Rapid and economic chiral-HPLC method of nebivolol enantiomers resolution in dosage formulation

A fast, economic, reproducible, accurate, effective, rugged and selective chiral-HPLC method was developed and validated for the enantiomeric resolution of nebivolol enantiomers [(+)-RRRS and (-)-SSSR)] in dosage formulation. The method was rapid as chiral separation occurred within only 12 min. The mobile phase used was n-heptane-ethanol-DEA (85:15:0.1, v/v) at 3.0 mL/min flow-rate with 225 nm detection. The column used was an amylase-based 3-AmyCoat (150 × 46 mm) [tris-(3,5-dimethylphenyl carbamate)]. The capacity factors of (+)-RRRS and (-)-SSSR enantiomers were 7.85 and 10.90 while the separation and resolution factors were 1.39 and 1.83, respectively. The limits of detection and quantitation for (+)-RRRS enantiomer were 4.5 and 10.00 μg/mL, while these values for (-)-SSSR enantiomer were 4.1 and 8.2 μg/mL, respectively. The linearity was observed in the concentrations range of 0.10-1.0 mg/mL for both enantiomers. The π-π interactions, hydrogen bonds, dipole-dipole interactions and steric effects control the chiral resolution of nebivolol enantiomers on the reported chiral column. The reported method can be used for the quality control of nebivolol in pharmaceutical preparations with good economy. In addition, this method can also be used for the analysis of (+)-RRRS and (-)-SSSR) enantiomers in biological and environmental samples.     

Determination of metoprolol enantiomers in human plasma and saliva samples utilizing microextraction by packed sorbent and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

A sensitive, accurate and reliable bioanalytical method for the enantioselective determination of metoprolol in plasma and saliva samples utilizing liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry was developed and validated. Human plasma and saliva samples were pretreated by microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS) prior to analysis. A new MEPS syringe form with two inputs was used. Metoprolol enantiomers and internal standard pentycaine (IS) were eluted from MEPS sorbent using isopropanol after removal of matrix interferences using aliquots of 5% methanol in water. Complete separation of metoprolol enantiomers was achieved on a Cellulose‐SB column (150 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) using isocratic elution with mobile phase 0.1% ammonium hydroxide in hexane–isopropanol (80:20, v/v) with a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min. A post‐column solvent‐assisted ionization was applied to enhance metoprolol ionization signal in positive mode monitoring (+ES) using 0.5% formic acid in isopropanol at a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min. The total chromatographic run time was 10 min for each injection. The detection of metoprolol in plasma and saliva samples was performed using triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer in +ES under the following mass transitions: m/z 268.08 → 72.09 for metoprolol and m/z 303.3 → 154.3 for IS. The linearity range was 2.5–500 ng/mL for both R‐ and S‐metoprolol in plasma and saliva. The limits of detection and quantitation for both enantiomers were 0.5 and 2.5 ng/mL respectively, in both matrices (plasma and saliva). The intra‐ and inter‐day precisions were presented in terms of RSD values for replicate analysis of quality control samples and were <5%; the accuracy of determinations varied from 96 to 99%. The method was able to determine the therapeutic levels of metoprolol enantiomers in both human plasma and saliva samples successfully, which can aid in therapeutic drug monitoring in clinical laboratories. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

