Phosphorimetric assay for β-glucuronidase in biological materials

A highly sensitive phosphorimetric method for the assay of β-glucuronidase in biological samples is described. p-Nitrophenol, formed enzymatically from p-nitrophenyl β-D-glucuronide, is extracted with ether and determined phosphorimetrically in a mixture of ether and ethanolic potassium hydroxide. The method is rapid, precise, and very sensitive, requiring as little as 0.5–5 μl of human serum or urine, or 0.3–3.0 μg of protein of rat tissue. The limit of detection for the p-nitrophenol formed is 20 pmol.     

Phosphorimetric microassay for succinyltrialanyl-p-nitroanilide-hydrolyzing enzyme activity in human serum

A phosphorimetric assay of succinyltrialanyl-p-nitroanilide-hydrolyzing enzyme activity in human serum is described. p-Nitroaniline formed enzymatically is extracted with ether and determined phosphorimetrically in an ether/ethanol glass. The method is precise and very sensitive, requiring as little as 5 μl of human serum. The limit of detection is 10 pmol.     

Fluorimetric assay for monoamine oxidases A and B by means of p-sulfamoylbenzylamine and benzylamine

p-Sulfamoylbenzylamine and p-hydroxybenzylamine are shown to be substrates for monoamine oxidase A and for monoamine oxidases A and B, respectively. This was established by studies on the selectivity of benzylamine derivatives as substrates using monoamine oxidase inhibitors. A sensitive fluorimetric method for the separate assay of monoamine oxidases A and B is described. p-Sulfamoylbenzaldehyde and benzaldehyde formed enzymatically from p-sulfamoylbenzylamine and benzylamine, a known substrate for monoamine oxidase B, are quantified by means of the selective fluorimetric determination of aromatic aldehydes with 2,2′-dithiobis(1-aminonaphthalene). The limits of detection for the p-sulfamoylbenzaldehyde and benzaldehyde formed enzymatically are, respectively, 300 and 150 pmol per assay tube. Monoamine oxidases A and B in rat brain mitochondrial tissue and human platelets were assayed.     

Assay for guanase in blood serum by flow injection analysis with fluorescence detection

A sensitive assay for guanase activity in human serum (10 μl) is described. Xanthine, formed enzymatically from the substrate guanine, is determined in a flow system in which columns of immobilized xanthine oxidase, uricase and horseradish peroxidase are connected in that sequence in the flow line. Hydrogen peroxide formed in the enzymatic conversion of xanthine is measured fluorimetrically by reaction with 3-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-proprionic acid in the system. Linear calibration graphs are obtained for 0.52-500 pmol of xanthine in the 20-μl sample injected. This method permits the assay of guanase activity in the sera of healthy persons and patients with hepatitis.     

Assay for dopamine beta-hydroxylase in human plasma and rat serum by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection

A highly sensitive assay for dopamine beta-hydroxylase activity in human plasma and rat serum by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection is described. Norepinephrine, formed enzymatically from the substrate dopamine, and epinephrine (internal standard), after clean-up with a cation-exchange cartridge (Toyopak IC-SP M), are converted into the corresponding fluorescent compounds by reaction with 1,2-diphenylethylenediamine. The derivatives are separated by reversed-phase chromatography on TSK gel ODS-80TM. The detection limit for norepinephrine formed enzymatically is 5 pmol per assay tube.     

LC Determination of Isosorbide-5-Mononitrate in Human Plasma

A simple, sensitive, selective and cost effective LC–UV method was developed for determination of isosorbide mononitrate in human plasma using guaifenesin as an internal standard. Isosorbide mononitrate in plasma was extracted by a single step liquid extraction using tert-butyl methyl ether and chromatographed on a C18 column using water and acetonitrile (80:20 v/v) as mobile phase. The method was validated and exhibited a linear range from 51.6 to 2064.4 ng mL^?1. The inter- and intra-assay accuracy ranged from 97.2–102.7 to 94.2–105.5%, respectively, with precision less than 10% in both the cases. The LLQ was 51.6 ng mL^?1. The validated method was applied to the quantitation of isosorbide mononitrate from plasma samples in a pharmacokinetic study.     

Determination of renin activity in human plasma by column-switching high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A column-switching high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with fluorescence detection is described for the determination of the renin activity in human plasma. The method is based on the quantification of the enzymatically produced angiotensin I. Angiotensin I liberated from a synthetic substrate (tridecapeptide of human angiotensinogen) and [Val5]-angiotensin I as an internal standard are converted into fluorescent derivatives by reaction with benzoin. The derivatives are separated from various interfering substances by column-switching HPLC using three reversed-phase columns. The limit of detection (signal-to-noise ratio = 3) of the renin activity is 2.7 pmol of angiotensin I formed per h per ml of plasma, which corresponds to approximately 820 fmol of angiotensin I injected. The column-switching method in combination with pre-column derivatization for the fluorimetric detection permits the sensitive and selective determination of the enzymatically formed angiotensin I. Hence low activities of renin in normal human plasma are readily measured.     

