Gas chromatographic determination of 2- and 3-dechloroethylifosfamide in plasma and urine.

The metabolic oxidation of one of the chloroethyl groups of the antitumour drug ifosfamide leads to the formation of the inactive metabolites 2- and 3-dechloroethylifosfamide together with the neurotoxic metabolite chloroacetaldehyde. A very sensitive capillary gas chromatographic method, requiring only 50 microliters of plasma or urine, has been developed to measure the amounts of the drug and the two inactive metabolites in a single run. Calibration curves were linear (r > 0.999) in the concentration ranges from 50 ng/ml to 100 micrograms/ml in plasma and from 100 ng/ml to 1 mg/ml in urine.     

Simultaneous determination of metapramine and its demethylated metabolites in plasma by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A capillary column gas chromatography--mass fragmentographic method for metapramine and its three major demethylated metabolites is described. Compounds are extracted from plasma using a double-extraction procedure and transformed into N-trifluoroacetyl derivatives. The detection is performed by monitoring specific ions for metapramine and for its metabolites with a mass detector. In spite of extensive metabolism in the liver and rapid elimination of metapramine, plasma concentrations of both metapramine and its metabolites can be simultaneously followed over 24 h after a single 150-mg oral dose, because of the sensitivity and selectivity of the method. This method has been successfully applied to the analysis of samples obtained from patients who were at steady state with metapramine and to a pharmacokinetic study in a healthy volunteer.     

Simultaneous determination of trimipramine and its major metabolites by high-performance liquid chromatography

Trimipramine is a tricyclic antidepressant drug often assayed by gas chromatographic or gas chromatographic-mass spectrometry techniques. A high-performance liquid chromatographic method with electrochemical detection is described for the assay of trimipramine and its major metabolites, monodesmethyltrimipramine and 2-hydroxytrimipramine, in plasma. The method is sensitive, accurate and robust and thus suitable for routinely assaying samples following single doses of trimipramine to man. The assay was applied to plasma samples obtained following a single 50-mg dose of trimipramine to healthy volunteers.     

Topical administration of ibuprofen in man. Simultaneous determination of the drug and its metabolites in urine by high resolution gas chromatography

A selective and sensitive high resolution gas chromatography assay for simultaneous determination of Ibuprofen and its major metabolites in urine is described. Biological samples were collected from healthy volunteers after a single topical administration of the drug in gel form. The chromatographic system, developed on a WCOT OV-1 glass capillary column, ensured a clear separation of Ibuprofen and its metabolites and their quantitative evaluation.     

Quantification of amitriptyline, nortriptyline, and 10-hydroxy metabolite isomers in plasma by capillary gas chromatography with nitrogen-sensitive detection

A selective, sensitive method for the determination of amitriptyline and its metabolites is described. This method involves liquid-liquid extraction and capillary gas chromatography with nitrogen-sensitive detection. The detection limits of amitriptyline, nortriptyline, 10-hydroxy(E)amitriptyline, 10-hydroxy(E)nortriptyline, and 10-hydroxy(Z)nortriptyline were slightly less than 0.5 ng/ml in 1.0-ml plasma samples. The coefficients of variation for within-run and between-run analyses of samples containing 100 ng/ml were less than 12% and 9%, respectively. The method offers rapid analysis of individual isomers, increased sensitivity over high-performance liquid chromatographic methodology and the conveniences of the gas chromatographic technique.     

Improved automated simultaneous determination of isosorbide dinitrate and its metabolites in plasma by capillary column gas chromatography

An automated specific and sensitive method for the simultaneous determination of isosorbide dinitrate and its metabolites isosorbide-2-mononitrate, isosorbide-5-mononitrate, isomannide mononitrate, and isoidide mononitrate at concentrations down to 0.5, 1, 3, 2, and 2 ng/ml, respectively, in human plasma is described. The procedure involves the extraction of the drug and its metabolites together with their internal standards isomannide dinitrate and o-nitrobenzyl alcohol from plasma with dicholromethane. The analysis is carried out by fused silica capillary gas chromatography using a ⁶³Ni-electron capture detector. The method is applied to the pharmacokinetics of isosorbide dinitrate in humans.     

