On-line high performance liquid chromatography — multidimensional gas chromatography and its application to the determination of stilbene hormones in corned beef

The combination of high performance liquid chromatography interfaced on-line with multidimensional gas chromatography (HPLC–GC–GC) is described. The HPLC column was interfaced to the GC via an on column interface, with automated pneumatic control of solvent evaporation and GC column switching. Cryogenic cold trapping was used for analyte focusing at the head of the first, non-polar GC capillary column and optionally at the head of the second, polar column. The determination of stilbene hormones in corned beef as their methylated derivatives by flame ionization detection is described.     

Determination of cholesterol in sub-nanomolar quantities in biological fluids by high-performance liquid chromatography.

A highly sensitive method for the determination of cholesterol in biological fluids is described. Unsaponifiable lipids from rat serum and thoracic duct lymph chylomicron samples were treated with cholesterol oxidase. The product of the enzymatic reaction, delta 4-cholestenone, was analysed by normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using hexane-isopropanol (95:5, v/v) as a mobile phase and detected with a UV spectrophotometer at 240 nm. When the standard samples containing varying amounts of cholesterol (0.15-3 nmol) were treated with cholesterol oxidase and analysed by HPLC (injected amounts 0.09-1.8 nmol of cholesterol), the peak areas increased proportionally with the amounts of authentic cholesterol with a correlation coefficient of 0.996. The values in these biological fluids determined by the HPLC method were identical to those obtained by enzymatic-colorimetric or gas chromatographic methods. Moreover, the detection limit (0.09 nmol) of the present method (0.15 nmol are required for the sample preparation) is lower than those of conventional methods (approximately 30 nmol). Because of the excellent sensitivity and reproducibility, this method is well suited for the determination of cholesterol in biological fluids where cholesterol concentration is low.     

Application of high-performance liquid chromatography of some antibiotics in clinical microbiology

During recent years high-performance liquid chromatography has become an excellent tool for the determination of antibiotics in biological fluids. Compared with biological assays, the major benefits of this method are specificity and rapidity. In particular, the determination of biologically inactive metabolites emphasizes that this technique plays an outstanding role for the analysis of antibiotics. This paper describes how the method can be used in the analysis of several antibiotics and demonstrates the efficacy of this method for clinical microbiology. Methods for the determination in biological fluids of acylaminopenicillins (azlocillin, mezlocillin, piperacillin and aspoxicillin), quinolones (ciprofloxacine, norfloxacine and ofloxacine), a penem (imipenem) and a cephalosporin (cefixime) are summarized. Furthermore, their application to in vitro studies and their trial in clinical studies are described.     

New analytical possibilities of amperometric detection in high-performance liquid chromatography

It is demonstrated that sugars can be determined with high sensitivity by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with amperometric detection using domestic instruments. Optimal conditions of the detection of catecholamines were selected; obtained detection limits provide the determination of these compounds in biological fluids. Conditions of the simultaneous separation of most familiar narcotics by HPLC on one column with high precision and low detection limit were optimized. Presented at the V All-Russian Conference with the Participation of CIS Countries on Electrochemical Methods of Analysis (EMA-99), Moscow, December 6–8, 1999.     

Determination of anabolic steroids by gas chromatography/negative-ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry and gas chromatography/negative-ion chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry with heptafluorobutyric anhydride derivatization

A gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method is described which uses negative ion chemical ionization (NCI) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) for the determination of eight anabolic steroids in human urine. Eight anabolic steroids were derivatized by heptafluorobutyric anhydride (HFBA), and were determined using GC/NCI-MS and GC/NCI-MS/MS. The linear correlation coefficients for calibration in NCI-MS/MS were in the range 0.9880-0.9988. This method of derivatization with HFBA for use with GC/NCI was useful in determinations of 19-norandrosterone, boldenone, 19-noretiocholanolone, 2-methylandrosterone, nandrolone, 1-methyleneandrosterone, 1-methylandrosterone, 4-dihydroboldenone and mesterolone. The detection limits of this procedure were 5-20 ppb at a signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of 3.     

Fluorimetric detection of serum corticosterone using high-performance liquid chromatography.