Determination of Tiopronin in Human Plasma by SPE then Reversed-Phase HPLC–UV

An accurate, simple and sensitive method based on reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection has been developed for determination of tiopronin (TP) in human plasma. TP in plasma was reacted with p-bromophenacyl bromide (p-BPB) to give the TP-p-BPB adduct and this derivative was then extracted from the plasma on a silica gel cartridge. Potential interfering compounds were removed by washing with water, and the TP-p-BPB adduct was then eluted with acetonitrile. The organic phase obtained was evaporated to complete dryness under a stream of nitrogen. The residue was dissolved in acetonitrile and this solution was injected on to a reversed-phase ODS HPLC column. The mobile phase was usually the ternary mixture acetonitrile–water–trifluoroacetic acid, 40:59.88:0.12 (v/v). The retention times of TP-p-BPB and the internal standard adduct were 14.4 and 17.9 min, respectively. No interfering peaks were encountered in several blank plasma samples examined. The limit of detection for TP was 12 ng mL^?1. Extraction recovery exceeded 70%. The calibration plot for the TP derivative was linear in the range 40?4000 ng mL^?1, regression coefficient 0.9989, and the coefficient of the variation of the points of the calibration plot was below 10%. The method was validated appropriately and successfully applied to the determination of TP in human plasma.     

Fluorimetric assay for argininosuccinate lyase in human plasma and erythrocytes with a benzoin reagent

A fluorimetric method for the assay of argininosuccinate lyase in human plasma (15–150 units) and erythrocytes (40–1200 units) is established. The arginine formed enzymatically is quantified by means of its fluorescent reaction with benzoin. The method is rapid, simple and sensitive enough to allow the enzyme activity to be determined in as little as 100 μl of plasma or 12.5 μl of packed erythrocytes.     

Simultaneous LC?CMS?CMS Determination of HM30181A, [2-(2-{4-[2-(6,7-Dimethoxy-3,4-dihydro-1H-isoquinolin-2-yl)-ethyl]-phenyl}-2H-tetrazol-5-yl)-4,5-dimethoxyphenyl]amide, as a new P-Glycoprotein Inhibitor and Its Two Metabolites, M1 and M2, in Human Plasma: Application to a Pharmacokinetic Study

A simultaneous simple, rapid, and sensitive LC?CMS?CMS method was developed and validated for the determination of HM30181A, [2-(2-{4-[2-(6,7-dimethoxy-3,4-dihydro-1H-isoquinolin-2-yl)-ethyl]-phenyl}-2H-tetrazol-5-yl]-4,5-dimethoxy-phenyl]amide, as a P-glycoprotein inhibitor and its two metabolites, M1 and M2, in human plasma using docetaxel as an internal standard (IS). The analytes were extracted from 200???L of biological sample by liquid?Cliquid extraction using 1?mL of methyl-t-butyl ether. Chromatographic separation was carried on a Luna C8 column at 30???C with mobile phase consisting of distilled water with 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile (75:25, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.7?mL?min^?1 for human plasma samples. The method was linear over concentration ranges of 0.5?C50, 0.1?C10, and 0.1?C10?ng?mL^?1 for HM30181A, M1, and M2, respectively, in human plasma. The values of coefficient variation for the assay precision were <12.5, <9.10, and <9.96% for HM30181A, M1, and M2, respectively, in human plasma. The values of accuracy were 93.0?C108, 94.7?C104%, and 95.7?C105% for HM30181A, M1, and M2, respectively, in human plasma. This method is simple, sensitive, and applicable for the pharmacokinetic studies of HM30181A and its metabolites in humans.     

Determination of Rhein in blood plasma by HPLC with UV detection and its application to the study of bioequivalence

A method is proposed for determining rhein (an active metabolite of diacerein) in human blood plasma by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection. The analyte was selectively extracted from blood plasma by liquid-liquid extraction with a 5% solution of tert-butyl methyl ether in ethyl acetate. The recovery of rhein is 68 ± 3%, LOQ 100 ng/mL. The stability of the analytes and linearity, selectivity, sensitivity, reproducibility, and accuracy of the developed method are evaluated. The pharmacokinetics of diacerein in the oral administration of drug formulations by 18 healthy volunteers is studied.     

