Chromatographic Behavior of Aromatic Diamines in Hydro-Organic, Micellar and Submicellar Reversed Phase Liquid Chromatographic Modes

The chromatographic behavior (retention, elution strength, efficiency, peak asymmetry and selectivity) of some aromatic diamines in the presence of methanol with or without anionic surfactant SDS in the four different reversed phased liquid chromatographic (RPLC) modes, i.e., hydro-organic, micellar (MLC), low submicellar (LSC) and high submicellar (HSC), was investigated. In the three surfactant-mediated modes, the surfactant monomers coat the stationary phase even up to 70 % methanol; this results in the suppression of peak tailing (by masking the silanol groups on the stationary phase). In MLC and HSC, the solute retention decreases by increasing the surfactant concentration, while this situation was reversed in LSC. In the region between MLC and HSC modes (25–50 % methanol), retention of late eluting solutes was increased by increasing methanol content which is seemingly due to disaggregation of SDS micelles. Changes in selectivity were observed after changing the concentrations of SDS and methanol, in a greater extent when concentration of SDS was changed. Among the four studied RPLC modes, HSC showed the best efficiency with nearly symmetrical peaks. Prediction of retention of solutes in HSC based on a mechanistic retention model combined with Pareto-optimality method allowed the full resolution of target diamines in practical analysis times.     

Determination of aromatic amines in environmental water samples using solid-phase extraction modified with sodium dodecyl sulphate and micellar liquid chromatography

Extraction and determination of seven aromatic amines in environmental water samples were performed with solid-phase extraction (SPE) and micellar liquid chromatography (MLC) using experimental design. Extraction of aromatic amines was carried out with a C₁₈ cartridge modified with sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS). The washing solution and elution solvent for extraction of aromatic amines were aqueous solution containing 5% (v/v) acetonitrile and 5% (v/v) acetone and 3 mL methanol, respectively. The chemometrics approach was applied for the separation optimisation of these compounds using MLC. Different mobile phase compositions were used for modelling based on retention times to obtain the best separation using central composite design. The optimum mobile phase composition for separation and determination of analytes in water samples was 69 mM SDS, 9% v/v 1-propanol and pH = 6.4. Recoveries were between 84.8–93.5% with relative standard deviation (RSD) less than 5.8% (n = 5). Limits of detection and linear range were 1–4.5 and 3.1–125.0 µg/L, respectively. The proposed method was applied to determine the aromatic amines in real samples (river and well waters). Amount of 4-nitroaniline and 3-nitroaniline in river water sample were 2.15 and 1.91 µg/L, respectively.     

Direct Injection of Plasma Samples and Micellar Chromatography of Procainamide and Its Metabolite N-Acetylprocainamide

Micellar liquid chromatography was employed for the monitoring of procainamide and its metabolite N-acetylprocainamide using a C18 column. Sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and modifier concentrations were optimised in order to obtain minimum analysis time, maximum sensitivity and good resolution. The optimum chromatographic conditions were as follows: flow rate 1 mL min^?1, injection volume 20 μL, temperature at 25 °C, respectively. The mobile phase consisted of 0.05 M SDS-1% (v/v) butanol–phosphate buffer (10 mM, pH 7, 0.9%, w/v) NaCl using a detection wavelength at 280 nm. Validation studies were carried out according to the ICH guideline and included the determination of calibration curves (r ² > 0.999), intra- and inter-day precisions (CV < 3.9%), robustness and interference studies, respectively. The recoveries in spiked serum samples were adjusted. Finally, the optimized method was applied to serum samples of patients treated with antiarrhythmics, and the results were compared with those given by a reference method where a good correlation was obtained.     

