Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatographic analysis of aminohydroxyphenylalanines from melanin pigments

Malignant melanomas are more often seen in subjects with light colored skin who tan poorly than in persons who tan more rapidly. This has been attributed to the structure of their pigment, pheomelanin, which differs markedly from the eumelanin of persons with darker skin. To study the hydrolysis products of pheomelanin pigments a new method was developed for analysis of 4-amino-3-hydroxyphenylalanine (4-AHP) and 3-amino-4-hydroxyphenylalanine (3-AHP). Pheomelanin samples were hydrolyzed and extracted with solid-phase extraction columns using strong cation-exchange (SCX) cartridges. Separation of 4-AHP and 3-AHP was achieved on a ZIC-HILIC column (150 mm x 2.1mm I.D.) with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile: 0.1 M ammonium acetate buffer, pH 4.5 (82:18, v/v). Detection was performed with an electrochemical detector at +400 mV. Run time was 30 min. The limits of detection were 73 pg and 51 pg for 4-AHP and 3-AHP respectively, using 2 microl injections. Good linearity was found within the range 0.05-5.0 microg/ml. Absolute recovery was 70% and relative recovery was 100%. The AHPs were stable for 1 year in the hydrolyzed samples, for 4 days in the eluates from solid-phase sorbents stored in the refrigerator, and for 2 days diluted with mobile phase and stored in the autosampler at 10 degrees C. The within-day imprecision was <5% and the between-day imprecision was <7% for the two analytes. The method, applied to the analysis of pheomelanin in urine from human melanoma patients, allows the analysis of 30 samples in one set and is suitable for routine work with human hair and melanoma cells. By using the ZIC-HILIC stationary phase, ion-pairing reagents could be avoided, which makes the method suitable to further analysis of degradation products from pheomelanins using mass spectrometric detection.     

Selective and Sensitive Determination of Pheomelanin in Biological Samples Using MEKC with Laser-Induced Fluorescence Detection Based on Intramolecular Excimer-Forming Fluorescence Derivatization

A highly selective micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) method with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection for the sensitive determination of pheomelanin in diverse biological materials was originally described. The derivatization reagent, 4-(1-pyrene)butyric acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (PSE), allowed for the selective detection of the two aminohydroxyphenylalanines (AHPs) markers for pheomelanin monitored at 500 nm. Multiple labeling of two AHPs with PSE allowed the formation of intramolecular excimers that emit at longer wavelengths (500 nm) than the mono-labeled analytes (360?C420 nm) based on intramolecular excimer-forming fluorescence derivatization. Optimal separation of the labeled polyamines was achieved using a separation buffer consisting of 20 mM phosphate pH 7.4, 30 mM cholate, and 30% methanol. Using these conditions, the two AHPs were separated within 12 min, and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) were less than 1.5 and 1.6% (intra-run), 3.8 and 4.6% (inter-run, for a 6-day period) for the migration times and peak areas (n = 10), respectively. This method was successfully applied to the monitoring of pheomelanin in diverse biological samples with the spiked recoveries in the range of 94?C101%. At a signal-to-noise ratio of 3, the detection limit for AHPs in the real samples was 31 pM for 3-AHP and 35 pM for 4-AHP, respectively, which are superior to those previously reported in the literature using fluorescence detection.     

New detection modes for the determination of cephalosporins and their decomposition products

Summary The feasibility of using fluorescence and electrochemical detection after high performance liquid chromatography separation is investigated for a sensitive and selective determination of cephalosporins and their decomposition products. The sensitivity and detectability of fluorescence and electrochemical detection are compared to those of UV absorption detection. The methods have been validated for the determination of cephalosporins in biological fluids and for stability studiesin vitro.     

Effect of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) on the ESR spectra of the red and black hair: pheomelanin free radicals are not always present in red hair

Increased incidence of melanoma in the population with red hair is conditioned by synthesis of pheomelanin pigments in the skin and their phototoxic properties. The recent research has shown that free radicals of pheomelanin are produced not only by the influence of UV irradiation, but also in UV‐independent pathways of oxidative stress. It has been ascertained, that the color of the hair is not always determinant of the amount of pheolemanin radicals in red hair. Therefore, in order to evaluate the risk of melanoma in different individuals, it is necessary to define the amount of free radicals of pheomelanin in red hair using ESR spectroscopy method. Besides, it is very important to find effective antioxidant, capable of neutralizing free radicals of pheomelanin. It was proved that ascorbic acid neutralizes free radicals of pheomelanin very effectively. The main goal of our research was to define the presumably optimal concentration of ascorbic acid as an antioxidant and study the kinetics of the influence of this concentration on red and black hair. It has been found out, that ascorbic acid influences the free radicals of red and black hair, and its appropriate optimal concentration is 10 mM. The obtained results can be considered in dermatology and cosmetology. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electron spin resonance (ESR/EPR) of free radicals observed in human red hair: a new,simple empirical method of determination of pheomelanin/eumelanin ratio in hair