Automated capillary gas chromatographic assay using nitrogen-phosphorus ionization detection for the determination of bepridil in human plasma

A highly sensitive and specific capillary gas chromatographic method for the determination of the antianginal drug bepridil in plasma is described. The capillary gas chromatograph and nitrogen-selective detector combination provides excellent sensitivity for clinical samples. The lowest concentration of bepridil which can be measured accurately and precisely in a 1-ml plasma sample is 1 ng/ml. Standard curves are linear over the concentration range 1-60 ng/ml. Accuracy and precision of the assay, expressed as relative deviation from the true value and relative standard deviation (inter-run) are less than 15% at all concentrations in the linear range. No interfering peaks are observed. Using an automatic injector and a laboratory computer system, sixty samples can be analyzed routinely in one day. The present assay has been successfully cross-validated with a published high-performance liquid chromatographic assay.     

Plasma quantification of quazepam and its 2-oxo and N-desmethyl metabolites by capillary gas chromatography

The authors have developed a gas chromatographic method for the simultaneous quantification of quazepam in plasma and its two main metabolites, 2-oxoquazepam and N-desmethylquazepam. This method involves an extraction from plasma using butyl acetate, and an analysis by electron-capture detection on a CP-Sil 5 WSCOT capillary column. Intra- and inter-day precision and accuracy were better than 10% for each of these three compounds, even near their detection limit estimated at 0.2 ng/ml. Linearity proved satisfactory between 0.2 and 60-70 ng/ml. For endogenous plasma components, adequate specificity was achieved. Despite some inconveniences, a long analysis time, a progressive saturation of the column owing to a low oven temperature, and a relatively short life-span of the CP-Sil 5 columns, this method was the only one available in the literature for the quantification of quazepam and its metabolites from the same plasma sample. It was successfully applied to phase I studies in healthy volunteers.     

Analysis of dexamethasone,triamcinolone, and their metabolites in human urine by microcolumn liquid and capillary gas chromatography mass spectrometry

Adult male volunteers were administered orally 10 mg of the espective drug. Urine samples were investigated by micro-column liquid chromatography and capillary gas chromatography combined with on-line mass spectrometry. The former technique was found to be usable for the detection of these drugs. The latter method appeared to be superior in terms of sensitivity and for metabolism studies. The major excretion products of dexamethasone were identified as isomeric 6-hydroxy metabolites. Dexamethasone as such and its 20-hydroxy metabolite were found in minor quantities. Unlike dexamethasone, triamcinolone is excreted largely unchanged from the human body. Two metabolites were identified as 11-keto and 4,5-dihydrotriamcinolone. With the gas chromatography methods developed, abuse of these drugs can be detected up to 24 h after administration of a 5 mg single dose.     

Quantitative determination of N-[trans-2-(dimethylamino)-cyclopentyl]-N-(3',4'-dichlorophenyl)propan amide, its 2H5-labeled analogue and their N-dealkylated metabolites in dog serum by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

This paper describes the development of a capillary gas chromatographic--mass spectrometric method for the determination of N-[trans-2-(dimethylamino)cyclopentyl]-N-(3',4'-dichlorophenyl)propan amide and its metabolites in serum. The method utilizes an automated sample preparation whereby drug, metabolites and internal standard are extracted from polar serum components by adsorption chromatography onto an XAD-type resin. The N-demethylated metabolites are derivatized by acetylation prior to chromatography. Detection is by mass spectrometry with chemical ionization. This method was utilized to determine levels of unlabeled and pentadeuterated drug and their respective metabolites in canine serum after oral co-administration. No significant kinetic isotope effects were observed for either absorption or metabolism.     

Determination of dioxopiperazine metabolites of quinapril in biological fluids by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

The dioxopiperazine metabolites of quinapril in plasma and urine were extracted with hexane-dichloroethane (1:1) under acidic conditions. Following derivatization with pentafluorobenzyl bromide and purification of the desired reaction products using a column packed with silica gel, the metabolites were analysed separately by capillary column gas chromatography-electron-impact mass spectrometry with selected-ion monitoring. The limits of quantitation for the metabolites were 0.2 ng/ml in plasma and 1 ng/ml in urine. The limits of detection were 0.1 ng/ml in plasma and 0.5 ng/ml in urine, at a single-to-noise ratio of greater than 3 and greater than 5, respectively. The proposed method is applicable to pharmacokinetic studies.     

