Measurement of beta-carbolines by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A method using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection was developed for the determination of beta-carboline compounds norharman, harman, norharmol, and harmol in lung. Aqueous derivatization with acetic anhydride was used to facilitate the isolation and separation of the phenolic compounds and to reduce the fluorescence background of the biological samples. Harman was identified and quantitated in rat lung (1.88 +/- 0.55 ng/g) using this method and its identity confirmed by means of gas chromatography-negative-ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry.     

Determination of tetracycline antibiotics by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

A highly sensitive method for the determination of tetracycline antibiotics (TCs) using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection is presented. This method was based on the use of disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) and calcium chloride as fluorescence-increasing reagents in the mobile phase. The concentrations of each reagent in the mobile phase greatly influenced the fluorescence intensity of TCs. When the concentration of EDTA and calcium chloride were 25 and 35 mM, respectively, and the pH of the mobile phase was 6.5, the maximum fluorescence intensity was obtained. The column temperature hardly influenced the fluorescence intensity. At 3.75 ng of TCs injected, the precision (relative standard deviation) ranged from 1.12 to 2.20%. In the range 0.075-37.5 ng for tetracycline and oxytetracycline and 0.225-37.5 ng for chlortetracycline, a linear response was observed. The detection limits of this method were 49-190 pg for three different TCs. The proposed method was applied to the determination of one of the TCs in pharmaceuticals by the internal standard method using other TCs as internal standards and was also applied to determination of TCs added to fish tissue.     

Determination of phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A highly sensitive assay method for phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase in rat adrenal medulla and brain is described which employs high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Epinephrine formed enzymatically from the substrate norepinephrine and isoproterenol (internal standard), after chromatography on a small cartridge of a cation exchanger, Toyopak SP, are converted into the corresponding fluorescent compounds by reaction with 1,2-diphenylethylenediamine, a selective fluorescence derivatization reagent for catechol compounds. The derivatives are separated by reversed-phase chromatography on TSK gel ODS-120T. The detection limit for epinephrine formed enzymatically is 0.66 pmol per assay tube.     

Assay for tyrosine hydroxylase by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A sensitive assay method for tyrosine hydroxylase in rat brain and adrenal medulla by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection is described. L-DOPA formed enzymatically from the substrate L-tyrosine and alpha-methyldopa (internal standard), after clean-up with small cartridges of an activated alumina and a cation exchanger, Toyopak IC-SP M, are converted into the corresponding fluorescent compounds by reaction with 1,2-diphenylethylenediamine. The derivatives are separated by reversed-phase chromatography on TSK gel ODS-120T. The detection limit for L-DOPA formed enzymatically is 2 pmol per assay tube.     

Determination of orbifloxacin in rabbit plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

A simple and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography method is developed for the determination of orbifloxacin (ORB) in rabbit plasma. Sample preparations are carried out by adding phosphate buffer (pH 7.4, 0.1 M) and extracting with trichloromethane. ORB and the internal standard, norfloxacin (NOR), are separated on a reversed-phase column using an aqueous phosphate buffer-acetonitrile (80:20, v/v) mobile phase. The concentrations of ORB and NOR eluting from the column with retention times of 2.16 and 3.09 min, respectively, are monitored by fluorescence detection at 338 (excitation) and 425 nm (emission). The method is shown to be linear from 4 to 1500 ng/mL (regression coefficient r2 = 0.999). The quantitation and detection limits are 4 and 9 ng/mL, respectively. Mean recovery is determined as 92% by the analysis of plasma standards containing 150, 750, and 1500 ng/mL. Inter- and intra-assay precisions were 4 and 3%, respectively.     

