Optimization of chromatography to overcome matrix effect for reliable estimation of four small molecular drugs from biological fluids using LC–MS/MS

The article describes a systematic study to overcome the matrix effect during chromatographic analysis of gemfibrozil, rivastigmine, telmisartan and tacrolimus from biological fluids using LC–ESI–MS/MS. All four methods were thoroughly developed by the appropriate choice of analytical column, elution mode and pH of mobile phase for improved chromatography and overall method performance. Matrix effect was assessed by post-column analyte infusion, slope of calibration line approach and post-extraction spiking. The best chromatographic conditions established were: Acquity BEH C₁₈ (50 × 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm) column with 5.0 mm ammonium acetate, pH 6.0–methanol as the mobile phase under gradient program for gemfibrozil; Luna CN (50 × 2.0 mm, 3 μm) column with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile–10 mm ammonium acetate, pH 7.0 (90:10, v/v) for rivastigmine; Inertsustain C₁₈ (100 × 2.0 mm, 5 μm) column using methanol–2.0 mm ammonium formate, pH 5.5 (80: 20, v/v) as the mobile phase for isocratic elution of telmisartan; and Acquity BEH C₁₈ (50 × 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm) with methanol–10 mm ammonium acetate, pH 6.0 (95:5, v/v) as mobile phase for tacrolimus. The methods were thoroughly validated as per European Medicines Agency and US Food and Drug Administration guidance and were successfully applied for pharmacokinetic studies in healthy subjects.     

Simultaneous Determination of Carbamazepine and its Active Metabolite Carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide in Human Plasma by UPLC

A simple method for the determination of carbamazepine and its active metabolite carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide by ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) with ultraviolet absorbance detection (TUV) was developed. The method involves a two-step protein precipitation by liquid–liquid extraction. Phenytoin sodium was used as the internal standard. The separation was carried out on Acquity C18 column with acetonitrile:methanol:KH₂PO₄ buffer (adjusting pH to 4.6 with 85% o-phosphoric acid) (180/180/170, v/v/v) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.4 mL min⁻¹. Linear detection response was obtained for concentrations ranging from 50 to 5,000 ng mL⁻¹. The limit of quantification (LOQ) was 50 ng mL⁻¹. The method was validated successfully for the determination of carbamazepine and its active metabolite carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide, which can be applied through pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence studies.

     

Separation of Vitamins Retinol Acetate,Ergocalciferol, or Cholecalciferol and Tocopherol Acetate Using Sequential Injection Chromatography

A novel simple method for separation of vitamins A-acetate (all-trans retinol acetate), D₂ (ergocalciferol), or D₃ (cholecalciferol) and E-acetate (tocopherol acetate) using short monolithic column in the sequential injection chromatography system is described. Separation was carried out using FIAlab® 3000 system under following conditions: Onyx? Monolithic C18 column (25 × 4.6 mm), mobile phase acetonitrile:methanol:H₂O 20:20:1 (v/v/v)), flow rate 0.9 mL min^?1, detection at 265 nm (D), 290 nm (E), and 325 nm (A). The method was validated with respect to peak asymmetry, resolution, number of theoretical plates, repeatability, linearity, precision, and accuracy. Analysis time was 5.5 min.     

A Novel RP-LC Method for Determination of pK a Values of Some Anticancer Agents and Their Assay

A simple, reliable, and rapid RP-LC method has been developed for the determination of some anticancer drugs (daunorubicin, doxorubicin and vincristine sulfate) in their dosage forms and human urine. These compounds are well separated on a C18 column using the mobile phase consisting of a mixture of acetonitrile (50:50; v/v) at a flow rate of 1.5 mL min^?1. The analyte peaks were detected at 235 nm for doxorubicin and daunorubicin, and 220 nm for vincristine. Linearity was obtained in different concentration ranges between 0.10 and 12 μg mL^?1 for all compounds. Good sensitivity for all analytes was observed with DAD detection. LOD and LOQ of the method were found satisfying. The proposed method has been extensively validated in accordance with ICH guidelines and obtained results proved that the proposed method was precise, accurate, selective, and sensitive for simultaneous analysis of studied compounds. All analytical procedures including sample preparation, flow rate, and run time were at low levels. Also, pK _a values were determined using the dependence of the retention factor on the pH of the mobile phase. The effect of the mobile phase composition on the ionization constant was studied by measuring the pK _a at different methanol–water mixtures, ranging between 45 and 60 % (v/v).     

