Synthesis of a mixed-functional silica support for direct injection analysis of drugs in serum by liquid chromatography

Summary A new mixed-functional silica material has been developed for direct injection analysis of drugs in serum. The mixed-functional material is synthesized from porous silica by three steps; introduction of 3-glycidoxypropyl groups, introduction of phenyl groups, and hydrolysis of the oxirane ring to diol groups. The prepared column packing can be used for direct injection analysis of hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs in serum over the eluent pH range employed for ordinary siloxane-bonded silica. The recovery of drugs from serum was almost 100%, regardless of the difference in their protein bindings.     

Stereochemical resolution of enantiomeric 2-aryl propionic acid non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on a human serum albumin based high-performance liquid chromatographic chiral stationary phase

Summary The native enantioselectivity in binding of human serum albumin (HSA) towards 2-aryl propionic acid non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (2-APA-NSAIDs, the profens) was found to be preserved when the protein was immobilized within a commercially available diol high-performance liquid chromatographic column. High capacity factors were obtained, reflecting the previously observed extensive binding of the 2-APA-NSAIDs to free HSA. The capacity factors were modified by the addition of octanoic acid to the mobile phase. Chiral resolution of the enantiomers of all nine 2-APA-NSAIDs studied was achieved. Preliminary studies show that in addition to being a useful chiral analytical tool for this therapeutically important series of compounds, the HSA chiral stationary phase may provide useful information on the affinity and binding mechanism of small molecules to HSA.     

Determination of drug-protein interactions by combined microdialysis and high-performance liquid chromatography

Summary A simple and rapid method for determination of the parameters of the interaction between drugs and protein, including the association constant and the number of binding sites, has been developed by use of a microdialysis sampling technique combined with high-performance liquid chromatography. The drug and protein (carbamazepine (5H-dibenz[b,f]flazepine-5-carboxamide, CBZ) and human serum albumin (HSA) were used as examples) were mixed in different molar ratios in 0.067 M potassium phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, and incubated at 37°C in a water-bath. The microdialysis probe was the used to sample the mixed CBZ-HSA solution at a perfusion rate of 1 μL min⁻¹. The concentration of CBZ in the microdialysate was determined by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Relative recovery (R), determined in vitro under similar conditions, was approximately 42.7%; theRSD ofR was approximately 1.85%. The estimated association constant (K) and the number of the binding sites,n, on one molecule of HSA were 1.06×10⁴ M⁻¹ and 0.880, respectively, which is in good agreement with the literature values determined by high-performance frontal analysis. The potential use of microdialysis is also discussed.     

Determination of ephedra alkaloids by high-performance liquid chromatography

Summary Two simple methods were developed for the simultaneous determination of six alkaloids (ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, norephedrine, norpseudoephedrine, methylephedrine and methyl-pseudoephedrine) inEphedrae Herba by high-performance liquid chromatography. The first method was carried out by using a Cosmosil 5C₁₈-MS column with a gradient solvent system consisting of a phosphate buffer and acetonitrile, and detection at 210 nm. The contents of alkaloids in non-pretreated ephedra herb extracts could be determined easily in 50 min. Alternatively, the alkaloids could be determined within 35 minutes by using a Cosmosil 5C₁₈-MS column with an isocratic solvent system of a sodium dodecyl sulfate-acetonitrile solution. The two methods are compared and discussed.     

Determination of L-tryptophan-serum albumin binding by high-performance liquid chromatography

Summary Two high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) techniques were developed for the determination of binding constants in the interaction of serum albumin with L-tryptophan: internal calibration and external calibration. The results obtained were compared with those obtained by the classical method of equilibrium dialysis and by gel filtration. While all the methods are equally reliable, the internal and external calibration techniques seem to be superior in their simplicity, speed and convenience.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of azlocillin in serum

Summary A rapid and sensitive high performance liquid chromatographic method is described for the determination of azlocillin in serum. This method involves a short manual protein precipitation of the sample followed by an injection into a PR 18 column for separation and quantitation. The mobile phase was a 22% (V/V) solution acetonitrile in phosphate buffer pH 4.8 at a flow rate of 2,5 ml/min. The spectrophotometer detector was set at 220 nm with a sensitivity of 0.08 AUFS.     

Determination of thiopental in human serum and plasma by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

Summary A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the analysis of thiopental in 100l of human serum or plasma is described. The procedure involves protein precipitation with acetonitrile. The supernatant is directly injected into a chromatograph containing a reversed-phase CLC-ODS (Shimadzu) column. A 5050 (v/v) mixture of water-acetonitrile, at a flow-rate of 1.0ml/min is used as the mobile phase. Detection is carried out ata wavelength of 280nm. Total analysis time per sample is 10min. The assay was found to be linear in the range of 0.1 to 120g/ml. Reproducibility was good, with intra-assay coefficients of variation from 1.780 to 3.208% and inter-assay coefficients of variation from 3.241 to 4.860%. The absolute recoveries were 97.4 to 101,4%. Other drugs were tested for potential interference with the assay, but none was found.     

