LC–MS Determination of Gabapentin from Human Plasma

Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant drug used for the treatment of epilepsy. It is not bound to plasma protein and is not metabolized. A high performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometric micro method is described in this report for its determination from human plasma. Chromatography was performed on a 50 × 4.6 mm, 4 μm nitrile column and the parent ion detected in the positive ionization mode on single quadrupole analyzer (Q1MI) with atmospheric pressure ionization source. Extraction was carried out on C₁₈, 100 mg/3cc cartridge using 10 μL sample volume. The mean extraction recovery was 97% and within batch and between batch coefficients of variation were <9%. Lack of interference from endogenous substances helped in achieving a highly sensitive method without the need for monitoring fragment ions. The lowest concentration injected on column for calibration curve was 195 pg (range 0.5–64 ng). The method was applied for analysis of samples from a cross-over bio-equivalence study comparing two formulations.

     

Determination of Ten Rare Ginsenosides in Three Kinds of Injection by SPE and HPLC

A method combining solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography (SPE–HPLC) has been developed for analysis of ten rare ginsenosides including 20(R)-Rh₁, 20(S)-Rh₁, 20(R)-Rg₃, 20(S)-Rg₃, Rg₅, Rk₁, Rg₆, F₄, Rk₃, and Rh₄ in three kinds of injection (Shenfu, Shenmai, and Shengmai). Waters Oasis HLB SPE columns were used to clean and enrich the sample. An Eclipse XDB-C₁₈ column was used to separate the analytes, with water and acetonitrile as mobile phase components under gradient elution conditions at 30 °C. There were good linear correlations between the signals measured and the concentrations of the ten analytes (r ² ≥ 0.9996). Intraday and interday precision were both better than 2.19% and average recovery ranged from 95.25 to 108.83%. The proposed method was successfully applied to determination of the ten analytes in different batches of the injections and the results indicated the method is simple, rapid, and accurate. The proposed method could be used for quality control during manufacture of the injections.

     

SPE then RP-LC for Simultaneous Analysis of Cyromazine and its Metabolite Melamine in Liquid Milk and Egg

Solid-phase extraction (SPE) and reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RP-LC) have been used for simple, sensitive simultaneous analysis of cyromazine and melamine residues in liquid milk and eggs. The conditions used for SPE and LC were investigated and optimized. A combined cation-exchange–reversed-phase cartridge was used for clean-up, and an ODS (C₁₈) column (150 mm × 4.6 mm i.d., 5-μm particles) with 62:38 (v/v) 5 mm sodium lauryl sulfate (pH 3.4)–acetonitrile as mobile phase was used for RP-LC. Under the optimum conditions the method limit of detection (LOD) for both cyromazine and melamine was 6.2 μg kg⁻¹ for liquid milk samples, and 11.5 μg kg⁻¹ for egg samples. Average recovery of cyromazine and melamine from milk samples was 90.3%, RSD 4.6–5.6%, and 99.6%, RSD 3.2–4.7%, respectively. Average recovery of cyromazine and melamine from egg samples was 85.3%, RSD 1.0–4.7%, and 89.6%, RSD 3.1–5.0%, respectively. The method enables detection of melamine and cyromazine at levels as low as 20.7 μg kg⁻¹ in liquid milk and 38.3 μg kg⁻¹ in egg.

     

Comparison of HPLC and MEEKC for Miconazole Nitrate Determination in Pharmaceutical Formulation

A simple solid phase extraction (SPE) method coupled with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using UV detector and microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography (MEEKC) has been developed and compared for the quantitative determination of miconazole nitrate in pharmaceutical formulation. For HPLC method, two parameters were optimized, namely, the wavelength and the mobile phases. The optimized condition was at the 225 nm wavelength and the mobile phase of ACN:MeOH (90:10 v/v). There are seven MEEKC parameters that were optimized, in this research, which were applied to voltage, temperature, wavelength, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) concentration, buffer pH, buffer concentration and butan-1-ol concentration. The optimum MEEKC condition was obtained using 86.35 % (w/w) 2.5 mM borate buffer pH 9, 0.25 % (w/w) SDS, 0.8 % (w/w) ethyl acetate, 6.6 % w/w butan-1-ol and 6.0 % (w/w) acetonitrile. The combination of SPE using a diol column with HPLC–UV and the MEEKC methods were successfully applied for the determination of miconazole nitrate in a pharmaceutical formulation with the recovery percentage of 98.35 and 92.50 %, respectively.

