Application of solid-phase microextraction to the quantitative analysis of 1,8-cineole in blood and expired air in a Eucalyptus herbivore,the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

We have developed two solid-phase microextraction (SPME) methods, coupled with gas chromatography, for quantitatively analysing the major Eucalyptus leaf terpene, 1,8-cineole, in both expired air and blood from the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). In-line SPME sampling (5 min at 20 degrees C room temperature) of excurrent air from an expiratory chamber containing a possum dosed orally with 1,8-cineole (50 mg/kg) allowed real-time semi-quantitative measurements reflecting 1,8-cineole blood concentrations. Headspace SPME using 50 microl whole blood collected from possums dosed orally with 1,8-cineole (30 mg/kg) resulted in excellent sensitivity (quantitation limit 1 ng/ml) and reproducibility. Blood concentrations ranged between 1 and 1380 ng/ml. Calibration curves were prepared for two concentration ranges (0.05-10 and 10-400 ng/50 microl) for the analysis of blood concentrations. Both calibration curves were linear (r(2)=0.999 and 0.994, respectively) and the equations for the two concentration ranges were consistent.     

Headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatographic determination of dinitroaniline herbicides in human blood, urine and environmental water

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) is a unique extraction and sampling technique, and it has been used for separation of volatile organics from water or other simple matrices. In this study, we have used SPME to separate dinitroaniline herbicides from complicated matrices of human urine and blood in order to broaden its application to biomedical analysis. The SPME conditions were optimized for water, urine and blood samples, in terms of pH, salt additives, extraction temperature, and fiber exposure time. Urine or water (1.0 ml) spiked with herbicides and 0.28 g of anhydrous sodium sulfate was preheated at 70°C for 10 min, and a polydimethylsiloxane-coated fiber for SPME was exposed to the headspace at 70°C for another 30 min; while spiked blood (0.5 ml) diluted with water (0.5 ml) was treated at 90°C in the same way. The herbicides were extractable under these conditions, and could be determined by gas chromatography–electron capture detector (GC–ECD). The recoveries of the herbicides, measured at the concentrations of 0.50 and 1.0 ng/ml urine or water, or 6.0 and 20 ng/0.5 ml blood, ranged from 35 to 64% for different herbicides from water or urine, and from 3.2 to 7.2% from blood. The headspace SPME yielded clean extracts of dinitroaniline herbicides from urine, blood or water, which could be directly analyzed by GC–ECD without further purification. The peak areas of the extracted herbicides were proportional to their concentrations in the range 0.1–10 ng/ml in water or urine, or 1–60 ng/0.5 ml in blood. The lowest detectable concentration of the herbicides lay in 0.1 ng/ml water or urine, or in 0.5 ng/0.5 ml blood. The intra- and inter-day coefficients of variation were within 14% for most of the analytes. Although the recoveries of the herbicides were rather low, the linearity of calibration curve and the precision were good. The developed method is more sensitive and much simpler in sample preparation than previously reported ones. With the established SPME method, a dosed herbicide was successfully separated and determined in rats' blood.     

Simultaneous determination of barbiturates in human biological fluids by direct immersion solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Simultaneous determination of seven barbiturates in human whole blood and urine by combining direct immersion solid-phase microextraction (DI-SPME) with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is presented. The main parameters affecting the DI-SPME process, such as SPME fibers, salt additives, pHs, extraction temperatures and immersion times were optimized for simultaneous determination of the drugs. The extraction efficiencies were 0.0180-0.988 and 0.0156-2.76% for whole blood and urine, respectively. The regression equations of the drugs showed excellent linearity for both samples; the correlation coefficients (r(2)) were 0.994-0.999. The detection limits for whole blood were 0.05-1 microg x ml(-1), and those for urine 0.01-0.6 microg x ml(-1). Actual quantitation could be made for pentobarbital in whole blood and urine obtained from volunteers, who had been orally administered a therapeutic dose of the drug. The DI-SPME/GC-MS procedure for barbiturates established in this study is simple and sensitive enough to be adopted in the fields of clinical and forensic toxicology.     

