Quantitation of nifedipine in human plasma by on-line solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography

An analytical methodology for nifedipine quantitation in plasma by on-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is described. The SPE cartridges contain C₂ and the analytes nifedipine and nitrendipine (internal standard) are separated on a C₁₈ column with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile–13 mM phosphate buffer pH 7 (65:35, v/v) followed by UV detection at 338 nm. Validation of the method demonstrated good recoveries (>90%), sensitivity (limit of quantification, 2 ng/ml), based on a 500 μl sample volume, accuracy and precision (<5.5% in concentrations greater than the limit of quantitation). This methodology has been used for bioequivalence studies.     

Determination of eight water- and fat-soluble vitamins in multi-vitamin pharmaceutical formulations by high-performance liquid chromatography

In the present work, a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic procedure has been developed for the determination of water-soluble vitamins (thiamine hydrochloride, pyridoxine hydrochloride, nicotinamide, riboflavin phosphoric ester and cyanocobalamine) and fat-soluble vitamins (retinol palmitate, cholecalciferol, -tocopherol acetate) in multi-vitamin pharmaceutical formulations. The sample treatment proposed consists of a solid-phase extraction with C₁₈ AR cartridges that allow the separation of fat-soluble vitamins, which were retained on the sorbent, from water-soluble vitamins. Afterwards, the water-soluble vitamins were analysed by HPLC on a Nova-Pack C₁₈ (150×3.9 mm, 4 μm) analytical column, using CH₃OH–0.05 M CH₃COONH₄ as mobile phase The chromatographic analysis of the fat-soluble vitamins was carried out after their sequential elution with methanol and chloroform from C₁₈ sorbent, on the above column. The mobile phase employed was MeOH–CH₃CN (95:5, v/v) working at a flow-rate of 2 ml min⁻¹ in isocratic mode. The solid-phase extraction for these vitamins had been previously optimised. The experimental variables studied were: application volume, elution solvents and cleaning solutions. The UV–Vis detection of vitamins was made at 270 nm for all the water-soluble vitamins (362 nm for B₁₂) and 285 nm for the water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins present in real samples at different concentration levels. The accuracy of the method was tested obtaining an average recovery ranging between 78 and 116%.     

Solid-phase extraction of polar pesticides from environmental water samples on graphitized carbon and Empore-activated carbon disks and on-line coupling to octadecyl-bonded silica analytical columns

The suitability of Empore-activated carbon disks (EACD), Envi-Carb graphitized carbon black (GCB) and CPP-50 graphitized carbon for the trace enrichment of polar pesticides from water samples was studied by means of off-line and on-line solid-phase extraction (SPE). In the off-line procedure, 0.5-2 1 samples spiked with a test mixture of oxamyl, methomyl and aldicarb sulfoxide were enriched on EnviCarb SPE cartridges or 47 mm diameter EACD and eluted with dichloromethane-methanol. After evaporation, a sample was injected onto a C₁₈-bonded silica column and analysed by liquid chromatography with ultraviolet (LC-UV) detection. EACD performed better than EnviCarb cartridges in terms of breakthrough volumes (>2 1 for all test analytes), reproducibility (R.S.D. of recoveries, 4–8%, n=3) and smapling speed (100 ml/min); detection limits in drinking water were 0.05–0.16 μg/l. In the on-line experiments, 4.6 mm diameter pieces cut from original EACD and stacked onto each other in a 9 mm long precolumn, and EnviCarb and CPP-50 packed in 10×2.0 mm I.D. precolumn, were tested, and 50–200 ml spiked water samples were preconcentrated. Because of the peak broadening caused by the strong sorption of the analytes on carbon, the carbon-packed precolumns were eluted by a separate stream of 0.1 ml/min acetonitrile which was mixed with the gradient LC eluent in front of the C₁₈ analytical column. The final on-line procedure was also applied for the less polar propoxur, carbaryl and methiocarb. EnviCarb could not be used due to its poor pressure resistance. CPP-50 provided less peak broadening than EACD: peak widths were 0.1–0.3 min and R.S.D. of peak heights 4–14% (n = 3). In terms of analyte trapping efficiency on-line SPE-LC-UV with a CPP-50 precolumn also showed better performance than when Bondesil C₁₈/OH or polymeric PLRP-S was used, but chromatographic resolution was similar. With the CPP-50-based system, detection limits of the test compounds were 0.05–1 μg/l in surface water.     