The definition of the concentration of pheomelanin in the skin is an issue of great interest because in the case of being influenced by UV radiation, it manifests itself as a prooxidant, causing various skin disorders including melanoma that might help to explain the relatively high incidence of skin cancer among individuals with red hair. The ESR spectra of red hair samples were investigated. It was found that at low microwave power, they are characterized by two types of spectra. Red hair ESR signals result from a superposition of two spectral shapes, a singlet spectrum as a result of the existence of eumelanin and a triplet spectrum as a result of the existence of pheomelanin. At high microwave power, only triplet spectra shape was detected, caused by saturation of the eumelanin singlet. Using different concentration ratios of black to red hair, we measured ESR spectra and plotted the ratio values in each sample against a measured ‘g‐factor’ (experimental). We found that there is a linear relationship between these two parameters. So, it is evident that using these results, the concentration ratio of pheomelanin to eumelanin in a sample of hair can be easily determined by an almost noninvasive method. This can be considered a potential advantage for many practical activities compared with other invasive methods. The concentration dependence curve of pheomelanin (µg/mg) on g_exp‐factor in an ESR spectrum of hair has been designed, which allows the determination of the amount of pheomelanin in hair of any color. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

HPLC separation of flavonols, flavones and oxidized flavonols with UV-, DAD-, electrochemical and ESI-ion trap MS detection

The cation-induced or electrochemical oxidation of flavonols has been reported to yield 2-(hydroxybenzoyl)-2-hydroxy-3(2H)-benzofuranone. Two new gradient reversed phase HPLC methods are presented which allow the determination of those oxidized flavonols simultaneously with flavonols and flavones. UV and electrochemical detection are used because of their high sensitivity. Qualitative detection together with quantification of all compounds is achieved with photodiode-array detection. An electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometric method is presented for unique identification of the benzofuranones after HPLC separation.     

HPLC separation of flavonols, flavones and oxidized flavonols with UV-, DAD-, electrochemical and ESI-ion trap MS detection

The cation-induced or electrochemical oxidation of flavonols has been reported to yield 2-(hydroxybenzoyl)-2-hydroxy-3(2H)-benzofuranones. Two new gradient reversed phase HPLC methods are presented which allow the determination of those oxidized flavonols simultaneously with flavonols and flavones. UV and electrochemical detection are used because of their high sensitivity. Qualitative detection together with quantification of all compounds is achieved with photodiode-array detection. An electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometric method is presented for unique identification of the benzofuranones after HPLC separation.     

Determination of trichlormethiazide in human plasma and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography

Summary This paper describes a high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay method for the determination of trichlormethiazide (TCM) in human plasma and urine. After extraction and separation on an ODS column TCM from plasma was detected by oxidation in an electrochemical detector (ECD) by a porous graphite electrode. The sensitivity was better than HPLC with UV detection, enabling the determination of 2 ng ml^–1 TCM in human plasma. This method also allows determination of TCM at higher concentrations by exchanging the UV for the electrochemical detector. To study the pharmacokinetics, TCM in plasma and urine was assayed with coefficients of variation in the range 2–3%. The method has the advantages of high sensitivity for plasma assay and high precision with a simple procedure for both plasma and urine samples. Small samples of 0.5 ml plasma per assay also reduced the total volume of plasma needed.     

Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis of pheomelanin degradation products

Melanoma is most rapidly increasing in the white population and people with pheomelanin skin type are at high risk to develop melanoma. However, little is known about the pheomelanin structure and function, and further elucidation of this melanin is therefore an important task. A GC/MS method was developed based on hydriodic acid hydrolysis of pheomelanin in the urine. Derivatization was performed with ethyl chloroformate and ethanol:pyridine (4:1, v/v). N,O-Ethoxycarbonyl-ethyl esters were extracted with chloroform and analyzed by GC/MS. 4-Amino-3-hydroxyphenylalanine and 3-amino-4-hydroxyphenylalanine together with one benzothiazinone and two benzothiazole compounds were detected and identified in hydrolyzed samples of synthetic pheomelanin and melanin from the urine of a patient with melanoma. These findings strongly suggest that heterocyclic pheomelanin-type units are incorporated in the pigment structures.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of morphine in biological samples: an overview of separation methods and detection techniques

High-performance liquid chromatogrpahy with electrochemical detection at present suits most of the needs of toxicologists for the determination of morphine and some related compounds in biological samples, although fluorescence detection is still a useful alternative. Chemiluminescence detection may be promising, but needs further optimization of its coupling with HPLC to give the best performances. Morphine detection by absorbance spectrophotometry does not seem to allow the degree of sensitivity and selectivity from matrix interferences that is required in most instances. However, this approach is useful when morphine congeners undetectable by alternative means (i.e., heroin and morphine-3-glucuronide) are to be determined or when a general toxicological screening is required.     

Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water samples using high-performance liquid chromatography with amperometric detection

The determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV and fluorescence detection has been well established. Although most of the PAHs can be detected by these methods, some environmentally important polyaromatic compounds, such as acenaphthylene, do not show fluorescence and can only be determined by UV detection at higher concentrations. A sensitive and selective determination of acenaphthylene, acenaphthene and the six PAHs listed in the TVO, the German drinking water standard, is also possible by amperometric detection following HPLC separation. The method was applied to the determination of PAHs in different water samples after solid-phase extraction (SPE). The efficiency of the amperometric determination was found to be superior to UV detection (λ = 300 nm).     

Determination of 4-amino-5-ethyl-3-thiophenecarboxylic acid methyl ester and its acid metabolite in plasma and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography

Two separate, rapid, sensitive and selective high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assays were developed for the determination of 4-amino-5-ethyl-3-thiophene-carboxylic acid methyl ester (I) and its acid metabolite, 4-amino-5-ethyl-3-thiophene-carboxylic acid (II), in plasma and urine. The analysis of I is performed directly on a hexane extract of plasma or urine (buffered to pH 11) by normal-phase HPLC analysis using a 10-micron silica gel column with an eluting solvent of hexane-ethanol (95:5) and UV detection of the effluent at 254 nm. A methyl analogue, 4-amino-5-methyl-3-thiophenecarboxylic acid methyl ester, was used as the internal standard. The analysis of II is performed on the residue of either a diethyl-ether-washed protein-free filtrate of plasma or a methylene chloride-isopropanol (95:5) extract of urine (buffered to pH 5.3) using a 10-micron alkyl phenyl (reversed-phase) column with an eluting solvent of water-methanol-1 M phosphoric acid, pH 2.5 (70:30:0.05) with UV detection of the effluent at 254 nm. An isopropyl analogue, 4-amino-5-isopropylthiophene-3-carboxylic acid (IV), was used as the internal standard. The assay of compounds I and II were applied to the determination of plasma and urine concentrations of I and II in the dog and in man following oral administration of I X HCl. The data obtained demonstrated the extremely rapid and virtually complete deesterification of I (ester) to II (acid) in both species.     

Simultaneous HPLC determination of phenylurea herbicides and their corresponding anilines in water after on-line preconcentration

On-line preconcentration on a short C₁₈ column, prior to HPLC with UV and electrochemical detection, has been used for determination of some phenylurea herbicides and their possible degradation products, substituted anilines, in water samples. With electrochemical detection the detection limit at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 was 5 ppt for 4-chloroaniline and 4-bromoaniline and 7 ppt for 3,4-dichloroaniline; with UV detection the detection limit was ca 300 ppt for all analytes.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of alpha-tocopherol in macroalgae

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the microscale determination of alpha-tocopherol in macroalgae is reported. The method includes microscale saponification and extraction with n-hexane. The presence of alpha-tocopherol in macroalgae samples was confirmed by HPLC-MS. Alpha-tocopherol levels as determined in samples by HPLC with UV and fluorescence detection did not differ significantly; however, fluorescence detection has a higher sensitivity (detection limit 10.4 ng/ml, vs. 104 ng/ml with UV detection), as well as good precision (relative standard deviation 1.81%) and recovery (94.3%). Fluorescence detection is also faster. We used this method to determine the alpha-tocopherol contents of four commercial macroalgae products from northwest Spain as part of nutritional studies in dehydrated Himanthalia elongata and Laminaria ochroleuca, and also in canned Himanthalia elongata and Saccorhiza polychides.     