Simultaneous determination of selegiline-N-oxide,a new indicator for selegiline administration,and other metabolites in urine by high-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

In order to discriminate selegiline (SG) use from methamphetamine (MA) use, the urinary metabolites of SG users have been investigated using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)–electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC–ESI–MS). Selegiline-N-oxide (SGO), a specific metabolite of SG, was for the first time detected in the urine, in addition to other metabolites MA, amphetamine (AP) and desmethylselegiline (DM-SG). A combination of a Sep-pak C₁₈ cartridge for the solid-phase extraction, a semi-micro SCX column (1.5 mm I.D.×150 mm) for HPLC separation and ESI–MS for detection provided a simple and sensitive procedure for the simultaneous determination of these analytes. Acetonitrile–10 mM ammonium formate buffer adjusted to pH 3.0 (70:30, v/v) at a flow-rate of 0.1 ml/min was found to be the most effective mobile phase. Linear calibration curves were obtained over the concentration range from 0.5 to 100 ng/ml for all the analytes by monitoring each protonated molecular ion in the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. The detection limits ranged from 0.1 to 0.5 ng/ml. Upon applying the scan mode, 10–20 ng/ml were the detection limits. Quantitative investigation utilizing this revealed that SGO was about three times more abundant (47 ng/ml, 79 ng/ml) than DM-SG in two SG users’ urine samples tested here. This newly-detected, specific metabolite SGO was found to be an effective indicator for SG administration.     

Analysis of methanol or formic acid in body fluids by headspace solid-phase microextraction and capillary gas chromatography

Methanol and its metabolite formic acid have been found extractable from human whole blood and urine by headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME) with a Carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane fiber. The headspace SPME for formic acid was carried out after derivatization to methyl formate under acidic conditions. The determinations of both compounds were made by using acetonitrile as internal standard (IS) and capillary gas chromatography (GC) with flame ionization detection. The headspace SPME–GC gave sharp peaks for methanol, methyl formate and I.S.; and low background noises for whole blood and urine samples. Extraction efficiencies were 0.25–1.05% of methanol and 0.38–0.84% formic acid for whole blood and urine. The calibration curves for methanol and formic acid showed excellent linearity in the range of 1.56 to 800 and 1.56 to 500 μg/0.5 ml of whole blood or urine, respectively. The detection limits were 0.1–0.5 μg/0.5 ml for methanol and 0.6 μg/0.5 ml for formic acid for both body fluids. The within-day relative standard deviations in terms of extraction efficiency for both compounds in whole blood and urine samples were not greater than 9.8%. By using the established SPME method, methanol and formic acid were successfully separated and determined in rat blood after oral administration of methanol.     

Validation of high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assays for the quantification of eribulin (E7389) in various biological matrices

This paper presents specific and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) assays for the quantification of the novel anticancer agent eribulin in human plasma, whole blood, urine and faeces. These assays, developed to support clinical pharmacological studies with the drug, quantify eribulin concentration ranges of 0.2-100ng/mL for plasma, 0.5-100 ng/mL for whole blood and urine and 0.1-25 μg/g for faeces, using sample volumes of 500 μL or 250 μg (faeces). Samples were prepared with liquid-liquid extraction, separated on a C18 column with gradient elution and analysed with a triple quadrupole MS, in positive ion mode. A structural analogue of eribulin was used as internal standard for the quantification. The assays were linear with correlation coefficients (r(2)) of 0.99 and better, whereby the deviation from nominal concentrations ranged from -8.2 to 8.9% with CV values of maximally 14.2%. Stability assessments demonstrated that eribulin is stable at -20°C in plasma, whole blood, urine and faeces for at least 38, 4, 10.5 and 5 months, respectively. In conclusion, the validation results show that the assays are specific and accurate and can therefore adequately be applied to support clinical studies of eribulin.     