Evaluation of an on-line coupled continuous flow liquid membrane extraction and precolumn system as trace enrichment technique by liquid chromatographic determination of bisphenol A

An on-line coupled continuous flow liquid membrane extraction (CFLME) and C₁₈ precolumn system was developed for sample preconcentration in liquid chromatography determination. After preconcentration by CFLME, which is based on the combination of continuous flow liquid–liquid extraction and supported liquid membrane, bisphenol A (BPA) was enriched in 960 μl of 1 mol l⁻¹ NaOH used as acceptor. This acceptor was on-line neutralized and transported onto the C₁₈ precolumn where analytes were absorbed and focused. Then the focused analytes were injected onto a C₁₈ analytical column for separation and detected at 220 nm with a diode array detector. CFLME related parameters such as flow rates, pH of donor and acceptor, and enrichment time were optimized. The proposed method presents a detection limit of 0.03 μg l⁻¹ (S/N=3) when 60 ml samples was enriched with an enrichment time of 30 min. Compared with C₁₈ based column-switching procedure, this proposed procedure presents similar sample throughput and lower detection limits. The proposed method was successfully applied to determine BPA in tap water, river water, and municipal sewage effluent samples.     

Liquid chromatography of polymyxin B sulphate

A reversed-phase liquid chromatography method for analysis of polymyxin B sulphate is described. The method uses a YMC-Pack Pro, C₁₈, 5 μm, 250×4.6 mm I.D. column maintained at 30°C. The mobile phase comprises acetonitrile–sodium sulphate (0.7%, m/v)–phosphoric acid (6.8%, v/v dilution of 85%, m/m phosphoric acid)–water (22.25:50:5:22.75) at a flow-rate of 1.0 ml/min. Detection was by UV at 215 nm. The method is able to resolve polymyxin B₁, the major component, from more than thirty other components present in the complex. Robustness was evaluated by performing a full-factorial design experiment. The method showed good selectivity, repeatability, linearity and sensitivity.     

Rapid reversed-phase liquid chromatographic determination of patulin in apple juice

A rapid, simple and economical method using a limited amount of organic solvent is described for the determination of patulin in apple juice. The sample was extracted with ethyl acetate and the extract was cleaned up by extraction with sodium carbonate solution. Patulin was then determined by reversed-phase liquid chromatography using a MicroPak C₁₈ column and a variable-wavelength UV-Vis detector set at 276 nm. Patulin and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural were completely resolved by using water- acetonitrile (99:1, v/v) as the mobile phase at a flow-rate of 1.0 ml/min. The detection limit was <5 μg/1 and the recovery was 98%.     

Determination of Lovastatin (mevinolin) and mevinolinic acid in fermentation liquids

A rapid and simple HPLC method for the determination of Lovastatin (mevinolin) and mevinolinic acid in fermentation fluids of Aspergillus terreus using a Separon SGX C₁₈ column and methanol-18 mM orthophosphoric acid (77.5:22.5, v/v) as mobile phase with detection at 238 nm is described. The detection limit of Lovastatin and mevinolinic acid was 20–30 ng/ml.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of hexosamines, hexosaminitols, N-acetylhexosamines and Nacetylhexosaminitols by ultraviolet and fluorescence detection at picomole levels

A simple and rapid method for the preparation of 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) derivatives of hexosamines (glucosamine, galactosamine), hexosaminitols (glucosaminitol, galactosaminitol), N-acetylhexosamines (N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine) and N-acetylhexosaminitols (N-acetylglucosaminitol, N-acetylgalactosaminitol), is described. The derivatization was performed at room temperature for 5–10 min under neutral and slightly alkaline conditions. The separation of Fmoc-amino sugar and amino sugar alcohol derivatives on various reversed-phase columns (Cosmosil C₁₈, Sinopak-S C₈ and Develosil C₁₈) with isocratic elution was examined. The determination limits of hexosaminitol, N-acetylhexosamine, and N-acetylhexosaminitol derivatives were 0.4, 1.4 and 1.6 pmol with fluorescence detection and 4.6, 16 and 20 pmol with ultraviolet detection, respectively.     