Application of Multicriteria Methodology in the Development of Improved RP-LC-DAD for Determination of Rizatriptan and Its Degradation Products

The aim of this study was to establish an improved isocratic RP-LC-DAD method for separation and determination of rizatriptan benzoate and its two degradation products, L-749.019 and L-783.540 in tablets. Since the chromatographic behavior of target substances can be influenced by various experimental parameters, the whole study was carried out by employing experimental design methodology. The investigation included the influence of mutual changes of the mobile phase composition (methanol amount in the range 3–7% and pH of the water phase from 5.0 to 6.0) and the temperature (from 20 to 30 °C). The response surface design by means of Box-Brehnken design was used to obtain a predictive model which describes the changes in the response within the experimental domain. Additionally, several different target responses were evaluated and Derringer’s desirability function was used for reaching a suitable compromise among the responses. This multi-criteria decision making approach is based on constructing a desirability function for each individual response and afterwards establishing the overall desirability function. Such methodology provided us with the best operating conditions, satisfactory resolutions between the analytes and the shortest possible total analysis time. The experiments were performed on C₁₈ XTerra (150 mm × 3.9 mm), 5 μm column with the mobile phase consisting of a mixture of methanol, TEA and 0.01 mol L^?1 KH₂PO₄ (6:9.4:84.6 v/v) pumped at a flow rate of 1.2 mL min^?1, pH of the water phase adjusted to 6 with 85% orthophosphoric acid, a column temperature of 20 °C and detection at 225 nm. Afterwards, the new method was validated and subsequently applied in analysis of commercially available rizatriptan tablets.     

Determination of Flavonoid Markers in Honey with SPE and LC using Experimental Design

Determination of flavonoid markers quercetin, hesperetin, and chrysin, found in north Iranian citrus honey samples, was carried out by solid phase extraction (SPE) and isocratic liquid chromatographic separation using central composite design. Optimum conditions for SPE were achieved using 10 mL methanol/water (13:87, v/v, pH = 7) as the washing solvent and 4 mL methanol for elution. Good clean-up and high recovery >90% were observed for all analytes. The use of water/ACN/THF/AcOH (54:36:5:5, v/v) was found to serve as the optimum mobile phase composition and allowed for the separation of analytes from endogenous compounds present in honey. SPE parameters, such as maximum loading capacity and breakthrough volume, were also determined for each analyte. Limit of detection, linear range, recovery, repeatability of retention times, and peak heights were 3.11 × 10^?8–4.44 × 10^?8 g g^?1, 0.50–50.0 μg mL^?1 (R ² > 0.99), 90.7–96.9%, 3.0–3.6%, and 1.0–2.6%, respectively. Precision of the overall analytical procedure, estimated by five replicate measurements for quercetin, hesperetin and chrysin in citrus honey, as well as the relative standard deviations were 4.3%, 3.8%, and 5.5%, respectively.     

Optimization of Micellar LC Conditions for the Flavonoid Separation

The chromatographic conditions for the separation of a complex set of flavonoids (aglycones and glycosides) by micellar liquid chromatography with spectrophotometric detection were optimized. A good separation for all analytes was obtained and satisfactory peak shapes were achieved by isocratic elution with Ultrasphere ODS column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm). The optimal mobile phase range for flavonoids separation is: SDS concentration between 0.014 and 0.018 mol L^?1 and 1-propanol volume fraction between 2.2 and 4.5% (v/v) in a diluted (1:5) phosphate buffer solution pH 6.86. The flavonoids (robinin, rutin, hyperoside, quercitrin, liquroside, luteolin-7O-glucoside, apigenin-7O-glucoside, isosalipurposide, myricetin, fisetin, luteolin, apigenin, quercetin and caempferol) were successfully separated within 40 min with isocratic elution. The developed method is an alternative to reversed-phase LC in the assay of flavonoids in plants, plant extracts and plant extract containing drugs.     