Sensitive determination of pethidine in body fluids by surface ionization organic mass spectrometry

We have presented a simple and sensitive method for determining pethidine, a narcotic analgesic drug in body fluids by gas chromatography (GC)/surface ionization organic mass spectrometry (SIOMS). Good linearity was obtained in the range of 0.625–25 ng/ml of whole blood and urine by mass chromatography, and in the range of 0.05–2 ng/ml of whole blood by selected ion monitoring (SIM). Pethidine and diphenylpyraline (internal standard) were extracted from body fluids with Bond Elut Certify cartridges; their recoveries were above 95%. The detection limits (signal-to-noise ratio=3) were estimated to be 0.2 ng/ml of whole blood or urine by mass chromatography, 0.02 ng/ml of whole blood by SIM.     

Determination of 1,2-bis (2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA free acid) in rat plasma, urine and feces by liquid chromatography with UV and tandem mass spectrometric detection

BAPTA free acid was identified as the main metabolic product of 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid tetra(actoxymethyl ester) (BAPTA-AM), a neuroprotective agent in cerebral ischemia, in rats. In this paper, liquid chromatography-ultraviolet (LC-UV) and mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods were employed for the determination of BAPTA free acid in rat urine and feces and rat plasma, respectively. By liquid-liquid extraction and LC-UV analysis, a limit of quantitation of 1000 ng/ml using 0.2 ml rat urine for extraction and 250 ng/ml using 1 ml rat fecal homogenate supernatant for extraction could be reached. The assay was linear in the range of 1000-50,000 ng/ml for rat urine and 250-10,000 ng/ml for rat fecal homogenate supernatant. Because the sensitivity of the LC-UV method was apparently insufficient for evaluating the pharmacokinetic profile of BAPTA in rat plasma, a LC-MS/MS method was subsequently developed for the analysis of BAPTA free acid. By protein precipitation and LC-MS/MS analysis, the limit of quantitation was 5 ng/ml using 0.1 ml rat plasma and the linear range was 5.0-500 ng/ml. Both methods were validated and can be used to support a thorough preclinical pharmacokinetic evaluation of BAPTA-AM liposome injection.     

Biocompatible in-tube solid-phase microextraction coupled to HPLC for the determination of angiotensin II receptor antagonists in human plasma and urine

A poly (methacrylic acid-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, MAA-EGDMA) monolithic capillary was used for the in-tube solid-phase microextraction (in-tube SPME) of several angiotensin II receptor antagonists (ARA-IIs) from human plasma and urine. Under the optimized extraction condition, the protein component of the biological sample was flushed through the monolithic capillary, while the analytes were successfully trapped. Coupled to HPLC with fluorescence detection, this on-line in-tube SPME method was successfully applied for the determination of candesartan, losartan, irbesartan, valsartan, telmisartan, and their detection limits were found to be 0.1-15.3ng/mL and 0.1-15.2ng/mL in human plasma and urine, respectively. The method was linear over the range of 0.5-200ng/mL for telmisartan, 5-2000ng/mL for candesartan and irbesartan, 10-2000ng/mL for valsartan, and 50-5000ng/mL for losartan with correlation coefficients being above 0.9985 in plasma sample and above 0.9994 in urine sample. The method reproducibility was evaluated at three concentration levels, resulting in the R.S.D. <7%. The poly (MAA-EGDMA) monolithic capillary was demonstrated to be robust and biocompatible by using direct injections of biological samples.     

