Comparison of the response of four aerosol detectors used with ultra high pressure liquid chromatography

The responses of four different types of aerosol detectors have been evaluated and compared to establish their potential use as a universal detector in conjunction with ultra high pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC). Two charged-aerosol detectors, namely Corona CAD and Corona Ultra, and also two different types of light-scattering detectors (an evaporative light scattering detector, and a nano-quantity analyte detector [NQAD]) were evaluated. The responses of these detectors were systematically investigated under changing experimental and instrumental parameters, such as the mobile phase flow-rate, analyte concentration, mobile phase composition, nebulizer temperature, evaporator temperature, evaporator gas flow-rate and instrumental signal filtering after detection. It was found that these parameters exerted non-linear effects on the responses of the aerosol detectors and must therefore be considered when designing analytical separation conditions, particularly when gradient elution is performed. Identical reversed-phase gradient separations were compared on all four aerosol detectors and further compared with UV detection at 200 nm. The aerosol detectors were able to detect all 11 analytes in a test set comprising species having a variety of physicochemical properties, whilst UV detection was applicable only to those analytes containing chromophores. The reproducibility of the detector response for 11 analytes over 10 consecutive separations was found to be approximately 5% for the charged-aerosol detectors and approximately 11% for the light-scattering detectors. The tested analytes included semi-volatile species which exhibited a more variable response on the aerosol detectors. Peak efficiencies were generally better on the aerosol detectors in comparison to UV detection and particularly so for the light-scattering detectors which exhibited efficiencies of around 110,000 plates per metre. Limits of detection were calculated using different mobile phase compositions and the NQAD detector was found to be the most sensitive (LOD of 10 ng/mL), followed by the Corona CAD (76 ng/mL), then UV detection at 200 nm (178 ng/mL) using an injection volume of 25 μL.     

Investigation of polar organic solvents compatible with Corona Charged Aerosol Detection and their use for the determination of sugars by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography

A range of organic solvents (ethanol, isopropanol and acetone) has been investigated as alternatives to acetonitrile and methanol when used in conjunction with Corona Charged Aerosol Detection (Corona CAD). These solvents have been evaluated with regard to their effect on the response of the Corona CAD. Three dimensional response surfaces were constructed using raw data showing the relationship between detector response, analyte concentration and percentage of organic solvent in the mobile phase, using sucralose or quinine as the test analyte. The detector response was non-linear in terms of analyte concentration for all solvents tested. However, detector response varied in an approximately linear manner with percentage of organic solvent over the range 0–40% for ethanol or isopropanol and 0–80% for acetone and methanol. The chromatographic performance of the various solvents when used as aqueous–organic mobile phases was evaluated for isocratic and gradient separations of sugars and sugar alcohols by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) using an Asahipak NH2P-504E column coupled with Corona CAD detection. It was found that whilst acetonitrile provided the highest column efficiencies and lowest detection limits of the solvents studied, acetone also performed well and could be used to resolve the same number of analytes as was possible with acetonitrile. Typical efficiencies and detection limits of 5330 plates m⁻¹ and 1.25 μg mL⁻¹, respectively, were achieved when acetone was used as the organic modifier. Acetone was utilised successfully as an organic modifier in the HILIC separation of carbohydrates in a beer sample and also for a partially digested dextran sample.     

Analyte solvent and injection volume as variables affecting method development in semipreparative reversed-phase liquid chromatography

Analyte solvent and injection volume were examined as parameters that affect peak elution during method development for semipreparative RP HPLC purification. Analytical and semipreparative scale HPLC with gradient elution were used to analyze a mixture of three standard compounds with significantly different retention factors (k). This mixture was analyzed after (i) dissolution in solvents of varied compositions, and (ii) with progressively larger injection volumes. As analyte solvent composition and injection volume were changed, the most notable effects on peak shape were observed for the compounds with the smallest k values. Overall changes in peak shape were less pronounced when analyte solvent composition was similar to the starting mobile phase regardless of injection volume. Scale-up to semipreparative conditions yielded results consistent with those observed at the analytical scale. These data show that peak shape is greatly affected by analyte solvent composition and injection volume, and that these effects can be ameliorated by the dissolution of analytes in solvent that closely resembles that of the mobile phase used for initial run conditions. The following study addresses the concepts of peak elution in RP HPLC and how they factor into semipreparative purification.     