直链淀粉-三[(S)-1-苯乙基氨基甲酸酯]手性固定相拆分布地奈德对映体及其制剂含量的测定

22R-布地奈德的药物活性比22S-布地奈德的强2~3倍,开发布地奈德对映体拆分和定量分析方法,可为其药物研发及质量控制提供重要依据。目前,主要以反相C₁₈固定相对布地奈德对映体进行拆分,而采用手性固定相对其进行拆分少有报道。通过考察固定相、流动相和柱温对布地奈德对映体拆分的影响,建立了基于直链淀粉-三[(S)-1-苯乙基氨基甲酸酯]手性固定相快速拆分和检测布地奈德对映体的高效液相色谱方法,其色谱条件如下:色谱柱为Chiralpak AS-RH色谱柱(150 mm×4.6 mm, 5.0 μm),流动相为乙腈-水(45∶55, v/v),柱温40 ℃,流速1.0 mL/min,二极管阵列检测器(DAD),检测波长246 nm,进样量10 μL。在该色谱条件下,布地奈德的两个对映体得到较好拆分,22R-布地奈德和22S-布地奈德的保留时间分别6.40 min和7.77 min,分离度为4.64; 22R-布地奈德和22S-布地奈德分别在各自范围内线性关系良好,相关系数(R²)均为0.9999,检出限分别为0.05 μg/mL和0.07 μg/mL,定量限分别为0.16 μg/mL和0.20 μg/mL; 4个添加水平的样品加标回收率为102.63%~104.17%,相对标准偏差(RSD)为0.08%~0.57%(n=6)。将该方法应用于1批次4个吸入用布地奈德混悬液实际样品进行检测,22R-布地奈德和22S-布地奈德的含量分别为283.15~284.63 μg/mL和259.86~261.51 μg/mL。该方法操作简便,分析时间短,重复性好,准确度高,可用于布地奈德对映体的拆分及其制剂的质量控制。     

Simultaneous chiral analysis of methamphetamine and related compounds by capillary electrophoresis/mass spectrometry using anionic cyclodextrin.

A capillary electrophoresis/mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous chiral analysis of enantiomers of methamphetamine (MA), amphetamine (AP), dimethylamphetamine (DMA), ephedrine (EP), norephedrine (NE) and methylephedrine (ME) in urine has been developed. The background electrolyte was 1 M formic acid (pH 1.7). Using 0.85 mM heptakis(2,6-diacethyl-6-sulfato)-beta-cyclodextrin as the chiral selector, the 12 enantiomers were completely separated within 25 min. The detection limits were 0.01 microg mL(-1) for the enantiomers of MA, AP, DMA, EP and ME, and 0.02 microg mL(-1) for the enantiomers of NE using selected ion monitoring. The reproducibilities of within-run (n = 4) for the migration times and peak areas of the standard mixture were under 0.58% and 7.83%, respectively. The calibration curves of the peak areas of the 12 enantiomers were linear in the range of 0.05 - 10 microg mL(-1). This method was applicable to the analysis of urine samples.     

Validated HPLC method for determination of carboxylic acid metabolite of clopidogrel in human plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic study

A new, simple, and reproducible method for determination of carboxylic acid metabolite of clopidogrel in human plasma has been developed. After liquid-liquid extraction in acidic medium with chloroform, samples were quantified on a Nova-pak C(8), 5 microm column using a mixture of 30 mM K(2)HPO(4)-THF-acetonitrile (pH = 3, 79:2:19, v/v/v) as mobile phase with UV detection at 220 nm. The flow rate was set at 0.9 mL/min. Ticlopidine was used as internal standard and the total run time of analysis was about 12 min. The method was linear over the range of 0.2-10 microg/mL of clopidogrel metabolite in plasma (r(2) > 0.999). The within-day and between-day precision values were in the range 1.0-4.8%. The limit of quantification of the method was 0.2 microg/mL. The method was successfully used to study the pharmacokinetics of clopidogrel in healthy volunteers.     

Validated HPLC determination of the two fixed dose combinations (chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride and mebeverine hydrochloride; carvedilol and hydrochlorothiazide) in their tablets

Simple, rapid, and selective RP-HPLC methods with UV detection were developed for simultaneous determination of chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride and mebeverine hydrochloride (Mixture I) and carvedilol and hydrochlorothiazide (Mixture II). The chromatographic separation in both mixtures was achieved by using an RP-C8 (octylsilyl) analytical column. For Mixture I, a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile-0.05 M disodium hydrogen phosphate-triethylamine (50 + 50 + 0.2, v/v/v), pH 2.5, was used; the detector wavelength was 247 nm. For Mixture II, the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-0.05 M disodium hydrogen phosphate (50 + 50, v/v), pH 4.0, and the detector was set at 220 nm. Quantification of the analytes was based on measuring their peak areas. Both mixtures were resolved in less than 6 min. The reliability and analytical performance of the proposed HPLC procedures were statistically validated with respect to linearity, range, precision, accuracy, selectivity, robustness, LOD, and LOQ. The linear dynamic ranges were 2.5-150 and 2.5-500 microg/mL for chlordiazepoxide HCI and mebeverine HCI, respectively, and 0.25-200 and 0.25-150 microg/mL for carvedilol and hydrochlorothiazide, respectively. The validated HPLC methods were successfully applied to the analysis of their commercial tablet dosage forms, for which no interfering peaks were encountered from common pharmaceutical adjuvants.     

