Quantification of methamphetamine, amphetamine and enantiomers by semi-micro column HPLC with fluorescence detection; applications on abusers' single hair analyses

Achiral and chiral semi-micro column high-performance liquid chromatographic methods with fluorescence detection to determine methamphetamine and amphetamine in human hair are described. These compounds were extracted into 5% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in methanol, derivatized with 4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-benzoyl chloride and separated either on a 250 x 1.5 mm i.d. octadecyl-silane (ODS) or a 150 x 2 mm i.d. OD-RH column. Linear calibration curves extending over a wide range of concentration that covers the practical samples were obtained for amphetamine, methamphetamine and their enantiomers (r = 0.999). Resolution values for amphetamine and methamphetamine enantiomers were 3.4 and 1.1, respectively. Intra- and inter-day variations of both the methods were not larger than 8.9% expressed as relative standard deviations (n >/= 5). The limits of detection at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 obtained by both the methods were in the range of 1.0-4.7 fmol/5 microL injection with the achiral method being more sensitive. Abusers' hair samples were analyzed by the two methods and only the S(+)-enantiomers were found in eight Japanese abusers' hair samples. The achiral method was used to study the concentrations of these compounds in single black and white hair strands of abusers.     

A sensitive semi-micro column HPLC method with peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence detection and column switching for determination of MDMA-related compounds in hair

A sensitive semi-micro column HPLC method with peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence (POCL) detection and column switching has been developed for simultaneous determination of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and related compounds, for example 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, methamphetamine, and amphetamine, in hair. After digestion of the hair with 1 mol L⁻¹ sodium hydroxide the compounds were extracted with n-heptane and derivatized with 4-(N,N-dimethylaminosulfonyl)-7-fluoro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole. A mixture of hydrogen peroxide and bis(2,4,5-trichloro-6-carbopentoxyphenyl)oxalate in acetonitrile was used as post-column CL reagent. Calibration plots showed linearity was good (r = 0.999); detection limits were 0.02–0.16 ng mg⁻¹ hair at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. The precision of the method, as RSD (n = 5), in intra-day and inter-day assays was better than 5.0 and 6.9%, respectively. The proposed method was sufficiently sensitive to detect low ng mg⁻¹ levels of MDMA and related compounds in hair, and could be used for quantification of the compounds in hair samples from patients treated in a chemical dependency unit.     

Sensitive determination of MDMA and its metabolite MDA in rat blood and brain microdialysates by HPLC with fluorescence detection

Simultaneous determination of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) in rat blood and brain microdialysates by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FL) was developed. Microdialysates were directly subjected to derivatization with 4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)benzoyl chloride (DIB-Cl). The DIB-derivatives of MDMA, MDA and the internal standard, 1-methyl-3-phenylpropylamine (MPPA), were isocratically separated on an ODS column using a mixture of 50 mm phosphate buffer (pH 7.0)-acetonitrile-methanol-2-propanol (50:45:5:2, v/v/v/v %) as an eluent at a flow rate of 1.5 mL/min. The calibration curves of MDA and MDMA spiked to blood and brain microdialysates were linear over the ranges 2.5-500 and 5.0-1000 ng/mL, respectively. The detection limits of MDA and MDMA were 1.2 and 4.2 for blood and 1.3 and 4.8 ng/mL for brain, respectively. Additionally, the intra- and the inter-assay precisions were lower than 5.6% for the blood and brain microdialysates (n = 4). The proposed method was successfully applied for the monitoring of MDMA and its metabolite MDA in rat blood and brain microdialysates, and the pharmacokinetic parameters of MDMA and MDA in the microdialysates after administration of MDMA (5 mg/kg, i.p.) with or without caffeine (20 mg/kg, i.p.) were evaluated.     