Methadone concentrations in blood, plasma, and oral fluid determined by isotope-dilution gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Methadone (MTD) is widely used for detoxification of heroin addicts and also in pain management programs. Information about the distribution of methadone between blood, plasma, and alternative specimens, such as oral fluid (OF), is needed in clinical, forensic, and traffic medicine when analytical results are interpreted. We determined MTD and its metabolite 2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine (EDDP) in blood, plasma, blood cells, and OF by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) after adding deuterium-labeled internal standards. The analytical limits of quantitation for MTD and EDDP by this method were 20 and 3 ng/mL, respectively. The amounts of MTD and EDDP were higher in plasma (80.4 % and 76.5 %) compared with blood cells (19.6 % and 23.5 %) and we found that repeated washing of blood cells with phosphate–buffered saline increased the amounts in plasma (93.6 % and 88.6 %). Mean plasma/blood concentration ratios of MTD and EDDP in spiked samples (N?=?5) were 1.27 and 1.21, respectively. In clinical samples from patients (N?=?46), the concentrations of MTD in plasma and whole blood were highly correlated (r?=?0.92, p?<?0.001) and mean (median) plasma/blood distribution ratios were 1.43 (1.41). The correlations between MTD in OF and plasma (r?=?0.46) and OF and blood (r?=?0.52) were also statistically significant (p?<?0.001) and the mean OF/plasma and OF/blood distribution ratios were 0.55 and 0.77, respectively. The MTD concentration in OF decreased as salivary pH increased (more basic). These results will prove useful in clinical and forensic medicine when MTD concentrations in alternative specimens are compared and contrasted.     

LC–MS–MS Quantitative Determination of Ursolic Acid in Human Plasma and Its Application to Pharmacokinetic Studies

A sensitive and specific liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry method has been developed and validated for the identification and quantification of ursolic acid in human plasma using glycyrrhetic acid as an internal standard. The method involves extraction with methyl tert-butyl ether. The analyte was separated on a C₁₈ column and analyzed in multiple reaction monitoring mode with a negative electrospray ionization interface using the [M–H]? ions, m/z 455.4 for ursolic acid and m/z 469.5 → m/z 425.5 for glycyrrhetic acid. The method was validated over the concentration range of 0.86–110.0 μg L^?1. The intra- and inter-day precisions were less than 13.53% relative standard deviation (RSD) and the accuracy was within ?4.76% in terms of relative error (RE). The lower limit of quantification was 0.86 μg L^?1 with acceptable precision and accuracy. There were almost no matrix effects. Recovery of ursolic acid from spiked drug-free plasma was higher than 68%. The method was used to study the pharmacokinetic profile of ursolic acid in human plasma after oral administration of Jieyu capsules.     

Highly sensitive assay for alkaline and acid phosphatase activities by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

A highly sensitive and specific assay for alkaline and acid phosphatases in biological materials, such as plasma and saliva, has been established. Phenol, formed enzymatically from the substrate phenylphosphate, was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. The retention time of phenol was 7 min and no other peaks were observed. The method is rapid and sensitive with a detection limit for phenol of as little as 5 pmol. Thus, as little as 0.5 microliter of rat plasma or 10 microliters of human saliva is required for both alkaline and acid phosphatase assays. The assay is accurate and reproducible. Using this assay, alkaline and acid phosphatase activities in saliva were found to be 1.12 +/- 0.12 nmol/min/ml and 9.79 +/- 1.23 nmol/min/ml, respectively. This new assay method should be applicable to extremely small biological samples.     

Simultaneous Analysis of Zofenopril and Its Active Metabolite Zofenoprilat in Human Plasma by LC–ESI-MS Using Pre-Column Derivatization with p-Bromophenacyl Bromide

Zofenoprilat is an active metabolite of zofenopril, which is very unstable in plasma because of oxidative degradation of its thiol group. In this method, p-bromophenacyl bromide was used as derivatization reagent, immediately after plasma separation, to react with the free thiol group of zofenoprilat and form the derivative zofenoprilat-p-BPB. After acidification with 50% acetic acid, the derivatized plasma samples were extracted with methyl tert-butyl ether and separated on a C₁₈ column with 40:60 (v/v) 10 mM ammonium acetate buffer solution containing 0.1% formic acid–acetonitrile as mobile phase. Calibration plots were linear over the concentration range 1–500 ng mL^?1 for zofenopril and 2–1,800 ng mL^?1 for zofenoprilat. The method was successfully used to study the bioavailability of zofenopril calcium capsules relative to that of zofenopril calcium tablets in healthy Chinese volunteers.     