以睾酮为探针采用高效液相色谱法测定细胞色素CYP450 3A4的酶活性

建立了一种快速、高效的以睾酮作为探针药物评价细胞色素P450 3A4(CYP3A4)酶活性的高效液相色谱-紫外检测方法。采用的色谱柱为Phenomenex C18柱(4.6 mm×150 mm,5 μm),梯度洗脱,流速1.0 mL/min,紫外检测波长245 nm,柱温30 ℃。睾酮与大鼠肝微粒体温孵后,过已活化好的C18固相萃取小柱,收集甲醇洗脱液,于37 ℃水浴中通N2吹干,用50%甲醇复溶后进样分析测定。研究结果表明,6β-羟基睾酮的 保留时间为11.60 min,线性范围为0.5～32 μg/mL,最低检出质量浓度为0.02 μg/mL,提取率为88.41%～92.73%,方法的回收率为99.07%～101.30%;睾酮的保留时间为19.27 min,线性范围为0.5～40 μg/mL,最低检出质量浓度为0.01 μg/mL,提取率为89.59%～92.66%,方法的回收率为96.50%～98.03%。两者的日内、日间相对标准偏差均小于10%,温孵体系中的其他内源性物质不干扰测定。该方法快速、稳定、灵敏度高,适合体外睾酮及其代谢物6β-羟基睾酮的测定,可应用于体外CYP3A4酶活性的评价及酶动力学的研究。     

基于直链淀粉衍生物手性固定相的高效液相色谱-串联质谱法拆分4种β-受体阻滞剂对映体及其分离机制的探讨

建立了以直链淀粉衍生物为手性固定相的高效液相色谱-串联质谱(HPLC-MS/MS)直接拆分普萘洛尔、美托洛尔、阿罗洛尔和卡维地洛4种β-受体阻滞剂对映体的方法。考察了手性固定相的种类、流动相改性剂和添加剂的体积分数、柱温和流速等对4种药物对映体分离的影响。结果表明:在Chiralpak AD-H手性色谱柱上,在正己烷-乙醇-二乙胺(20∶80∶0.03,v/v/v)为流动相、流速0.550 mL/min、柱温40℃的条件下,普萘洛尔、美托洛尔、阿罗洛尔和卡维地洛对映体均达到基线分离,分离度分别为1.37、1.80、2.09和4.70。通过热力学研究及对映体结构分析对拆分机理进行了探讨,发现4种药物对映体的手性拆分均为焓驱动过程,而固定相的手性空腔对不同药物的拆分影响较大。研究结果为β-受体阻滞剂的深入研究提供了参考方法。     

Determination of the enantiomeric impurity in S-(-)pantoprazole using high performance liquid chromatography with sulfobutylether-beta-cyclodextrin as chiral additive

A new and accurate HPLC method using sulfobutylether-beta-cyclodextrin (SBE-beta-CD) as chiral mobile phase additive (CMPA) was developed and validated for the determination of R-(+)pantoprazole in S-(-)pantoprazole. The influences of type and concentration of CD, ACN content and buffer pH of mobile phase on the resolution and retention of enantiomers were investigated. A baseline resolution of pantoprazole enantiomers was achieved on a Spherigel C18 column (150 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 microm) using ACN and 10 mM phosphate buffer (pH 2.5) containing 10 mM SBE-beta-CD (15:85 v/v) as mobile phase with a flow rate of 0.9 mL/min at 20 degrees C. The detection wavelength was set at 290 nm. The method was extensively validated in terms of accuracy, precision and linearity according to the International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) guidelines and proved to be robust. The LOD and LOQ for R-(+)pantoprazole were 0.2 and 0.5 microg/mL, respectively, with 5 microL injection volume. A good linear relationship was obtained in the concentration range of 0.5-6.0 microg/mL with r(2) >0.999 for R-(+)pantoprazole. The percentage recovery of the R-(+)pantoprazole ranged from 92.1 to 101.2 in bulk drug of S-(-)pantoprazole. The method is capable of determining a minimum limit of 0.05% w/w of R-enantiomer in S-(-)pantoprazole bulk samples.     

