Determination of a potential anxiolytic drug (CGS 20625) in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography.

An analytical method employing reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography is described for the determination of a potential anxiolytic agent in human plasma. This experimental drug candidate has potent and selective affinity for the central benzodiazepine receptor complex. The compound and internal standard are extracted from buffered plasma (pH 9.0) into ethyl acetate. The solvent is evaporated and the residue is reconstituted in chromatographic mobile phase. Separation is achieved on a 5-microns phenyl column with ultraviolet absorbance detection of the drug and internal standard at 270 nm. Recovery and reproducibility assessments indicate good accuracy (overall relative recovery of 101%) and precision (coefficients of variation from 2.0 to 11%) over the concentration range 10-1000 ng/ml. The limit of quantification for the method is 10 ng/ml. The method is suitable for pharmacokinetic analysis following the administration of 80 mg of drug to normal volunteers.     

Direct analysis of the dopamine agonist (-)-2-(N-propyl-N-2-thienylethylamino)-5-hydroxytetralin hydrochloride in plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography using two-dimensional column switching.

A reversed-phase, two-dimensional, liquid chromatographic method incorporating column switching and electrochemical detection was used for the direct analysis of the dopamine (D2) agonist (-)-2-(N-propyl-N-2-thienylethylamino)-5-hydroxytetralin hydrochloride in plasma. Sample work-up consisted of addition of internal standard, filtration, then direct injection of the plasma sample onto an internal surface reversed-phase (ISRP) guard column where the dopamine agonist and internal standard were separated from plasma proteins. An automated pneumatic valve was then used to switch to a stronger eluent which stripped the retained substances from the ISRP support onto a C18 analytical column where the analytes were separated from endogenous biological interferences. A dual-electrode electrochemical detector was used to minimize interferences and provide the desired sensitivity. The method has a detection limit of 1.5 ng/ml and requires a total assay time of 20 min per plasma sample. The method is linear from 1.5 to 1000 ng/ml and yielded greater than 80% drug recovery for plasma concentrations greater than 10 ng/ml. Precision for the method at 100 ng/ml yielded a relative standard deviation of 4.4%. Reproducibility was within 6.5% on a 20 ng/ml spiked plasma sample assayed on different days by different people. The method has successfully been applied to human plasma samples and for pharmacokinetic studies in rats and monkeys.     

HPLC Determination of Xylazine in Equine Plasma by High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Abstract

A high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method is described for the determination of xylazine in equine plasma. The drug and internal standard (pindolol) were separated on a 5 μm cyanopropyl-modified column (250 × 4.6 mm i.d.) using a buffer-acetonitrile mixture containing an ion pairing reagent. The drug and internal standard were isolated from plasma by liquid extraction into ethyl acetate. The method was validated over the concentration range 50–2000 ng/ml in plasma; the reproducibility, expressed as the mean co-efficient of variation was less than 5.0% for both between-day and within-day replicate determinations. The method was linear over the concentration range studied. No interferences were observed from endogenous plasma components and the limit of detection was 20 ng/ml. The method was successfully applied to the determination of xylazine in equine plasma in a crossover study design for pharmacokinetic measurements.     

Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric determination of plasma selegiline using a deuterated internal standard.

A gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method is described for the determination of plasma selegiline. Tetradeuteroselegiline was synthesized and served as the internal standard. Human plasma samples (1 ml) containing 1-6 ng of selegiline were acidified, washed with diethyl ether-hexane, then alkalinized and extracted with heptane-isoamyl alcohol. Analytical separations were performed on a dimethylsilicone capillary column. Detection was by selected ion monitoring of the electron impact generated m/z 96 and 100 alpha-cleavage fragments of drug and internal standard, respectively.     