Determination of nifedipine and its three principal metabolites in plasma and urine by automated electron-capture capillary gas chromatography

A sensitive, efficient, linear and reproducible capillary gas chromatographic method with electron-capture detection was developed for the quantitation of nifedipine and its primary metabolite M-I in plasma together with the urinary and principal metabolites M-II and M-III. On-column, rather than split-splitless, injection was employed to obviate oxidative degradation of nifedipine to M-I. The photosensitivity of nifedipine was re-examined under laboratory conditions and nifedipine was found to have a half-life in excess of two days when amber glassware and darkroom manipulations under red light were used. The method can determine nifedipine and its metabolites in plasma and urine after a single oral dose of 5 mg and can be applied to measure M-I production by human liver microsomes.     

Solid-phase extraction and large-volume sample stacking with an electroosmotic flow pump in capillary electrophoresis for determination of methotrexate and its metabolites in human plasma

This paper describes approaches for large-volume sample stacking (LVSS) with an EOF pumpin CE for the determination of methotrexate (MTX) and its metabolites in human plasma. After pretreatment of plasma through a SPE cartridge, a large sample volume was loaded by hydrodynamic injection (3 psi, 70 s) into the capillary filled with phosphate buffer (70 mM, pH 6.0) containing 0.01% polyethylene oxide. Following removal of a large plug of sample matrix from the capillary using polarity switching (-25 kV), the separation of anionic analytes was subsequently performed without changing polarity again, achieving an improvement of sensitivity of around a 100-fold. The method was applied to therapeutic drug monitoring of MTX in one acute lymphoblastic leukemia patient. This study is one of very few applications showing the feasibility of LVSS in analysis of biological samples by CE.     

Simultaneous determination of codeine and chlorpheniramine in human plasma by capillary column gas chromatography

A specific and highly sensitive capillary column gas chromatographic method was developed for the simultaneous determination of codeine and chlorpheniramine in human plasma. The method involves a solvent extraction and analysis by capillary column gas chromatography on a cross-linked 50% phenylmethyl silicone fused-silica capillary column with flame thermionic detection. A 10% solution of n-butanol in toluene was used as extraction medium and pyrilamine was used as internal standard. Reproducibility, linearity of calibration curves and specificity were all satisfactory with both drugs. The plasma concentration of codeine and chlorpheniramine could be measured at levels down to 0.9 ng/ml as codeine phosphate and 0.4 ng/ml as chlorpheniramine maleate, respectively. The method was applied to plasma samples from normal volunteers, and was confirmed to be adequate for biopharmaceutical and pharmacokinetic studies.     

Ultra-low flow nanospray for the normalization of conventional liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry through equimolar response: standard-free quantitative estimation of metabolite levels in drug discovery

Nanospray experiments were performed on an ensemble of drug molecules and their commonly known metabolites to compare performance with conventional electrospray ionization (ESI) and to evaluate equimolar response capabilities. Codeine, dextromethorphan, tolbutamide, phenobarbital, cocaine, and morphine were analyzed along with their well-known metabolites that were formed via hydroxylation, dealkylation, hydrolysis, and glucuronidation. Nanospray exhibited a distinct trend toward equimolar response when flow rate was reduced from 25 nL/min to less than 10 nL/min. A more uniform response between the parent drug and the corresponding metabolites was obtained at flow rates of 10 nL/min or lower. The largest discrepancy was within +/-50% for plasma samples. Nanospray was used as a calibrator for conventional ESI liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) and normalization factors were applied to the quantitation of an acyl-glucuronide metabolite of a proprietary compound in rat plasma. A nanospray calibration method was developed with the standard curve of the parent drug to generate quantitative results for drug metabolites within +/-20% of that obtained with reference standards and conventional ESI. The nanospray method provides a practical solution for the quantitative estimation of drug metabolites in drug discovery when reference standards are not available.     

Determination of three metabolites of a new angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, imidapril, in plasma and urine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using multiple ion detection.

A specific and sensitive gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method for the determination of three metabolites of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, imidapril, in plasma and urine was developed. The metabolites were isolated from plasma and urine using a Bond Elut C18 solid-phase extraction cartridge. The isolated metabolites were converted to sensitive derivatives by pentafluorobenzyl bromide and heptafluoro-n-butyric acid anhydride. Following derivatization, the sample solutions were analysed by wide-bore column gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with multiple ion detection. The detection limits of the three metabolites were each 1 ng/ml in plasma and 5 ng/ml in urine. Analysis of the spiked plasma and urine samples demonstrated the good accuracy and precision of the method. This method was very useful for use in pharmacokinetic and bioavailability studies of the three metabolites of imidapril in humans.     

