Simple high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for melphalan in perfusate, rat liver and tumour tissue

A simple, sensitive and selective reversed-phase liquid chromatographic assay has been developed and validated for the anti-cancer agent melphalan in perfusate, liver and tumour tissue originating from isolated rat liver perfusion studies. Melphalan was extracted from the matrix using ice-cold methanol. The drug and the internal standard, propylparaben, were detected using ultraviolet absorbance at 262 nm. The assay has been validated in the 0.05-25 microg/mL range for perfusate; the lower limit of quantification (LLQ) is 0.05 microg/mL in perfusate and 0.25 ng/mg in liver and tumour tissues. Accuracies ranged from 89 to 110% and the inter-assay precisions were all below 15% (20% at the LLQ). Melphalan in a biological matrix has to be processed between 0 and 4 degrees C and is stable under all relevant processing and storage conditions tested. The assay has been exhaustively used in isolated liver perfusion studies with the drug demonstrating its applicability.     

Simultaneous quantification of fludarabine and cyclophosphamide in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Fludarabine and cyclophosphamide are anticancer agents mainly used in the treatment of hematologic malignancies. We have developed and validated an assay using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry for the quantification of fludarabine in combination with cyclophosphamide in human heparin and human EDTA plasma. Sample pre-treatment consisted of a protein precipitation with cold acetonitrile (-20 degrees C) using 250 microL of plasma. Separation was performed on an Extend C18 column (150 x 2.1 mm i.d.; 5 microm) with a stepwise gradient using 1 mM ammonia solution and acetonitrile at a flow rate of 400 microL/min. The analytical run time was 12 min. The triple quadrupole mass spectrometer was operated in the positive ion mode and multiple reaction monitoring was used for drug quantification. The method was validated over a concentration range of 1 to 100 ng/mL for fludarabine and cyclophosphamide in human heparin and human EDTA plasma. The coefficients of variation were <13.9% for inter- and intra-day precisions. Mean accuracies were also within the designated limits (+/-15%). The analytes were stable in plasma, processed extracts and in stock solution under all relevant conditions.     

Recent developments in capillary isoelectric focusing

The developments in capillary isoelectric focusing (cIEF) over the period 2003-2007 are reviewed. With the focus on technological aspects, cIEF papers published in the fields of methodology, new techniques, detection, multidimensional systems, miniaturization and applications are summarized. The methodology section covers recent research in ampholytes composition, detergents and other additives, carrier ampholyte free cIEF, coatings and other capillary modifications. In the section on new systems adjustments to the technique (e.g. dynamic IEF), different applications of cIEF (e.g. as injection system) and new devices are reported. Systems focusing on whole column imaging, fluorescence and chemiluminescence detection and coupling to mass spectrometers are discussed in the section on detection. Interfacing cIEF with MS via RPLC systems and hyphenation of cIEF with capillary electrochromatography and other capillary electrophoresis modes are also summarized. Papers focusing on miniaturization are reviewed in the section on microfluidic devices. The section on applications will show analysis of biopharmaceutical compounds and isolated proteins for metabolomic studies. For the analysis of complex biological matrices, generally multidimensional systems are needed, which are mentioned throughout this review.     

Improved repeatability and matrix-assisted desorption/ionization - time of flight mass spectrometry compatibility in capillary isoelectric focusing

Low repeatability of migration time, peak area, and linearity (pI vs. mobilization time) is a problem often encountered in capillary IEF (cIEF) and is mainly caused by protein precipitation and protein-wall interactions. In order to study the influence of these phenomena, the effect of different classes of additives on repeatability of migration time, peak area and linearity of a mixture of seven model proteins has been investigated. Moreover, the influence of these additives on protein signal suppression in MALDI-TOF MS has been studied. The optimal ampholyte blend (stabilizes pH gradient) to be used depends on the selected UV detection wavelength. All tested ampholyte blends show a significant and comparable signal suppression in MS. The best detergent (to prevent precipitation and wall interaction) should be determined for each sample individually, but generally polyethylene oxide and zwitterionic detergents show good repeatability for migration time (RSD <4.5%) and peak area (majority <10%). The RSD of R(2) is <1.3% for the hydrophilic protein mixture. However, these components cause severe signal suppression in MS. Therefore glucoside detergents should preferably be used for MS coupling. Viscosity-increasing agents (for hydrodynamic wall coating and to minimize diffusion) in particular cellulose derivatives, give good repeatability for migration times (RSD <4.5% at lower concentrations), peak area (except for high concentration methylcellulose and hydroxyethylcellulose all within 7.5%), and correlation (pI vs. migration time), but severe signal suppression is observed in MALDI-TOF MS. Overall, cIEF repeatability and linearity can significantly be improved by adding the appropriate components. However, when the system is coupled to a MALDI-TOF MS, compromises have to be made between high repeatability and linearity on one hand and MS signal intensity on the other.