Determination of aniracetam and its main metabolite, N-anisoyl-GABA, in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography

Two different reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic methods for the determination of aniracetam (I) and its metabolite N-anisoyl-GABA (II) in human plasma are described. The procedure for I involves direct injection of plasma samples spiked with the internal standard on a clean-up column followed by reversed-phase chromatography on a C18 column. The limit of quantification was 5 ng/ml, using a 200-microliters specimen of plasma. The mean inter-assay precision of the method up to 800 ng/ml was 3%. The procedure for II involved liquid-liquid extraction of II and the internal standard from plasma with ethyl acetate, and reversed-phase chromatography on a C18 column. The limit of quantification was 50 ng/ml using a 0.5-ml plasma specimen. The mean inter-assay precision up to 50 micrograms/ml was 6%. The applicability and accuracy of the methods were demonstrated by the analysis of over 1000 plasma samples from two bioavailability studies in healthy volunteers.     

High Performance Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Amiodarone in Plasma and Tissues

Abstract

A simple and rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the determination of amiodarone (AD) in plasma and tissues was developed. The method involved deproteinization of plasma or homogenized tissue with acetonitrile containing an internal standard (N-Cetylpyridinium chloride) followed by reversed phase chromatography using μ bondapack C₁₈ column (10μm) with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile - methanol - sodium dihydrogen phosphate buffer (70:10:20%, v/v), the pH adjusted to 4.0 and pumped at flow rate of 1.0 ml/min. The column effluent was monitored at 242 nm. A linear relationship was obtained between peak height ratios (drug to internal standard) versus drug levels over the concentration range of 50–750 ng/ml. The detection limit of AD in plasma and tissues by this method was 20 ng/ml.     

Measurement of bumetanide in plasma and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography and application to bumetanide disposition.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the measurement of bumetanide in plasma and urine is described. Following precipitation of proteins with acetonitrile, bumetanide was extracted from plasma or urine on a 1-ml bonded-phase C18 column and eluted with acetonitrile. Piretanide dissolved in methanol was used as the internal standard. A C18 Radial Pak column and fluorescence detection (excitation wavelength 228 nm; emission wavelength 418 nm) were used. The mobile phase consisted of methanol-water-glacial acetic acid (66:34:1, v/v) delivered isocratically at a flow-rate of 1.2 ml/min. The lower limit of detection for this method was 5 ng/ml using 0.2 ml of plasma or urine. Nafcillin, but not other semi-synthetic penicillins, was the only commonly used drug that interfered with this assay. No interference from endogenous compounds was detected. For plasma, the inter-assay coefficients of variation of the method were 7.6 and 4.4% for samples containing 10 and 250 ng/ml bumetanide, respectively. The inter-assay coefficients of variation for urine samples containing 10 and 2000 ng/ml were 8.1 and 5.7%, respectively. The calibration curve was linear over the range 5-2000 ng/ml.     

High-pressure liquid-chromatographic determination of the anthelmintic drug mebendazole in plasma

A procedure for determining the anthelmintic drug mebendazole in plasma of patients is described. Mebendazole together with the internal standard ciclobendazole is extracted with chloroform at pH 11. The extract is analyzed isocratically on a LiChrosorb SI 60 column with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile/water-saturated chloroform/ammonia (75/92.5/0.1) at 307 nm. Reproducibility with a coefficient of variation of 3 to 10% is attainable for the concentration range of 20 to 200 ng mebendazole/ml plasma. Mebendazole plasma concentrations in patients with echinococcosis on chronic therapy with mebendazole ranged from 6 to 117 ng/ml.     