色氨酸及其主要代谢产物的分离和在生物样品中的测定

建立以乙酸缓冲系统和甲醇作流动相、电化学和紫外检测器联用的高效液相色谱法,分离和测定了色氨酸经5-羟色胺和犬尿酸原两条主要代谢途径的8种代谢物。使用三氯乙酸作离子对试剂以延长3-羟犬尿酸原的保留时间,分析了流动相pH值和三氯乙酸浓度对各物质分离的影响及检测条件。结果表明,pH值及三氯乙酸浓度对各物质保留时间有明显影响,可作为控制分离的主要因素。此外,对生物样品中各物质分离和检测条件进行了讨论。     

Application of an electrochemical detector to the determination of procarbazine hydrochloride by high-performace liquid chromtography

An amperometric flow-through detector with a carbon paste working electrode was utilized as a high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) detector to determine procarbazine hydrochloride, an antineoplastic agent, in both buffer solution and biological fluids. The HPLC system included an amino-cyano stationary phase and an aqueous (pH 7)-methanolic mobile phase which enabled the separation of procarbazine from its only electroactive degradation product, N-isoprophyl-a- (2-methylhydrazono)-p-toluamide. The electrochemical detector, with an approximate limit of detection of 2 ng procarbazine injected, was 20 times more sensitive to procarbazine than a typical UV detector. The low dead volume (I μl) and superior selectivity of the electrochemical detector enabled the HPLC determination of procarbazine in untreated human urine and plasma.     

HPLC Determination of Chlorpropamide in Human Serum by Fluorogenic Derivatization Based on the Suzuki Coupling Reaction with Phenylboronic Acid

A fluorogenic derivatization method for the determination of chlorpropamide in human serum was developed by means of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. The Suzuki coupling reaction with a non-fluorescent reagent, phenylboronic acid (PBA), was employed to convert chlorpropamide into highly fluorescent biphenyl derivative. Chlorpropamide was extracted from human serum by liquid–liquid extraction with toluene after addition of hydrochloric acid, and subsequently reacted with PBA. Because the fluorogenic derivatization was highly selective for aryl halide, the proposed method allowed sensitive and selective detection of chlorpropamide with a detection limit (at a signal to noise ratio of 3) of 0.5 ng mL^?1. The sensitivity of our method was from 4 to 100 times better than HPLC–UV, gas chromatography, and LC-mass spectrometry.     

HPLC Determination of Chlorpropamide in Human Serum by Fluorogenic Derivatization Based on the Suzuki Coupling Reaction with Phenylboronic Acid

A fluorogenic derivatization method for the determination of chlorpropamide in human serum was developed by means of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. The Suzuki coupling reaction with a non-fluorescent reagent, phenylboronic acid (PBA), was employed to convert chlorpropamide into highly fluorescent biphenyl derivative. Chlorpropamide was extracted from human serum by liquid–liquid extraction with toluene after addition of hydrochloric acid, and subsequently reacted with PBA. Because the fluorogenic derivatization was highly selective for aryl halide, the proposed method allowed sensitive and selective detection of chlorpropamide with a detection limit (at a signal to noise ratio of 3) of 0.5 ng mL⁻¹. The sensitivity of our method was from 4 to 100 times better than HPLC–UV, gas chromatography, and LC-mass spectrometry.

     

Sensitive determination of aliphatic amines in water by high-performance liquid chromatography with chemiluminescence detection

A sensitive method has been developed for liquid chromatographic determination of short aliphatic amines in water samples. Analytes are preconcentrated and dansylated on solid sorbents (C18 solid-phase extraction cartridges). The dansyl derivatives are chromatographed and post-column mixed with peroxyoxalate (TCPO) and H2O2 in order to perform chemiluminescence detection. Optimal results have been obtained using a sample volume of 5 ml. The method has been applied to the quantification or screening of several aliphatic amines: methylamine, ethylamine, butylamine, diethylamine, pentylamine and hexylamine. The screening procedure has been developed including also polyamines (putrescine, cadaverine, spermidine and spermine). The results obtained by using chemiluminescence (CL) detection have been compared with other detection systems (fluorescence and UV). The sensitivity can increase from 3 to 75 times respect UV detection and from 2 to 10 times respect fluorescence detection depending on the amine. The detection limits achieved were between 0.15 and 0.9 microg/l.     

High-performance anion-exchange chromatography combined with intrinsic fluorescence detection to determine erythropoietin in pharmaceutical products

A high-performance anion-exchange chromatography (HPAEC) method was developed for determination of recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) in pharmaceutical products. A fluorescence detector was added to the HPLC system as intrinsic fluorescence detection compared favourably to UV detection regarding sensitivity and selectivity. The HPLC method has been successfully applied to analyse erythropoietin products even in the presence of albumin as excipient. The intrinsic fluorescence chromatograms of both proteins revealed various peaks attributed to either micro-heterogeneous erythropoietin or albumin variants. The intrinsic fluorescence signal was linear over the range 10-200 microg/ml erythropoietin corresponding to pharmaceutically relevant concentrations. The HPLC method appeared to be a suitable method for differentation between recombinant human erythropoietin epoetin-alpha and -beta as they revealed different intrinsic fluorescence elution profiles. In conclusion, this study contributes to the development of a straightforward physicochemical method for specific quantification of recombinant human erythropoietin in pharmaceutical preparations.