Orthogonal Design-Directed Optimization of an LC Method for Fingerprinting Mai-Luo-Ning Injection, and Validation of the Method

A novel hierarchical chromatographic response function (HCRF)-directed orthogonal design procedure has been used for optimization of an high-performance liquid chromatography method for fingerprinting Mai-Luo-Ning (MLN) injection. The method was then successfully validated. Five major controllable chromatographic conditions at four levels were included in the orthogonal design. A total of 16 chromatographic runs resulted in the optimum chromatographic conditions-a 250 × 4.6 mm i.d., 4-μm particle, C₁₈ column, a mixture of methanol and 0.025% aqueous formic acid in water as mobile phase, flow rate 0.8 mL min^?1, column temperature 35 °C, and detection wavelength 240 nm. The mobile phase gradient was then further optimized step by step by observation of the chromatographic profiles obtained. Fingerprints of MLN injection and its constituent single herb injections were separately acquired by use of the optimized method. Attribution of the 18 largest peaks observed in the MLN fingerprint indicated that Flos Lonicerae was the main ingredient. Validation of the method for precision, repeatability, and stability proved it was highly reproducible. This chromatography fingerprint method could be very useful for quality control of MLN injection. The original HCRF-directed orthogonal design approach proposed should be generally useful for developing chromatographic fingerprinting methods.     

Micellar Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Penicillins in Pharmaceuticals

A new, simple, rapid and specific micellar liquid chromatographic (MLC) method was developed and validated for the determination of amoxicillin, ampicillin, cloxacillin and dicloxacillin in pharmaceutical formulations. Separation was achieved isocratically on an Ultra C₁₈ column (150 mm × 4.6 mm) utilizing a mobile phase of 25 mM SDS–2% (v/v) 1-butanol in phosphate buffer (pH 5.0) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min^?1 with UV detection at 200 nm. Validation experiments were performed to demonstrate linear ranges, accuracy, precision, robustness, limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ). The method was applied to the determination of these penicillins in various pharmaceutical formulations. The results compared favorably with those obtained by the official methods, and were in agreement with the declared compositions. The method can be used for quality control assay of the studied penicillins.     

RP-LC and HPTLC Methods for the Determination of Olmesartan Medoxomil and Hydrochlorothiazide in Combined Tablet Dosage Forms

Two new, rapid, precise, accurate and specific chromatographic methods were described for the simultaneous determination of olmesartan medoxomil and hydrochlorothiazide in combined tablet dosage forms. The first method was based on reversed phase liquid chromatography using an Eurosphere 100 RP C18 column (250 × 4.6 mm ID, 5 μm). The mobile phase was methanol–0.05% o-phosphoric acid (60:40 v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min^?1. Commercially available tablets and laboratory mixtures containing both drugs were assayed and detected using a UV detector at 270 nm. The second method involved silica gel 60 F₂₅₄ high performance thin layer chromatography and densitometric detection at 254 nm using acetonitrile–ethyl acetate–glacial acid (7:3:0.4 v/v/v) as the mobile phase. Calibration curves ranged between 200–600 and 125–375 ng spot^?1 for olmesartan and hydrochlorothiazide, respectively.     

UPLC Method for Determination of Moxonidine and Its Degradation Products in Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient and Pharmaceutical Dosage Form

A simple, rapid, isocratic, stability-indicating reverse phase ultra-performance liquid chromatographic (RP-UPLC) method was developed and validated for the routine analysis of moxonidine in the presence of its degradation products in active pharmaceutical ingredient and pharmaceutical dosage forms. Forced degradation studies were performed according to the guidance of International Conference for Harmonization and were used to evaluate moxonidine intrinsic stability. The drug was subjected to acid, neutral and base hydrolysis as well as to oxidative, thermal and photolytic decomposition in both solution and solid state. The drug appeared to be unstable towards acid and base hydrolysis. To achieve desirable conditions for UPLC analysis, the method development was done with the assistance of experimental design and multivariate optimization methodology by means of Derringer’s desirability function. Stress samples were analyzed according to the experimental plan for fractional factorial screening design and Box-Behnken optimization design. The chromatographic separation was achieved on a C₁₈ Hypersil Gold aq. column (100 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.9 μm) with the mobile phase consisting of methanol–ammonium acetate buffer (10 mM, pH 3.43) mixture (0.9:99.1, v/v) pumped at a flow rate of 870 μL min^?1 and detection wavelength of 255 nm. The UPLC–MS and UPLC–MS/MS analyses were further used to characterize the found degradation products. The validation of the proposed method was also performed considering selectivity, linearity, accuracy, precision, limit of detection and limit of quantification, and the results indicated that the method fulfilled all required criteria. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of commercial tablets.     