Analysis of clomesone in plasma by gas chromatography-electrolytic conductivity detection

A sensitive and specific gas chromatographic (GC) method with electrolytic conductivity detection (ELD) for the analysis of clomesone (2-chloroethylmethylsulfonylmethane sulfonate), a new experimental antitumor alkylating agent, in plasma has been developed for the first time. Clomesone in plasma containing suitable internal standard was extracted with methylene chloride. After evaporation, the residue was analyzed by GC-ELD. Either a 15-m wide-bore DB-17 or a DB-1 column with the corresponding internal standards of propachlor or butachlor, respectively, was used. For the DB-1 column with butachlor as the internal standard, the routine assay limit was 20 ng/ml with linearity from 10 to 2000 ng/ml monitored. The within-run coefficient of variation of eight replicates at 50 ng/ml was 8.0% and the between-run coefficient of variation was 11% at 120 ng/ml. Using this assay procedure, the stability in several aqueous media and protein binding of clomesone were evaluated. In fresh mouse plasma, the half-life of clomesone was less than 1 h, although in aged pooled human plasma the drug was more stable. The mean protein binding value in mouse and human plasma was about 81-85%.     

Capillary column gas chromatographic method using electron-capture detection for the simultaneous determination of nicardipine and its pyridine metabolite II in plasma

A rapid, specific and direct method based on capillary column gas chromatography with electron-capture detection is described for the simultaneous determination of nicardipine, a new calcium antagonist, and its pyridine metabolite II in human plasma. In this method, the nicardipine, its pyridine metabolite II and internal standard are extracted from the plasma and then partially purified by acid-base partitioning prior to the final injection onto the capillary column gas chromatograph for quantification by means of an electron-capture detector. The quantification limit of the method is 1 ng/ml of plasma for both nicardipine and its pyridine metabolite II. The coefficients of variation for nicardipine and the pyridine metabolite II at concentrations of 1-50 ng/ml are less than 7% and less than 9% (n = 4), respectively. The method has been validated against a previously developed high-performance liquid chromatographic method (sensitivity 5 ng/ml).     

Quantitative determination of propranolol in plasma and plasma water from normal subjects and patients with angina pectoris by high-performance liquid chromatography

A precise and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method using a column packed with porous polystyrene gel is described for the determination of propranolol in plasma and plasma water from normal subjects and patients with angina pectoris. Propranolol in the samples was extracted with an n-heptane-isoamylalcohol (98.5:1.5) mixture after addition of penbutolol used as an internal standard. The extracts were chromatographed and detected with a spectrofluorophotometer. The quantitative limit of propranolol was 1 ng using 1 ml of plasma or 0.5 ml of plasma water. The present method should be useful for monitoring propranolol concentrations in plasma and plasma water during drug therapy and for pharmacokinetic study of propranolol.     

Assay of underivatized intrazepam and clonazepam in plasma by capillary gas chromatography applied to pharmacokinetic and bioavailability studies in humans

The assay procedure of underivatized, intact nitrazepam and clonazepam in human plasma is described, using gas chromatography with a support-coated open tubular column (OV-17), a solid injection system and electron-capture detection. Clonazepam is used as a internal standard in the assay of nitrazepam and vice versa. Linear calibration curves after a single extraction step were obtained in the concentration range 10--100 ng/ml plasma, with standard deviations less than 4.9%. The sensitivity limit of the method is about 1 ng/ml plasma for both drugs. The method was applied to pharmacokinetic and bioavailability studies of nitrazepam in humans. Seven healthy volunteers received two nitrazepam-containing tablet preparations (5 mg) and plasma concentrations were determined regularly from 15 min to 80 h following drug administration. The mean elimination half-life of nitrazepam was 27 h (range 13-34 h). Considerable intra-individual differences in peak level times between the two preparations were observed, whereas the extent of bioavailability was rather similar.     

Body fluid analysis of a phosphonic acid angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor using high-performance liquid chromatography and post-column derivatization with o-phthalaldehyde

A method is described for the extraction of a phosphonic acid angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor from either urine or plasma, and subsequent quantitation using high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis and post-column o-phthalaldehyde reagent derivatization. The compound cannot be quantitatively extracted from the body fluids, but use of a fluorinated internal standard allowed for the computation of accurate results. With the use of an internal standard, excellent precision, linearity, and recovery were obtained for analyte response in both urine and plasma. In urine a working range of 0.2-10 micrograms/ml was found, with a limit of detection of 0.1 micrograms/ml. For plasma the working range was found to be 2-500 ng/ml, and the limit of detection was established as 1 ng/ml. Due to the non-polar character of the analyte at low pH values, it was possible to use novel extraction (solid-phase C8 column) and HPLC [poly(styrenedivinyl benzene) HPLC column] conditions to separate and quantitate the compound from plasma and urine.     