Gradient HPLC-diode array detector stability-indicating determination of lidocaine hydrochloride and cetylpyridinium chloride in two combined oral gel dosage forms

A simple, rapid, and selective HPLC-diode array detector method was developed for the simultaneous determination of lidocaine hydrochloride (LD) and cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) in two combined pharmaceutical formulations. Effective chromatographic separation was achieved on a Zorbax SB-C8 (4.6 x 250 mm, 5 microm particle size) column with gradient elution using a mobile phase composed of 0.05 M phosphoric acid and acetonitrile. The gradient elution started with 25% (v/v) acetonitrile, ramped up linearly to 85% in 5 min, and then was constant until the end of the run. The mobile phase was pumped at a flow rate of 1.2 mL/min. The multiple wavelength detector was set at 214 and 258 nm, and quantification of the analytes was based on measuring their peak areas. The retention times for LD and CPC were about 3.4 and 7.3 min, respectively. The reliability and analytical performance of the proposed HPLC procedure were statistically validated with respect to linearity, range, precision, accuracy, selectivity, robustness, LOD, and LOQ. Calibration curves were linear in the range of 5-200 and 10-400 microg/mL for LD and CPC, respectively, with correlation coefficients > 0.999. The proposed method was proven to be stability-indicating by the resolution of the two analytes from the related substance and potential impurity (2,6-dimethylaniline) as well as from forced-degradation products. The validated HPLC method was extended to the analysis of LD and CPC in two combined oral gel preparations for which the two analytes were successfully resolved from the pharmaceutical adjuvants and quantified with recoveries not less than 97.9%.     

Microfabricated refractive index gradient based detector for reversed-phase liquid chromatography with mobile phase gradient elution

Typical refractive index (RI) detectors for liquid chromatography (LC) are not well suited to application with mobile phase gradient elution, due to the difficulty in correcting for the detected baseline shift during the gradient. We report a sensitive, highly reproducible, microfabricated refractive index gradient (micro-RIG) detector that performs well with mobile phase gradient elution LC. Since the micro-RIG signal remains on-scale throughout the mobile phase gradient, one can apply a baseline correction procedure. We demonstrate that by collecting two mobile phase gradient blanks and subtracting one of them from the other, a reproducible, flat baseline is achieved. Therefore, subtracting a blank from a separation provides a baseline corrected chromatogram with reasonably high signal-to-noise ratio for eluting analytes. The micro-RIG detector uses a collimated diode laser beam to optically probe a RIG formed perpendicular to the laminar flow direction within a microfabricated borosilicate glass chip. The chip-based design of the detector is suitable for either traditional bench-top or LC-on-a-chip technologies. We report reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) separations of proteins and polymers, over mobile phase gradient conditions of 67% A:33% B to 3% A:97% B by volume, where A is 96% methanol:3.9% water:0.1% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), and B is 3.9% methanol:96% water:0.1% TFA. The separations were performed on a Jupiter 5 mu C4 300 A 150 mm x 1.0 mm Phenomenex column at a flow rate of 20 microl/min. Viscosity changes during the mobile phase gradient separation are found to shift the on-chip merge position of the detected concentration gradient (i.e., RIG), in a reproducible fashion. However, this viscosity effect makes detection sensitivity vary throughout the mobile phase gradient, due to moving the optimized position of the probe beam in relation to the analyte concentration gradient being probed. None-the-less, consistent limits of detection (LODs) were achieved. The 3-sigma deflection angle LOD was 16 microrad for micro-RIG detection, corresponding to an injected concentration LOD of 7 ppm (mass/mass) for cytochrome c.     

Interconversion of gradient and isocratic retention data in reversed-phase liquid chromatography: Effect of the uptake of eluent modifier on the retention of analytes

The experimental technique of mass spectrometric tracer pulse chromatography was used to study the effect of the sorption of eluent components by a C₁₈-bonded silica RPLC packing on the retention of a series of test analytes during isocratic and gradient elution experiments. The analytes of interest were a substituted phenol, a substituted nitroaniline, an anti-malaria drug, tetrahydrofuran, and methanol. The eluent used was a mixture of acetonitrile and water. The solutes and isotopically labeled eluent components were injected at fixed time intervals during each gradient run. The mass specific detector allowed the assignment of individual analyte peaks even when there was overlap in the chromatograms from successive injections. Thus, the retention time of each analyte could be determined as a function of gradient slope and initial eluent composition at the time of each injection. Experimental gradient retention time data were then compared with the calculated results from two theoretical models. The first model assumed the velocity of the mobile phase and eluent were equal. The second and most realistic model assumed the velocity of the eluent was less than the velocity of the mobile phase due to the uptake of eluent by the stationary phase. Gradient retention times predicted by the two models were reasonably accurate with the sorption model giving slightly more accurate values. Inverse calculations, i.e., calculation of isocratic retention factors from gradient elution data were also carried out with very similar results. That is, the model allowing for the uptake of eluent was slightly more accurate than the model assuming no eluent-stationary phase interaction.     

