of Diabetic Patients using Meso‐Stilbenediamine as Derivatizing Reagent

Abstract

Meso‐stilbenediamine has been used as derivatizing reagent for liquid chromatographic (LC) determination of glyoxal (Go), methylglyoxal (MGo), and dimethylglyoxal (DMGo) at pH 3. Liquid chromatographic elution and separation was carried out from the column Kromasil 100 C‐18, 5 µm (15×0.46 mm i.d.) with methanol: water:acetonitrile (59:40:1, v/v/v) with a flow rate of 1 mL/min and ultraviolet detection at 254 nm. The linear calibration curves were obtained for Go, MGo, and DMGo within 0.97–4.86 µg/mL, 1.52–7.6 µg/mL, and 1.41–7.08 µg/mL with detection limits of 48 ng/mL, 76 ng/mL, and 70.8 ng/mL, respectively. The method was applied for the determination of Go and MGo from serum of patients suffering from diabetes and ketosis. The amounts of Go and MGo found were 0.150–0.260 µg/mL and 0.160–0.270 µg/mL with coefficient of variation (C.V.) 2.6–4.7% and 2.5–4.6%, respectively. The results obtained were compared with normal subjects with Go and MGo contents of 0.025–0.065 µg/mL and 0.030–0.070 µg/mL with C.V 1.5–4.9% and 1.6–4.8% in the serum.     

Application of dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction with alcoholic solvents followed by HPLC–UV as a sensitive and efficient method for the extraction and determination of citalopram in biological samples using an experimental design

A sensitive and rapid method based on alcoholic-assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction followed by high-performance liquid chromatography for determination of citalopram in human plasma and urine samples was developed. The effects of six parameters (extraction time, stirring speed, pH, volume of extraction and disperser solvents, and ionic strength) on the extraction recovery were investigated and optimized utilizing Plackett–Burman design and Box–Behnken design, respectively. According to Plackett–Burman design results, the volume of disperser solvent, stirring speed, and extraction time had no effect on the recovery of citalopram. The optimized condition was a mixture of 172 µL of 1-octanol as extraction solvent and 400 µL of methanol as disperser solvent, pH of 10.3 and 1% w/v of salt in the sample solution. Replicating the experiment in optimized condition for five times, gave the average extraction recoveries equal to 89.42%. The detection limit of citalopram in human plasma was obtained 4 ng/mL, and the linearity was in the range of 10–1200 ng/mL. The corresponding values for human urine were 5.4 ng/mL with the linearity in the range of 10–2000 ng/mL. Relative standard deviations for inter- and intraday extraction of citalopram were less than 7% for five measurements. The proposed method was successfully implemented for the determination of citalopram in human plasma and urine samples.     

Molecularly imprinted polymer for selective determination of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and 11-nor-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol carboxylic acid using LC-MS/MS in urine and oral fluid

The use of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for solid phase extraction (MISPE) allows a rapid and selective extraction compared with traditional methods. Determination of Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and 11-nor-Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol carboxylic acid (THC-COOH) in oral fluid (OF) and urine was performed using homemade MISPEs for sample clean-up and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Cylindrical MISPE shaped pills were synthesized using catechin as a mimic template. MISPEs were added to 0.5 mL OF or urine sample and sonicated 30 min for adsorption of analytes. For desorption, the MISPE was transfered to a clean tube, and sonicated for 15 min with 2 mL acetone:acetonitrile (3:1, v/v). The elution solvent was evaporated and reconstituted in mobile phase. Chromatographic separation was performed using a SunFire C18 (2.5 μm; 2.1?×?20 mm) column, and formic acid 0.1 % and acetonitrile as mobile phase, with a total run time of 5 min. The method was fully validated including selectivity (no endogenous or exogenous interferences), linearity (1–500 ng/mL in OF, and 2.5–500 ng/mL in urine), limit of detection (0.75 and 1 ng/mL in OF and urine, respectively), imprecision (%CV <12.3 %), accuracy (98.2–107.0 % of target), extraction recovery (15.9–53.5 %), process efficiency (10.1–46.2 %), and matrix effect (<?55 %). Analytes were stable for 72 h in the autosampler. Dilution 1:10 was assured in OF, and Quantisal? matrix effect showed ion suppression (<?80.4 %). The method was applied to the analysis of 20 OF and 11 urine specimens. This is the first method for determination of THC and THC-COOH in OF using MISPE technology.     