纤维素衍生物手性固定相高效液相色谱法分离盐酸川丁特罗对映体

以纤维素三-(3,5-二甲基苯基氨基甲酸酯)为手性固定相(Lux Cellulose-1),建立了在正相色谱条件下直接分离盐酸川丁特罗对映体的高效液相色谱法。考察了乙醇、异丙醇等有机改性剂,三氟乙酸、二乙胺等流动相添加剂和柱温对对映体分离的影响。结果显示,酸性和碱性添加剂对对映体分离的影响最为显著: 添加二乙胺时两对映体无分离趋势;添加三氟乙酸时对映体保留强,且分离趋势明显;而同时添加三氟乙酸和二乙胺则两对映体分离显著改善,分离度可达4.0。优化后的色谱条件: 色谱柱为Lux Cellulose-1手性柱(250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm),流动相为正庚烷-乙醇-三氟乙酸-二乙胺(88:12:0.3:0.05, v/v/v/v),流速为1.0 mL/min,紫外检测波长为246 nm,柱温为25 ℃。该方法简便,快速,可用于左旋盐酸川丁特罗原料中右旋异构体杂质的检查。     

直链淀粉手性固定相高效液相色谱法拆分比索洛尔对映体

采用直链淀粉手性固定相高效液相色谱法在正相条件下直接拆分了比索洛尔对映异构体。分别以异丙醇、乙醇为有机改性剂,考察了流动相的组成与配比、流速及柱温等因素对比索洛尔对映体分离的影响。确定了比索洛尔对映体的最佳拆分条件:流动相正己烷-乙醇-二乙胺(体积比为88∶12∶0.1),流速0.6 mL/min,检测波长270 nm,柱温20 ℃。该方法可快捷、简便地拆分比索洛尔对映体。     

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for saikosaponin a quantification in rat plasma

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method with UV detection has been developed for the determination of saikosaponin a in rat plasma. Saikosaponin a and internal standard jujuboside A were isolated from plasma samples by solid-phase extraction. The chromatographic separation was achieved on a reversed-phase C(18) column with the mobile phase of acetonitrile-water (35:65, v/v) at a flow rate of 1 mL/min and UV detection was set at 205 nm. The standard curve for saikosaponin a was linear over the concentration range 0.25-10 microg/mL and the limit of detection was 0.05 microg/mL. The absolute recovery was greater than 82%. The precision and accuracy ranged from 3.05 to 9.59% and 95.61 to 110.00%, respectively. The validated method was used to determine saikosaponin a in plasma samples in a pharmacokinetic study of saikosaponin a administered to Sprague-Dawley rats.     

手性试剂柱前衍生化高效液相色谱法测定α-苯乙胺的光学纯度

建立了一种简便的手性试剂柱前衍生化反相高效液相色谱测定α-苯乙胺光学纯度的方法。采用2,3,4,6-四-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖异氰酸酯(GITC)对α-苯乙胺进行衍生化,优化了衍生化反应参数;使用Agilent Zorbax C18色谱柱分离衍生化产物,流动相为甲醇-磷酸盐缓冲溶液(pH 3.0)(体积比为58:42),流速1.0 mL/min,检测波长241 nm,柱温为30 ℃。实验结果表明,α-苯乙胺两个对映体的衍生化产物分离良好,在0.15～15.0 mg/L范围内呈现良好的线性关系。方法的检出限为0.05 mg/L,定量限为0.15 mg/L,日内和日间精密度考察中测定值的相对标准偏差(RSD)均小于0.5%。建立的方法适用于α-苯乙胺的质量控制。     

