Determination of Apigenin by LC with Electrochemical Detection

A rapid, sensitive, and specific method for quantification of olmesartan, the prodrug of olmesartan medoxomil, in human plasma, using zidovudine as internal standard, is described. Sample preparation involved a simple solid-phase extraction procedure. The extract was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS–MS). Chromatography was performed isocratically on a 5 μm C₁₈ analytical column (50 mm × 4.6 mm i.d.) with water–acetonitrile–formic acid 20:80:0.1 (v/v) as mobile phase. The response to olmesartan was a linear function of concentration over the range 4.82–1,928 ng mL⁻¹. The lower limit of quantification in plasma was 4.82 ng mL⁻¹. The method was successfully applied in a bioequivalence study of an olmesartan formulation after administration as a single oral dose.     

HPLC Determination of DCJW in Rat Plasma and Its Application to Pharmacokinetics Studies

A high-performance liquid chromatography–UV method for determining DCJW concentration in rat plasma was developed. The method described was applied to a pharmacokinetics study of intramuscular injection in rats. The plasma samples were deproteinized with acetonitrile in a one-step extraction. The HPLC assay was carried out using a VP-ODS column and the mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile–water (80:20, v/v) was used at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min⁻¹ for the effective eluting DCJW. The detection of the analyte peak area was achieved by setting a UV detector at 314 nm with no interfering plasma peak. The method was fully validated with the following validation parameters: linearity range 0.06–10 μg mL⁻¹ (r > 0.999); absolute recoveries of DCJW were 97.44–103.46% from rat plasma; limit of quantification, 0.06 μg mL⁻¹ and limit of detection, 0.02 μg mL⁻¹. The method was further used to determine the concentration–time profiles of DCJW in the rat plasma following intramuscular injection of DCJW solution at a dose of 1.2 mg kg⁻¹. Maximum plasma concentration (C _max) and area under the plasma concentration–time curve (AUC) for DCJW were 140.20 ng mL⁻¹ and 2405.28 ng h mL⁻¹.     

Determination and Pharmacokinetic Study of 10-O-Dimethylaminoethylginkgolide B in Rat Plasma by LC–MS

To evaluate the pharmacokinetics of a novel analogue of ginkgolide B, 10-O-dimethylaminoethylginkgolide B (XQ-1) in rat plasma in pre-clinical studies, a sensitive and specific liquid chromatographic method with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry detection (LC–ESI–MS) was developed and validated. After a simple extraction with ethyl acetate, XQ-1 was analyzed on a Shim-pack C18 column with a mobile phase of a mixture of 1 μmol L⁻¹ ammonium acetate containing 0.02% formic acid and methanol (55:45, v/v) at a flowrate of 0.3 mL min⁻¹. Detection was performed in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode using target ions at [M + H]⁺ m/z 496.05 for XQ-1 and m/z 432.10 for the internal standard (lafutidine). Linearity was established for the concentration range from 2 to 1,000 ng mL⁻¹ . The extraction recoveries ranged from 86.0 to 89.9% in plasma at concentrations of 5, 50, and 500 ng mL⁻¹. The lower limit of quantification was 2 ng mL⁻¹ with 100 μL plasma. The validated method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study after intragastic administration of XQ-1 mesylate in rats at a dose of 20 mg kg⁻¹.     

LC–ESI–MS for Rapid and Sensitive Determination of Aripiprazole in Human Plasma

A rapid, sensitive, and accurate high-performance liquid-chromatographic–mass spectrometric (HPLC–MS) method, with estazolam as internal standard, has been developed and validated for determination of aripiprazole in human plasma. After liquid–liquid extraction the compound was analyzed by HPLC on a C₁₈ column, with acetonitrile—30 mm ammonium acetate containing 0.1% formic acid, 58:42 (v/v), as mobile phase, coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The protonated analyte was quantified by selected-ion recording (SIR) with a quadrupole mass spectrometer in positive-ion mode. Calibration plots were linear over the concentration range 19.9–1119.6 ng mL⁻¹. Intra-day and inter-day precision (CV%) and accuracy (RE%) for quality-control samples (37.3, 124.4, and 622.0 ng mL⁻¹) ranged between 2.5 and 9.0% and between 1.3 and 3.5%, respectively. Extraction recovery of aripiprazole from plasma was in the range 75.8–84.1%. The method enables rapid, sensitive, precise, and accurate measurement of the concentration of aripiprazole in human plasma.     