A simple, sensitive, specific and reproducible method for the determination of corticosterone concentrations in rat serum using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorimetric detection is described. Corticosterone is detectable down to 0.1 ng injected onto the HPLC column. Cortisol is used as an internal standard. Ethyl acetate was used for both initial serum corticosteroid extraction and the subsequent fluorophore extraction after sulfuric acid hydrolysis; thus sulfuric acid does not enter the HPLC system. The resultant fluorophores for both corticosterone and cortisol are stable for at least two weeks at ambient temperature not requiring storage at -20 degrees C. The procedure is highly suitable for use with HPLC systems utilising automatic sample injectors. The method is specific for corticosterone; dexamethasone, cortisone and gonadal steroids are not detectable and do not interfere in this assay.     

Determination of 13C/12C ratios of endogenous urinary steroids: method validation, reference population and application to doping control purposes

The application of a comprehensive gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS)-based method for stable carbon isotopes of endogenous urinary steroids is presented. The key element in sample preparation is the consecutive cleanup with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of underivatized and acetylated steroids, which allows the isolation of ten analytes (11beta-hydroxyandrosterone, 5alpha-androst-16-en-3beta-ol, pregnanediol, androsterone, etiocholanolone, testosterone, epitestosterone, 5alpha-androstane-3alpha,17beta-diol, 5beta-androstane-3alpha,17beta-diol and dehydroepiandrosterone) from a single urine specimen. These steroids are of particular importance to doping controls as they enable the sensitive and retrospective detection of steroid abuse by athletes.Depending on the biological background, the determination limit for all steroids ranges from 5 to 10 ng/mL for a 10 mL specimen. The method is validated by means of linear mixing models for each steroid, which covers repeatability and reproducibility. Specificity was further demonstrated by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for each analyte, and no influence of the sample preparation or the quantity of analyte on carbon isotope ratios was observed. In order to determine naturally occurring (13)C/(12)C ratios of all implemented steroids, a reference population of n = 61 subjects was measured to enable the calculation of reference limits for all relevant steroidal Delta values.     

Fast determination of tetracycline antibiotics in different media by high-performance liquid chromatography

Summary The use of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the identification and determination of tetracycline antibiotics is reviewed. HPLC chromatograms provide fast identification by retention time, t_R, and precise quantitation by measurement of peak height or peak area. For separation of tetracycline compounds, most HPLC methods use reversed-phase C₁₈ or C₈ columns and UV detection. The HPLC solvent system should have a pH of about 6 to prevent steric changes in the tetracycline molecule. For accurate quantitation it is necessary to avoid tailing and this is accomplished by adding a zwitter ion to the solvent system. Methanol and acetonitrile are frequently used as organic modifiers in these solvent systems. In a single analysis, HPLC methods can be used to separate as many as nine or ten commercially used tetracycline compounds and to determine four to five tetracyclines in commercial tetracycline preparations or in biological fluids.     

Effect of organized media on the chromatographic and electrophoretic determination of pharmaceutical preparations in biological samples

Procedures were developed for the simultaneous determination of endogenous and exogenous steroids in biological fluids by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP HPLC), capillary zone electrophoresis, and micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) using components of organized media (micelles of sodium dodecyl sulfate, β-cyclodextrin, sulfo-β-cyclodextrin, and carbamide). The detection limits were 50 and 500 ng/mL without preconcentration and 3–5 and 5–10 ng/mL with preconcentration for RP HPLC and MEKC, respectively. The time of separation was 30 and 10 min, and the total time of analysis (including preconcentration and the conditioning of a column or a capillary) was 80 and 90 min for RP HPLC and MEKC, respectively.     

Supercritical fluid chromatography and some of its applications: A review

The general topic of supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) is introduced, and historical aspects of its development are discussed. The physical properties of supercritical fluids, gases and liquids are tabulated. SFC is compared and contrasted with the classical forms of chromatography - gas chromatography (GC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The selectivity of SFC, GC, and HPLC are discussed and compared. Instrumentation employed for supercritical fluid chromatography is depicted. A wide variety of SFC applications are introduced. New examples of the use of SFC for analysis of a variety of complex oligomeric mixtures indcluding polypropylene glycol, polysiloxanes, fluorocarbon oligomers (i.e. -3M's fluoro-chemical surfactant Fluorad 171, and Kel-F) and high molecular weight normal alcohols are shown. The use of SFC for separation of mono-, di-, and triglycerides at low operating temperatures is described. Lastly, the use of SFC for separations of complex hydrocarbon mixtures from liquid fuels, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, synthetic alpha-olefins, and petroleum functional group separations are depicted.     