Determination of tianeptine in tablets by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A sensitive and selective high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the determination of tianeptine (Tia) in tablets. The method is based on derivatization of Tia with 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzofurazan (NBD-CI). A mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-10 mM orthophosphoric acid (pH 2.5; 77 + 23) was used at a flow rate of 1 mL/min on a C18 column. The Tia-NBD derivative was monitored using a fluorescence detector, with emission set at 520 nm and excitation at 458 nm. Gabapentin was selected as an internal standard. Linear calibration graphs were obtained in the concentration range of 45-300 ng/mL. The lower limit of detection (LOD) was 10 ng/mL at a signal-to-noise ratio of 4. The lower limit of quantitation (LOQ) was 45 ng/mL. The relative standard values for intra- and interday precision were <0.46 and <0.57%, respectively. The recovery of the drug samples ranged between 98.89 and 99.85%. No chromatographic interference from the tablet excipients was found. The proposed method was validated in terms of precision, robustness, recovery, LOD, and LOQ. All the validation parameters were within the acceptance range. The proposed method was applied for the determination of Tia in commercially available tablets. The results were compared with those obtained by an ultraviolet spectrophotometric method using t- and F-tests.     

Determination of midodrine in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

A simple and sensitive fluorometric high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the determination of midodrine in human plasma. After liquid-liquid extraction from plasma, the drug and 2-phenylglycinol (internal standard) were convened into the corresponding fluorescent derivatives by reaction with 3,4-dihydro-6,7-dimethoxy-4-methyl-3-oxoquinoxaline-2-carbonyl chloride, a fluorescence derivatization reagent for amines. The derivatives were separated within 30 min on a reversed-phase column using isocratic elution with acetonitrile-methanol-water (10:30:60, v/v) and were detected spectrofluorometrically at 485 nm with excitation at 400 nm. The detection limit for midodrine was 0.3 pmol (76 pg) per mL plasma at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3.     

Determination of bestatin in serum by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A simple method for the determination of bestatin and its major metabolite in man, p-hydroxybestatin, in human serum was investigated; the method employs high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Bestatin and p-hydroxybestatin are oxidized to phenylacetaldehyde and p-hydroxyphenylacetaldehyde, respectively, with periodate, which are then converted into fluorescent compounds with 4,5-dimethoxy-1,2-diaminobenzene. The compounds are separated by reversed-phase chromatography on LiChrosorb RP-18. The detection limits of bestatin and p-hydroxybestatin are 0.2 and 0.4 microgram/ml serum, respectively. This method permits the precise determination of bestatin in serum (20 microliter) from patients administered bestatin. p-Hydroxybestatin in serum can not be measured by this method because of its low concentration (less than the detection limit).     

Determination of valproic acid by high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode-array and fluorescence detection.

The derivatization of valproic acid and undecylenic acid with 4-bromomethyl-7-methoxycoumarin is described. The derivatives were detected by photodiode-array and fluorescence detectors. The optimum monitoring conditions and the stability of the suspension solution and derivatives were investigated. A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with isocratic or gradient elution has been established for the analysis. This method has been used for the determination of total and free valproic acid in serum. There is a satisfactory correlation between the results obtained by this HPLC method and those measured by the enzyme immunoassay. Some other common anti-epileptic drugs did not interfere with the analysis. The method is simple and fast and has better sensitivity and linearity than enzyme immunoassay. It is suited for routine therapeutic drug monitoring.     

Rapid determination of succinylcholine in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method with fluorometric detection has been developed for the determination of succinylcholine in human plasma. Succinylcholine shows fluorescence at 282 nm with an excitation at 257 nm. The assay is sensitive, reproducible and linear for concentrations ranging from 100 ng/ml to 100 micrograms/ml of succinylcholine. In a pilot study the plasma concentration-time curve showed a triphasic elimination, with half-lives of 0.4, 1.2 and 8 min, respectively. In a clinical setting, drugs commonly administered during anaesthesia did not interfere with the assay. This method provides a simple and time-saving alternative to existing methods.     

Quantitative determination of Closantel residues in milk by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

A HPLC method with fluorescence detection for quantitative determination of Closantel residues in milk has been developed and validated. The proposed cleaning procedure with acetonitrile and acetone extraction, and solid-phase clean-up with Florisil enables concentrations of Closantel below 50 micrograms/l to be determined. The method was shown to be sufficient, precise, accurate, selective and rugged. The method was applied in the regular monitoring of Closantel residues in milk and of the pharmacokinetic behavior of Closantel in sheep.     