Gradient flow-injection amperometry based on induced retention by the detector coating

A novel approach for enhancing the selectivity of amperometric flow-injection systems is described. This strategy relies on the use of coated electrodes to induce longer residence times for the target analyte (within the detector) compared to the interfering species. Selective measurements of the analyte are thus performed on the tailing edge of its peak, after passage of the interfering species from the detector. Surface coatings with different permeability properties, including charge-exclusion Nafion or hydrophobic lipid and alkanethiol films are thus used to retain and selectively detect counterionic or nonpolar analytes, after the elution of co-ionic and polar interferences, respectively, from the detector.     

Application of Multilinear Gradient Elution for Optimization of Separation of Chlorophenols Using Derringer’s Desirability Function

Multilinear gradient elution was applied for the simultaneous optimization of resolution and analysis times of nine chlorophenols separated by HPLC. The first relationship of ln k versus φ was determined using the isocratic retention time for each analyte. For prediction of gradient retention times of analytes, the fundamental equation of gradient elution was numerically solved. Then a grid search program was used to simulate chromatograms under each new condition. Two different chromatographic goals, analysis time and minimum distance between adjacent peaks, were evaluated simultaneously using Derringer’s desirability function for each chromatogram. The sigmoid function was used to transform the optimization criteria to desirability values. Under optimal conditions, a good agreement was observed between predicted and experimental values of the chromatographic response function when analysis time was less than 40 min.     

Potentiometric detection of halides and pseudohalides in anion chromatography

A small piece of silver wire, coated with an insoluble silver salt, can be used as a selective potentiometric detector for halides in ion chromatography. Several coated electrodes were examined by electron microscopy and their response to various anions evaluated in a flow-injection system. A silver/silver chloride was found to be a selective and reproducible detector for chloride, bromide, iodide, thiocyanate and thiosulfate separated by ion chromatography. Calibration curves were non-linear and had slopes ranging from 40 to 60 mV per concentration decade in the range 0.1–2 mM. A working range of 0.05–2 mM was used. This electrode is also satisfactory when gradient elution is used in ion chromatography.     

Affinity partitioning for membrane purification exploiting the biotin-NeutrAvidin interaction. Model study of mixed liposomes and membranes

The linear-solvent strength (LSS) model of gradient elution has been applied to estimate parameters of lipophilicity and acidity of a series of drugs and model chemicals. Apparent pKa values and log kw values for individual analytes were determined in 2-3 gradient runs. The first experiment (or first two experiments) uses a wide-range organic modifier gradient with pH chosen for suppressed ionization of the analyte. The result of this experiment allows an estimate of contents of organic modifier of the mobile phase (%B) providing the required retention coefficient, k, for the non-ionized analyte. The following experiment is carried out with the latter %B and a pH-gradient of the aqueous component of the eluent that is sufficient to overlap the possible pKa-value of the analyte. The initial pH of the buffer used to make the mobile phase is selected to insure that the analyte is in non-ionized form. The resulting retention time allows an estimate of PKa in a solvent of the selected %B. At the same time, estimates of log kw can also be obtained. The log kw parameter obtained from gradient HPLC by the approach proposed correlated well with the corresponding value obtained by standard procedure of extrapolation of retention data determined in a series of isocratic measurements. Correlation between log kw and the reference parameter of lipophilicity, log P, was very good for a series of test analytes and satisfactory for a structurally diverse series of drugs. The approach supported with specific detection procedures can be recommended for fast screening of lipophilicity of individual components of complex mixtures like those produced by combinatorial chemistry. The values of pKa obtained in a study were found to correlate with the literature pKa data determined in water for a set of aniline derivatives studied. In case of a series of drugs the correlation was less than moderate if the general procedure of pKa determination was applied.     