LC–ESI–MS Determination of Lovastatin in Human Plasma

A convenient, selective and sensitive liquid chromatographic-electrospary ionization mass spectrometry (LC–ESI–MS) method was developed and validated to determine lovastatin in human plasma. The analyte was extracted from human plasma samples by typical liquid–liquid extraction, separated on a C₁₈ column by using the mobile phase consisting of water–methanol (13:87, v/v). Simvastatin was used as the internal standard (IS). The method was linear within the range of 0.1–20 ng mL⁻¹. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 0.1 ng mL⁻¹. The intra- and inter-run precision, calculated from quality control (QC) samples was less than 10.2%. The accuracy as determined from QC samples was in the range of 99.3–102.9% for the analyte. The mean recoveries for lovastatin and IS were 84.8 and 88.0%, respectively. The method was successfully applied for evaluation of the pharmacokinetic of lovastatin in healthy volunteers.     

Development and Validation of LC–MS Method for the Determination of Hydroxyzine Hydrochloride in Human Plasma and Subsequent Application in a Bioequivalence Study

A rapid, simple and specific liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry method has been developed and validated for the determination of hydroxyzine hydrochloride in human plasma. Samples were separated using a Thermo Hypersil-HyPURITYC18 reversed-phase column (150 mm × 2.1 mm i.d., 5 μm). The mobile phase consisted of 50 mM ammonium acetate (pH 4.0)–methanol–acetonitrile (45:36:19, v/v). Hydroxyzine and its internal standard were measured by electrospray ion source in positive selective ion monitoring mode. The method was validated with a linear range of 1.56–200.0 ng mL⁻¹ and the lowest limit of quantification was 1.56 ng mL⁻¹ for hydroxyzine hydrochloride (r ²= 0.9991). The extraction efficiencies were about 70% and recoveries of the method were in the range of 93.5–104.4%. The intra-day relative standard deviation (RSD) was less than 8.0% and inter-day RSD was within 7.4%. QC samples were stable when kept at ambient temperature for 12 h at −20 °C for 30 days and after four freeze–thaw cycles. The method has been successfully applied to the evaluation of pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence of two hydroxyzine hydrochloride formulations in 12 healthy Chinese volunteers after an oral dose of 25 mg.     

Determination of clozapine in human plasma by solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography with amperometric detection

Summary A sensitive and selective high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for monitoring clozapine levels in human plasma. Chromatography was performed on a reversed-phase column (C₈, 150 mm×4.6 mm i.d., 5 μm) with acetonitrile-aqueous sodium acetate solution, 88∶12 (v/v), as mobile phase; the flow rate was 1 mL min⁻¹. Clozapine oxidation at +800 mV was detected amperometrically. Response was linearly dependent on concentration over the range 50–1500 ng mL⁻¹ clozapine in plasma. Sample preparation by solid-phase extraction before HPLC analysis gave high extraction yield (94%). The accuracy and precision of the method were both very good (recovery: 97%;RSD<3.3%).     

Analysis of 5-hydroxy-N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and 2-hydroxy-N-methylsuccinimide in plasma

Summary A method for the determination of 5-hydroxy-N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (5-HNMP) and 2-hydroxy-N-methylsuccinimide (2-HMSI) in plasma was developed. 5-HNMP and 2-HMSI are metabolites to the widely used organic solvent N-methyl-2pyrrolidone (NMP). The 5-HNMP and 2-HMSI were purified from plasma by C8 solid phase extraction, derivatised by bistrimethylsilyl trifluoroacetamid, and analysed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection. For 5-HNMP, the precision was 2–7 % (120 and 780 ng mL⁻¹) and the detection limit was 6 ng mL⁻¹ (m/z 98). For 2-HMSI, the precision was 2–9 % (160 and 1000 ng mL⁻¹) and the detection limit was 4 ng mL⁻¹ (m/z 144). The method is applicable for analysis of plasma samples from workers exposed to NMP.     