Preparation of a Monoclonal Antibody against a Kallikrein-Like Enzyme from Agkistrodon halys pallas Venom and Its Application in a Pharmacokinetic Study

Snake venom contains bioactive materials for drug development, diagnosis, and treatment. After separating and purifying the kallikrein-like enzyme (AHP-Ka) from Agkistrodon halys pallas venom for the first time, a monoclonal antibody against AHP-Ka was prepared and characterized. An indirect sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on the monoclonal antibody was developed and validated for the pharmacokinetic analysis of AHP-Ka in rat plasma. The method was calibrated using rat plasma and 1:100 dilution of plasma was selected to prepare a calibration curve to validate the precision, accuracy, and stability of the ELISA method. A good linear relationship was obtained in a working range from 3.9 ng/mL to 62.5 ng/mL with a limit of detection of 2.94 ng/mL. Intra- and inter-batch precision were less than 10%. The average recovery ranged from 94.6% to 104.4% in rat plasma at the concentrations of 5 ng/mL, 15 ng/mL, and 45 ng/mL, respectively. The ELISA method was successfully used for the pharmacokinetic study of AHP-Ka in Sprague-Dawley rat plasma after intravenous administration. The work is expected to contribute to future preclinical development of AHP-Ka.     

Determination of several synthetic cathinones and an amphetamine‐like compound in urine by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. Method validation and application to real cases

Most routine practices for drugs‐of‐abuse testing do not include screening procedures for new psychoactive substances, despite their increasing diffusion, preventing clear knowledge of the real consumption of these drugs in the populations. To make up for this shortcoming, a gas chromatography with mass spectrometry method was developed for the simultaneous determination of 18 synthetic cathinones and one amphetamine‐like compound in human urine. The sample preparation was based on liquid–liquid extraction under alkaline condition followed by derivatization with trifluoroacetic anhydride. The separation of the 19 analytes was achieved in less than 10 min. The whole methodology was validated according to national and international guidelines. Selectivity, linearity range, limit of detection and limit of quantitation, precision and accuracy were evaluated. For all the analytes, the calibration curve was linear in the 100–1000 ng/mL concentration range. The limits of detection ranged from 10 to 30 ng/mL and limits of quantitation from 30 to 100 ng/mL. Precisions were in the ranges 0.1–10.4%, and 1.0–12.1% for low (100 ng/mL) and high (1000 ng/mL) concentration, respectively. The accuracy, expressed as bias% was within ±20% for all the analytes. The present method was successfully applied to urine samples originating from autopsies, drug abuse/withdrawal controls, clinical investigations, roadside controls, driving re‐licensing, and workplace testing.     

Analysis of anabolic androgenic steroids in urine by full-capillary sample injection combined with a sweeping CE stacking method

This study describes an on-line stacking CE approach by sweeping with whole capillary sample filling for analyzing five anabolic androgenic steroids in urine samples. The five anabolic steroids for detection were androstenedione, testosterone, epitestosterone, boldenone, and clostebol. Anabolic androgenic steroids are abused in sport doping because they can promote muscle growth. Therefore, a sensitive detection method is imperatively required for monitoring the urine samples of athletes. In this research, an interesting and reliable stacking capillary electrophoresis method was established for analysis of anabolic steroids in urine. After liquid–liquid extraction by n-hexane, the supernatant was dried and reconstituted with 30 mM phosphate buffer (pH 5.00) and loaded into the capillary by hydrodynamic injection (10 psi, 99.9 s). The stacking and separation were simultaneously accomplished at ?20 kV in phosphate buffer (30 mM, pH 5.0) containing 100 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate and 40 % methanol. During the method validation, calibration curves were linear (r?≥?0.990) over a range of 50–1,000 ng/mL for the five analytes. In the evaluation of precision and accuracy for this method, the absolute values of the RSD and the RE in the intra-day (n?=?3) and inter-day (n?=?5) analyses were all less than 6.6 %. The limit of detection for the five analytes was 30 ng/mL (S/N?=?5, sampling 99.9 s at 10 psi). Compared with simple MECK, this stacking method possessed a 108- to 175-fold increase in sensitivity. This simple and sensitive stacking method could be used as a powerful tool for monitoring the illegal use of doping.     

