Voltammetric analysis of drugs

A review on the voltammetric analysis of drugs is presented. The review includes a summary of the rules that must be considered for drug analysis and a survey of the use of voltammetry for drug analysis in the period from 1998 till 2002.     

Voltammetric analysis of some carbamate pesticides

The electrochemical activity of 13 carbamate pesticides has been investigated in the potential range of a glassy carbon electrode, over a pH range from 2.5 and 10. Four compounds, pirimicarb, methiocarb, aminocarb and zectran, give oxidation waves; however, only those for aminocarb and zectran are suitable for analytical electrochemical detection in association with high-pressure liquid chromatography. The oxidation reaction has an ECE mechanism, proposed to involve formation of a carbamate cation radical. This hydrolyses to form a phenol which is in turn oxidized, the end product being a substituted dimethylamino-benzoquinoneimine.     

Kinetic determination of microamounts of some sulphur-containing ligands

Some sulphur-containing ligands have been shown to inhibit the Hg(II)-catalysed substitution of p-nitrosodiphenylamine (p-NDA) for cyanide in hexacyanoferrate(II), by binding the mercury(II). This effect is used for determination of microamounts of cysteine, thioglycollic acid and thiosulphate. The reactions are followed spectrophotometrically at 640 nm (lambda(max) of [Fe(CN)(5).p-NDA](3-)). The determination range depends on the amount of mercury(II) added and the stability of the Hg(II)-ligand complex. Under specified conditions, the detection limits are: thioglycollic acid 1 x 10(-7)M, cysteine 1 x 10(-6)M and thiosulphate 4 x 10(-7)M.     

Coupling device for desorption of drugs from solid-phase extraction-pipette tips and on-line gas chromatographic analysis.

Solid-phase extraction-pipette tips were used for micro solid-phase extraction of lidocaine and diazepam. Off-line desorption was done after in-vial collection for reference purposes, whereas with on-line desorption the eluate was directly introduced in the gas chromatograph. With both methods the total eluate (100 microl) was introduced into the GC system, which was equipped with a programmed-temperature vaporiser (PTV) for large volume injection. For on-line desorption a laboratory-made coupling device was developed to connect the pipette tips with the injector of the PTV. The coupling device was applied successfully since no leakage occurred at the connection of the coupling device and the pipette tip. No significant differences in recovery of lidocaine and diazepam and in presence of impurities were observed between chromatograms obtained with either off-line or on-line desorption. Preliminary experiments with standard solutions showed recoveries of about 75% for a concentration level of 1 microg/ml. The system seems particularly suitable for high-throughput analysis.     

Voltammetric study of some macromolecule - metal complexes

The usefulness of a voltammetric model for studying macromolecule - metal complex systems is verified. Complexes formed by a metal ion (Zn(II), Cd(II), Pb(II) or Cu(II)) and a macromolecule (polymethacrylic (PMA), polyacrylic (PAA), alginic (AA) or polygalacturonic (PGA) acids) are investigated. Several voltammetric techniques have been used: sampled direct current polarography (DCP), normal pulse polarography (NPP), differential pulse polarography (DPP), reverse pulse polarography (RPP), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV). Results confirm the validity of the model, in determining not only formation constants but also diffusion coefficients of the complexes. The behaviour of some systems agrees with that predicted by the model. Nonetheless, other systems only partially fulfil the predictions for different reasons, which are discussed.     

Polarography of some sulphur-containing compounds : Part XII.Anodic waves of dialkyldithiocarbamates

Dialkyldithiocarbamates give only a one-electron anodic wave. The various adsorption phenomena are probably caused by varying orientation of the mercury compounds on the electrode surface; the irregular i-t curves recorded at —0.04 V and the anomalous behaviour of the anodic current between +0.2 V and —0.4 V can be interpreted as the behaviour of an adsorbed film at the electrode. Analytical measurements are best made in 60% ethanolic 0.1 M sodium hydroxide media at concentrations of about 10^-5 M dialkyldithiocarbamate; a method is given for the analysis of the monoalkyl and dialkyl compounds in mixtures.     

