Capillary liquid chromatographic analysis of fat-soluble vitamins and β-carotene in combination with in-tube solid-phase microextraction

A capillary liquid chromatography (CLC) system with UV/vis detection was coupled with an in-tube solid-phase microextraction (SPME) device for the analysis of fat-soluble vitamins and β-carotene. A monolithic silica-ODS column was used as the extraction medium. An optical-fiber flow cell with a long light path in the UV/vis detector was utilized to further enhance the detection sensitivity. In the in-tube SPME/CLC system, the pre-condition of the extraction column and the effect of the injection volume were investigated. The detection limits (LOD) for the fat-soluble vitamins and β-carotene were in the range from 1.9 to 173 ng/mL based on the signal-to-noise ratio of 3 (S/N = 3). The relative standard deviations of migration time and peak area for each analyte were less than 5.0%. The method was applied to the analysis of fat-soluble vitamins and β-carotene contents in corns.     

Determination of ginsenoside Rg3 in human plasma and urine by high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

Here we report a method capable of quantifying ginsenoside Rg3 in human plasma and urine. The method was validated over linear range of 2.5–1000.0 ng mL⁻¹ for plasma and 2.0–20.0 ng mL⁻¹ for urine using ginsenoside Rg1 as I.S. Compounds were extracted with ethyl acetate and analyzed by HPLC/MS/MS (API-4000 system equipped with ESI⁻ interface and a C₁₈ column). The inter- and intra-day precision and accuracy of QC samples were ≤8.5% relative error and were ≤14.4% relative standard deviation for plasma; were ≤5.6% and ≤13.3% for urine. The Rg3 was stable after 24 h at room temperature, 3 freeze/thaw cycles and 131 days at −30 °C. This method has been applied to pharmacokinetic study of ginsenoside Rg3 in human.     

Determination of methocarbamol concentration in human plasma by high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

A simple and reproducible high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometric method was developed for methocarbamol analysis in human plasma. Methocarbamol and the internal standard (IS) were extracted by a protein precipitation method. Under isocratic separation condition the chromatographic run time was 3.0 min. The calibration curve was linear over a range of 150–12,000 ng/mL with good intraday assay and interday assay precision (CV% < 10.9%). The method was proven to be sensitive and selective for the analysis of methocarbamol in human plasma for bioequivalence study.     

Measurement of urinary oxypurinol by high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

Oxypurinol is the active metabolite of allopurinol which is used to treat hyperuricaemia associated with gout. Both oxypurinol and allopurinol inhibit xanthine oxidase which forms uric acid from xanthine and hypoxanthine. Plasma oxypurinol concentrations vary substantially between individuals and the source of this variability remains unclear. The aim of this study was to develop an HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry method to measure oxypurinol in urine to facilitate the study of the renal elimination of oxypurinol in patients with gout. Urine samples (50 μL) were prepared by dilution with a solution of acetonitrile/methanol/water (95/2/3, v/v; 2 mL) that contained the internal standard (8-methylxanthine; 1.5 mg/L), followed by centrifugation. An aliquot (2 μL) was injected. Chromatography was performed on an Atlantis HILIC Silica column (3 μm, 100 mm × 2.1 mm, Waters) at 30 °C, using a mobile phase comprised of acetonitrile/methanol/50 mM ammonium acetate in 0.2% formic acid (95/2/3, v/v). Using a flow rate of 0.35 mL/min, the analysis time was 6.0 min. Mass spectrometric detection was by selected reactant monitoring (oxypurinol: m/z 150.8 → 108.0; internal standard: m/z 164.9 → 121.8) in negative electrospray ionization mode. Calibration curves were prepared in drug-free urine across the range 10–200 mg/L and fitted using quadratic regression with a weighting factor of 1/x (r² > 0.997, n = 7). Quality control samples (20, 80, 150 and 300 mg/L) were used to determine intra-day (n = 5) and inter-day (n = 7) accuracy and imprecision. The inter-day accuracy and imprecision was 96.1–104% and <11.2%, respectively. Urinary oxypurinol samples were stable when subjected to 3 freeze–thaw cycles and when stored at room temperature for up to 6 h. Samples collected from 10 patients, not receiving allopurinol therapy, were screened and showed no significant interferences. The method was suitable for the quantification of oxypurinol in the urine of patients (n = 34) participating in a clinical trial to optimize therapy of gout with allopurinol.     