Simultaneous Determination of Tramadol and Acetaminophen in Human Plasma by LC–ESI–MS

This study presents a high-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–mass spectrometric (LC–ESI–MS) method for the simultaneous determination of tramadol and acetaminophen in human plasma using phenacetinum as the internal standard. After alkalization with saturated sodium bicarbonate, both compounds were extracted from human plasma with ethyl acetate and were separated by HPLC on a Hanbon LiChrospher CN column with a mobile phase of 10 mM ammonium acetate buffer containing 0.5% formic acid–methanol (40:60, v/v) at a flow rate of 1 mL min⁻¹. Analytes were determined using electrospray ionization in a single quadrupole mass spectrometer. LC–ESI–MS was performed in the positive selected-ion monitoring (SIM) mode using target ions at [M+H]⁺ m/z 264.3 for tramadol, [M+H]⁺ m/z 152.2 for acetaminophen and [M+H]⁺ m/z 180.2 for phenacetinum. Calibration curves were linear over the range of 5–600 ng mL⁻¹ for tramadol and 0.03–16 μg mL⁻¹ for acetaminophen. The inter-run relative standard deviations were less than 14.4% for tramadol and 12.3% for acetaminophen. The intra-run relative standard deviations were less than 9.3% for tramadol and 7.9% for acetaminophen. The mean plasma extraction recovery for tramadol and acetaminophen were in the ranges of 82.7–85.9 and 83.6–85.3%. The method was applied to study the pharmacokinetics of a new formulation of tramadol/acetaminophen tablet in healthy Chinese volunteers.     

Validation of a Stability-Indicating LC Method for Assay of Ezetimibe in Tablets and for Determination of Content Uniformity

A simple, precise, and accurate HPLC method has been developed and validated for assay of ezetimibe in tablets and for determination of content uniformity. Reversed-phase liquid chromatographic separation was achieved by use of phosphoric acid (0.1%, v/v)–acetonitrile 50:50 (v/v) as mobile phase. The method was validated for specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy, robustness, and solution stability. The specificity of the method was determined by assessing interference from the placebo and by stress testing of the drug (forced degradation). Response was a linear function of drug concentration in the range 20–80 μg mL⁻¹ (r = 0.9999). Intraday and interday system and method precision were determined. Accuracy was between 100.8 and 102.7%. The method was found to be robust, and was suitable for assay of ezetimibe in a tablet formulation and for determination of content uniformity. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Simultaneous Quantification of Sodium Ferulate, Salicylic Acid, Cinnarizine and Vitamin B1 in Human Plasma by LC Tandem MS Detection

A rapid and simple high performance liquid chromatographic method coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS–MS) via electrospray ionization (ESI) has been developed and validated to separate and simultaneously quantify sodium ferulate (SF), salicylic acid (SA), cinnarizine (CIN) and vitamin B1 (VB1) in human plasma. Gemfibrozil (GEM) was used as the internal standard (IS) for SF and SA, whereas lomerizine (LOM) was used as the IS for CIN and VB1. The plasma samples were prepared by one-step protein precipitation followed by an isocratic elution with 10 mM ammonium acetate buffer (pH = 5.0): acetonitrile (35:65, v/v,) on an Agilent Zorbax SB-CN column (150 mm × 2.0 mm ID, 5 μm). The precursor and product ions of these drugs were monitored on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer, operating in the selected reaction monitoring mode (SRM) with polarity switch, in the negative-ion mode for SF, SA and GEM, in the positive-ion mode for CIN, VB1 and LOM. The method was validated over the concentration range of 1.5–1,000 ng mL⁻¹ for SF, 20–5,000 ng mL⁻¹ for SA, 2–500 ng mL⁻¹ for CIN, 1–30 ng mL⁻¹ for VB1. The intra- and inter-batch precisions were less than 15% of the relative standard deviation. The recoveries for analytes and IS achieved from spiked plasma samples were consistent and reproducible. The validated LC–MS–MS method has been successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of sodium ferulate and aspirin capsule in healthy volunteers.     