Spectrophotometric determination of some drugs for osteoporosis

Three simple, accurate and sensitive spectrophotometric methods are developed for the determination of some new drugs for the treatment of osteoporosis: risedronate sodium (I), alendronate sodium (II) and etidronate disodium (III). The first method is based on the measurement of difference in absorbance (Delta A) of risedronate sodium in 0.01 mol l(-1) hydrochloric and 0.1 mol l(-1) sodium hydroxide at 262 nm. Beer's law is obeyed over a concentration range of 15-150 microg ml(-1) with mean recovery 99.75+/-1.22 and molar absorptivity (epsilon) 1.891 x 10(3). The second method is based on the reaction of the primary amino group of (II) with ninhydrin reagent in methanolic medium in the presence of 0.05 mol l(-1) sodium bicarbonate. The colored product is measured at 568 nm, and the linearity range is found to be 3.75-45 microg ml(-1) with mean recovery 99.77+/-0.73 and epsilon 9.425 x 10(3). The third method is based on oxidation of the three mentioned drugs with ceric (IV) sulphate in 0.5 mol l(-1) sulphuric acid at room temperature and subsequent measurement of the excess unreacted cerium (IV) sulphate at 320 nm. The method obeyed Beer's law over a concentration range of 2-24 microg ml(-1) for the three drugs with mean recovery 99.79+/-1.16, 99.73+/-1.38 and 99.86+/-1.13 and epsilon 14.427 x 10(3), 13.813 x 10(3) and 14.000 x 10(3) for drugs I, II, III respectively. The proposed methods were successfully applied for the determination of the studied drugs in bulk powder and in pharmaceutical formulations. The results were found to agree statistically with those obtained the reported methods. Furthermore, the methods were validated according to USP regulations and also assessed by applying the standard addition technique.     

SSTS-Ajax for analysis on-line by gas chromatography

A switching system of triplet samples (SSTS-Ajax) is introduced to the analysis on-line by gas chromatography. The triplet samples (i.e., a sample and its two duplicates) can be obtained at the same time and then analyzed in turn by using this system. During a reaction, if the analysis of one sample is unsuccessful or the result is abnormal, a duplicate can be kept for a second analysis in the sampling tube without the following on-line analyses interrupted. Alternatively, the triplet samples can be respectively analyzed under different operating conditions, and thus offer more information about the sample. Furthermore, the triplet samples from different points on-line can be obtained alternately or even at the same time with the aforementioned advantages maintained. In addition, six samples from one point on-line can also be obtained at the same time or even at six different times and then analyzed one by one, which is very helpful when the duration of an analysis is much longer than the interval of two continuous sampling operations. The principle and usage of SSTS-Ajax is discussed in detail.     

Voltammetric analysis of iron oxide pigments

Eighteen earthy and four pure synthetic pigments containing alpha-Fe2O3 (hematite), alpha-FeOOH (goethite) and poorly crystalline Fe and Mn oxide species were analyzed by voltammetry of microparticles. Three natural samples were subjected to an interlaboratory test to evaluate the reproducibility of the voltammetric peak potentials and peak shapes. The results confirmed that linear-sweep voltammetry is able to distinguish between poorly crystalline, ferrihydrite-like oxides and well-crystalline hematite and goethite and to detect XRD-amorphous Mn(III,IV) oxides via the peak occurrence. Voltammetry is further able to distinguish between pigments containing well-crystalline goethite (according to its structural features) and hematite (according to its particle size). The microsamples of primers from two baroque paintings were also analyzed by XRD and voltammetry and shown to be analogous to common clayey ochres.     

Thermal analysis in the quality control and standardization of some drugs

DSC was used together with other methods of pharmaceutical analysis (spectrophotometry, thin-layer chromatography) to estimate the quality and standardization of two drugs—lipoic acid (polymerization upon melting, purity) and progesterone (melting temperature, polymorphism).     