Simultaneous Determination of Nickel and Cobalt as Chelates with 1-(2-Pyridylazo)-2-naphthol Using an LC Switching Column Method

A simple liquid chromatographic method was developed for the separation and simultaneous determination of cobalt and nickel as chelates with 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN). The method, using a switching column technique for the on-line purification and separation, enables to reach the sub-microgram per litre concentration level excluding off-line sample treatment with the exception of the derivatization reaction. Two small-sized columns packed with CN- and C₄-bonded stationary phases were selected and used considering their complementary behaviour with respect to chelated Co and Ni ions. The analysis was performed within 10 min using an optimised eluent (water–acetonitrile–methanol–tetrahydrofuran, 40:45:10:5, v/v/v/v) containing Tween 40 (10^?3 M) and acetate buffer (5 × 10^?3 M, pH 4.8). Detection was performed by UV-vis spectrophotometry (λ = 565 nm) permitting to reach quantification limits of 0.9 and 0.5 μg L^?1 for Co and Ni, respectively.     

Separation and Sensitive Analysis of Chlorophenols by MEEKC

A new microemulsion electrokinetic chromatographic method has been established for separation and sensitive analysis of the three chlorophenols 2-chlorophenol, 4-chlorophenol, and 2,4-dichlorophenol. The optimum microemulsion system was 15 mM SDS, 112 mM n-butanol, and 10 mM n-octane in 20 mM sodium tetraborate (pH 9.0). Under the optimum conditions, baseline separation was achieved within 8 min. The method was used for analysis of a real water sample previously pretreated by SPE. The linear ranges, precision of migration time and peak area, and limits of detection (LOD) were in the ranges of 0.5–50 μg L^?1, 4.85–9.75%, 0.49–0.706% (n = 6), and 0.6–1 μg L^?1, respectively, for the three chlorophenols.     

Improving the Determination of Nitrovin in Feeds by Reversed-Phase LC with SPE

A simple reversed-phase liquid chromatographic method with ultraviolet detector (378 nm) for the determination of nitrovin in feeds was improved and validated. The mobile phase was a mixture of acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid solution (v/v) in the ratio of 50:50 (v/v), and the flow rate was set at 1.2 mL min^?1. The extraction solution was a mixture of dimethyl formamide, acetonitrile and methanol (50:25:25, v/v), the sample was cleaned-up with reversed-phase solid phase extraction cartridge. The standard nitrovin was purified with crude nitrovin product by ethylene glycol monoethyl ether and identified by elemental analyzer. The limit of detection was 0.05 mg kg^?1 and the limit of quatification was 0.2 mg kg^?1 in feeds. The assay had satisfactory selectivity, recovery, linearity and precise repeatability and trueness.     

LC Determination of Lidocaine and Prilocaine Containing Potential Risky Impurities and Application to Pharmaceuticals

A liquid chromatographic method for the determination of lidocaine (LID), prilocaine (PRL) and their impurities 2,6-dimethylaniline (DMA) and o-toluidine (TOL) has been developed. The analysis was performed on a reversed phase C18 Hypersil BDS column at ambient temperature. A mobile phase consisting of Briton-Robinson buffer, pH 7—methanol—acetonitrile (40: 45: 15 v/v/v) was used at a flow rate of 1.2 mL min^?1. Detection was achieved at 225 nm using benzophenone as internal standard over the concentration range 1.25–80 μg mL^?1 for all analytes. The relative standard deviations RSD (n = 7) for the assay were less than 0.95%. Limit of detection values were found to be 0.346, 0.423, 0.112 and 0.241 μg mL^?1 for LID, PRL, DMA and TOL, respectively. The intraday and the inter-days RSD % indicated the precision of the procedure. The method proved to be suitable for the quality control of LID and PRL in pharmaceuticals.     