Gradient HPLC-DAD stability indicating determination of miconazole nitrate and lidocaine hydrochloride in their combined oral gel dosage form

The pharmaceutical combination of miconazole nitrate (MZ) and lidocaine hydrochloride (LD) is used in the curative and prophylactic therapy of the oral and gastro-intestinal infections caused by Candida albicans. To the best of our knowledge, no attempts have yet been made to assay this combination by any analytical method. A simple and selective high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) stability-indicating method was developed for the simultaneous determination of MZ and LD in their combined formulation. Effective chromatographic separation was achieved using a Zorbax SB-C8 column with gradient elution of the mobile phase composed of 0.05 M phosphoric acid and acetonitrile. The gradient elution started with 25% (by volume) acetonitrile, ramped up linearly to 65% in 6 min, then kept constant until the end of the run. The mobile phase was pumped at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. The multiple wavelength detector was set at 215 nm and analytes were quantified by measuring their peak areas. The retention times for LD and MZ were approximately 4.1 and 8.4 min, respectively. The reliability and analytical performance of the proposed HPLC procedure were statistically validated with respect to linearity, ranges, precision, accuracy, selectivity, robustness, detection and quantification limits. Calibration curves were linear in the ranges of 5-100 μg/ml for both drugs with correlation coefficients > 0.999. Both drugs were subjected to stress conditions of hydrolysis, oxidation, photolysis and thermal degradation. The proposed method proved to be stability-indicating by the resolution of the two analytes from the related substance and potential impurity (2,6-dimethylaniline) and from the forced-degradation products. The validated HPLC method was applied to the analysis of MZ and LD in the combined oral gel preparation, in which the two analytes were successfully quantified and resolved from the pharmaceutical additives. The proposed method made use of DAD as a tool for peak identity and purity confirmation.     

Effect of solution viscosity on dynamic surface tension detection

A dynamic surface tension detector (DSTD) was used to examine the molecular diffusion and surface adsorption characteristics of surface-active analytes as a function of solution viscosity. Dynamic surface tension is determined by measuring the differential pressure across the air/liquid interface of repeatedly growing and detaching drops. Continuous surface tension measurement throughout the entire drop growth is achieved for each eluting drop (at a rate of 30 drops/min for 2 μl drops), providing insight into the kinetic behavior of molecular diffusion and orientation processes at the air/liquid interface. Three-dimensional data are obtained through a calibration procedure previously developed, but extended herein for viscous solutions, with surface tension first converted to surface pressure, which is plotted as a function of elution time axis versus drop time axis. Thus, an analyte that lowers the surface tension results in an increase in surface pressure. The calibration procedure derived for the pressure-based DSTD was successfully extended and implemented in this report to experimentally determine standard surface pressures in solutions of varied viscosity. Analysis of analytes in viscous solution was performed at low analyte concentration, where the observed analyte surface activity indicates that the surface concentration is at or near equilibrium when in a water mobile phase (viscosity of 1.0 Cp). Two surface-active analytes, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and polyethylene glycol (MW 1470 g/mol, PEG 1470), were analyzed in solutions ranging from 0 to 60% (v/v) glycerol in water, corresponding to a viscosity range of 1.0-15.0 Cp. Finally, the diffusion-limited surface activity of SDS and PEG 1470 were observed in viscous solution, whereby an increase in viscosity resulted in a decreased surface pressure early in drop growth. The dynamic surface pressure results reported for SDS and PEG 1470 are found to correlate with solution viscosity and analyte diffusion coefficient via the Stokes-Einstein equation.     

Effect of ionization suppression by trace impurities in mobile phase water on the accuracy of quantification by high‐performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry

The high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) column is capable of enrichment/pre‐concentration of trace impurities in the mobile phase during the column equilibration, prior to sample injection and elution. These impurities elute during gradient elution and result in significant chromatographic peaks. Three types of purified water were tested for their impurity levels, and hence their performances as mobile phase, in HPLC followed by total ion current (TIC) mode of MS. Two types of HPLC‐grade water produced 3–4 significant peaks in solvent blanks while LC/MS‐grade water produced no peaks (although peaks were produced by LC/MS‐grade water also after a few days of standing). None of the three waters produced peaks in HPLC followed by UV‐Vis detection. These peaks, if co‐eluted with analyte, are capable of suppressing or enhancing the analyte signal in a MS detector. As it is not common practice to run solvent blanks in TIC mode, when quantification is commonly carried out using single ion monitoring (SIM) or single or multiple reaction monitoring (SRM or MRM), the effect of co‐eluting impurities on the analyte signal and hence on the accuracy of the results is often unknown to the analyst. Running solvent blanks in TIC mode, regardless of the MS mode used for quantification, is essential in order to detect this problem and to take subsequent precautions. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