Development of Validated Chromatographic Methods for the Simultaneous Determination of Metronidazole and Spiramycin in Tablets

Two chromatographic methods have been described for the simultaneous determination of metronidazole (MET) and spiramycin (SPY) in their mixtures. The first method was based on a high performance thin layer chromatographic (HPTLC) separation of the two drugs followed by densitometric measurements of their spots at 240 nm. The separation was carried out on Merck TLC aluminum sheets of silica gel 60 F₂₅₄ using methanol: chloroform (9:1, v/v) as a mobile phase. Analysis data was used for the linear regression line in the range of 1.0–2.0 and 0.8–2.0 μg band⁻¹ for MET and SPY, respectively. The second method was based on a reversed-phase liquid chromatographic separation of the cited drugs on a C-18 column (5 μm, 250 × 4.6 mm, i.d.). The mobile phase consisted of a mixture of phosphate buffer of pH 2.4 and acetonitrile (70:30, v/v). The separation was carried out at ambient temperature with a flow rate of 1.0 mL min⁻¹. Quantitation was achieved with UV detection at 232 nm based on peak area with linear calibration curves at concentration ranges 0.4–50.0 and 0.5–50.0 μg mL⁻¹ for MET and SPY, respectively. The proposed chromatographic methods were successfully applied to the determination of the investigated drugs in pharmaceutical preparations. Both methods were validated in compliance with ICH guidelines; in terms of linearity, accuracy, precision, robustness, limits of detection and quantitation and other aspects of analytical validation.

     

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.     

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.     

A Novel RP-LC Method for Determination of pK a Values of Some Anticancer Agents and Their Assay

A simple, reliable, and rapid RP-LC method has been developed for the determination of some anticancer drugs (daunorubicin, doxorubicin and vincristine sulfate) in their dosage forms and human urine. These compounds are well separated on a C18 column using the mobile phase consisting of a mixture of acetonitrile (50:50; v/v) at a flow rate of 1.5 mL min⁻¹. The analyte peaks were detected at 235 nm for doxorubicin and daunorubicin, and 220 nm for vincristine. Linearity was obtained in different concentration ranges between 0.10 and 12 μg mL⁻¹ for all compounds. Good sensitivity for all analytes was observed with DAD detection. LOD and LOQ of the method were found satisfying. The proposed method has been extensively validated in accordance with ICH guidelines and obtained results proved that the proposed method was precise, accurate, selective, and sensitive for simultaneous analysis of studied compounds. All analytical procedures including sample preparation, flow rate, and run time were at low levels. Also, pK _a values were determined using the dependence of the retention factor on the pH of the mobile phase. The effect of the mobile phase composition on the ionization constant was studied by measuring the pK _a at different methanol–water mixtures, ranging between 45 and 60 % (v/v).

     

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 Determination of Ibuprofen and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride in Pharmaceutical Tablets by Reversed-Phase HPLC

Abstract

An isocratic HPLC method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of ibuprofen (IBU) and pseudoephedrine hydrochloride (PSE). Chromatography was carried out on an Apex phenyl column using 0.025 M acetic acid, triethylamine solution (pH 4.5) – acetonitrile (80:20, v/v) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1 mL · min^?1. UV detection was performed at a wavelength of 210 nm. The method was validated for specificity, linearity, accuracy, precision, and was successfully applied to pharmaceutical tablets of Rhinadvil®.     

An Improved HPLC Method for Simultaneous Analysis of Losartan Potassium and Hydrochlorothiazide with the Aid of a Chemometric Protocol

An experimental design method was used for fast, simple, and accurate high-performance-pressure liquid chromatograpy (HPLC) determination of losartan and hydrochlorothiazide in combined dosage forms. This method avoids the disadvantages of the traditional analytical approach, which is time-consuming, involves a large number of runs, and does not allow the determination of multiple interacting parameters. On the basis of preliminary experiments, three independent variables (methanol content, pH value of the mobile phase, and flow rate) were selected as input, and as dependent variables, five responses (retention time of hydrochlorothiazide, retention time of losartan, asymmetry of hydrochlorothiazide peak, asymmetry of losartan peak, and resolution) were chosen. A full 2³ factorial design was used to determine which factors had an effect on the studied response. Afterwards, experimental design was used to optimize these influencing parameters in the previously selected experimental domain. After optimizing the experimental conditions, a separation was conducted on a Zorbax C₈ (150 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm particle size) column with a mobile phase consisting of methanol–acetonitrile–acetate buffer 45:20:35 v/v/v, pH 4.8 with flow rate of 0.82 mL min^?1 and column temperature of 25 °C. The developed method was successfully applied to simultaneous separation of these active drug compounds in their commercial pharmaceutical dosage forms.     

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.     

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.     

Simultaneous determination of ten anticoagulant rodenticides in tissues by column-switching UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS

This paper describes the development of a method for the simultaneous determination of ten anticoagulant rodenticides (coumafuryl, warfarin, pindone, coumatetralyl, coumachlor, difenacoum, bromadiolone, brodifacoum, chlorophacinone and flocoumafen) in the liver and kidney based on column-switching liquid chromatography coupled with heated electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. The simple sample preparation includes extraction with methanol. A C₁₈ trapping column was used for online solid-phase extraction before analytical separation with the mobile phase comprising a mixture of 0.1 % formic acid in water, methanol and acetonitrile. Chromatographic separation was achieved using a Thermo Hypersil ultra high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) C₁₈ column with the mobile phase consisting of 5 mM ammonium formate buffer (pH?=?9) and methanol. The column-switching procedure ensured no matrix effects during electrospray ionization (ESI). Extraction recoveries ranged between 91 and 100 % for liver and between 89 and 97 % for kidney. The method showed good linearity up to 750 ng g^?1. The limit of detection ranged between 0.001 and 0.022 ng g^?1 for liver and between 0.001 and 0.028 ng g^?1 for kidney. The developed method was successfully used in several animal poisoning cases.     