Evaluation of uncertainty of measurement from method validation data: An application to the simultaneous determination of retinol and α-tocopherol in human serum by HPLC

An isocratic RP-HPLC method for the determination of retinol and α-tocopherol in serum, with fluorescence and UV/VIS detection, respectively, was developed and validated according to international guidelines. Detection (retinol 0.015 mg/L, α-tocopherol 0.29 mg/L) and quantification (retinol 0.05 mg/L, α-tocopherol 0.95 mg/L) limits were determined. Repeatability was <3.3% and <2.9% and intermediate precision was <4.6% and <3.2%, for retinol and α-tocopherol, respectively. Certified reference materials were utilised to assess bias and guarantee traceability to SI units. Expanded uncertainties (retinol 8.9%; α-tocopherol 7.9%), estimated according to the EURACHEM/CITAC guide from method validation data, satisfied fit-for-purpose requirements based on biological variability.     

Extractionless high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of piroxicam and 5′-hydroxypiroxicam in human plasma and urine

A simple and rapid (extractionless) high-performance liquid chromatographic method with UV detection, at 330 nm, was developed for the simultaneous determination of piroxicam and its major metabolite, 5′-hydroxypiroxicam, in human plasma and urine. Acidified plasma and alkali-treated urine samples are used and naproxen is added as internal standard. The separation is performed at 40°C on a C₁₈ Spherisorb column with acetonitrile-0.1 M sodium acetate (33:67, v/v, pH 3.3) as mobile phase. The retention time is 2.2 min for 5′-hydroxypiroxicam, 2.6 min for piroxicam and 3.2 min for naproxen. The detection limit is 0.05 μg/ml using a 100-μl loop.     

Gas chromatographic–mass spectrometric analysis of veterinary tranquillizers in urine: evaluation of method performance

A method for analysis of veterinary tranquillizers in urine using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) is described. Detection limits are 5 μg/l for ketamine, azaperone and the phenothiazines (chlor-, aceto- and propionylpromazine), 10 μg/l for haloperidol, 20 μg/l for xylazine and 50 μg/l for azaperol, recoveries for all analytes were higher than 70%. Method performance in terms of within-batch, between-days and between-analysts reproducibility was studied and found to be acceptable. Compliance with European Union criteria for confirmation of GC–MS “positive” results is evaluated and discussed.     

Comparative effects of β-carotene and fucoxanthin on retinol deficiency induced oxidative stress in rats

This study aimed at comparing antioxidant potential of fucoxanthin (FUCO) with β-carotene in relieving lipid peroxidation (Lpx) caused by retinol deficiency (RD) in rats. RD rats (n = 45) were fed a dose of either β-carotene (0.81 μmol) or FUCO (0.83 μmol). Plasma and liver lipid peroxide levels and activity of antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT) and glutathione transferase (GST) were measured for 8 h. Results revealed that RD increased (P < 0.05) Lpx in plasma and liver by 34.3% and 19.4%, while the CAT activity in plasma (89%) and liver microsomes (91%) and GST in liver homogenate (31%) and liver microsomes (30%) were decreased (P < 0.05) compared to control (rats fed basal diet). FUCO suppressed (P < 0.05) the Lpx level by 7–85% (plasma) and 24–72% (liver) as compared to β-carotene (51–76%, 33–65%) over a period of 8 h. The activity of CAT in plasma and liver microsomes was higher (P < 0.05) in FUCO (90–95%, 85–93%) and β-carotene (87–96%, 79–91%) groups as compared to RD group. Similarly, the activity of GST in liver and its microsomes was also elevated (P < 0.05) in FUCO (44–51%, 22–51%) and β-carotene (19–54%, 30–43%) groups as compared to RD group. Results demonstrate that FUCO has greater potential than β-carotene in modulating Lpx, CAT, GST in plasma and liver of RD rats.     

Methyl cyanide induces α to β transition and aggregation at high concentrations in E-state of human serum albumin

We have studied the effect of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE), an α-helix inducer, versus methyl cyanide (MeCN), a β-sheet inducer, on acid-denatured human serum albumin (HSA) using far-UV circular dichroism, intrinsic fluorescence, 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate binding, and acrylamide quenching studies. Interestingly, at pH 2.0, where the recovery and resolution of the protein in reverse phase chromatography is high, its secondary structure remains unchanged even in the presence of very high concentration (76% v/v) of MeCN. Gain of 23 and 34% α-helicity was observed in the presence of 20 and 50% TFE, respectively. At pH 7.3, HSA aggregates in the presence of 40% MeCN, but it remains soluble up to 75% MeCN at pH 2.0. The results seem to be important for HSA isolation and purification.     

Determination of scopolamine in human serum and microdialysis samples by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

A liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric (LC–MS–MS) method with a rapid and simple sample preparation was developed for the determination of scopolamine in biological fluids. Scopolamine and the internal standard atropine in serum samples were extracted and cleaned up by using an automated solid phase extraction method. Microdialysis samples were directly injected into the LC–MS system. The mass spectrometer was operated in the multi reaction monitoring mode. A good linear response over the range of 20 pg/ml to 5 ng/ml was demonstrated. The accuracy for added scopolamine ranged from 95.0 to 104.0%. The lower limit of quantification was 20 pg/ml. This method is suitable for pharmacokinetic studies.     