Simultaneous determination of thiols and disulfides by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

The proposed simultaneous determination of thiols and disulfides requires 4- (aminosulfonyl)- 7-fluor-2,1,3,-benzoxadiazole (ABD-F) as the pre-column derivatization reagent for thiols and ammonium 7-fluoro-2,1,3,-benzoxadiazole-4-sulfonate (SBD-F) for disulfides followed by chromatography. The thiols and disulfides in solution are treated with ABD-F at 60°C for 5 min in pH 9.3 borate buffer containing 1 nM disodium-EDTA. After removal of excess of ABD-F with ethyl acetate, the remaining disulfides in the aqueous phase are treated with SBD-F at 60°C for 20 min in the presence of tri-n-butylphosphine, a reducing agent. The ABD-thiols and SBD-thiols thus produced are separated by reversed-phase chromatography and detected by fluorimetry (380- nm excitation, 510 - nm emission). SBD-cystein, SBD-homocystein, ABD-homocysteine, ABD-cysteine, SBD-glu- tathione, ABD-homocystein, SBD-N-acetylcystein, ABD-glutatione and ABD-N-acetylcysteine are well separated by linear gradient elution from 0.15 M H₃PO₄/CH₃CN (96:4) to 0.15 M H₃PO₄/CH₃CN (85:15) over 30 min followed by isocratic elution with 0.15 M H₃PO₄/CH₃CN (85:15) fro 10 min. The detection limits for the derivatives are in the range 0.09–0.9 pmol. When the method was applied to the determination of thiols and disulfides in rat tissues, cystein (0.75 μmol g^-1) and cystine (0.62 μmol g^-1) were obtained in kidney and reduced glutathione (1.4–3.4 μmol g^-1) was observed in liver, spleen, heart and testicle.     

Determination of cisapride in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

Summary A new sensitive HPLC-FLD method has been developed and validated for the determination of cisapride in human plasma for a bioequivalence study. A gradient method was used to remove late-eluting plasma components of no interest. The separation was performed on a Li-ChroCART 250-4 Purospher RP-18 (5 μm particle) analytical column fitted with a LiChroCART 4-4 Purospher RP-18 endcapped (5 μm particle) guard column. The excitation and emission wavelengths were 295 and 350 nm during fluorescence detection. The calibration plot was linear in the range of 5–200 ng mL⁻¹. A demethoxy analogue of cisapride was used as internal standard.     

Analysis of abamectin residues in avocados by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

In this work an analytical method for the determination of abamectin residues in avocados is developed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence (FL) detection. A pre-column derivatization with trifluoroacetic anhydride (TFAA) and N-methylimidazole (NMIM) was carried out. The mobile phase consisted of water, methanol and acetonitrile (5:47.5:47.5 v/v/v) and was pumped at a rate of 1 mL/min (isocratic elution). The fluorescence detector was set at an excitation wavelength of 365 nm and an emission wavelength of 470 nm. Homogenized avocado samples were extracted twice with acetonitrile:water 8:2 (v/v) and cleaned using C(18) solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridges. Recovery values were in the range 87-98% with RSD values lower than 13%. The limits of detection (LODs) and quantification (LOQs) of the whole method were 0.001 and 0.003 mg/kg, respectively. These values are lower than the maximum residue limit (MRL) established by the European Union (EU) and the Spanish legislation in avocado samples.     

Determination of nicotinic acid in serum by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A sensitive method for the determination of nicotinic acid in serum is described which employs high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Nicotinic acid and 2-chloronicotinic acid as an internal standard in deproteinized serum are reacted with N,N'-dicyclohexyl-O-(7-methoxycoumarin-4-yl)methylisourea in acetone to give the corresponding fluorescent 4-hydroxymethyl-7-methoxycoumarin esters. The compounds are separated by reversed-phase chromatography on LiChrosorb RP-18 with isocratic elution using aqueous acetonitrile containing a small amount of sodium 1-hexanesulphonate as a mobile phase. The detection limit of nicotinic acid in serum was 0.2 nmol/ml. The method requires only 100 microliters of serum.