Optimizing recoveries of two chlorotriazine herbicide metabolites and 11 pesticides from aqueous samples using solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

A method was developed for solid-phase extraction of two chlorotriazine herbicide metabolites, deethylatrazine (DEA) and deisopropylatrazine (DIA), from aqueous samples. Two C₁₈ phases in cartridge format were compared and recoveries were found to be highly sensitive to sorbent amount, sample volume and presence of parent compounds. Recoveries were significantly improved using a partially non-endcapped C₁₈ phase compared to the normal C₁₈ phase, particularly for DIA, apparently due to polar interactions. Combinations of sample volume and sorbent amount were tested using deionized water to determine an optimal combination of 200 ml and 1.0 g, respectively. Recoveries from a variety of river, stream, runoff and ground waters averaged 105–116% and 109–117% at concentrations of 0.5–1.0 ng/ml for DIA and DEA, respectively, with minimum detection limits of 0.05 ng/ml. Other pesticides tested also have acceptable recoveries using this method.     

Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the quantitative determination of alkylbis(2-benzothiazolylsulfen)amides

An isocratic, reversed-phase HPLC procedure was developed for the simultaneous determination of isopropyl-, tert.-butyl-, tert.-amyl-, cyclohexylbis(2-benzothiazolylsulfen)amides. Quantitation is performed on a C₁₈ bonded-phase column (Separon SGX C₁₈ 5 μm) using N-dicyclohexyl-2-benzothiazolesulfenamide as internal standard followed by UV photodiode-array detection. The precision (n = 7) for all derivatives of alkylbis(2-benzothiazolylsulfen)amides is within 1.5%. Identification of the compounds also in the mixtures was done by NMR spectroscopy.     

Formation of a THF adduct of the organometallic samarium oxide [(C5Me5) 2Sm]2(μ-O)

(C₅Me₅)₂Sm(THF)₂ reacts with 1,2-epoxybutane in toluene to form, in addition to the toluene soluble [(C₅ Me₅)₂Sm]₂(μ-O), 1, the hexane soluble [(C₅Me₅)₂Sm(THF)]₂(μ-O), 2. In hexane, 2 loses THF to form 1 as a precipitate, but 1 cannot be converted to 2 by addition of THF at room temperature. Compound 1 does convert to 2 in low yield in THF at reflux. The reaction of (C₅Me₅)₂SM(phthalan) with 1,2-epoxybutane generates 1 and a phthalan analog of 2, [(C₅Me₅)₂Sm(phthalan)]₂(μ,-O), 3. Compound 2 reacts with Me₃CCN to form [(C₅Me₅)₂Sm(NCCMe₃)]₂(μ-O), 4, by displacement of THF.     

Synthesis and crystal structures of (C8h8)Nd(C5H9C5H4) (THF)2 and [(C8H8)Gd(C5H9C4H4(THF)][(C8H8)GD(C5H9C5H4(THF)2]

LnCl₃ (Ln=Nd, Gd) reacts with C₅H₉C₅H₄Na (or K₂C₈H₈) in THF (C₅H₉C₅H₄ = cyclopentylcyclopentadienyl) in the ratio of 1 : to give (C₅H₉C₅H₄)LnCl₂(THF)_n (orC₈H₈)LnCl₂(THF)_n], which further reacts with K₂C₈H₈ (or C₅H₉C₅H₄Na) in THF to form the litle complexes. If Ln=Nd the complex (C₈H₈)Nd(C₅H₉C₅H₄)(THF)₂ (a) was obtained: when Ln=Gd the 1 : 1 complex [(C₈H₈)Gd(C_%H₉)(THF)][(C₈H₈)Gd(C₅H₉H₄)(THF)₂] (b) was obtained in crystalline form.

The crystal structure analysis shows that in (C₈H₈)Ln(C₅H₉C₅H₄)(THF)₂ (Ln=Nd or Gd), the Cyclopentylcyclopentadieny (η⁵), cyclooctatetraenyl (η⁸) and two oxygen atoms from THF are coordinated to Nd³⁺ (or Gd³⁺) with coordination number 10.

The centroid of the cyclopentadienyl ring (Cp′) in C₅H₉C₅H₄ group, cyclooctatetraenyl centroid (COTL) and two oxygens (THF) form a twisted tetrahedron around Nd³⁺ (or Gd³⁺). In (C₈H₈)Gd(C₅H₉C₅H₄)(THF), the cyclopentyl-cyclopentadienyl (η⁵), cyclooctatetraenyl (η⁸) and one oxygen atom are coordinated to Gd³⁺ with the coordination number of 9 and Cp′, COT and oxygen atom form a triangular plane around Gd³⁺, which is almost in the plane (dev. -0.0144 Å).     