Simultaneous determination of isoniazid,rifampicin, levofloxacin in mouse tissues and plasma by high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

A rapid and selective high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS) method for simultaneous determination of isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RFP) and levofloxacin (LVX) in mouse tissues and plasma has been developed and validated, using gatifloxacin as the internal standard (I.S.). The compounds and I.S. were extracted from tissue homogenate and plasma by a protein precipitation procedure with methanol. The HPLC separation of the analytes was performed on a Welch materials C4 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5.0 μm, USA) at 25 °C, using a gradient elution program with the initial mobile phase constituting of 0.05% formic acid and methanol (93:7, v/v) at a flow-rate of 1.0 ml/min. For all the three analytes, the recoveries varied between 83.3% and 98.8% in tissues and between 75.5% and 90.8% in plasma, the accuracies ranged from 91.7% to 112.0% in tissues and from 94.6% to 108.8% in plasma, and the intra- and inter-day precisions were less than 13.3% in tissues and less than 8.2% in plsama. Calibration ranges for INH were 0.11–5.42 μg/g in tissues and 0.18–9.04 μg/ml in plasma, for RFP were 0.12–1200 μg/g in tissues and 4.0–200 μg/ml in plasma, and for LVX were 0.13–26.2 μg/g in tissues and 0.09–4.53 μg/ml in plasma. The lower limits of quantification (LLOQs) for INH, RFP and LVX in mouse tissues were 0.11, 0.12 and 0.13 μg/g and for those in mouse plasma were 18.1, 20.0 and 21.8 ng/ml, respectively. The limits of detection (LODs) for INH, RFP and LVX in mouse tissues were 0.04, 0.05 and 0.05 μg/g and for those in mouse plasma were 5.5, 6.0 and 6.6 ng/ml, respectively. The established method was successfully applied to simultaneous determination of isoniazid, rifampicin and levofloxacin in mouse plasma and different mouse tissues.     

Prenatal and post-natal screening of β-thalassemia and hemoglobin E genes in Thailand using denaturing high performance liquid chromatography

We have developed methods based on PCR and denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) for rapid identifications of common β-thalassemia mutations found in Thailand. The β-globin gene was separately amplified by PCR on four different fragments covering eight most common β-thalassemia mutations including nucleotide ?28 A-G, codon 17 (A-T), IVSI-1 (G-T), IVSI-5 (G-C), codon 26 (G-A or Hb E), codons 41/42 (–TTCT), codons 71/72 (+A) and IVSII-654 (C-T). After PCR amplification, heteroduplex was generated by denaturation at 95 °C for 5 min followed by a slow reduction in temperature to 25 °C at 0.03 °C/s. Analysis of heteroduplex was done on an automated WAVE Nucleic Acid Fragment Analysis System. Specific DHPLC profile for each mutation was demonstrated which could be used in screening for all eight β-thalassemia mutations. Further validation was done on 42 pre- and post-natal DNA samples which demonstrated 100 % accuracy as compared to the result obtained with conventional PCR assays. In a remaining case with an unknown mutation, a different DHPLC profile was noted on one of the amplified fragment. Further DNA sequencing of this fragment revealed a T-G transversion at the IVSI-116, a previously un-described mutation in Thai population. The DHPLC assay developed should prove useful for rapid screening of known and unknown β-thalassemia mutations during carrier screening and pre-natal diagnosis which would facilitate an ongoing prevention and control program of thalassemia.     

Micro-determination of clonazepam in plasma or serum by electron-capture gas—liquid chromatography

A rapid method is described for the electron-capture gas chromatographic determination of clonazepam in plasma or serum using methyl-clonazepam as an internal standard. The analysis is performed isothermally on the silicone stationary phase SP-2510DA (Supelco). With this liquid phase, gas chromatographic properties are comparable to methods involving acid hydrolysis or derivatisation. A short pre-column containing another phase is added to enhance resolution. The method involves a single extraction, requires 100 μl of sample and has a detection limit of 3 nmol/l. Response is linear at concentrations from 5–900 nmol/l and thus clonazepam analysis both during therapy and after overdosage is possible. Plasma and serum clonazepam levels are interchangeable.     