Weak cation-exchange restricted-access material for on-line purification of basic drugs in plasma

A methylcellulose-immobilized weak cation-exchange (MC-WCX) silica-based restricted-access material (RAM) was developed. The MC-WCX consists of an MC outer surface and 2-carboxyethyl phase internal surface, allowing for direct analysis of basic drugs in plasma. The retention properties of the MC-WCX were evaluated for sulpiride, quinidine, ranitidine, and desipramine. The MC-WCX retained model drugs by cation-exchange, and retained drugs were eluted with the mobile phase containing small amount of acids or salts compared with the MC strong cation-exchanger (MC-SCX). These results indicated the ease of use of the MC-WCX solid-phase extraction (SPE) column when coupled to a reversed-phase analytical column in column-switching high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and various detection principals. Further direct analysis of model drugs in plasma using the MC-WCX SPE column in a column-switching HPLC system successfully performed with sufficient recovery. It is concluded that the MC-WCX is useful for the analysis of basic drugs in plasma.     

Membrane electrodes for determination of some beta-blocker drugs

Five poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) matrix membrane electrodes responsive to the beta-blockers atenolol (AT), bisoprolol fumarate (BI), timolol maleate (TI), and levobunolol HCl (LV) were developed and characterized. A precipitation-based technique with ammonium reineckate anion as an electroactive material in PVC matrix with AT, BI, TI, and LV cations was used for fabrication of Electrodes 1-4, respectively. Electrode 5 fabrication was based on precipitation of LV cation with tungstophosphate anion as an electroactive material. Fast and stable Nernstian responses at 1 x 10(-2)-1 x 10(-7) M for different beta-blockers over the pH range of 2-8 were found for these electrodes, which were evaluated according to International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry recommendations. The method was successively applied for the determination of beta-blockers in their pharmaceutical formulations. Validation of the method according to quality assurance standards showed the suitability of the proposed electrodes for use in the quality control assessment of these drugs. The recoveries for the determination of the beta-blocker drugs by the 5 proposed selective electrodes were 100.1 +/- 0.7, 99.9 +/- 0.8, 100.0 +/-1.1, 100.5 +/- 1.1, and 100.6 +/- 0.7% for Sensors 1-5, respectively. Statistical comparison between the results obtained by this method and the official method of the drugs was performed and no significant difference was found.     

Thermochemical study of the complex formation of ag(I) with some sulphur-containing aminopyridines

The enthalpies of formation of the complexes between the silver(I) ion and some sulphur-containing aminopyridines of general formula N(CH₂)_n−1-S-(CH₂)_m-NH₂ where n = 1, and m = 1,2; 1,3; 2,2; 2,3 have been determined by direct calorimetric titration at 25°C in 0.5 M (K)NO₃ solution. The corresponding entropy terms, ΔS, have been calculated using the obtained enthalpy values and the previously reported ΔG values.

In acid medium (pH < 3) coordination occurs through the thioether group and the protonated species AgLH³⁺₂ and AgL₂H⁵⁺₄ are enthalpy-stabilized and entropy-destabilized. At higher pH values (pH &>; 3) additional chelation through the pyridine nitrogen is obvious by a marked increase in the enthalpy of formation of the complexes AgL₂H⁴⁺₃, AgL₂H³⁺₂ and AgLH²⁺. The last complex dimerizes into a cyclic dimer Ag₂L, H⁴⁺₂. At still higher pH values (pH &>; 6) the participation of the amino group in the dimeric chelates Ag₂L₂H³⁺ and Ag₂L²⁺₂ is revealed again by a marked increase in the heat of complexation.     

Automated liquid chromatographic analysis of drugs in urine by on-line sample cleanup and isocratic multi-column separation

A multi-column system has been developed for automated analysis of basic drugs in urine. Two polymeric pre-columns, containing PRP-1 and Aminex A-28, were used to isolate the drugs. A short reversed-phase column, coupled to a 150 x 4.6 mm I.D. silica column, produced the analytical separation. Sample preparation consisted of dilution and centrifugation. The entire procedure required less than 30 min. Careful optimization of mobile phase conditions led to retention of benzoylecgonine and barbiturates. For most drugs, levels of 0.3 mg/l were sufficient to produce peaks that could be matched against stored spectra with a computerized library search program.     