Enantiomer-specific high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection of methamphetamines in abusers' hair and urine

Enantiomer-specific high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection using 4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-benzoyl chloride as a fluorescence labeling reagent was applied to determine methamphetamine and its metabolites in abusers' hair and urine. Hair samples were segmentally analyzed based on 1 cm long segments. In four hair samples, only the S(+)-enantiomers of methamphetamine and its N-demethylated metabolite, S(+)-amphetamine were detected. Satisfactory correlation (r = 0.901) between the results of high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence and those of gas chromatography-nitrogen phosphorous detection was obtained (n = 19). In an abuser's urine sample, the S(+)- and R(-)-enantiomers of methamphetamine, amphetamine and para-hydroxymethamphetamine were detected. The degree of N-demethylation of S(+)-methamphetamine into the corresponding metabolite of amphetamine was significantly higher than that of the R(-)-enantiomer.     

Determination of methamphetamine and amphetamine in abusers' plasma and hair samples with HPLC-FL

This paper describes highly sensitive HPLC methods for the determination of amphetamine (AP) and methamphetamine (MP) in abusers' plasma and hair samples. AP and MP were derivatized with the fluorescent reagent, DIB-Cl, to yield a highly fluorescent DIB-derivatives of AP and MP, which were then analyzed by HPLC with fluorescence detection at excitation and emission wavelengths of 325 and 430 nm, respectively. The separation was achieved on an ODS column with isocratic mobile phases composed of acetoniltrile and citrate buffer (55:45, v/v) for plasma samples and of acetonitrile-methanol-citrate buffer (45:20:37.5, v/v/v) for hair samples. The limits of detection were less than 0.87 ng/mL and 0.12 ng/mg in plasma and hair samples, respectively, for both AP and MP. The methods were then applied to the determination of MP and its metabolite AP in plasma obtained from two cases of illegally ingested MP and in one of the cases' hair received later. Case I was treated with dialysis; samples before and after dialysis were analyzed by the described method. After dialysis for 5 h, the total plasma levels of AP and MP decreased from 720 to 190 ng/mL. For case II, MP and AP levels were monitored for 3 days after digestion. Total plasma levels decreased from 57 ng/mL in the day of digestion to 11 ng/mL after 3 days. In hair samples, AP and MP could also be detected in very low concentrations.     

HPLC with fluorescence detection of methamphetamine and amphetamine in segmentally analyzed human hair

A sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method with fluorescence detection for determining methamphetamine and its major metabolite, amphetamine, in abusers' hair segments was developed. Methamphetamine and amphetamine in hair samples collected from addicts were extracted into acidified methanol, derivatized with 4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)benzoyl chloride, separated isocratically on an ODS column using TRIS-HCl buffer (0.1 mol dm-3, pH 7.0)-methanol (30 + 70 v/v) as the mobile phase and the derivatives were detected fluorimetrically at 440 nm (lambda ex 330 nm). Calibration curves obtained by using control human hair spiked with standard solutions were linear (r > or = 0.999) up to at least 676.1 ng mg-1 for amphetamine and 746.1 ng mg-1 for methamphetamine. The detection limits at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 were 51.4 and 74.6 pg mg-1 hair for amphetamine and methamphetamine, respectively. Using control hair spiked with standard solutions, the intra- and inter-day relative standard deviations (n = 5) were < or = 8.6% for both the target compounds. The method was successfully applied to the segmental analyses of methamphetamine abusers' hair samples.     

尿中MDMA和MDA的酰基衍生化-电子俘获检测气相色谱分析法

研究了致幻性安非它明类药物MDMA和MDA的三氟乙酰、二氯乙酰、一氯二氟乙酰、五氟丙酰、七氟丁酰、五氟苯甲酰和二硝基苯甲酰衍生化的反应条件,发现所研究的各种衍生化反应均可用少量酸酐或酰氯在环已烷中室温下几分钟内完成.在此基础上建立了尿中MDMA和MDA的用微量环已烷提取的、各种衍生化的、电子俘获检测的气相色谱分析方法.方法操作简便快速,多数方法的检出限低于10μg/L,检测MDMA最灵敏的方法是七氟丁酰衍生化方法,检出限为4.1μg/L,检测MDA最灵敏的方法是五氟苯甲酰衍生化方法,检出限为2.5μg/L.对其中几种灵敏度较高的方法进行了线性关系和回收率的考查.     