Determination of clozapine and its major metabolites in human serum using automated solid-phase extraction and subsequent isocratic high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection.

An isocratic high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with ultraviolet detection is described for the quantification of the atypical neuroleptic clozapine and its major metabolites, N-desmethylclozapine and clozapine N-oxide, in human serum or plasma. The method included automated solid-phase extraction on C18 reversed-phase material. Clozapine and its metabolites were separated by HPLC on a C18 ODS Hypersil analytical column (5 microns particle size; 250 mm x 4.6 mm I.D.) using an acetonitrile-water (40:60, v/v) eluent buffered with 0.4% (v/v) N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine and acetic acid to pH 6.5. Imipramine served as internal standard. After extraction of 1 ml of serum or plasma, as little as 5 ng/ml of clozapine and 10 or 20 ng/ml of the metabolites were detectable. Linearity was found for drug concentrations between 5 and 2000 ng/ml as indicated by correlation coefficients of 0.998 to 0.985. The intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation ranged between 1 and 20%. Interferences with other psychotropic drugs such as benzodiazepines, antidepressants or neuroleptics were negligible. In all samples, collected from schizophrenic patients who had been treated with daily oral doses of 75-400 mg of clozapine, the drug and its major metabolite, N-desmethylclozapine, could be detected, while the concentrations of clozapine N-oxide were below 20 ng/ml in three of sixteen patients. Using the method described here, data regarding relations between therapeutic or toxic effects and drug blood levels or metabolism may be collected in clinical practice to improve the therapeutic efficacy of clozapine drug treatment.     

Simultaneous quantification of oxybutynin and its active metabolite N‐desethyl oxybutynin in rat plasma by ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and its application in a pharmacokinetic study of oxybutynin transdermal patch

A rapid, selective and sensitive ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method was developed to simultaneously determine oxybutynin and its active metabolite N‐desethyl oxybutynin in rat plasma. A 0.1 mL sample of plasma was extracted with n‐hexane. Chromatographic separation was performed on a UPLC BEH C₁₈ column (2.1 × 100 mm i.d.,1.7 μm) with mobile phase of methanol–water (containing 2 mmol/L ammonium acetate and 0.1% formic acid; 90:10, v/v). The detection was performed in positive selected reaction monitoring mode. Each plasma sample was chromatographed within 3 min. The linear calibration curves were obtained in the concentration range of 0.0944–189 ng/mL (r ≥ 0.99) for oxybutynin and 0.226–18.0 ng/mL (r ≥ 0.99) for N‐desethyl oxybutynin. The intra‐ and inter‐day precision (relative standard deviation) values were not more than 14% and the accuracy (relative error) was within ±7.6%. The method described was superior to previous methods for the quantitation of oxybutynin with three product ions and was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of oxybutynin and its active metabolite N‐desethyl oxybutynin in rat plasma after transdermal administration.     

Simultaneous determination of nitroglycerin and its dinitrate metabolites by capillary gas chromatography with electron-capture detection

A sensitive gas chromatographic-electron-capture detection method for the simultaneous determination of the antianginal drug nitroglycerin (GTN) and its dinitrate metabolites (1,2-GDN and 1,3-GDN) was developed. Human plasma samples (1 ml) spiked with 2,6-dinitrotoluene as the internal standard were extracted once with 10 ml of a methylene chloride-pentane mixture (3:7, v/v). Using this solvent system, less contaminants are extracted into the organic phase from plasma, resulting in cleaner chromatograms and prolonged column life. A break point was observed on the standard curves of GTN and GDNs. The two linear regions for the detectable concentrations of GTN are 0.025-0.3 and 0.3-3 ng/ml and for 1,2-GDN and 1,3-GDN they are 0.1-1 and 1-10 ng/ml. The limits of detection by this method for GTN, 1,2-GDN and 1,3-GDN in plasma are 0.025, 0.1 and 0.1 ng/ml, respectively.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic measurement of 8-methoxypsoralen in plasma