Surface diffusion in reversed-phase liquid chromatography using silica gels bonded with C1 and C18 ligands of different densities

Surface diffusion in reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) using silica gels bonded with C₁ and C₁₈ alkyl ligands of different densities was studied from the viewpoints of two extrathermodynamic relationships, i.e., enthalpy-entropy compensation (EEC) and linear free energy relationship (LFER). First, according to the four methods proposed by Krug et al., the values of surface diffusion coefficient (D_s) were analyzed to confirm that an actual EEC resulting from substantial physico-chemical effects takes place for surface diffusion. Then, it was also demonstrated that a LFER is observed between surface diffusion and the retention equilibrium. The establishment of EEC and LFER suggests a mechanistic similarity of molecular migration by surface diffusion, irrespective of the alkyl chain length and the densities of C₁ and C₁₈ ligands. Finally, a thermodynamic model for the LFER based on the real EEC was used to estimate D_s values under various RPLC conditions. The D_s values can be estimated with a mean square deviation of about 25–30%. The agreement between the D_s values estimated and those experimentally measured suggests that the total mass flux by surface diffusion consists of the two contributions due to C₁ and C₁₈ ligands and that the contribution of each ligand is proportional to the ligand density.     

Analysis of acidic drugs in the effluents of sewage treatment plants using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Azaspiracid poisoning (AZP) is a new human toxic syndrome that is caused by the consumption of shellfish that have been feeding on harmful marine microalgae. A liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) method has been developed for the determination of the three most prevalent toxins, azaspiracid (AZA1), 8-methylazaspiracid (AZA2) and 22-demethylazaspiracid (AZA3) as well as the isomeric hydroxylated analogues, AZA4 and AZA5. Separation of five azaspiracids was achieved on a C₁₈ column (Luna-2, 150×2 mm, 5 μm) with isocratic elution using acetonitrile–water containing trifluoroacetic acid and ammonium acetate as eluent modifiers. Using an electrospray ionisation (ESI) source with an ion-trap mass spectrometer, the spectra showed the protonated molecules, [M+H]⁺, with most major product ions due to the sequential loss of two water molecules. A characteristic fragmentation pathway that was observed in each azaspiracid was due to the cleavage of the A-ring at C₉–C₁₀ for each toxin. It was possible to select unique ion combinations to distinguish between the isomeric azaspiracids, AZA4 and AZA5. Highly sensitive LC–MS³ analytical methods were compared and the detection limits were 5–40 pg on-column. Linear calibrations were obtained for AZA1 in shellfish in the range 0.05–1.00 μg/ml (r²=0.9974) and good reproducibility was observed with a relative standard deviation (%RSD) of 1.8 for 0.9 μg AZA1/ml (n=5). The %RSD values for the minor toxins, AZA4 and AZA5, using LC–MS³ (A-ring fragmentation) were 12.3 and 8.1 (0.02 μg/ml; n=7), respectively. The selectivity of toxin determination was enhanced using LC–MS–MS with high energy WideBand activation.     

Separation of metal ions by capillary electrophoresis

A number of experimental parameters have been optimized for the separation of 26 metal ions, including alkali, alkaline earth, transition and lanthanide metal ions. Experimental parameters that were evaluated included nature of indirect-detection reagent, pH of electrolyte, concentration of complexing agent and nature of the surface of the capillary; unbonded and C₁ and C₁₈ bonded phases were studied. In addition the effect of internal diameter on linearity and signal-to-noise ratio was examined, and separation efficiency was determined for a variety of experimental conditions. Detection limits (signal-to-noise RATIO = 3) were ca. 1 μg/ml for the lanthanides, ca. 0.6 μg/ml for transition and alkaline earth ions and ca. 0.1–0.8 μg/ml for alkali metal ions. The average relative standard deviations of were 3.7, 5.1 and 2.5% on unbonded, C₁ and C₁₈ capillaries, respectively. Whereas conventional regression analysis suggested that the calibration curves were linear over the range of 1·10⁻⁵ to 4·10⁻⁴ mol/l, sensitivity plots showed that the results were actually linear to within 6% only over the range of 2.5·10⁻⁵ to 4·10⁻⁴ mol/l.     

