Computer-assisted method development and optimization in high-performance liquid chromatography

This paper reports the use of DryLab, a computer simulation software package, to assist in the development and optimization of a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the separation of a model drug candidate and its degradation products. Prior to the optimization process, columns with various bonded phases are evaluated for their chromatographic performance using the sample of interest. Simultaneous optimization of two separation variables and the use of resolution maps to predict the optimal conditions are illustrated. Options to optimize column conditions (column length and flow-rate) to further reduce run time are briefly discussed. The accuracy of DryLab-predicted retention times and resolution is compared with experimental values. The DryLab software used in this study provided satisfactory predictions for the selected model, with average errors of less than 3.5 and 11.8% for retention time and resolution, respectively.     

Profiling of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine by means of high-performance liquid chromatography

An impurity-profiling method for 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is presented. The impurities of interest were extracted by solid-phase extraction (SPE) on Bakerbond C₁₈ spe columns from a weakly alkaline solution (pH 8.5). Development of the extraction conditions covered selection of the buffer for dissolution of the sample and the volume of the eluent used to elute the impurities. An important part of the studies was to optimise the separation conditions, and the simplex method was used for this purpose. Cluster analysis was applied for comparison of samples and its grouping. The developed method was based on the areas of 33 selected peaks corresponding to MDMA impurities. All examined samples were correctly classified into clusters corresponding to the synthetic route.      

Analysis of ciprofloxacin by a simple high-performance liquid chromatography method

A simple and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method is described for the quantitative analysis of ciprofloxacin in pharmaceuticals and human plasma. The method employs reversed-phase chromatography using an RP-C18 column with an isocratic mobile phase of acetonitrile-2% acetic acid aqueous solution (16:84, v/v), umbelliferone as an internal standard, and a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The UV detector is set at 280 nm. The limit of detection is 0.25 microM (S/N = 3, injection volume = 10 microL). The regression equations are linear (r > 0.9999) over a range between 0.51 approximately 130 microM for the pharmaceutical analysis of ciprofloxacin and 0.51 approximately 64.8 microM for the biological analysis of ciprofloxacin in human plasma. The intra- and inter-day relative standard deviation and relative error are less than 3.39% and 5.71%, respectively. All the recoveries are greater than 93.8%. This method is successfully applied in a pharmacokinetic study of a volunteer who receives a 500 mg ciprofloxacin tablet.     

Advanced high-performance liquid chromatography method development. Discovering unexpected choices in chromatography

The influence of some important experimental parameters on the resolution of compounds as well as the validity of widely used rules of thumb and of common expectations about how to improve resolution is discussed. It will be shown, on the basis of selected examples, that the general expectations about how the experimental parameters have to be adjusted for better resolution does not cover all chances for resolution improvement. The tool for understanding the method and to discover all chances for increasing selectivity is the resolution map of a method.     

Full automation of catecholamine metabolite determination by column switching and high-performance liquid chromatography

The urinary catecholamine metabolites, vanimandelic acid, homovanillic acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, were extracted on a silica-bonded strong-anion-exchanger cartridge (SAX) and then injected into an high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) system by column switching. Chromatography was performed on a reversed-phase analytical column with electrochemical detection. Full automation was obtained by coupling two devices: a solid-phase automatic sampler and intelligent autosampler. For each substance the recovery was greater than 95% and the coefficient of variation was ca. 3%; the analysis takes 11 min. Substance instability problems are overcome, because the samples are extracted and injected in rapid succession. The normal values and correlation with manual HPLC were established for a large number of samples.     

Single-injection calibration approach for high-performance liquid chromatography

A new calibration method for high-performance liquid chromatography was validated. The method was called single-injection calibration approach (SICA) because it allowed to obtain a complete calibration curve by means of a single injection of a standard solution containing several non-volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds at different concentration levels. The compounds studied included carboxylic acids, polyalcohols, carbohydrates and water-soluble vitamins. This method allowed a 1-7-fold reduction in the analysis time with regard to conventional calibration methods. The method was applied to three different chromatographic detection methods: refractive index (RI) detection, diode array detection (DAD) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission detection (ICP-AED). Good linearity was achieved (r(2)>0.999) for the three detection methods but signal correction was required for RI detection and DAD. This fact demonstrated that ICP-AES was the most universal because the signal obtained for non-volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds was not a function of the chemical nature of the compound and only depended on the mass content of carbon. The method was validated by analyzing a reference non-fat milk powder sample as well as several real food samples (three fruit juices, four wines, three candies and a multivitamin complex).     

Quantitation of tolmetin by high-performance liquid chromatography and method validation

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay method for assessing the degradation of tolmetin (TLM) is developed and validated under acidic, basic, and photoirradiated conditions. The HPLC method includes an Inertsil 5 ODS-3V column (250- x 4.6-mm i.d.), guard column of Inertsil 7 ODS-3V (50- x 4.6-mm i.d.), mobile phase of CH(3)OH-1% HOAc (64:36, v/v), and UV detection at 254 nm. The developed method satisfies the system suitability criteria, peak integrity, and resolution for the parent drug and its degradants. The established assay method exhibits good selectivity and specificity suitable for stability measurements. From the intra- and interday tests of six replicates, the coefficients of variation are between 0.20% and 1.77% for the former, and 0.12% and 3.40% for the latter. Recoveries are found to be 98.7-101.7%. TLM is determined to be more reactive when exposed to light and acidic conditions, yet TLM is stable in a basic medium. A kinetic study of the photodegradation of TLM shows that it follows an apparent first-order reaction in three alcoholic solvents.     

