Comparison of high-selectivity gas chromatographic methods, including column switching, for the determination of felodipine in plasma

The selectivity required for the determination of low concentrations of felodipine in plasma was achieved by either mass-selective detection, optimization of stationary phase selectivity or column-switching gas chromatography (GC) with a dual-oven chromatograph, the latter two with electron-capture detection. The three approaches were evaluated in terms of selectivity, detectability, precision and suitability for routine applications with automated injection. Using mass-selective detection, the detectability in plasma samples was limited by the performance of the mass spectrometer. The detection limit (signal-to-noise ratio = 3) was 4.7 pmol (1.8 pg) of felodipine. Pre-concentration of extracts permitted quantitation in plasma down to 0.2 nmol/1. Using electron-capture detection, the detectability was determined by the selectivity and bleeding characteristics of the columns. For single-column separation, a 35% phenyl phase was selected. The detection limit was 3.0 fmol (1.2 pg). The limit of quantitation in plasma was 1 nmol/1. In column-switching GC, bleeding products from the first column will separate on the second column and may interfere in separations for trace analysis. Bleeding products from a 50% phenyl phase (DB-17) were characterised by GC-mass spectrometry. With a dual-column system, employing a DB-17 (50% phenyl) column for selective introduction on to a CP-Sil 5 (0% phenyl) column, the signal-to-noise ratio was limited by the low-bleeding second column, provided that the bleeding products from the first column were adequately separated from felodipine. The detection limit in this instance was significantly lower 0.35 fmol (0.13 pg). Direct injection of plasma extracts permitted quantitation down to 0.4 nmol/l. All three methods were well suited for use with autosamplers.