Simultaneous Estimation of Ceftazidime and Ceftizoxime in Pharmaceutical Formulations by HPLC Method

The aim of the present study was to develop a fast, sensitive and reliable method for rapid screening of cephalosporin injectable dosage forms namely ceftazidime and ceftizoxime to the detection of counterfeit and substandard drugs that might be illegally commercialized. Ceftazidime, ceftizoxime and cefixime (IS) were separated in a X-Terra RP-18 column (250 × 4.60 mm ID × 5 ??) and DAD detector set at 290 and 260 nm. The mobile phase consisted of a mixture of methanol:water 20:80 (v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min^?1. Additionally, in order to find the optimum pH value of separation the pK _a values of studied compounds were determined by using two different methodologies. Aqueous pK _a values of studied compounds have been determined by UV-spectrophotometry and liquid chromatography were used for the determination and direct characterization of the dissociation constants by using the dependence of the capacity factor on the pH of the mobile phase in 20% (v/v) methanol?Cwater binary mixture in which separation was performed. The pH of the mobile phase was adjusted with 25 mM H₃PO₄ to 3.2. The method was shown to be linear, sensible, accurate, and reproducible over the range of analysis and it can be used to pharmaceutical formulations containing a single active ingredient within a short analysis time.     

A Simple and Sensitive LC Method for Quantification of Cefteram in Human Plasma

A simple and sensitive liquid chromatographic method was developed for quantification of cefteram in human plasma. Amoxicillin was used as an internal standard. The present method used protein precipitation for extraction of cefteram from human plasma. Separation was carried out on a reversed-phase C₁₈ column. The column effluent was monitored by UV detection at 262 nm. The mobile phase was a mixture of methanol and water containing 0.3% v/v triethylamine and 0.6% v/v glacial acetic acid (35:65:0.3:0.6 v/v) at a flow rate of 0.30 mL min^?1. The column temperature was 20 °C. This method was linear over the range of 47.5–4,750.0 ng mL^?1 with determination coefficient greater than 0.99. The mean extraction recovery of cefteram and IS was ≥76.82 and ≥76.49%, respectively, and the method was found to be precise, accurate, and specific during the study. The method was successfully applied for a pharmacokinetic study of cefteram in human.     

Ion Chromatography in Combination with ESI Ion Trap MS for the Analysis of Diphacinone in Animal Livers

Analysis of diphacinone is often performed on C18 column by reserved phase liquid chromatographic methods coupled with ultraviolet detection or by ion-pair chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. In this work, a sensitive and selective method using eluent generator reagent free ion chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometric detection for the quantification of diphacinone in animal livers has been developed. Samples were extracted with 10% (v/v) methanol in acetonitrile after spiking with warfarin (internal standard, IS) and cleaned by solid-phase extraction. The analytes were separated on an IonPac AS11 analytical column (250 mm × 4.0 mm) using 30.0 mmol L^?1 KOH (achieved by a KOH eluent generator) containing 10% (v/v) methanol as organic modifier at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min^?1. Detection was performed by negative electrospray ionization and ion trap tandem mass spectrometry in multiple reaction monitoring mode with a transition of m/z 339 → 167 for diphacinone, and 307 → 161 for IS, respectively. The calibration curve was linear (r ² = 0.993) in the concentration range of 1.0–200.0 ng mL^?1 with a lower limit of quantification of 0.3 ng g^?1 in animal livers. Intra- and inter-day relative standard deviations (RSDs) were less than 8.7 and 12.5%, respectively. Recoveries of diphacinone ranged from 81.2 to 89.5%. It was confirmed that this method could be used in clinical diagnosis or forensic toxicology.