Drugs of abuse in a non-conventional sample; detection of methamphetamine and its main metabolite, amphetamine in abusers' clothes by HPLC with UV and fluorescence detection.

In this paper, we report the detection of methamphetamine and its major metabolite, amphetamine, in garments belong to known-abusers. These compounds were extracted from the textile using a mixture of chloroform:propan-2-ol (3:1, v/v), derivatized with 4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl) benzoyl chloride and separated using a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The derivatives were detected by measuring either fluorescence at 440 nm or absorbance at 330 nm. By using 1-methyl-3-phenyl propylamine as an internal standard, calibration curves of spiked textile samples were linear over a wide range with correlation coefficients of 0.997 or better. Detection limits at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 were less than or equal to 37.3 and 0.4 pg on column for the high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet and -fluorescence detection methods, respectively. Intra- and inter-day variations at high and low concentrations (n > or = 3) were < or =12.7%. The developed methods were successfully applied to the determination of methamphetamine and amphetamine in clothes samples belong to abusers.     

Quantification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in human hair by HPLC with fluorescence detection: a biological monitoring method to evaluate the exposure to PAHs

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with fluorescence detection was developed for the quantification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in human hair. Fifteen kinds of PAHs classified as priority pollutants by the US EPA were quantified with four perdeuterated PAHs as internal standards. After 50 mg hair samples were washed with n-hexane to remove external contamination of PAHs, the samples were digested in 2.5 M sodium hydroxide. The digests were extracted with n-hexane and then analyzed by HPLC. Eleven kinds of PAHs were identified in hair samples of 20 subjects, and 10 kinds of PAHs were eventually quantified using the internal standards. For anthracene, chrysene and benzo[k]fluoranthene, significant differences were observed between smokers and non-smokers. Although benzo[b]fluoranthene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene, benzo[ghi]perylene and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene were observed in the particulates of indoor and outdoor air, they were not detected in all hair samples. The analysis of PAHs in human hair should be useful as a new biomarker to evaluate the exposure to PAHs.     

Automated derivatization and analysis of malondialdehyde using column switching sample preparation HPLC with fluorescence detection

Analyte derivatization is advantageous for the analysis of malondialdehyde (MDA) as a biomarker of oxidative stress in biological samples. Conventionally, however, derivatization is time consuming, error-prone and has limited options for automation. We have addressed these challenges for the solid phase analytical derivatization of MDA from small volume tissue homogenate samples. A manual derivatization method was first developed using Amberlite XAD-2 (12 mg) as the solid phase. Subsequently an automated column switching process was developed that provided simultaneous derivatization and extraction of the MDA-DH hydrazone product on a cartridge packed with XAD-2, followed by quantitative elution of the product to an analytical LC column (Waters NovoPak C18, 3.9 x 150 mm). The LOD was 0.02 microg/mL and recovery was quantitative. The method was linear (r(2) >0.999) with precision < 5% from the LOQ (0.06 microg/mL) to at least 35 microg/mL. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of small volume (30 microL) mouse tissue homogenate samples. Endogenous levels of MDA in the tissues ranged from 20 to 40 nmol/g tissue (ca. 0.1-0.2 microg/mL homogenate). Compared to conventional MDA analyses, the current method has advantages in automation, selectivity, precision and sensitivity for analysis from very small sample volumes.     