Simple radioimmunological method for urinary 6-keto-PGF1 alpha measurement

A radioimmunoassay for the determination of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha (stable metabolite of Prostacyclin) in urine using a specific antiserum, is described. The antibody used, showed no significant cross-reactivity with other PGS. (3H)-6-keto-PGF1 alpha has been used as tracer and a 30% Hydroxyapatite suspension was utilized for the separation of bound and free fractions. Standard curve ranges between 2 and 1000 pg thus allowing measurements in urine. Aliquots of 0.2 to 1 ml of 24 hours urinary samples were submitted to a preextraction step with Hexane in order to eliminate neutral fats. After acidifying with 0.1 N HCl to pH = 3.5-4, an Ethyl Ether extraction step was performed showing a recovery of 66%. Repeated analysis of a rat urine pool, showed 7.7 intraassay and 9.8 interassay variation coefficients. Values obtained amounted to 38.3 +/- 4.6 ng/24 h in normal rats and 133 +/- 32 ng/24 h in 5% NaCl loaded rats (p less than 0.001). The values obtained in healthy men were 508 +/- 94 ng/24 h and in women 375 +/- 136 (p less than 0.05).     

Determination of quinalphos in blood and urine by direct solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A new method based on direct solid-phase microextraction (DI-SPME) followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was developed for the purpose of determining quinalphos in blood and urine. Two types of coated fibre have been assayed and compared: carbowax/divinylbenzene (CW/DVB 65 microm) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS 100 microm). The main parameters affecting the SPME process such as temperature, salt addition, pH, stirring and adsorption/desorption time profiles were optimized to enhance the sensitivity of the procedure. The method was developed using only 100 microL of blood and urine. Limits of detection of the method for blood and urine matrices were, respectively, 10 and 2 ng/mL. Linearity was established over concentration ranges from 0.05 to 50 microg/mL for blood, and 0.01 to 50 microg/mL for urine, with regression coefficients ranging between 0.9991 and 0.9999. Intra- and interday precision values were less than 13%, and accuracy was within +/-15% of the nominal concentration for all studied levels in both matrices. Absolute recoveries were 14 and 26% for blood and urine, respectively.     

Determination of a cyclooxygenase II inhibitor in human plasma by capillary gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection

Sensitive methods based on capillary gas chromatography (GC) with mass spectrometric (MS) detection in a selected-ion monitoring mode (SIM) for the determination of a cyclooxygenase II (COX-II) inhibitor (3-isopropoxy-4-(4-methanesulfonylphenyl)-5,5'-dimethyl-5H-furan-2-one, I) in human plasma, in two concentration ranges of 0.1-20 and 5-1000 ng/ml, are described. Following liquid-liquid extraction, the residue, after evaporation of the organic phase to dryness, was reconstituted in acetonitrile (20 l) and part of the extract (1 l) was analyzed by GC/MS/SIM. The drug (I) and internal standard (II) were separated on a 25 mx0.2 mm capillary column with HP Ultra 1 (100% dimethylpolysiloxane, 0.33 m) phase and analyzed by MS/SIM monitoring ions at m/z 237 and 282 for I and II, respectively. The standard curve was linear within the lower concentration range of 0.1-20 ng/ml and the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) in plasma was 0.1 ng/ml. Intraday coefficients of variation (CV, n=5) were 8.9, 4.2, 5.7, 3.1, 1.9, 1.9, and 4.4% at 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 5.0, 10, and 20 ng/ml, respectively. The standard curve was also linear within the higher concentration range of 5-1000 ng/ml and the LLOQ in plasma was 5 ng/ml. Intraday coefficients of variation (CV, n=5) were all below 9% at all concentrations within the standard curve range. The accuracy for I in human plasma was 91-112% and the recovery of I and II was greater than 70% at all concentrations within both standard curve ranges. The details of the assay methodology are presented.     

Simultaneous determination of five toxic alkaloids in body fluids by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A novel analytical method was developed and validated for the rapid and simultaneous analysis of five toxic alkaloids: Brucine, Strychnine, Ephedrine, Aconitine and Colchicine, in blood and urine using high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry in the multiple reaction monitoring (HPLC-ESI-MRM) mode. The linear range was 0.05-50.0 ng mL(-1) for Brucine, 0.1-50.0 ng mL(-1) for Strychnine and Ephedrine, 0.01-10.0 ng mL(-1) for Aconitine and Colchicine. The limits of quantification for Brucine, Strychnine, Ephedrine, Aconitine and Colchicine were found to be 0.03, 0.05, 0.20, 0.05, 0.01 ng mL(-1), respectively. The average extraction recoveries in urine ranged from 96.0 to 114.0% and in whole blood were 94.0 to 113.0%. The intra-day and inter-day RSDs were less than 8.3 and 10.6%, respectively. The five alkaloids could be well separated within 7 min in a single run. The established method should be suitable for the determination of trace alkaloids in body fluids.     