     

Rapid RP-LC Method with Fluorescence Detection for Analysis of Fexofenadine in Human Plasma

A rapid and sensitive reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method for analysis of fexofenadine in human plasma has been developed and optimized. The analytes were extracted from biological samples by solid-phase extraction on hydrophilic–lipophilic balance cartridges. LC separation was performed on a C₁₈ analytical column (125 mm × 4 mm i.d., 5-μm particles) with 42:58 (v/v) acetonitrile–water adjusted to pH 2.7 with 85% orthophosphoric acid as mobile phase. Fluorescence detection was performed with excitation at 230 nm and emission at 290 nm. The total time for chromatographic separation was 7 min. The method was validated in accordance with EU guidelines by analysis of plasma samples fortified with fexofenadine at concentrations between 0.05 and 800 ng mL⁻¹. Calibration plots were linear in this range. Mean recovery was typically 94.03% and the detection limit was 0.05 ng mL⁻¹. The time required for quantitative analysis is shorter than that required by other methods.

     

Simple Analytical Method for the Determination of Paclitaxel (Taxol ® ) Levels in Human Plasma

Paclitaxel has been widely used for tumor chemotherapy in recent years and it would be useful to assess occupational exposure to the drug, if only to confirm that the procedures and measures for prevention and protection applied in health care structures are effective against this kind of risk. This study is to establish a simple, robust analytical method for routine use in biological monitoring of health workers exposed to taxanes, and extendable to patients receiving these drugs. HPLC equipped with a diode array detector was used. The assay was validated. Intra- and inter-day accuracy and reproducibility were good. Recovery of paclitaxel spiked in drug-free plasma was higher than 87% with SPE using extract-clean normal phase cyanopropyl silica cartridges for plasma clean-up. The calibration curve was linear in the range 10–500 ng mL⁻¹. The method was applied to plasma samples of nurses occupationally exposed to paclitaxel. The experimental analytical method performed well, detecting paclitaxel in plasma at a concentrations down to 10 ng mL⁻¹. This straightforward method for analytical determination of paclitaxel in human plasma is rapid and can measure up to 36 plasma samples per day. It uses more economical equipment than other methods proposed in the literature and its validation parameters are highly satisfactory.

     

A Selective LC Method for the Determination of Reboxetine in Human Plasma with Fluorescence Detection

A rapid, simple, accurate, sensitive and reproducible high performance liquid chromatographic method for the quantitation of reboxetine (REB) in human plasma using fluvoxamine as an internal standard (IS) has been developed and validated. The method is based on derivatization with 7-chloro-4-nitrobenzofurazan (NBD-Cl). The NBD-derivatives in plasma were extracted by liquid–liquid extraction and chromatographed on a reversed phase C₁₈ column with isocratic elution using acetonitrile and aqueous nitric acid (pH 3) solution. Calibration curve was linear over the range 2.0–200.0 ng mL⁻¹ with inter- and intra-assay precision (RSD%) of less than 4%. The mean recovery was about 94% for REB. The applicability of the method to the plasma was also studied.

     

LC-MS–MS Determination of Pregabalin in Human Plasma

A rapid, sensitive and specific method to quantify pregabalin in human plasma using metaxalone as the internal standard is described. Sample preparation involved simple protein precipitation by using acetronitrile as solvent. The extract was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS–MS). Chromatography was performed isocratically on Thermo Hypurity C₁₈ 5 μm analytical column, (50 mm × 4.6 mm i.d.). The assay of pegabalin was linear calibration curve over the range 10.000–10000.000 ng mL⁻¹. The lower limit of quantification was 10.000 ng mL⁻¹ in plasma. The method was successfully applied to the bioequivalence study of pregabalin capsules (150.0 mg) administered as a single oral dose.