高效液相色谱/蒸发光散射法测定多黏菌素类原料药中主成分含量

建立了高效液相色谱/蒸发光散射法测定多黏菌素B和多黏菌素E原料药中主成分含量的分析方法。采用Phenomenex Kinetex Biphenyl色谱柱(50 mm×4.6 mm i.d.,5μm)分离,甲醇和20 mmol/L乙酸铵水溶液(含0.6%甲酸)为流动相,梯度洗脱,流速为0.5 mL/min;蒸发光散射检测器参数为:漂移管温度55℃,气体压力20 psi,增益250。结果表明,多黏菌素B和多黏菌素E在10～200μg/mL质量浓度范围内线性良好,检出限分别为0.8μg/mL和1.2μg/mL,定量下限分别为2.6μg/mL和4.0μg/mL。批内回收率分别为100%～104%和101%～103%,批内相对标准偏差(RSD)分别为0.90%～2.4%和0.90%～2.6%,批间回收率分别为101%～103%和101%～102%,批间RSD分别为1.1%～1.9%和1.3%～1.7%。与微生物检定法相比,该方法简便,能够更准确地反映原料药中目标分析物含量,精密度更高,可用于多黏菌素B和多黏菌素E两种原料药的质量控制。     

高效液相色谱法同时测定氧化型染发产品中33种染发剂

建立了高效液相色谱同时测定氧化型染发产品中33种禁限用染发剂含量的分析方法。采用Waters Atlantis^® T3 MV Kit色谱柱（250 mm×4.6 mm，5 μm），以磷酸盐缓冲液-乙腈为流动相，梯度洗脱，流速为1.0 mL/min，柱温为25℃；采用二极管阵列检测器（DAD），检测波长为235及280 nm，进样量为5 μL。结果表明，各成分在线性范围内线性关系良好，相关系数均高于0.999，各成分精密度实验相对标准偏差（RSDs）均小于2%；四氨基嘧啶硫酸盐和2，4-二氨基苯氧基乙醇盐酸盐在12 h内稳定性实验RSDs小于5%，其余31种成分在24 h内稳定性实验RSDs均小于5%；各成分在3个浓度水平下的加标回收率为77.6%~116.3%。该方法简便、快速、准确，适用于氧化型染发产品中多种染发剂的检测。     

反相高效液相色谱法分离测定烟草中的多酚类化合物

对植物中9种多酚类化合物的色谱分离条件进行了优化,分别探讨了流动相组成、流动相中醋酸浓度、醋酸溶液与甲醇的比例对保留时间的影响,确定了梯度分离条件,并对9种天然多酚类化合物进行了定量分析。该方法的检测限为13.26~59.29 mg/kg (S/N=3)。在3.0～100.0 mg/L 范围内呈良好的线性关系,相关系数r2为 0.9979~0.9999。9种待测化合物的加标回收率为96.8%~108%,相对标准偏差(RSD)小于3.8% (n=3)。用80%甲醇超声提取烟草样品,并通过优化的色谱条件对其进行分析,测定了实际烟草样品中芸香苷和绿原酸的含量。结果表明,该方法具有一定的实用价值。     

A method for the analysis of intermediates of oxidative hair dyes in cosmetic products

A method has been developed and validated for the analysis of some commonly used intermediates of oxidative hair dyes: phenylenediamines, toluenediamines, aminophenols, 1-Naphthol, resorcinol, and hydroquinone. The target analytes are ion-paired prior to HPLC analysis with gradient elution employing phosphate buffer-acetonitrile as mobile phase and detection in the wavelength range 220–400 nm by a photodiode array detector. A spectral-library, consisting of 220–400 nm spectra of the target substances and their HPLC retention times, has been prepared for the identification. A method of sample preparation was established and applied to the analysis of a series of cosmetic formulations for hair dyeing. The method has been found to be suitable for routine analysis of the target intermediates of oxidative hair dyes, and it may also be suitable for the analysis of some non-target intermediates of these substances.     