Development and Validation of Rapid Resolution RP-HPLC Method for Simultaneous Determination of Atorvastatin and Related Compounds by Use of Chemometrics

Abstract

A Rapid Resolution Reversed Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (RR RP-HPLC) method has been developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of atorvastatin and seven related compounds specified as impurities. Experimental design was used during method optimization (full factorial 3² design) and robustness testing (central composite design). Chromatography was performed with mobile phase containing phosphate buffer pH 3.5 and a mixture of 10% (v/v) tetrahydrofuran in acetonitrile as organic modifier. A Zorbax Eclipse XDB C18 Rapid Resolution HT 4.6 mm × 50 mm, 1.8 µm particle size column was used. The developed method allowed determination of Atorvastatin Calcium (ATV Ca) purity and level of impurities in drug substances.     

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.

     

LC–ESI–MS Determination of Flupentixol in Human Plasma

Flupentixol and an internal standard, loperamide were extracted from human plasma by liquid–liquid extraction and analyzed on a Thermo Hypersil HyPURITY C18 column, with 10 mM ammonium acetate–acetonitrile–methanol (26:62:12, v/v/v) as mobile phase, coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI–MS). The protonated analyte was quantified by selected-ion monitoring (SIM) with a quadrupole mass spectrometer in a positive-ion mode. The calibration curve was linear (r = 0.9990) over the concentration range: 0.039–2.5 ng mL^?1. Intra-day and inter-day precision (RSD%) were less than 13.05%. The established method was successfully applied for the determination of pharmacokinetics of flupentixol in human plasma.     

Development of a Validated Stability-Indicating LC Assay and Stress Degradation Studies of Linezolid in Tablets

This paper describes the validation of an isocratic LC method for the assay of linezolid in tablets. Validation parameters such as linearity, precision, accuracy, specificity, limit of detection, limit of quantitation and robustness were determined. LC was carried out by reversed phase technique on an RP-18 column with a mobile phase composed of 1% acetic acid:methanol:acetonitrile (50:25:25, v/v/v). Linezolid and your combination drug product were exposed to acid, base, oxidation, dry heat and photolytic stress conditions. A linear response (r > 0.9999) was observed in the range of 8.0–20.0 μg mL⁻¹. The retention time of linezolid was 4.6 min. The method showed good recoveries and intra- and inter-day relative standard deviations were less than 1.0%. The LOD and LOQ were 0.21 and 0.63 μg mL⁻¹, respectively. The developed LC method for determination of related substances and assay determination of linezolid can be used to evaluate the quality of regular production samples. It can also be used to test the stability samples of linezolid.

     

Determination of Belotecan in the Plasma,Bile, and Urine of Rats by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Fluorescence Detection and Its Application to a Pharmacokinetic Study

Abstract

A simple and reliable high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed for the determination of belotecan in the plasma, urine, and bile samples of rats. Belotecan was analyzed with HPLC using a C18 column with fluorescence detector. A mixture of acetonitrile–0.1 M potassium phosphate buffer at pH 2.4 (25:75, v/v) and 0.2% trifluoroacetic acid was used as the mobile phase. The lower limits of quantitation (LOQ) were 5 ng mL^?1 for the plasma and 5 µg mL^?1 for the urine and bile samples. The method has been readily applied for the routine pharmacokinetic study of belotecan in small laboratory animals.     

UPLC a Powerful Tool for the Separation of Imidazolium Ionic Liquid Cations

Ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) in reversed-phase (RP), ion pair (IP) and hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) has been investigated for the separation of imidazolium-based ionic liquid (IL) cations. Among the three stationary phases (i.e., C18, C8 and phenyl) studied under RP conditions the phenyl phase provided much stronger retention for the IL cations. Four acids (hydrochloric, methanesulfonic, perchloric and trifluoroacetic) as mobile phase additives were compared in light of their effects on the retention of IL cations. It was shown that the retention of all IL cations decreased upon acidification of the mobile phase, possibly due to suppression of residual silanol ionization. Very fast (~3 min) and efficient RP-UPLC separation of six cations was achieved by gradient elution with acetonitrile?Cwater mobile phase containing 2.5 mmol L^?1 perchloric acid. In IP-UPLC all solutes were well resolved in about 4 min by gradient elution with acetonitrile?Cwater mobile phase containing 1 mmol L^?1 sodium 1-octanesulfonate as ion pairing reagent. Finally, under HILIC conditions by using isocratic elution with acetonitrile?Cwater (85:15, v/v) mobile phase containing 5 mmol L^?1 ammonium formate (pH 3.2) the separation time was reduced to less than 2 min while maintaining excellent peak shapes and sufficient resolution. Compared to current LC systems UPLC allowed considerably faster separations with better peak shapes.