     

Determination of Flavonoid Markers in Honey with SPE and LC using Experimental Design

Determination of flavonoid markers quercetin, hesperetin, and chrysin, found in north Iranian citrus honey samples, was carried out by solid phase extraction (SPE) and isocratic liquid chromatographic separation using central composite design. Optimum conditions for SPE were achieved using 10 mL methanol/water (13:87, v/v, pH = 7) as the washing solvent and 4 mL methanol for elution. Good clean-up and high recovery >90% were observed for all analytes. The use of water/ACN/THF/AcOH (54:36:5:5, v/v) was found to serve as the optimum mobile phase composition and allowed for the separation of analytes from endogenous compounds present in honey. SPE parameters, such as maximum loading capacity and breakthrough volume, were also determined for each analyte. Limit of detection, linear range, recovery, repeatability of retention times, and peak heights were 3.11 × 10⁻⁸–4.44 × 10⁻⁸ g g⁻¹, 0.50–50.0 μg mL⁻¹ (R ² > 0.99), 90.7–96.9%, 3.0–3.6%, and 1.0–2.6%, respectively. Precision of the overall analytical procedure, estimated by five replicate measurements for quercetin, hesperetin and chrysin in citrus honey, as well as the relative standard deviations were 4.3%, 3.8%, and 5.5%, respectively.

     

Quantification of Thiram in Honeybees: Development of a Chemiluminescent ELISA

Abstract

A Chemiluminescence Enzyme‐Linked Immuno‐Sorbent Assay (CL‐ELISA) for determination and quantification of the fungicide thiram in honeybees was developed in an indirect competitive format. The assay was optimized by determining: the optimal coating conjugate concentration and anti‐thiram antiserum dilution, the effect of the incubation time on the competitive step, the tolerance to organic solvents. The IC₅₀ and the limit of detection (LOD) values were 60 ng mL^?1 and 9 ng mL^?1, respectively, similar to those of colorimetric ELISA with a calibration range of 9–15,000 ng mL^?1. Cross reactivity of some related compounds such as some dithiocarbamates, a thiocarbamate, the ethylenethiourea and the tetramethylthiourea were tested. The assay was then applied to honeybees sample extracts obtained by using the liquid‐liquid extraction or the graphitized carbon‐based solid phase extraction.

The calibration curves in honeybee extracts from liquid‐liquid procedure gave an IC₅₀ of 141 ng mL^?1 and a LOD of 17 ng mL^?1. In case of extracts obtained by SPE these values were 139 ng mL^?1 and 15 ng mL^?1, respectively. The average recovery value from honeybee extracts spiked with 75 ng mL^?1 of thiram was 72% for SPE, higher than for liquid‐liquid extraction (60%). On the opposite, when the honeybees were directly spiked with 2 and 10 ppm the average recovery was higher for liquid‐liquid extraction (54%), than for SPE (31%). Finally, the assay was applied to honeybee samples collected during monitoring activities in Italy and Russia.     

LC–MS–MS Method for Simultaneous Analysis of Abacavir and Lamivudine in Human Plasma, and Its Application to a Bioequivalence Study

A rapid and sensitive LC–MS–MS method has been developed and validated for simultaneous analysis of abacavir (ABA) and lamivudine (LAM) in human plasma. The analytes were extracted from human plasma by SPE. Nelfinavir (NEL) and emtricitabine (EMT) were used as the internal standards for ABA and LAM, respectively. An RP18 column enabled chromatographic separation of the analytes. The method involves simple isocratic chromatography and MS detection in positive-ionization mode. Validation of the method showed response was a linear function of concentration in the ranges 100.0–7000.0 ng mL^?1 for ABA and 80.0–5000.0 ng mL^?1 for LAM. At the LOQ levels, inter-run and intra-run precision were within 5.80 and 3.51%, respectively, for ABA and within 4.68 and 3.16%, respectively, for LAM. Overall recovery for ABA and LAM was 59.32 and 105.18%, respectively. Total elution time was 2 min only, which enabled quantification of more than 200 plasma samples per day. This validated method was used successfully for analysis of plasma samples from a bioequivalence study.     

LC Method for Determination and Pharmacokinetic Study of 5,6,7,8,3′,4′-Hexamethoxy-3-sulfonyl Flavone in Rat Plasma

A sensitive, specific and rapid high-performance liquid chromatography method was developed for determination of 5,6,7,8,3′,4′-hexamethoxy-3-sulfonyl flavone in rat plasma. A simple methanol-induced protein precipitation was applied to extract 5,6,7,8,3′,4′-hexamethoxy-3-sulfonyl flavone and Picroside II (the internal standard) from rat plasma. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a Hypersil ODS₂ analytical column (200 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) with acetonitrile–0.04% triethylamine solution (adjusted to pH 5.8 using phosphoric acid) (24:76, v/v) as mobile phase. The calibration curves were linear over the range of 0.2–40 μg mL⁻¹. Absolute recoveries of 5,6,7,8,3′,4′-hexamethoxy-3-sulfonyl flavone were 82.7–95.9% from rat plasma. The intra- and inter-day relative standard deviation precisions were less than 5 and 9%, respectively. The method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of 5,6,7,8,3′,4′-hexamethoxy-3-sulfonyl flavone in rats after intravenous administration.