A sensitive liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric method for simultaneous determination of dehydroevodiamine and limonin from Evodia rutaecarpa in rat plasma

A liquid chromatographic–mass spectrometric (LC–MS) method has been developed and validated for simultaneous determination of dehydroevodiamine and limonin from Evodia rutaecarpa in rat plasma. After addition of the internal standard, domperidone, plasma samples were extracted by liquid–liquid extraction with ethyl acetate and separated on an Apollo C₁₈ column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm), with methanol–0.01% formic acid water (60:40, v/v) as mobile phase, within a runtime of 12.0 min. The analytes were detected without interference in the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode with positive electrospray ionization. The linear range was 1.0–500 ng mL⁻¹ for dehydroevodiamine and 2.0–1,000 ng mL⁻¹ for limonin, with lower limits of quantitation of 1.0 and 2.0 ng mL⁻¹, respectively. Intra-day and inter-day precision were within 6.0% and 10.9%, respectively, for both analytes, and the accuracy (relative error, RE, %) was less than 4.8% and 6.5%, respectively. The validated method was successfully applied to a comparative pharmacokinetic study of dehydroevodiamine and limonin in rat plasma after oral administration of dehydroevodiamine, limonin, and an aqueous extract of Evodiae fructus. The results indicated there were obvious differences between the pharmacokinetic behavior after oral administration of an aqueous extract of Evodiae fructus compared with single substances.     

Determination of eight penicillins in serum from cattle and pigs by generic HPLC method

Summary An HPLC method was developed for determination of amoxicillin, penicillin G, penicillin V, ampicillin, oxacillin, cloxacillin, nafcillin and dicloxacillin in serum from pigs and cattle. Serum was cleaned up by solid-phase extraction (SPE), ultra-filtered and derivatised. The method was linear in the range tested up to 2000 ng mL⁻¹ of individual penicillins in serum. Limits of detection were 11–14 ng mL⁻¹. Mean recoveries were 90–103% in the range 20–2000 ng mL⁻¹. The relative repeatability, standard deviation was <10% at 20 ng mL⁻¹ level and <6% in the range 100–2000 ng mL⁻¹.     

Rapid determination of ranitidine in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography

Summary An HPLC method has been developed for the quantification of rantidine in plasma for pharmacokinetic studies. Metoclopramide was used as internal standard. The method uses a simple and rapid sample clean-up procedure involving single-step extraction with organic solvent to extract ranitidine from plasma. After evaporation and reconstitution the samples are chromatographed on a 250 mm×4 mm base-stable reversed-phase column with 0.05 M ammonium acetate-acetonitrile, 75∶25 (v/v) as mobile phase and UV detection at 313 nm. The calibration graph was linear for quantities of ranitidine between 10 and 2000 ng mL⁻¹. Intra- and inter-dayCV did not exceed 11.64%. The quantitation limit was 10 ng mL⁻¹ for human plasma. The applicability of this method for pharmacokinetic studies of ranitidine after oral administration are described. Approximately 90 samples can be processed in 24 h.     

Sensitive determination of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) in human plasma by HPLC with electrochemical detection

Summary This study deals with the development of a new HPLC method for the determination of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), the main noradrenaline metabolite in human plasma. A Varian reversed-phase column (C₈; 250 mm×4.6 mm i.d.; 5 μm particles) was used as the stationary phase and an aqueous solution of citric acid, 1-octanesulfonic acid, EDTA, and methanol was used as the mobile phase. Coulometric electrochemical detection (ED) was used to obtain the highest sensitivity. Isolation of MHPG from plasma was accomplished by means of a new solid-phase extraction procedure after a protein precipitation step. The extraction yield of MHPG from plasma was very high (>97%). Linearity was observed in the 0.5–25 ng mL⁻¹ concentration range; the limit of detection was 0.2 ng mL⁻¹ and the limit of quantitation was 0.5 ng mL⁻¹. Repeatability (RSD,%) for plasma samples was found to be <3.2% and intermediate precision was <4.3%. The method was applied to the determination of MHPG in the plasma of healthy subjects under experimentally-induced psychological stress.     