Determination of phenazopyridine in human plasma by high performance liquid chromatography

Summary A simple, low-cost, sensitive and selective HPLC method was developed for the determination of phenazopyridine in human plasma. The method employs UV detection of phenazopyridine and of the internal Standard at 2 different wavelengths. Calibration curves were linear over a large dynamic range, i.e., within 0.05–10.0 μg mL⁻¹ with limit of quantification of 0.05 μg mL⁻¹, and a limit of detection of 0.01 μg mL⁻¹.     

Fluorometric determination of indomethacin in serum by high performance liquid chromatography with in-line alkaline hydrolysis

Summary A fluorometric method for determining indomethacin in serum by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography has been developed. Deproteinized serum containing indomethacin was injected directly onto a C18-bonded vinyl alcohol copolymer column with an alkaline mobile phase (pH 10.0, 35% acetonitrile in phosphate buffer), and was detected fluorometrically (Ex. 298 nm and Em. 375 nm) via postcolumn in-line alkaline hydrolysis at high temperature (140°C). The calibration curve was linear over the range of 0.1–10.0 g/ml when injecting a volume of 10 l of deproteinized serum. The detection limit (signal-to-noise ratio=3) for indomethacin in serum was 10 ng/ml using a 20-l aliquot of deproteinized serum.     

Rapid separation of some antiepileptic drugs in serum by HPLC

Summary A fast and easy, iscratic high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of primidone, phenobarbital, phenytoin, carbamazepine and thiobutabarbital from serum samples has been developed. The optimal eluent composition is 36% acetonitrile, 24% methanol and 40% phosphate buffer. Using a programmable wavelength detector very low (sub-therapeutic) levels of the drugs can be measured.     

Fluorescence enhancement of dansylamino acids by bovine serum albumin as mobile phase additive in microcolumn liquid chromatography

Summary The effects of acetonitrile and bovine serum albumin (BSA) concentrations on the signal intensity and retention behavior of dansylamino acids have been examined by using -cyclodextrin-bonded silica gel as the stationary phase in microcolumn liquid chromatography. Fluorescence intensities of dansylamino acids were enhanced by BSA as a mobile phase additive, e.g., detection limits of dansyl derivatives of L-Ala and L-Phe were improved by a factor of 12–18.     

Determination of some banned stimulants in sports by micellar liquid chromatography

Summary A procedure has been developed for the determination, in <12 min, of several stimulants (amphetamine, ephedrine, methoxyphenamine, phenylephrine and phenylpropanolamine) in spiked urine samples after direct injection, using a hybrid micellar mobile phase of 0.15 M sodium dodecyl sulfate and 3% pentanol at pH 7, on a C₁₈ column with UV detection. Recoveries were 94–102% and limits of detection 4.5 ng·mL⁻¹ for methoxyphenamine and 0.39 μg·mL⁻¹ for amphetamine, similar to those obtained for aqueous solutions. Linearity reached 0.99 and intermediate precision was <8.4 and 5.3, for the two different concentrations tested.     

The Use of Bovine Serum Albumin as a Ligand in Affinity Chromatographic Clean-up of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs from Bovine Plasma

The European Union regulates the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) in animal production and official national analytical monitoring programmes have been set up in each member state to detect residues of the drugs in bovine plasma. In this work, we describe the development and application of affinity chromatography for molecular recognition of NSAID in bovine plasma. Bovine serum albumin (BSA), the plasma protein which binds such drugs, was covalently bound to a polymeric support via its glycosyl moieties. Loading capacities and specificity were tested both on standard solutions and on spiked bovine plasma for nine drugs—ketoprofen, naproxen, phenylbutazone, oxyphenylbutazone, acetylsalicylic acid, salicylic acid, tolfenamic acid, diclofenac, and nimesulide—chosen as being the most representative of the different chemical sub-classes of NSAID. The BSA columns could bind up to 150 × 10^–6 g total of a mixture of these nine NSAID, with mean recoveries ranging from 74.0% (tolfenamic acid) to 96.0% (nimesulide). HPLC separation on an RP C₁₈ column with a linear gradient enabled resolution of the drugs; identification was achieved by coupling with photodiode array detection (DAD) operated at 240 and 280 nm. Results showed that all the compounds except acetylsalicylic acid were bound effectively by the BSA affinity columns. When plasma samples were spiked at 2.5 g mL^–1 with a mixture of the NSAID the chromatographic profile and UV spectra recorded (in the range 220–350 nm) indicated the procedure was sufficiently selective for identification of the drugs at the concentrations expected according to their pharmacokinetics. No memory effects and matrix interferences were observed.Revised: 18 December 2003 and 16 April 2004     

Fluorescence immunological determination of immunoglobulin G in human serum by high-performance liquid gel-permeation chromatography

Summary A high-performance liquid gel-permeation chromatographic method is described for the determination of human serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) by separating the fluorescent immuno complex from the free fluorescence-labeled antibody. Fluorescence-labeled antibody used in this study was fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled Fab fragment goat anti-human IgG (anti-IgG Fab). Immuno complexes and antibody of different molecular sizes can be separated. FITC-labeled anti-IgG Fab was added to the serum and the mixture is passed through the column. An immuno complex separates as well-delineated peak in the column void volume, and was measured by the fluorescence of the column eluate (Ex=490nm, Em=520nm). The total analysis time for a serum sample was approximately 15min. The minimum detection limit was 25 mg/dl. The relative standard deviation was below 2% (peak area). The results of the HPL-GPC analysis correlate well with those obtained by laser nephelometric assay (r=0.992).     