     

Quick and Simple Determination of Dihydroergotamine by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

Abstract

A simple and rapid liquid chromatographic assay method using a fluorescence detector for quantitation of dihydroergotamine in plasma without extraction was developed. After precipitating the protein with acetonitrile, the supernatant liquid was directly injected for analysis. Chromatographic separation was achieved on C₁₈ reversed phase column and the mobile phase was the isocratic mixture of methanol, acetonitrile and glycine buffer (0.5:3.5:6.0). With this eluting solvent the drug and its internal standard were well separated from the interference of the plasma sample. The average recovery of dihydroergotamine from 6 replicate samples of different concentrations (5-30 ng/ml) were 92.2 ± 3.37%. The minimum amount of dihydroergotamine detectable by this method was 2 ng/ml of sample.     

Application of a Sensitive, Rapid and Validated LC–MS–MS Method for the Determination of Carvedilol in Human Plasma

Carvedilol was quantified in human plasma after a single 25 mg oral dose of the drug was given to 26 healthy volunteers. An applied Biosystems Sciex API 3200 triple quadrupole mass spectrometer in multiple reaction monitoring mode, using electrospray ionization in the positive ion mode was used. Simple solid phase extraction was followed by C₁₈ reverse phase chromatography and tandem mass spectrometric detection using propranalol as the internal standard. The mean recovery for carvedilol was 91.2% with a lower limit of quantification of 0.5 ng mL^?1. This validated assay method makes use of the increased sensitivity and selectivity of tandem mass spectrometry detection to allow for a more rapid and selective method for the determination of carvedilol in human plasma.     

Preparation and Application of a Novel Silica-Supported Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Molecular Imprinting Polymer

Abstract

A novel estazolam-imprinted silica sorbent was prepared by the surface imprinting technique using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTEOS) and phenyltrimethoxysilane (PTMOS) as functional monomers. The functional monomers are expected to form hydrogen bonds and π-π interactions with estazolam. The imprinted silica sorbent was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), element analysis, and scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Compared to C₁₈ solid phase extraction (SPE) and liquid-liquid extraction, molecular imprinting polymer (MIP) SPE was the most feasible method to extract estazolam from human plasma, and the recovery of estazolam was up to 98.7±1.2%.     

Comparison of Modifiers for Mercury Speciation in Water by Solid Phase Extraction and High Performance Liquid Chromatography–Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry

Diethyldithiocarbamate and 2-mercaptoethanol modifiers were compared for the preconcentration of mercury species in water by C₁₈ solid phase extraction (SPE). The recovery values of mercury species were determined by high performance liquid chromatography–atomic fluorescence spectrometry. The eluent type, pH, chloride ion concentration, humic acid concentration, and storage time were evaluated to compare the preconcentration efficiency. L-cysteine was employed to elute the mercury compounds. Less eluent was needed for 2-mercaptoethanol modified SPE than for diethyldithiocarbamate modified SPE at an L-cysteine concentration of 0.12%. Diethyldithiocarbamate modified SPE could be used over a wider pH range and higher humic acid concentrations, whereas 2-mercaptoethanol modified SPE was less affected by the chloride concentration. Both modified SPE systems stored mercury species for 5 days, but diethyldithiocarbamate modified SPE could be stored longer. Diethyldithiocarbamate SPE provided limits of detections of 3.5, 2.5, and 4 ng · L^?1 and average recoveries of 90.78 ± 3.37%, 96.79 ± 5.12%, and 84.88 ± 5.37% for mercury(II), methylmercury, and ethylmercury, respectively. The relative standard deviation was less 6.5%. For 2-mercaptoethanol modified SPE, the limits of detection were 1.4, 1, and 1.6 ng · L^?1 and the recoveries were of 87.66 ± 8.45%, 86.70 ± 2.61%, and 91.31 ± 6.98% for mercury(II), methylmercury, and ethylmercury, respectively, with a relative standard deviation below 9.7%. Water should be characterized for its physical and chemical characteristics before mercury preconcentration to choose the most suitable method.     