Determination of fumonisins B1 and B2 in Portuguese maize and maize-based samples by HPLC with fluorescence detection

Fumonisins B₁ (FB₁) and fumonisin B₂ (FB₂) are the main members of a family of mycotoxins produced by Fusarium verticillioides, Fusarium proliferatum, and other fungi species of the section Liseola. The present work shows the results of comparative studies using two different procedures for the analysis of fumonisins in maize and maize-based samples. The studied analytical methods involve extraction with methanol/water, dilution with PBS, and clean-up through immunoaffinity columns. Two reagents (o-phthaldialdehyde and naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxaldehyde) were studied for formation of fluorescent derivatives. The separation and identification were carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. The optimized method for analysis of fumonisins in maize involved extraction with methanol/water (80:20), clean-up with an immunoaffinity column, and derivatization with naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxaldehyde (NDA). The limit of detection was 20 μg kg⁻¹ for FB₁ and 15 μg kg⁻¹ for FB₂. Recoveries of FB₁ and FB₂ ranged from 79% to 99.6% for maize fortified at 150 μg kg⁻¹ and 200 μg kg⁻¹, respectively, with within-day RSDs of 3.0 and 2.7%. The proposed method was applied to 31 samples, and the presence of fumonisins was found in 14 samples at concentrations ranging from 113 to 2,026 μg kg⁻¹. The estimated daily intake of fumonisins was 0.14 μg kg⁻¹ body weight per day.     

Disposition of triazolam in the rat by brain microdialysis and semi-micro column high-performance liquid chromatography with UV absorbance detection

A semi-micro column high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection for the determination of triazolam is described. The method was applied to determine plasma and brain microdialysate concentrations of triazolam after single intravenous bolus of 2.5 mg/kg to rat. The separation was achieved on a 250 x 1.5 mm i.d. C(18) column and the column effluent was monitored at 222 nm. The detection limits at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 obtained using spiked plasma and artificial cerebrospinal fluid were 2.1 and 0.7 ng/mL, respectively. The intra- and inter-day reproducibility of the present method were satisfactory with the highest relative standard deviation of 9.1 (n > or = 5). The present method was successfully applied to study the disposition of triazolam in rat (n = 5) by analyzing plasma and brain microdialysate samples.     

Online trace enrichment to determine pyrethroids in river water by HPLC with column switching and photochemical induced fluorescence detection

The potential of online trace enrichment on a highly apolar short column in LC was evaluated for the determination of pyrethroids in river water. Twelve millilitres of water samples, modified with 8 mL ACN (ACN/water 40:60, v/v), were passed through 50 x 4.6 mm ID first separation column packed with 5 microm Hypersil Elite C18. Pesticides were preconcentrated in this column while the matrix background was eluted to waste. Separation of pesticides was performed on a 3.5 microm symmetric C18 column (250 x 4.6 mm ID) with an ACN step gradient as mobile phase and fluorescence detection was used after postcolumn derivatization by using UV light. The use of photochemically induced fluorescence for detection improved sensitivity and selectivity. Quantification limits ranged from 0.05 to 0.1 microg/L and pesticide recoveries at two concentration levels (0.1 and 0.5 microg/L) were between 93.1 and 118.6%, with RSD between 2.5 and 7.5% (n = 3) in river water samples. No matrix effect was detected.     

Determination of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde in air by HPLC with fluorescence detection

Summary Sensitive detection of atmospheric formaldehyde and acetaldehyde can be achieved by use of silica-gel cartridges impregnated with 2-diphenylacetyl-1,3-indandione-1-hydrazone (DAIH) to form fluorescent DAI hydrazones. The hydrazones are extracted with acetonitrile and separated by reversed-phase HPLC with fluorimetric detection. The low detection limits achieved (0.25 ppb CH₂O or CH₃CHO for sampling periods of 1 h) means that the sensitivity of the method is better than that of the classical dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) method. Several experimental conditions, such as collection and reaction efficiency, interference by ozone and storage stability of blank and sampled cartridges have been investigated. There were no significant differences between ambient concentrations of CH₂O and CH₃CHO measured concurrently with the DAIH and DNPH techniques (10–20% in the 0–5 ppb range).     