Quantitative determination of miconzole in human serum by high-performance liquid chromatography

Summary A high-performance liqid chromatographic method is reported for the measurement of miconazole in systemic, fungal infectious patients. Pharmacokinetic data are presented for a single patient receiving miconazole therapy. Sample preparation involves protein precipitation by acetonitrile (1:1, vol/vol). Analyses are carried out on a reversed-phae chromatographic system using octadecylsilane stationary phase: a mobile phase consisting of 0.05 M acetate buffer (pH 7.4)acetonitrile (20:80, vol/vol) is used to elaute miconazole is quantified on the basis of ultraviolet absorption at 220 nm. The precision of the method ranged from 3.21% at 0.5 mg/L to 0.85% at 2.0 mg/L. The limit of quantification was established as 0.1 mg/L. Interference from other drugs that are co-adimistered such as amphotericin B, 5-fluorocytosine of ketoconazole and most other comonly encountered drugs was not observed.     

Determination of imazethapyr and imazapyr residues in soil by coupled-column liquid chromatography

Summary A column-switching method using two separation columns combined with UV detection at 260 or 236 nm has been used to determine the imidazolinone herbicides imazethapyr and imazapyr in soils. The residues were extracted from the soil with 0.1 M aqueous sodium carbonate solution and, after adjusting the pH to 2.0, the solution was partitioned with dichloromethane. Limits of determination for imazethapyr and imazapyr were 3 μg/kg. Recoveries were from 55 to 75% for both imidazolinone herbicides in the range 3–100 μg/kg in soil.     

Separation of enantiomers on bovine serum albumin coated zirconia in reversed-phase liquid chromatography

Summary Zirconia is known to be one of the best materials for the chromatographic support due to its excellent chemical, thermal and mechanical stability. In this work we report preparation and use of bovine serum albumin (BSA)-immobilized zirconia as a chiral stationary phase for separation of some enantiomers in reversed-phase liquid chromatography. The BSA-zirconia showed good enantioselectivity for some of the enantiomers studied and could be used for RPLC separations in mobile phases of alkaline pH.     

Quantification of trovafloxacin in serum by high-performance liquid chromatography with on-line solid-phase extraction

Summary A rapid, simple, accurate and sensitive liquid chromatographic assay with on-line solid-phase extraction is described for determination of trovafloxacin in human serum. Samples were deproteinized with acetonitrile and injected on to an NH₂ extraction column for sample clean-up. Thereafter, an on-line column-switching system was used for quantitative transfer of the drug to a C₁₈ analytical column. Separation was performed by ion-pair chromatography and detection was by ultraviolet absorbance at 275 nm. Recovery was 98.5%. The linear range was from 0.25 to 20μg mL⁻¹, with a correlation coefficient of 0.999. Detection limit was 0.1 μg mL⁻¹ from extraction of 25 μL serum.     

Determination of metoprolol in human plasma by column switching high-performance liquid chromatography

Summary Retention characteristics of metoprolol have been studied in reversed phase mode on RP2, RP8 and CN columns. The plots of retention time as a function of the acetonitrile content and of the ionic strength of the mobile phase permitted the choice of the best conditions to separate metoprolol from plasma components by switching of these three types of columns.Human plasma (0.5–1 ml) diluted with water is first injected on a RP2 column (25–40 m particle diameter, prepared by dry packing) and rinsed with water. The sample is then back eluted with acetonitrile-0.022 M acetate buffer (7525, v:v) and switched to a CN column (10 cm long, 5 m particle diameter). The heart cut of the eluate is selected and loaded on a RP8 analytical column (25 cm long, 5 m particle diameter) with acetonitrile-0.088 M acetate buffer (7525, v:v) as mobile phase.Auto-sampler and switching valves are actuated automatically by a computing integrator based on a fixed time schedule. The duration of one cycle is about 30 min, but the last analytical step is about 15 min and represents the time interval between two injections. Metoprolol, its alpha-hydroxy metabolite and the internal standard are detected by fluorescence (_ex= 225 nm; _em > 320 nm).Presented at the 14th International Symposium on Chromatography London, September, 1982     

Determination of myristicin in rat serum samples using microbore high performance liquid chromatography with column-switching

Summary A microbore high-performance liquid chromatographic method with column-switching was developed for the analysis of myristicin from rat serum without prepurification. Deproteinization, fractionation, concentration and separation of analyte were carried out by appropriate switching of columns and using solvent mixtures. The method showed excellent precision, accuracy and speed with a detection limit of 10 ng mL⁻¹ from 25 μL of serum. The total analysis time per sample was 25 min and the coefficients of variation for intra- and inter-assay were less than 1.8%.