Ion chromatographic separation of alkali metal and ammonium cations on a C18 reversed-phase column

The separation of alkali metal (Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺ and Cs⁺) and ammonium cations on a C₁₈ reversed-phase column using three anionic surfactants [sodium 1-eicosyl sulphate, sodium dodecyl benzenesulphonate and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS)] is described. Two methods were examined: (a) “permanent” coating, with the use of a C₁₈ reversed-phase column previously coated with the surfactants; and (b) dynamic coating, with addition of the surfactants to the mobile phase. With method (a) the separation of the six cations was achieved with SDS. However, the retention times gradually decreased owing to dissolution of the SDS coating. Good separation was obtained with method (b), where 10 mM HNO₃ containing 0.1 mM SDS was used as the mobile phase with conductivity detection, and it was applied satisfactorily to real samples. The effect of system peaks on determination is also discussed.     

Reactions of Lewis bases with tetrakisdiphenylamide uranium(IV)

The coordinatively unsaturated uranium(IV) complex U[N(C₆H₅)₂]₄ has been prepared via the stoichiometric reaction of diphenylamine with [(Me₃Si)₂N]₂ H₂. U[N(C₆H₅)₂]₄ coordinates Lewis bases such as Et₂O, THF, pyridine or (EtO)₃PO, based on electronic absorption spectroscopy and ¹H NMR studies. Exchange between U[N(C₆H₅)₂]₄ and U[N(C₆H₅)₂]₄(L), where L is THF or pyridine, is rapid on the NMR time-scale between 307 and 323 K. Measurement of equilibrium constants for L = THF provides ΔH and ΔS values of −60 kJ mol⁻¹ and −1.8 × 10² J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, respectively. U[N(C₆H₅)₂]₄ coordinates and binds (EtO)₃PO much more tightly (K_eq = & > 10⁴ M⁻¹) than THF or pyridine with the exchange rate between U[N(C₆H₅)₂]₄ and U[N(C₆H₅)₂]₄[OP(OEt)₃] being close to the NMR time-scale.     

Comparative methodology in the determination of alpha-oxocarboxylates in aqueous solution ion chromatography versus gas chromatography after oximation, extraction and esterification

A direct, simple and rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the determination of ketoprofen with ibuprofen as internal standard. Samples were chromatographed on a 5 μm Kromasil 100 C₁₈ column. The mobile phase was a mixture of acetonitrile–0.01 M KH₂PO₄ adjusted to pH 1.5 with orthophosphoric acid 85% (60:40, v/v). Detection was at 260 nm and the run time was 10 min. The detector response was found to be linear in the concentration range 0.02 to 40 μg/ml. This HPLC assay has been applied to measure the “in vitro” percutaneous penetration of ketoprofen through rat skin.     

Fast C18 solid-phase desalting/delipidation of the human serum apolipoproteins for matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization and electrospray ionization mass spectrometric analysis

A new method for the delipidation of human serum lipoproteins involving the use of a reversed-phase C₁₈ solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridge is introduced for use with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. This method is compared with two other methods of lipoprotein delipidation. The SPE method of delipidation produces a higher and more reproducible protein yield than the conventional liquid–liquid methanol–diethyl ether delipidation technique. Furthermore, the SPE method implements a fast, sequential, desalting and delipidation of the lipoproteins for subsequent mass spectrometric analysis providing high quality spectra.     

New chromatographic method for separation and determination of denatured alphaS1-, alphaS2-, beta- and kappa-caseins by hydrophobic interaction chromatography

A procedure based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) has been developed for the simultaneous preconcentration of three widely used herbicides and seven of their most common degradation products. The compounds studied were atrazine and its metabolites, desethylatrazine, desethyldesisopropylatrazine (DEDIA), 2-hydroxyatrazine, desethyl-2-hydroxyatrazine and desisopropyl-2-hydroxyatrazine (DIHA), terbutryne and its metabolite 2-hydroxyterbutylazine, and chlorotoluron and its metabolite 3-chloro-4-methylphenylurea. A HPLC system with diode array detection was used for the separation, identification and quantification of all these analytes. In the SPE preconcentration step, different types of sorbent were studied: C₁₈ on silica and polymeric sorbents (Oasis and LiChrolut EN), the best results being obtained with the styrene–divinylbenzene cartridge and when the elution was performed with methanol and ethyl acetate. The detection limits obtained were between 0.1 μg l⁻¹ for DIHA and DEDIA and 0.02 μg l⁻¹ for the other analytes. The method used permitted the determination of these herbicides in drinking water at the concentration levels demanded by current legislation. The proposed method was used to evaluate the presence and evolution with time of these herbicides and their degradation products in samples of surface and ground waters from agricultural zones of the provinces of Salamanca and Zamora (basins of the Rivers Guareña and Almar), Spain.