Validation of a high-performance thin-layer chromatographic method for trace analysis for some generic drugs affecting gastrointestinal function

To prevent cross-contamination between pharmaceutical products manufactured with the same equipment, cleanup procedures must be introduced before the manufacture of a new product begins. From an analytical point of view, it is crucial to select and validate a suitable analytical method to determine contaminants in the rinse water, swabs, and the placebo of the next product. High performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) was chosen in our laboratory for this purpose and was optimized to meet the requirements of trace determination. The method was validated in terms of the limit of detection, limit of quantitation (LOQ), linearity close to the LOQ, sample preparation from the swab media and from the placebo of the next product made with the same equipment (recovery), precision, selectivity (interference from the swab and placebo matrixes), resolution (from related compounds), and robustness. The HPTLC method was applied to 2 different generic drugs affecting gastrointestinal function--the water-soluble H2-receptor antagonist ranitidine hydrochloride (RHCl) and the water-insoluble choleretic drug ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). Chromatography was performed on silica plates by using toluene-methanol-diethylamine (9 + 1 + 1, v/v/v) and n-heptane-ethyl acetate-glacial acetic acid (5 + 5 + 1, v/v/v) as the mobile phases for RHCl and UDCA, respectively. RHCl was measured in situ at 320 nm, whereas the detection of UDCA was performed at 502 nm after postchromatographic derivatization. The method was used for the determination of RHCl and UDCA in the swabs, the final rinse water, and the placebo batch after the cleanup process.     

Electrokinetic supercharging for on-line preconcentration of seven non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in water samples

The development of new sensitive methods for the analysis of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in water samples is of great importance. In this work, seven NSAIDs were separated within 9 min using 15 mM sodium tetraborate (pH 9.2) containing 0.1% (w/v) hexadimethrine bromide (HDMB) and 10% (v/v) methanol. Field-amplified sample injection (FASI) was examined and found to improve the detection limits by 200-fold providing detection limits of 0.6-2.0 microg/L, but these are insufficient for the determination of NSAIDs as environmental pollutants in water samples. To improve the sensitivity further, electrokinetic supercharging (EKS) was examined. The optimum EKS method involved hydrodynamic injection leading electrolyte (100 mM NaCl, 30 s, 50 mbar), electrokinetic injection of the sample (200 s, -10 kV) and finally injection of the terminating electrolyte (100 mM 2-(cyclohexylamino) ethanesulphonic acid, CHES, 40s, 50 mbar). With this method, the sensitivity was improved by 2400-fold giving detection limits of 50-180 ng/L. The developed method was validated and then applied to the analysis of wastewater samples from a local sewage treatment plant. The detection limits were found to increase by approximately 10-fold, however, this is still lower than levels previously found in wastewater samples from European and Mediterranean cities. The proposed method has the advantage of simplicity and achieving sensitivity through high-preconcentration power without the use of off-line chromatographic sample cleanup.     

煤燃烧脱硫过程中含硫阴离子的离子色谱分析

建立了煤燃烧脱硫过程中主要含硫阴离子及常见无机阴离子的快速离子交换色谱分离和定量方法。以 0 .8mmol/L邻苯二甲酸氢钾作流动相 ,非抑制型电导检测法检测SO32 - 和SO42 - 的下限浓度分别为 0 .5mg/L和 1 .0mg/L。所建立的分析方法被用于脱硫方法的研究。同时 ,验证了甲醛溶液作为SO32 - 保护剂的机理是甲醛与SO32 - 形成了稳定的配合物。     

Voltammetric trace analysis of DNA and RNA

A voltammetric determination of DNA/RNA is described. The new aspect is the use of the extracellular endonuclease Serratia marcescens in the sample preparation. Using this enzyme it is possible to determine DNA/RNA with a detection limit of 2–5 pg/mL. This satisfies the requirements of the WHO and the FDA. Received: 16 May 2000 / Revised: 21 July 2000 / Accepted: 23 July 2000     

A thermodynamic study of the protonation of some sulphur-containing α,ω-diamines in aqueous solution

The protonation equilibria in aqueous solution of α,ω-thiadiamines of general formula (R)(R′)N(CH₂)_n,S(CH₂)_mNH₂ (R,R′= CH₃ or H) have been investigated potentiometrically and calorimetrically at 25° C in 0.5 mole dm^?3 KNO₃ solution. The enthalpy and entropy changes are discussed in terms of intrinsic proton affinities and solvation effects.