Summary A simple high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the measurement of 8-Methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) in human plasma following a single 40mg dose has been described. After addition of phosphate-NaOH buffer, pH 12, and internal standard (trimethylpsoralen), the sample is vortex-mixed with diisopropylether. The resulting extract is analysed on a reverse phase column using phosphoric acid (0.05% v/v): acetonitrile (1:1) as mobile phase, and U.V. detection at 220nm. No interference from endogenous sources has been observed. The limit of sensitivity of the assay is 5ng/ml plasma. The measuring range is between 10–700ng 8-MOP/ml plasma, to be expected from oral doses of 0.6mg 8-MOP/kg body weight, and corresponds to the therapeutic plasma concentration. The relative standard deviation at 50ng/ml level of 8-MOP is 3.6%.     

Gas chromatographic determination of mefloquine in human and dog plasma using electron-capture detection

A sensitive and selective gas-liquid chromatographic method for the determination of plasma levels of mefloquine in human and dog plasma is described. The drug and internal standard were extracted from plasma at pH 9.0 into isopropyl acetate. After evaporation of the solvent, the residue was taken up in toluene and derivatised with heptafluorobutyrylimidazole. The derivative was quantified by gas-liquid chromatography on a 3% GC GE-SE30 column with electron-capture detection. The limit of detection for mefloquine in plasma was 10 ng/ml. The mean overall recovery from plasma was 102.7 +/- 3.3%. The method was shown to be specific for mefloquine without any interference from endogenous compounds in plasma or from the drugs pyrimethamine and sulfadoxine (compounds often administered in combination with mefloquine). The assay described was successfully applied to the determination of plasma levels of mefloquine in man and dog following oral and intravenous administration, respectively.     

High-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection of gossypol in human plasma

A sensitive and selective high-performance liquid chromatographic method with electrochemical detection for the determination of gossypol in human plasma is described. Glutathione is used as a protective agent and gossypol dimethyl ether as an internal standard. Acetonitrile-treated protein-free plasma sample is first introduced on to a C18 pre-column for enrichment and clean-up. By using a column-switching technique, gossypol and the internal standard are subjected to further separation on a C8 analytical column, while the major interfering components are eliminated before entering the column. Methanol-0.1 M citrate buffer (pH 3.2) (80:20) is used as the mobile phase. The detector potential on the glassy carbon electrode is maintained at +0.6 V vs. an Ag-AgCl reference electrode. The linearity with human plasma ranged from 5 to 250 ng/ml. The absolute recoveries of gossypol and gossypol dimethyl ether were 91.3 and 97.5%, respectively, with a within-day precision of 2.5% and a day-to-day precision of 3.8%. The limit of detection is 5 ng/ml (signal-to-noise ratio = 3:1). The method is considered to be suitable for the clinical pharmacokinetic studies of gossypol.     

Determination of lansoprazole and its metabolites in plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography using a loop column.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of lansoprazole, a new proton pump inhibitor, and its metabolites in human plasma is described. Lansoprazole, its metabolites and an internal standard were extracted with tert.-butyl methyl ether. Samples were injected using an automatic injector via a loop column, and separation was obtained using a reversed-phase column under isocratic conditions. The absorbance was monitored at 285 and 303 nm. The quantification limit was 2 ng/ml for lansoprazole and 3 or 5 ng/ml for the metabolites. No endogenous compounds were found to interfere. The mean overall recovery was between 75 and 95% for lansoprazole and its metabolites. This method is suitable for pharmacokinetic studies.