Determination of endo- and exogenous corticosteroids by cyclodextrin-modified micellar electrokinetic chromatography with the use of on-line preconcentration

A method was proposed for the simultaneous determination of steroids of the endo- and exogeneous origin with the use of micellar electrokinetic chromatography, which provides the determination of residual medicines in biological fluids and the control of medication efficiency at different steroidogenesis abnormalities. The introduction of a macrocyclic addition of β-cyclodextrin (from 1 to 6 mM) into a buffer electrolyte solution (25 mM phosphoric acid, 20 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate, 4.5 mM urea, pH 2.5) or into a sample solution decreases the detection limit by a factor of 20–200.     

Individual determination of ortho and non-ortho substituted polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) in sediments by high performance liquid chromatographic pre-separation and gas chromatography/ECD detection

Summary An analytical procedure for the individual determination of ortho and non-ortho PCB congeners in sediments, using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) preseparation and gas chromatography/ECD detection, is described. Gas chromatography/FTIR spectrometry (GC/FTIR) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) were employed for individual congener identification and determination. Sample extraction, clean-up of extract and selective elution procedures were optimized by using reference certified marine sediment samples. Recovery and precision were typically 83% and 16% respectively at 2 ng/g of total PCB content. The proposed procedure, tested by analyzing real sediment samples, showed a reproducibility better than 20% at 13 ng/g PCB level.     

Column purification and HPLC determination of teicoplanin and A40926

Summary A simple HPLC method for quali- and quantitative determination of teicoplanin and A40926 in fermentation broths and in biological fluids is described. The sample is purified on affinity chromatography and then analyzed on a reverse phase column using a gradient phosphate buffer-acetonitrile as mobile phase and UV detection at 254 nm. No interference from endogenous sources has been observed. The analytical method, with partial modifications, was also used to isolate on semipreparative scale the single components of these antibiotics, in order to investigate their structure and their biological activity.     

The determination of total and unbound midazolam in human plasma. A comparison of high performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Midazolam concentrations in patients' plasma was determined after extraction with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). GC was selected for routine plasma assays in terms of selectivity, simplicity, precision, accuracy and sensitivity (0.02 microgram/mL); HPLC analysis was less sensitive (0.1 microgram/mL) than GC; GC/MS was used for analysis validation. Plasma protein binding of midazolam was determined by GC in patients' plasma after in vitro incubation with midazolam, ultrafiltration and extraction; 5% of the drug was unbound to plasma proteins. Midazolam distribution in lipoprotein fractions separated by ultracentrifugation of plasma obtained from patients on prolonged midazolam treatment was also assayed by GC.     

Determination of the deuterium/hydrogen ratio of endogenous urinary steroids for doping control purposes

The development and application of a combined gas chromatography/thermal conversion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/TC/IRMS) method for D/H ratio determination of endogenous urinary steroids are presented. The key element in sample preparation was the consecutive cleanup with high‐performance liquid chromatography of initially native and subsequently acetylated steroids. This strategy enabled sufficient cleanup off all target analytes for determination of their respective D/H values. Ten steroids (11β‐hydroxyandrosterone, 5α‐androst‐16‐en‐3α‐ol, pregnanediol, androsterone, etiocholanolone, testosterone, epitestosterone, 5α‐androstan‐3α,17β‐diol, 5β‐androstan‐3α,17β‐diol and dehydroepiandrosterone) were measured from a single urine specimen. Depending on the biological background, the determination limit for all steroids ranged from 10 to 15 ng/mL for a 20 mL specimen. The method was validated by application of linear mixing models on each steroid and covered repeatability and reproducibility. The specificity of the procedure was ensured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis of the sample using equivalent chromatographic conditions to those employed in the GC/TC/IRMS measurement. Within the sample preparation, no isotopic fractionation was observed, and no amount‐dependent shift of the D/H ratios during the measurement was noticed. Possible memory effects occurring during IRMS measurements were corrected by applying a simple rule of proportion. In order to determine the naturally occurring D/H ratios of all implemented steroids, a population of 18 male subjects was analyzed. Relevant mean Δ values among selected steroids were calculated which allowed us to study the metabolic pathways and production sites of all the implemented steroids with additional consideration of the corresponding ¹³C/¹²C ratios. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Identification and determination of phase II nabumetone metabolites by high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array and mass spectrometric detection