UHPLC‐MS method for determination of gambogic acid and application to bioavailability,pharmacokinetics, excretion and tissue distribution in rats

A sensitive ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC‐MS) method was developed for determination of gambogic acid (GA) in rat plasma, urine, bile and main tissues. GA was separated on an Agilent Zorbax XDB–C₁₈ column (50 × 2.1 mm, 1.8 µm) with gradient mobile phase at the flow rate of 0.2 mL/min. The detection was performed by negative electrospray ionization with multiple reaction monitoring mode. The calibration curves of GA were linear between 1.0 and 1000 ng/mL in rat plasma and bile and between 1.0 and 500 ng/mL in urine and tissues. The lowest limit of quantification for all matrices was 1.0 ng/mL. Both accuracy and precision of the assay were satisfactory. This validated method was firstly applied to bioavailability (BA), pharmacokinetics, excretion and tissue distribution in rats. The BAs of GA (40 and 80 mg/kg) in rats were 0.25 and 0.32%, respectively. GA was distributed extensively in rats after oral administration and exhibited the highest level in liver. GA reached the cumulative excretion amount of 25.3 ± 1.7 µg in bile and 0.275 ± 0.08 µg in urine after i.g. 80 mg/kg to rats at 24 h. The present results would be helpful for further clinical use of GA as a potential anticancer drug. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determination of β2-Agonists in Porcine Urine by Molecularly Imprinted Solid Phase Extraction Followed Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry Detection

A novel, sensitive, and robust method has been developed to detect 9 β₂-agonists in porcine urine to monitor illegal use of β₂-agonists in swine rearing. The method based on the molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) rapid extraction followed ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) detection. The cleaning efficiency of MIP cartridges was demonstrated by comparing with common ion exchange solid phase extraction. The presented method was validated in accordance with the European Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. The linearity, decision limit (CCα), detection capability (CCβ), recovery, precision, robustness, and stability were studied in detail. CCα and CCβ values were from 0.006 ng/mL to 0.03 ng/mL and from 0.02 ng/mL to 0.08 ng/mL, respectively. The mean recoveries and repeatability varied from 68.8% to 94.2% and from 2.8% to 10.1%. The proposed method was applied to test 170 porcine urine samples from the Shaanxi province in China and two urine samples were confirmed as clenbuterol positive and the concentrations of clenbuterol in positive urine samples were about 0.08 ng/mL and 0.1 ng/mL, respectively. The developed method was demonstrated to be more sensitive and robust for the determination of 9 β₂-agonists in porcine urine. The method was proven to be simple and easy in operation with high selectivity and good reproducibility.     

两次液液萃取-气相色谱-质谱联用法测定动物肝脏中左旋咪唑残留

建立了液液萃取-气相色谱-质谱联用法测定动物组织中残留左旋咪唑的方法。在碱性溶液中将左旋咪唑盐酸盐转化为左旋咪唑,以乙酸乙酯进行提取;分别以HCl水溶液、氢氧化钾-二氯甲烷体系进行两次液液萃取净化,依次消除提取液中的脂溶性杂质和水溶性杂质,最后进入气相色谱-质谱系统,在选择离子监测模式下,以m/z 148、176、204为定性离子,m/z 204为定量离子进行结构确证和定量检测。结果表明: 左旋咪唑含量在0.25～3.0 mg/L范围内方法的线性关系良好(相关系数为0.999);定量限为5 μg/kg,低于当前国际最低限量标准;在鸡肝、鸭肝、兔肝和猪肝样品中的加标回收率在76%～106%范围内,相对标准偏差(RSD)小于9%。该法简便、稳定性好,无需对样品进行复杂的预处理即可实现对动物肝脏中左旋咪唑残留的快速准确测定。     