柱切换技术-高效液相色谱法快速检测大鼠血浆中的普萘洛尔对映体

建立了快速检测大鼠血浆中普萘洛尔对映体浓度的柱切换-高效液相色谱法。将自制限进填料柱作为预处理柱,通过直接进样方式,使普萘洛尔对映体在预处理柱上保留,同时除去血浆中的蛋白质等大分子;再通过柱切换技术,使普萘洛尔对映体在键合型纤维素-三(3,5-二甲基苯基氨基甲酸酯)(Chiralcel OD-RH)分析柱上得到手性拆分。通过条件优化,确定切换前预处理流动相为硼酸盐缓冲液(pH 8.5)-甲醇(95:5, v/v),流速为1.0 mL/min;切换后分析流动相为异丙醇-乙醇-0.2 mmol/L硼酸盐缓冲液(pH 8.5)(30:30:40, v/v/v),流速为0.8 mL/min;切换时间为3 min;柱温为25 ℃;检测波长为293 nm。普萘洛尔两对映体在25～500 mg/L的质量浓度范围内具有良好的线性关系(r=0.9995), 3个加标水平(50、100、250 mg/L)的平均回收率为97.89%～101.56%,日内和日间精密度均小于5%。该方法简便、快速、灵敏、准确,适于血浆样本中手性药物的药代动力学研究。     

衍生化β-环糊精手性固定相高效液相色谱法拆分米那普仑对映体及其分离机制

建立了新型抗抑郁药米那普仑在环糊精手性固定相上的高效液相色谱拆分方法。在反相色谱条件下采用未衍生化β-环糊精(Cyclobond I 2000)、乙酰基-β-环糊精(AC-β-CD)、2,3-二甲基-β-环糊精(DM-β-CD)、3,5-二甲基苯基氨基甲酸酯-β-环糊精(DMP-β-CD)4种手性柱分离米那普仑对映体。考察了固定相、流动相比例、pH、流速和柱温对拆分的影响。利用分子对接和结合能计算方法,研究米那普仑分子与AC-β-CD的对接过程,探讨其可能的分离机制。优化后的拆分条件如下:固定相为乙酰基-β-环糊精手性柱Astec CYCLOBONDTMI 2000 AC(25 cm×4.6 mm,5μm),流动相为乙腈-0.1%(体积分数)pH 5.0醋酸三乙胺溶液(TEAA)(5∶95,v/v),流速为0.4mL/min,柱温为25℃,检测波长为220 nm。在此条件下,米那普仑对映体获得快速拆分,分离度(Rs)为1.74,理论塔板数为10 125。分子模拟结果表明引起手性识别的作用力主要是环糊精衍生化的乙酰基导致的氢键作用差异。该方法快速、高效、重现性好。     

Simultaneous determination of phenytoin and dextromethorphan in urine by solid-phase extraction and HPLC-DAD

A rapid and simple high-performance liquid chromatographic method with photodiode array detection was developed for the separation and the simultaneous determination of phenytoin and dextromethorphan in human urine. Analysis was performed in less than 4.5 min in isocratic mode on a reversed-phase C18 column (5 microm; 150 x 4.6 mm) using a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile-buffer phosphate 0.01 M (60:40, v/v) adjusted to pH 6.0, at 1 mL/min flow rate and UV absorbance at 210 nm. The elution order of analytes was dextromethorphan (DXM), Internal Standard (IS), and phenytoin (PHT). Calibration curves were linear in the 7.5-25 microg/mL range for PHT and in the 10-30 microg/mL range for DXM. Spike recoveries for urine samples prepared at three spiking levels ranged from 97.8 to 102.3% for PHT and from 94.8 to 100.4% for DXM. The detection limit (LOD) values ranged from 0.08 microg/mL for PHT to 0.5 microg/mL for DXM. The quantitation limit (LOQ) values ranged from 0.3 microg/mL for PHT to 1.6 microg/mL for DXM. The sample preparation method involves a rapid and simple procedure based on solid-phase extraction using a C18 reversed-phase column. Validation of the optimised method was carried out according to the ICH guidelines. The method developed in this study allows the reliable simultaneous analysis of PHT and DXM, drugs that were never quantified together in previously reported analytical methods. The described method has the advantage of being rapid and easy and it could be applied in therapeutic monitoring of these drugs in human urine of epileptic patients.     