Rapid LC-UV Analysis of Iohexol in Canine Plasma for Glomerular Filtration Rate Determination

A rapid high-performance liquid chromatography UV method and a simple sample preparation for analyzing iohexol in canine plasma, for evaluating glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and intestinal permeability, were developed and validated. Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) was used for protein precipitation and iohexol extraction from plasma, followed by vortex mixing and centrifugation. As an internal standard, 4-aminobenzoic acid (para-aminobenzoic acid, PABA) was added. The supernatant (5 μL) was injected into a Zorbax SB-C18 LC column maintained at 50 °C. The mobile phase of the LC method was a water–methanol gradient at pH 3.0 adjusted with TFA. Fast LC measurement was achieved by using a rapid-resolution LC technique. Total run time was 13 min, and UV wavelength was set at 246 nm. Precision of the method was 0.2–9.0%, depending on the iohexol concentration in plasma. Recovery of iohexol from plasma was over 90%, and recovery of the internal standard 99.1 ± 1.4%. The calibration curve was linear (r = 0.9997) over iohexol concentrations of 2.5–150 μg mL^?1 (n = 5). This method is fast, simple, reliable and applicable in clinical settings.     

Stability-Indicating LC Method for the Determination of Olmesartan in Bulk Drug and in Pharmaceutical Dosage Form

A novel stability-indicating LC assay method was developed and validated for quantitative determination of olmesartan in bulk drugs and in pharmaceutical dosage form in the presence of degradation products generated from forced degradation studies. An isocratic, reversed phase LC method was developed to separate the drug from the degradation products, using an Ace5-C18 (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) column, and 50 mM ammonium acetate (pH-5.5 by acetic acid) and acetonitrile (70:30 v/v) as a mobile phase. The detection was carried out at the wavelength of 235 nm. The olmesartan was subjected to stress conditions of hydrolysis (acid, base), oxidation, photolysis and thermal degradation. Degradation was observed for olmesartan in acid, base and in 30% H₂O₂ conditions. The drug was found to be stable in the other stress conditions attempted. The degradation products were well resolved from the main peak. The percentage recovery of olmesartan ranged from (99.89 to 100.95%) in pharmaceutical dosage form. The developed method was validated with respect to linearity, accuracy (recovery), precision, specificity and robustness. The forced degradation studies prove the stability-indicating power of the method.

     

A Validated Stability-Indicating LC Method for Zonisamide

A simple, isocratic, rapid, and accurate reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been established for quantitative determination of zonisamide. The method is also applicable to determination of related substances in the bulk drug. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a 250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5-μm particle, C₁₈ column; the mobile phase was a 70:30 (v/v) mixture of 0.1% (v/v) aqueous triethylamine, adjusted to pH 2.5 with dilute orthophosphoric acid, and acetonitrile. Chromatographic resolution of zonisamide from its potential impurity, A, was found to be >2. The limits of detection and quantification of zonisamide and impurity A were 0.04 and 0.12 μg mL⁻¹, respectively, for 20 μL injection volume. Recovery of zonisamide ranged from 98.5 to 101.2% and recovery of impurity A from a sample of zonisamide ranged from 97.4 to 102.7%. The method was validated for linearity, accuracy, precision, and robustness.

     

LC Method for Studies on the Stability of Sibutramine in Soft Gelatin Capsules

A sensitive and rapid liquid chromatographic method was successfully developed and validated for the determination of sibutramine hydrochloride in bulk and capsules. Sibutramine in the presence of its degradation products was analyzed using UV detection at 225 nm. Chromatography was performed on a reversed-phase C₈ (150 × 4.0 mm I.D., 5 μm) analytical column under isocratic conditions. The mobile phase was composed of acetonitrile:water (aqueous phase containing 0.3% triethylamine and pH adjusted to 7.0) (75:25, v/v) at a flow-rate of 1.1 mL min⁻¹. No chromatographic interference was found during the analysis. Light was the stress condition which most contributed to sibutramine degradation. The method showed a linear response (r > 0.999) from 30 to 90 μg mL⁻¹. The mean recovery for capsules was 101.2%. Inter-day assays showed relative standard deviations of 0.42 and 1.62% for bulk and capsules, respectively. The developed method is able to separate sibutramine from its major degradation products and it may be used in the quality control of this active pharmaceutical ingredient in both bulk and capsules.