Impact of enzymatic and alkaline hydrolysis on CBD concentration in urine

A sensitive and specific analytical method for cannabidiol (CBD) in urine was needed to define urinary CBD pharmacokinetics after controlled CBD administration, and to confirm compliance with CBD medications including Sativex—a cannabis plant extract containing 1:1 ?⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and CBD. Non-psychoactive CBD has a wide range of therapeutic applications and may also influence psychotropic smoked cannabis effects. Few methods exist for the quantification of CBD excretion in urine, and no data are available for phase II metabolism of CBD to CBD-glucuronide or CBD-sulfate. We optimized the hydrolysis of CBD-glucuronide and/or -sulfate, and developed and validated a GC-MS method for urinary CBD quantification. Solid-phase extraction isolated and concentrated analytes prior to GC-MS. Method validation included overnight hydrolysis (16 h) at 37 °C with 2,500 units β-glucuronidase from Red Abalone. Calibration curves were fit by linear least squares regression with 1/x ² weighting with linear ranges (r ²?>?0.990) of 2.5–100 ng/mL for non-hydrolyzed CBD and 2.5–500 ng/mL for enzyme-hydrolyzed CBD. Bias was 88.7–105.3 %, imprecision 1.4–6.4 % CV and extraction efficiency 82.5–92.7 % (no hydrolysis) and 34.3–47.0 % (enzyme hydrolysis). Enzyme-hydrolyzed urine specimens exhibited more than a 250-fold CBD concentration increase compared to alkaline and non-hydrolyzed specimens. This method can be applied for urinary CBD quantification and further pharmacokinetics characterization following controlled CBD administration.     

Combined quantification of paclitaxel,docetaxel and ritonavir in human feces and urine using LC‐MS/MS

A combined assay for the determination of paclitaxel, docetaxel and ritonavir in human feces and urine is described. The drugs were extracted from 200 μL urine or 50 mg feces followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography analysis coupled with positive ionization electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. The validation program included calibration model, accuracy and precision, carry‐over, dilution test, specificity and selectivity, matrix effect, recovery and stability. Acceptance criteria were according to US Food and Drug Administration guidelines on bioanalytical method validation. The validated range was 0.5–500 ng/mL for paclitaxel and docetaxel, 2–2000 ng/mL for ritonavir in urine, 2–2000 ng/mg for paclitaxel and docetaxel, and 8–8000 ng/mg for ritonavir in feces. Inter‐assay accuracy and precision were tested for all analytes at four concentration levels and were within 8.5% and <10.2%, respectively, in both matrices. Recovery at three concentration levels was between 77 and 94% in feces samples and between 69 and 85% in urine samples. Method development, including feces homogenization and spiking blank urine samples, are discussed. We demonstrated that each of the applied drugs could be quantified successfully in urine and feces using the described assay. The method was successfully applied for quantification of the analytes in feces and urine samples of patients. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Quantitative LC–MS/MS method in urine for the detection of drugs used to reverse the effects of chemical castration

The chemical castration law, which targets child molesters with recidivism, was introduced in Korea in 2011. For this, leuprolide, a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist, is used to decrease testosterone production and suppress libido. In order to achieve efficient law enforcement, it is necessary to monitor intentional ingestion of drugs that antagonize the effect of leuprolide. Therefore, an analytical method for the simultaneous detection of mirodenafil, sildenafil, tadalafil, udenafil, vardenafil, icariin, alprostadil, and yohimbine, which are the major impotence treatment drugs, legitimately or otherwise, in Korea, as well as their selected metabolites, in human urine was established and validated using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). First, different sample preparation methods, two solid-phase extractions with different cartridges and protein precipitation, were compared and protein precipitation was chosen for the entire study because it showed better matrix effects and recoveries. Thus, the drugs and metabolites in urine were extracted by protein precipitation and then filtered and analyzed by LC–MS/MS with polarity switching electrospray ionization. The validation results of selectivity, matrix effect, recovery, linearity, intra- and inter-assay precision and accuracy were satisfactory. The limits of detection ranged from 0.25 to 10 ng/mL, and the limits of quantification were 2.5 to 50 ng/mL. The drugs and metabolites in urine did not show any degradation under storage for 7 and 15 days at 4 and ?20 °C as well as after three freeze–thaw cycles. The developed method will be very useful for monitoring the illegal use of impotence treatment drugs.