Quantitation of oxcarbazepine and its metabolites in human plasma by micellar electrokinetic chromatography

A reliable micellar electrokinetic chromatographic method for the determination of oxcarbazepine and its two main metabolites, 10-hydroxycarbamazepine and 10,11-trans-dihydroxy-10,11-dihydroxycarbamazepine, in human plasma was developed. The separation and determination of the analytes was achieved using a system consisting of 60 mM SDS in phosphate buffer (30 mM, pH 8.0), to which 20% (v/v) methanol was added. Separation was carried out in an uncoated fused-silica capillary with a separation voltage of 25 kV and currents typically less than 40 microA. Spectrophotometric detection was at 205 nm. Isolation of oxcarbazepine and its metabolites from plasma was accomplished by a solid-phase extraction procedure. The mean extraction yield of the analytes from plasma was higher than 94%. The linear correlation coefficients were better than 0.994 for all analytes. The limit of detection was 0.05 microg/mL, the limit of quantitation 0.15 microg/mL. The repeatability for the spiked blank plasma samples was lower than 1.9% and the intermediate precision lower than 2.1%, both expressed as RSD%. The results obtained analysing real plasma samples from epileptic patients under therapy with Tolep were satisfactory in terms of precision, accuracy and detectability.     

Determination of propafenone in biological fluids by fused-silica capillary gas chromatography using electron-capture detection

A gas-liquid chromatographic method with electron-capture detection using a capillary column with the inlet in the splitless injection mode is reported for the assay of propafenone. A 25 m X 0.31 mm cross-linked, 5% phenylmethylsilicone-coated fused-silica capillary column was employed for all analyses. The present method provides improved selectivity and sensitivity over other existing gas chromatographic and high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) methods. Linearity was observed in the ranges 2.5-50 and 10-100 ng/ml. The coefficient of variation was found to be less than 10% over the concentration ranges studied. Application of the developed method is demonstrated by measuring serum propafenone concentrations over 24 h in a normal healthy volunteer after a single oral dose of propafenone and by measuring trough plasma propafenone concentrations at steady state in patients receiving this new antiarrhythmic drug. Validity of the present method is further demonstrated by comparison of analytical results obtained from measurement of patient samples using a modified published HPLC method.     

Microanalysis of dialkylphosphorus metabolites of organophosphorus pesticides in human blood by capillary gas chromatography and by phosphorus-selective and ion trap detection

A procedure for the determination of dialkyphosphorus metabolites of organophosphorus pesticides in human blood has been worked out. Dimethyl and diethyl phosphates, phosphorothioates and phosphorodithioates, extracted with diethyl ether from plasma acidified with hydrochloric acid, were methylated with diazomethane and analysed by capillary gas chromatography with an alkali flame ionization detector and an ion trap detector. The extraction of metabolites was preceded by n-hexane extraction of parent organophosphorus pesticides without a negative effect on the efficiency of metabolite extraction. If plasma samples, containing 2 μ/ml of each metabolite, were not saturated with sodium chloride before extraction, only dialkyl phosphorothioates were recovered by more than 80%. The recoveries of other metabolites were less than 25%. The extraction of plasma samples saturated with sodium chloride resulted in higher recoveries of all metabolites. At concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 2.8 μg/ml the accumulation effeciencies (%±S.D.) of dimethyl and diethyl phosphorothioates were 92±20 and 97±11, and those of corresponding phosphorodithiotes 79±7 and 71±4. A significantly lower recovery (36±12%) was determined for dimethyl phosphate at concentrations in plasma below 2 μg/ml. The recovery of diethyl phosphate was dependent on the initial metabolite concentration in plasma being 31±5% at concentrations lower than 0.5 μg/ml, 51±12% at concentrations ranging from 0.7 to 1.7 μg/ml and 97±3% at concentrations at or above 2 μg/ml. Detection limits of metabolites in plasma using the phosphorus selective detector were 150 ng/ml for dimethyl phosphate and 50 ng/ml for other metabolites. Those values were for dialkyl phosphates and phophorothioates three to five times lower and for diakyl phosphorodithiotes even 30 times lower than detection limits achieved by the use of ion trap detector. The procedure was applied for the evidence and confirmation of human poisoning with organophosphorus pesticides.     

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.