Chromatographic analyses play an important role in the identification and determination of phase I and phase II drug metabolites. While the chemical standards of phase I metabolites are usually available from commercial sources or by various synthetic, degradation or isolation methods, the phase II drug metabolites have usually more complicated structures, their standards are in general inaccessible and their identification and determination require a comprehensive analytical approach involving the use of xenobiochemical methods and the employment of hyphenated analytical techniques. In this work, various high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods were employed in the evaluation of xenobiochemical experiments leading to the identification and determination of phase II nabumetone metabolites. Optimal conditions for the quantitative enzymatic deconjugation of phase II metabolites were found for the samples of minipig bile, small intestine contents and urine. Comparative HPLC analyses of the samples of above-mentioned biomatrices and of the same biomatrices after their enzymatic treatment using beta-glucuronidase and arylsulfatase afforded the qualitative and quantitative information about phase II nabumetone metabolites. Hereby, three principal phase II nabumetone metabolites (ether glucuronides) were discovered in minipig's body fluids and their structures were confirmed using liquid chromatography (LC)-electrospray ionization mass spectrometric (MS) analyses.     

A simple, sensitive, and rapid method for the determination of cotinine in urine by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection

Cotinine levels in biological fluids are a reliable indicator of the presence of nicotine. In this paper, a simple and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) procedure for the determination of cotinine in urine following liquid-liquid extraction with dichloromethane in an alkaline medium is described. Calibration curves show linearity over the 50 to 3000 ng/mL range with low intra- and interday variability as well as good selectivity and specificity. No solid-phase extraction is performed because the liquid dichloromethane extraction step yields excellent results. This method is a good alternative for routine analysis of urinary cotinine in laboratories where gas chromatography or HPLC-mass spectrometry is not available.     

Determination of diphenamide, napropamide and metolachlor in tobacco by gel permeation chromatographic clean-up and high performance liquid chromatography

Diphenamide, napropamide and metolachlor (FIG. 1) are selective, pre-emergence arylamide herbicides used to control the growth of annual grasses and broadleaf weeds in a variety of fields, e.g. fruit trees, nuts, corns, green crops, etc. They possess high activity and moderate toxicity. For food and environment safety, the detailed investigations on their residues and metabolism are very important. Diphenamide, napropamide and metolachlor in the pesticide products, serum, urine, soil, environmental water, fruits and wine have been widely analyzed by ELISA, fluorescence, phosphorescence, capillary electrophoresis, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography(GC) and GC mass spectrometry (GC-MS). However, to our knowledge, simultaneous residue analysis of diphenamide, napropamide and metolachlor in tobacco samples has not been extensively documented. Tobacco is greatly consumed by smokers throughout the world. The pesticide residue in tobaccos might be potentially harmful to smokers' health. With this in mind the residue determination and control of diphenamide, napropamide and metolachlor in the tobacco leaves are very important for tobacco products and consumers. For these three herbicides, the tolerable maximum residue limits (MRLs) have been limited ranging from 0.05 (for tobacco products) to 5 mg/kg (for tobacco leaves) in different European countries. For the complex tobacco samples, the GC and HPLC with UV detection suffer from matrix interference making quantification and identification of these herbicides difficult. In such cases the removal of the matrix effects and identification of the target compounds are of great importance. The present work reports the extraction and clean up procedures, as well as, the chromatographic conditions developed for the simultaneous determination of diphenamide, napropamide and metolachlor residues in the fluecured tobacco leaves, from the different sources using HPLC-UV method.     

Determination of butylated hydroxytoluene in food samples by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was developed and compared with a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method for determining butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) in foodstuffs as a result of migration from plastic packaging. Similar extraction procedures were used in both methods. BHT was quantitated using an external standard in the HPLC method and an internal standard in the GC/MS method. Both methods presented good linearity (r(2) > or = 0.9917) and low detection limits. Recoveries obtained with the HPLC method (chicken meat, 95.8%, and Gouda cheese, 83.9%) were better than with the GC/MS method (chicken meat, 85.6%, and Gouda cheese, 71.3%).