Liquid chromatography determination of citalopram enantiomers using beta-cyclodextrin as a chiral mobile phase additive

A reliable and specific method for the determination of citalopram enantiomers was developed and validated. Chromatographic resolution of citalopram enantiomers was made on a Shim-pack (5 microm particle size) cyanopropyl column with beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) as an effective chiral mobile phase additive. The composition of the mobile phase was (90 + 10, v/v) aqueous 0.1% triethylammonium acetate buffer, pH 4.0 (adjusted with acetic acid), and acetonitrile, containing 12 mM beta-CD. The flow rate was 0.8 mL/min with ultraviolet detection at 240 nm. The effects of the mobile phase composition, concentration of beta-CD, and pH of the triethylammonium acetate buffer on peak shape and resolution of the enantiomers were investigated. The calibration graphs were linear (r = 0.9999, n = 8) in the range of 1-40 microg/mL for S(+) citalopram and R-(-) citalopram. The limit of detection values were 5.51 x 10(-3) and 4.35 x 10(-3) pg/mL, while the limit of quantification values were found to be 1.84 x 10(-2) and 1.45 x 10(-2) microg/mL for S-(+) citalopram and R-(-) citalopram, respectively.     

Simultaneous determination of diethylene glycol and propylene glycol in pharmaceutical products by HPLC after precolumn derivatization with p-toluenesulfonyl isocyanate

A simple and reliable HPLC method was developed for the simultaneous quantitative analysis of diethylene glycol (DEG) and propylene glycol (PG) in pharmaceutical products by precolumn derivatization. The derivatization reagent p-toluenesulfonyl isocyanate (TSIC, 10 microL, 20% in ACN v/v) was added to 100 microL of the sample, and then 10 muL of water was added. The resulting derivatives were separated using a C(18)analytical column and a mobile phase composed of 0.01 M KH(2)PO(4)buffer (adjusted to pH 2.5 with phosphoric acid) and ACN (47:53 v/v) at 1 mL/min and 25 degrees C. For detection, UV light at 227 nm was used. The derivatization conditions including reaction time, temperature, and concentration of TSIC were optimized. The calibration curves were linear from 0.062 to 18.6 microg/mL (r(2)= 0.9999) and from 0.071 to 21.3 microg/mL (r(2) = 0.9999) for DEG and PG, respectively. The RSD values of intra- and interday assays were all below 4% for DEG and PG. The proposed method was then successfully applied to analyze two Armillarisin A injection samples and two spiked syrup samples.     

Rapid Supercritical Fluid Chromatography Method for Separation of Chlorthalidone Enantiomers

Supercritical fluid chromatography employing chiral stationary phases is a popular separation technique to perform enantioselective separations. The main advantages of supercritical fluid chromatography are low analysis time, low consumption of organic modifiers, and therefore lower costs and higher environmental friendliness. A novel method for the separation of chlorthalidone enantiomers, widely used diuretic drug, is reported that clearly demonstrates the advantages of supercritical fluid chromatography. The effects of the amount and type of organic modifiers, temperature, and back pressure on enantioselectivity and resolution of the enantiomers were evaluated. The baseline separation was achieved in less than 2.5 min in the optimized system composed of Chiralpak AD column, mobile phase CO₂/MeOH 50/50 (v/v), temperature 40°C, a flow rate of 4.0 mL/min, and 120 bar back pressure. Moreover, enantiomers of chlorthalidone were determined in two commercially available pharmaceuticals. The proposed method may be easily transferred to a semi-preparative scale.     

Determination of darusentan enantiomers in rat plasma by enantioselective liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry using cellulose-based chiral stationary phase

A sensitive, specific and rapid liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method has been developed and validated for enantioselective determination of darusentan enantiomers, orally active potent endothelin-A receptor antagonist, in rat plasma. The plasma samples were pretreated by protein precipitation with methanol and baseline chromatographic separation was performed on a Chiralcel OD-RH column with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile/water/formic acid (50:50:0.1, v/v/v) at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. The detection was accomplished by multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) scanning via electrospray ionization (ESI) source operating in the negative ionization mode. The calibration curve was linear over the investigated concentration from 0.500 to 2500 ng/mL (r≥0.995) for each enantiomer using 50 μL of rat plasma. The lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) for each enantiomer was 0.500 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day precisions were not more than 10.2% and the accuracy was within the range from -5.4 to 6.3% for darusentan enantiomers. No chiral inversion was observed during the plasma preparation, storage and analysis. The method proved adequate for enantioselective pharmacokinetic studies of darusentan enantiomers after oral administration of three different doses of racemic darusentan.