Determination of carbofuran, carbaryl and their main metabolites in plasma samples of agricultural populations using gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

A gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometric (GC-MS/MS) method has been developed for the determination of carbofuran (2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethylbenzofuran-7-yl methylcarbamate), carbaryl (1-naphthyl-N-methylcarbamate) and their main metabolites in human blood plasma. Optimization of the isolation of the compounds from plasma matrix included the precipitation, denaturation and digestion of plasma proteins. Derivatization was achieved by the use of trifluoroacetic acid anhydride and was optimized for temperature, time and volume of derivatization agent. In the proposed method, a mild precipitation technique was applied using β-mercaptoethanol and ascorbic acid in combination with solid-phase extraction technique using Oasis HLB (Hydrophobic Lipophilic Balance) cartridges for further clean up of samples. Carbamate linkage was not hydrolyzed to its phenol product, but both carbamate phenol and ketones were transformed into trifluoroacetyl derivatives in order to become volatile compounds and were determined using tandem mass spectrometry. The linearity of the method was shown for nine concentrations in the range of 0.50–250 ng mL⁻¹ in fortified plasma aliquots. Limits of detection (LODs) for all compounds ranged from 0.015–0.151 ng mL⁻¹. Inter-day and intra-day assays (RSD) for all compounds, at three concentration levels of 2.5, 25 and 100 ng mL⁻¹ (n=3) in fortified plasma samples were less than 18%. Accuracy (%E _r) was calculated at three concentration levels, 8, 80 and 160 ng mL⁻¹ (n=3), and ranged from −12.0 to 15.0%. Matrix effect was evaluated so mean recoveries were calculated for all compounds and ranged from 81–107%. Specificity for the use of this method to biological monitoring studies was achieved including four main metabolites of CF, 1-naphthol and 2-naphthol from the naphthalene metabolism pathways, and both the parent compound of carbofuran and carbaryl. The proposed method was applied to plasma samples of pesticide users.     

Simultaneous Determination of Enalapril and Enalaprilat in Human Plasma by LC-MS: Application to a Bioequivalence Study

A rapid, simple and specific liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) method has been developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of enalapril and its major active metabolite enalaprilat in human plasma. Benazepril hydrochloride was used as the internal standard. Plasma was deproteinized with acetone and centrifuged. The supernatant was transferred and evaporated to dryness and the residue dissolved in mobile phase. Samples were separated on a C18 column with a mobile phase of methanol–20 mM ammonium acetate (53:47, v/v) containing 0.15% trifluoracetic acid (v/v) with a pH of 3.0. Enalapril, enalaprilat and the internal standard were measured by electrospray positive selective ion monitoring mode. The method was validated over a linear range of 1.56–400 ng mL⁻¹ and the limits of quantification were 1.56 ng mL⁻¹ for both enalapril and enalaprilat using 0.1 mL plasma. Extraction efficiency was more than 84% and recoveries were in range of 93.65–101.17%. The intra-day relative standard deviations (RSD) were less than 8.16 and 7.05% and inter-day RSDs were within 8.42 and 5.72% for enalapril and enalaprilat, respectively. The storage stability of QC samples was investigated under various conditions. The method was successfully applied for the evaluation of the pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence of enalapril and enalaprilat in 20 healthy volunteers after an oral dose of 20 mg enalapril maleate.     