高效液相色谱法同时测定血浆中的10种蛋白同化激素

建立了一种用于10种蛋白同化激素的同时分离检测的高效液相色谱法。根据被分析物的性质,以C18反相色谱柱为分离柱,以乙腈和水为流动相,采用梯度洗脱方式,并在194～290 nm的范围内快速调节检测波长,使各物质均在最大吸收波长处被检出。在优化的条件下,10种被测组分在10 min内实现了快速的基线分离,检出限在0.01～0.10 μg/mL范围内。在兔血浆中进行加标回收率测定,10种被测组分的加标回收率为70.3%～120%。选取美雄醇为代表进行实际动物实验,成功检测到耳脉注射美雄醇后兔血浆内的美雄醇成分。实验结果表明该方法可行,快速简便,准确可靠。     

Peak capacity in gradient reversed-phase liquid chromatography of biopolymers. Theoretical and practical implications for the separation of oligonucleotides

Reversed-phase ultra-performance liquid chromatography was used for biopolymer separations in isocratic and gradient mode. The gradient elution mode was employed to estimate the optimal mobile phase flow rate to obtain the best column efficiency and the peak capacity for three classes of analytes: peptides, oligonucleotides and proteins. The results indicate that the flow rate of the Van Deemter optimum for 2.1 mm I.D. columns packed with a porous 1.7 microm C18 sorbent is below 0.2 mL/min for our analytes. However, the maximum peak capacity is achieved at flow rates between 0.15 and 1.0 mL/min, depending on the molecular weight of the analyte. The isocratic separation mode was utilized to measure the dependence of the retention factor on the mobile phase composition. Constants derived from isocratic experiments were utilized in a mathematical model based on gradient theory. Column peak capacity was predicted as a function of flow rate, gradient slope and column length. Predicted peak capacity trends were compared to experimental results.     

Simultaneous quantitation of etoricoxib, salicylic acid, valdecoxib, ketoprofen, nimesulide and celecoxib in plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection

A specific, accurate, precise and reproducible high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantitation of etoricoxib, salicylic acid, valdecoxib, ketoprofen, nimesulide and celecoxib in human plasma. The method employed a simple liquid-liquid extraction of etoricoxib, salicylic acid, valdecoxib, ketoprofen, nimesulide and celecoxib and internal standard (IS, DRF-4367) from human plasma (500 microL) into acetonitirile. The organic layer was separated and evaporated under a gentle stream of nitrogen at 40 degrees C. The residue was reconstituted in the mobile phase and injected onto a Kromasil KR 100-5C18 column (4.6 x 250 mm, 5 microm). The chromatographic separation was achieved by gradient elution consisting of 0.05 M formic acid (pH 3)-acetonitrile-methanol-water at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The eluate was monitored using an ultraviolet (UV) detector set at 235 nm. The ratio of peak area of each analyte to IS was used for quantification of plasma samples. Nominal retention times of etoricoxib, salicylic acid, valdecoxib, ketoprofen, nimesulide, IS and celecoxib were 15.63, 17.20, 21.66, 24.95, 26.27, 30.24 and 32.22 min, respectively. The standard curve for etoricoxib, salicylic acid, valdecoxib, ketoprofen and celecoxib was linear (r2 > 0.999) in the concentration range 0.1-50 microg/mL and for nimesulide (r2 > 0.999) in the concentration range 0.5-50 microg/mL. Absolute recovery was >83% from human plasma for all the analytes and IS. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) of nimesulide was 0.5 microg/mL and for etoricoxib, salicylic acid, valdecoxib, ketoprofen and celecoxib the LLOQ was 0.1 microg/mL. The inter- and intra-day precisions in the measurement of QC samples, 0.1, 0.3, 15.0 and 40.0 microg/mL (for all analytes except nimesulide), were in the range 2.29-9.37% relative standard deviation (RSD) and 0.69-10.28% RSD, respectively. For nimesulide the inter- and intra-day precisions in the measurement of quality control (QC) samples, 0.5, 1.5, 15.0 and 40.0 microg/mL, were in the range 3.21-7.37% RSD and 0.97-7.06% RSD, respectively. Accuracy in the measurement of QC samples for all analytes was in the range 91.03-106.38% of the nominal values. All analytes including IS were stable in the battery of stability studies, viz. bench top, autosampler and freeze-thaw cycles. Stability of all analytes was established for 21 days at -20 degrees C. The application of the assay in an oral pharmacokinetic study in rats co-administered with celecoxib and valdecoxib is described.