HPLC荧光法快速检测食品中的NaNO2

建立了HPLC荧光检测法测定不同食品中的NaNO2。碱性条件下以乙酸锌作为蛋白质沉淀剂纯化提取NaNO2。以C8柱作为分析柱,反相C18柱作为预柱,流动相V(水)∶V(乙腈)=60∶40,荧光检测器在激发波长375 nm发射波长415 nm条件下检测,相关系数r=0.9999,方法检出限为0.01 mg/kg,回收率84.6%~103%,相对标准偏差1.0%~5.0%。方法可用于食品中NaNO2的检测。     

Quantification of zolpidem in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A simple, reliable HPLC method with fluorescence detection (excitation 320 and emission 388 nm) was developed and validated for quantitation of zolpidem in human plasma. Following a single-step liquid-liquid extraction, the analyte and internal standard (quinine) were separated using an isocratic mobile phase on a reversed-phase C(18) column. The lower limit of quantitation was 1.8 ng/mL, with a relative standard deviation of less than 5%. A linear dynamic range of 1.8-288 ng/mL was established. This HPLC method was validated with between-batch and within-batch precision of 1.7-4.8 and 1.2-2.3%, respectively. The between-batch and within-batch accuracy was 95.3-100.4 and 95.5-102.7%, respectively. Frequently coadministered drugs did not interfere with the described methodology. Stability of zolpidem in plasma was excellent, with no evidence of degradation during sample processing (autosampler) and 30 days storage in a freezer. This validated method is simple and repeatable enough to be used in pharmacokinetic studies.     

Determination of quercetin in human plasma after ingestion of commercial canned green tea by semi-micro HPLC with electrochemical detection

Determination of quercetin in human plasma was carried out by semi-micro high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Peak heights for quercetin were found to be linearly related to the amount of each quercetin injected from 1.5 to 750 pg. The detection limit (signal-noise ratio, S/N = 3) of the present method for quercetin was 0.3 pg. Glucuronic and sulfate forms of quercetin in plasma were hydrolyzed enzymatically using beta-glucuronidase and sulfatase, respectively. Quercetin in plasma and the hydrolyzed solution were extracted with ethyl acetate and determined by the present method. The time courses of concentrations of quercetin in human plasma showed maxima at 1-1.5 h after ingestion of 340 mL of commercial canned green tea.     

Determination of retinoids in galenicals by column liquid chromatography with fluorescence and diode-array detection

Simple and rapid reversed-phase gradient column liquid chromatography (LC) with fluorescence detection at different wavelengths was developed for the simultaneous analysis of all-trans, 13-cis, 9-cis retinoic acids, vitamin A palmitate and beta-carotene in galenicals. The assay results agreed with those obtained by an LC method with diode-array UV detection. A post-column on-line photochemical reactor (irradiation at 254 and 366 nm) was inserted between the LC column and the fluorescence detector to enhance the performance of the method. Two fluorescence spectra (photoreactor on and off) were obtained for each analyte which proved useful for the unambiguous identification of the various analytes.     

Red cell zinc protoporphyrin and protoporphyrin by HPLC with fluorescence detection

A high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed for the determination of zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP) and protoporphyrin (PP) in whole blood. After adding the blood to dilute acetic acid, ZnPP and PP were extracted with dimethyl sulfoxide-acetone containing mesoporphyrin as internal standard. Following evaporation of the acetone, the haemin-free extract was analysed by HPLC. ZnPP and PP were separated on a reversed-phase column and quantitated by measuring fluorescence peak areas. The extraction method is simple, and applicable to batch analysis, and the HPLC separation is rapid and repoducible. The coefficient of variation for ZnPP was 5.6% and 3.3% for total red cell porphyrin levels of 3.5 and 10.2 mumol per litre RBC respectively. Results are discussed in patients with erythrohepatic protoporphyria, lead exposure, iron-deficiency and nonspecifically elevated total red cell porphyrins.