Investigation of the seasonal variations of sterol and fatty acid constituents in the bivalve molluscs Venus gallina and Scapharca inaequivalvis (Bruguiére)

• 1.1. An investigation was carried out on the bivalve molluscs Venus gallina and Scapharca inaequivalvis (Bruguiére) with the aim of evaluating the seasonal variations of the sterols and of the fatty acids present in the lipid fraction.
• 2.2. The samples were collected monthly from the Adriatic Sea, near Cesenatico, at a distance of approx. 500 m from the shore, where the water is approx. 3.5–4 m deep, the average salinity is approx. 31% and the temperature of the water goes from a minimum of roughly 8°C in the winter up to a maximum of approx. 24°C in the summer.
• 3.3. The sterols, as well as the fatty acids, extracted from the tissues of V. gallina are practically the same as those isolated from the tissues of S. inaequivalvis and coincide with those found previously in other bivalve molluscs.
• 4.4. This confirms the close link between the lipid fraction of the molluscs and their diet, which in this area consists mainly of bentonic diatoms or, alternatively, of plantonic dinoflagellates that have settled on the sea-bed.
• 5.5. Some quantitative variations occurring in the composition of the constituents analysed would seem to depend more on internal factors, typical of the two different species of bivalve molluscs, rather than on different diet.

     

Label-free,chronological and selective detection of aggregation and fibrillization of amyloid β protein in serum by microcantilever sensor immobilizing cholesterol-incorporated liposome

To facilitate the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment patients, we developed a cantilever-based microsensor that immobilized liposomes of various phospholipids to detect a trace amount of amyloid β (Aβ) protein, and investigated its aggregation and fibrillization on model cell membranes in human serum. Three species of liposomes composed of different phospholipids of 1,2-dipalmtoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC), DPPC/phosphatidyl ethanolamine and 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylglycerol having varied hydrophilic groups were applied, which showed different chronological interactions with Aβ(1–40) protein and varied sensitivities of the cantilever sensor, depending on their specific electrostatic charged conditions, hydrophilicity, and membrane fluidity. 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) having short hydrophobic carbon chains confirmed to show a large interaction with Aβ(1–40) and a high sensitivity. Furthermore, the incorporation of cholesterol into DMPC was effective to selectively detect Aβ(1–40) in human serum, which effect was also checked by quartz crystal microbalance. Finally, Aβ detection of 100-pM order was expected selectively in the serum by using the developed biosensor.     

Molecularly imprinted polymer for analysis of zidovudine and stavudine in human serum by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry

A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) using zidovudine (AZT) as template and methacrylic acid as monomer was prepared. The synthesis of the MIP was performed in acetonitrile. The synthesized material was then tested for the solid-phase extraction of AZT from different media (pure organic solvents and hydro-organic mixtures). An optimised procedure was developed for the selective extraction of AZT with a recovery of 96% using the MIP and only 3% on a non-imprinted polymer used as control polymer. A specific capacity of 0.2 μmol g^?1 was determined. The specificity of the MIP was evaluated by studying the retention behaviour of two others nucleoside analogues. The feasibility of the MIP to selectively extract AZT and stavudine (d4T) from human serum was also demonstrated with recoveries of 80 and 85% respectively. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) and the lower limits of detection (LLOD) for AZT were 5.10^?7 and 10^?7 M respectively.     

Comparative pharmacokinetics of a proliposome formulation of Ginkgo biloba extract and Ginaton in rats by a sensitive ultra performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method

As a novel oral drug delivery system, proliposome was applied to improve the solubility of active components of Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE). There are currently few reports focusing on the pharmacokinetic characteristics of proliposome of GbE (GbP). A rapid and sensitive ultra performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS) method for the simultaneous quantification of active components of GbP and a commercial tablet product (Ginaton) in rat plasma was developed and successfully validated. The method was applied to the comparative pharmacokinetic evaluation of GbP and Ginaton in rat plasma. The results indicated that GbP has a significant effect on absorption, elimination and bioavailability of flavonoids and terpenoid lactones in comparison with Ginaton. The obtained results would be helpful for evaluating the absorption mechanism in the gastrointestinal tract in pharmacokinetic level and guiding the development of the novel oral drug delivery system.     

Quantitative analysis of methylguanidine and guanidine in physiologic fluids by high-performance liquid chromatography—fluorescence detection method

A rapid and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the quantitative analysis of methylguanidine and guanidine in physiological fluids. These guanidino compounds are separated on a 6 × 0.23 cm cation-exchange column with 0.5 M sodium hydroxide solution. The guanidino compounds are detected with a fluorometer, which monitors the fluorescent guanidine derivatives produced by the reaction of the eluted constituents with 9,10-phenanthrenequinone. Sensitivity to sub-nanomole levels of methylguanidine and guanidine is demonstrated. The method was successfully applied to physiological fluids such as serum and cerebrospinal fluid from uremic patients.