HPLC Determination and Pharmacokinetic Study of Indapamide in Human Whole Blood

A rapid and sensitive HPLC method for the quantification of indapamide in human whole blood is described. The procedure involves liquid–liquid extraction of human whole blood with methyl tertiarybutyl ether coupled with reversed-phase HPLC and UV detection. Separation was performed on a YMC^® ODS-A reverse column (5 µm particle size, 4.6×150 mm i.d.). The mobile phase was composed of acetonitrile - 2-propanol ?0.1 triethylamine in water (adjusting to pH 3.75 with 85% phosphoric acid) (35:5:60, v/v/v). The linear concentration range for indapamide was 5.0–500 ngmL^?1. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 5.0 ngmL^?1 for indapamide. Intra- and inter-assay RSD ranged from 2.36% to 4.53% and 1.68% to 8.01%, respectively. The sensitivity and precision were sufficient for determination of whole blood concentrations after therapeutic administration of both drugs and the method can be used for the estimation of pharmacokinetic parameters.     

Square wave anodic stripping voltammetric determination of Pb2+ using acetylene black paste electrode based on the inducing adsorption ability of I-

In the study, we developed a simple, rapid and sensitive method for the determination of tiopronin (TP) in human plasma, which was based on derivatization with p-bromophenacyl bromide (p-BPB) followed by liquid-liquid extraction and reverse-phase HPLC-UV detection. For the first time, the p-BPB was introduced into the derivatization of TP. The thiol group of TP was trapped with p-BPB to form a TP-p-BPB adduct, which can be very suitable for UV detection. From acidified plasma samples, the derivatized TP was extracted with 5 mL dichloromethane. Effective chromatographic separation was achieved using a C18 column (DIAMONSIL 150 mm × 4 mm i.d., 5 μm) based on an acetonitrile-water-trifluoroacetic acid (40:59.88:0.12, v/v/v) elution at a flow-rate of 1 mL/min. The IS and the derivatized TP were detected at 263 nm. No endogenous substances were found to interfere. The limit of quantification for derivatized TP (TP-p-BPB) in plasma was 40 ng/mL. The calibration curve for the derivatized TP showed linearity in the range 0.04-4 μg/mL with a regression coefficient corresponding to 0.9991 and the coefficient of the variation of the points of the calibration curve being lower than 10%. Extraction recoveries of the derivatized TP in plasma were greater than 72%. The method was suitably validated and successfully applied to determination of TP in human plasma samples.     

Flow-injection determination of adenosine and inosine in blood plasma with immobilized enzyme columns connected in series and fluorimetric detection

A rapid and sensitive flow-injection method is described for the enzymatic determination of adenosine and inosine in human blood plama. Teflon columns prepared by packing adenosine deaminase. purine nucleoside phosphorylase, xanthine oxidase, uricase and horseradish peroxidase immobilized chemically on controlled-pore glass beads are connected in series in that order in the flow line. Hydrogen peroxide formed in the enzymatic conversion of adenosine and inosine is measured fluorimetrically after reaction with 3-(p-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid. Linear calibrations were obtained for 0.5–500 pmol of adenosine or inosine in hte 20 μl sample injected. Necessary deproteination routines are outlined.     

Sensitive HPLC Assay for Ketoprofen in Human Plasma and its Application to Pharmacokinetic Study

Abstract

A selective and sensitive HPLC method was developed for the analysis of ketoprofen in human plasma. The assay involves an extraction of the drug and the internal standard (piroxicam) into diethyl ether from acidified plasma and then back-extracted into a small volume of alkaline aqueous solution before injection onto the HPLC column. A microbore column (2 mm I.D. × 10 cm) packed with a C18 reversed-phase material (5 pm ODS Hypersil) was used. The chromatographic separation was accomplished with a mobile phase comprising a mixture of acetonitrile-methanol-water (15 :20 : 65, v/v) containing 10 mM Na2HP04 buffer, pH 4. The mobile phase was pumped at a flow rate of 0.5 dmin. The eluant was monitored at 258 nm. With this procedure coefficients of variation were less than 10%. The detectionlimit was 0.05 μg/ml (i.e., 50 ng/ml) of plasma. The highly sensitive nature of this method was applied successfully to the dewmination of ketoprofen in human plasma for phmacokinetic studies.     

Determination of phosphatidylcitoline in serum with use of a choline-sensitive membrane electrode

A choline-sensitive membrane electrode made with potassium tetrakis(p-chlorophenyl) borate as the exchanger and o-nitrophenyl phenyl ether as membrane solvent in poly (vinyl chloride) was almost insensitive to the surfactant sodium deoxycholate. By using this electrode, choline ( 10^?5 M) formed by the enzymatic hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine with phospholipase D in the presence of sodium deoxycholate as activator was successfully measured. The method was applied to the determination of phosphatidylcholine in serum.