Separation of cyanogen bromide peptides of collagen by means of high-performance liquid chromatography

Cyanogen bromide peptides of bovine collagen Types I, II and III were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Elution patterns of each collagen type were unique and reproducible.Elution patters of the CNBr peptides of the a1 and a2 chains of Type I collagen were also unique and together accounted for the major components of Type I collagen.Analysis of the eluted peptides from HPLC of each collagen type by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed specific patterns for each collagen. Thus, unique and reproducible HPLC chromatograms were obtained, providing a new analytical method that is simple, sensitive and rapid.     

Determination of apovincaminic acid in serum by means of high-performance liquid chromatography.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of low concentrations in serum of apovincaminic acid, the main metabolite of vinpocetine, is reported. The assay includes a two-step ion-pair extraction with tetrabutylammonium as counter ion. Recovery is ca. 40%. Separation is performed on a narrow-range 5 microns particle size octadecylsilane modified silica packing. Heptanesulphonic acid is the pairing ion in the eluent, and the ultraviolet detection wavelength is 224 nm. Yohimbine serves as the internal standard. The assay is fast, accurate and sensitive quantifying at least 5 ng/ml apovincaminic acid in serum. The method was applied to the analysis of serum samples from aged subjects, treated with a 20-mg dose of vinpocetine.     

Application of a column selection system and DryLab software for high-performance liquid chromatography method development

This paper describes a strategy for the development of chromatographic methods for drug candidates based upon the use of simple MS compatible mobile phases and optimization of the chromatographic selectivity through variations of the stationary phase and mobile phase pH. The strategy employs an automated column selection system and a series of HPLC columns, varying in hydrophobicity and silanol activity, in combination with DryLab software to develop chromatographic methods for the separation of mixtures of bupivacaine and its metabolites; acidic, basic, and neutral compounds; and atenolol, nitrendipine, and their degradation products.     

Pirmenol determination by high-performance liquid chromatography

A method for the determination of pirmenol in serum is presented in this paper. The method consists of extraction of pirmenol and chlorodisopyramide (internal standard) from serum at an alkaline pH using methylene chloride. The organic extract was analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography. The mobile phase consisted of 0.01 M K2HPO4 (pH 2.4)-acetonitrile (94:6, v/v) delivered at ambient temperature and 2 ml/min through a 25 cm x 0.4 mm C18 reversed-phase column. Detection of the compounds of interest was achieved at 210 nm. The analytical method demonstrated low intra- and inter-assay variation. During the analysis of patient samples and a therapeutic drug mixture test serum, no substances that interfered with pirmenol detection were found. The method is shown to be stable, accurate, selective and sensitive enough to be utilized for the analysis of multiple samples such as may be encountered in clinical or research situations.     

On-line racemization by high-performance liquid chromatography

An on-column stopped-flow bidimensional recycling HPLC procedure was developed to obtain an enantiomeric enrichment starting from a racemic mixture. The method developed was applied to two chiral compounds of pharmaceutical interest, (±)(R,S)-2,3,3a,4-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,2,4]benzothiadiazine 5,5-dioxide (1) and (±)-7-chloro-3-methyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxide ((±)IDRA21, (2)), since the pharmacological activity of the two benzothiadiazine derivatives investigated has been ascribed to only one enantiomer. Starting from a racemic mixture it was possible to obtain about 95% of pure enantiomer. The procedure was applied both in reverse-phase mode and in normal-phase mode. The scaled up and automatization of the novel analytical HPLC procedure represents a powerful tool to obtain pure enantiomer starting from racemic compounds without cumbersome stereoselective synthesis or expensive enantiopurification processes.     

Determination of traces of inorganic anions by means of high-performance liquid chromatography on zipaxsax columns

Zipax-SAX pellicular beads are used as the anion-exchanger material ; a high-pressure packing technique is described. A Zipax-SAX column (200 × 4.5 mm) is used in a separation system with eluent suppression and conductivity detection as in ion-chromatography. Good separation of chloride, nitrite, bromide, nitrate and sulfate is obtained with 1.4 × 10^-3 M succinate or adipate eluents at pH 7. A complete separation takes about 6 min at a flow rate of 3 ml min^-1. Detection limits of 2 μg l^-1 chloride, 4 μg l^-1 nitrate and 10 μg l^-1 sulfate can be reached if 2 ml of sample is preconcentrated.     

Determination of thiamine by high-performance liquid chromatography

High-performance liquid chromatographic methods for the determination of thiamine (vitamin B1) in foodstuffs or biological tissues and fluids are outlined and discussed. The methods are often similar and interchangeable, sample extraction and clean up procedures being the major difference. Most of the methods use either ultraviolet or fluorescence detection. Fluorescence detection requires either precolumn or postcolumn oxidation of thiamine to thiochrome. A number of methods are recommended and problems with standardization are emphasized.