Simple Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Minocycline in Brain and Plasma

A new high-performance liquid chromatography assay was developed for the determination of minocycline in plasma and brain. A solid–liquid extraction procedure was coupled with a reversed-phase HPLC system. The system requires a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile:water:perchloric acid (26:74:0.25, v/v/v) adjusted to pH 2.5 with 5 M sodium hydroxide for elution through a RP8 column (250 × 3.0 mm, i.d.) with UV detection set at 350 nm. The method proved to be accurate, precise (RSD < 20%) and linear between 0.15–20 μg mL⁻¹ in plasma and 1–20 μg mg⁻¹ in brain. The method was successfully applied to a blood-brain barrier minocycline transport study.     

Isocratic Reversed-Phase HPLC for Simultaneous Separation and Determination of Seven Antiepileptic Drugs and Two of their Active Metabolites in Human Plasma

A simple reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of the antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) zonisamide (ZNS), primidone (PRI), lamotrigine (LTG), phenobarbital (PB), phenytoin (PHT), oxcarbazepine (OXC), and carbamazepine (CBZ) and two of their active metabolites, monohydroxycarbamazepine (MHD) and carbamazepine 10,11-epoxide (CBZE) in human plasma. Plasma (100 μL) was pretreated by deproteinization with 300 μL methanol containing 20 μg mL⁻¹ propranolol hydrochloride as internal standard. HPLC was performed on a C₈ column (4.6 mm × 250 mm; particle size 5 μm) with methanol–acetonitrile–0.1% trifluoroacetic acid, 235:120:645 (v/v), as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.5 mL min⁻¹. ZNS, OXC, and CBZ were monitored by UV detection at 235 nm, and PRI, LTG, MHD, PB, PHT, and CBZE by UV detection at 215 nm. Relationships between response and concentration were linear over the concentration ranges 1–80 μg mL⁻¹ for ZNS, 5–50 μg mL⁻¹ for PRI, 1–25 μg mL⁻¹ for LTG, 1–50 μg mL⁻¹ for MHD, 5–100 μg mL⁻¹ for PB, 1–10 μg mL⁻¹ for CBZE, 0.5–25 μg mL⁻¹ for OXC, 1–50 μg mL⁻¹ for PHT, and 1–25 μg mL⁻¹ for CBZ. Intra-day and inter-day reproducibility were adequate (coefficients of variation were ≤11.6%) and absolute recovery ranged from 95.2 ± 6.13 to 107.7 ± 7.76% for all the analytes; for the IS recovery was 98.69 ± 1.12%. The method was proved to be accurate, reproducible, convenient, and suitable for therapeutic monitoring of the nine analytes.     

Study of the metabolism on tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines in the rabbit by solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

Metabolism of four tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines (TSNAs), N′-nitrosonornicotine (NNN), N′-nitrosoanatabine (NAT), N′-nitrosoanabasine (NAB), and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) has been studied by solid-phase extraction (SPE) and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS–MS). 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-4-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (iso-NNAL) was used as internal standard. SPE and LC–MS–MS was found to be a rapid, simple, sensitive, and selective method for analysis of TSNAs in rabbit serum. The relative standard deviation (R.S.D., n = 6) for analysis of 5 ng mL⁻¹ and 0.5 ng mL⁻¹ standards and of serum sample spiked with 5 ng mL⁻¹ standards of five TSNAs was 2.1–11% and recovery of 5 ng mL⁻¹ standards from serum was 100.2–112.9%. A good linear relationship was obtained between peak area ratio and concentration in the range of 0.2–100 ng mL⁻¹ for NNAL and 0.5–100 ng mL⁻¹ for other four TSNAs, with correlation coefficients (R ²) >0.99 (both linear and log–log regression). Detection limits for standards in solvent were between 0.04 and 0.10 ng mL⁻¹. Doses of TSNAs administered to rabbits via the auricular vein were 4.67 μg kg⁻¹ and 11.67 μg kg⁻¹, in accordance with the different levels in cigarettes. Metabolic curves were obtained for the four TSNAs and for 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL), a metabolite of NNK; on the basis of these curves we modeled metabolic kinetic equations for these TSNAs by nonlinear curve fitting.