Sol-gel-based solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry determination of dextromethorphan and dextrorphan in human plasma

A novel solid-phase microextraction (SPME) method was developed for isolation of dextromethorphan (DM) and its main metabolite dextrorphan (DP) from human plasma followed by GC-MS determination. Three different polymers, poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), poly(ethylenepropyleneglycol) monobutyl ether (Ucon) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) were synthesized as coated fibers using sol-gel methodologies. DP was converted to its acetyl-derivative prior to extraction and subsequent determination. The porosity of coated fibers was examined by SEM technique. Effects of different parameters such as fiber coating type, extraction mode, agitation method, sample volume, extraction time, and desorption condition, were investigated and optimized. The method is rapid, simple, easy and inexpensive and offers high sensitivity and reproducibility. The limits of detection are 0.010 and 0.015 ng/ml for DM and DP, respectively. The precisions for both analytes are below 5% (n=5). The correlation coefficient was satisfactory (r(2)>0.99) for both DM and DP. Linear ranges were obtained from 0.03 ng/ml to 2 microg/ml for DM and from 0.05 ng/ml to 2 microg/ml for DP.     

Differential effects of selegiline on glucose synthesis in rabbit kidney-cortex tubules and hepatocytes. In vitro and in vivo studies

The action of selegiline, a selective and irreversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase B, commonly applied in the therapy of Parkinson's disease, on glucose formation was investigated in isolated rabbit hepatocytes and kidney-cortex tubules, maintaining the whole body glucose homeostasis via gluconeogenic pathway activity. An intensive hepatic metabolism of selegiline resulted in formation of selegiline-N-oxide, desmethylselegiline, methamphetamine and amphetamine, whereas during slow degradation of the drug in freshly isolated renal tubules selegiline-N-oxide was mainly produced. At 100 μM concentration selegiline markedly diminished glucose synthesis in isolated renal tubules incubated with dihydroxyacetone or alanine + glycerol + octanoate (by about 60 and 30%, respectively), while at 5 μM concentration a similar degree of inhibition was achieved in renal tubules grown in primary culture under the same conditions (about 40 and 60%, respectively). Moreover, desmethylselegiline and selegiline-N-oxide considerably diminished glucose production in renal tubules whereas selegiline and its metabolites did not affect gluconeogenesis in hepatocytes. Contrary to control animals, following selegiline administration to alloxan-diabetic rabbits for 8 days (10 mg kg⁻¹ body wt. daily) the blood glucose and serum creatinine levels were significantly diminished, suggesting a decrease in renal gluconeogenesis and improvement of kidney functions.

Since in renal tubules selegiline induced a decline in the intracellular levels of gluconeogenic intermediates and ATP content accompanied by a decrease in oxygen consumption in both kidney-cortex and hepatic mitochondria it seems possible that its inhibitory action on renal gluconeogenesis might result from an impairment of mitochondrial function, while an intensive selegiline metabolism in hepatocytes causes decrease of its concentration and in consequence no inhibition of gluconeogenesis. In view of these observations it is likely that an increased risk of selegiline-induced hypoglycemia might be expected particularly in patients exhibiting an impairment of liver function and following transdermal administration of this drug, i.e. under conditions of increased serum selegiline concentrations.     

Low-volume,high-sensitivity assay for cadmium in blood and urine using conventional atomic absorption spectrophotometry

An assay for cadmium in whole blood and urine using deuterium background-correction electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy (D(2)-ETAAS) was developed. Cadmium (in a 1- to 2-ml sample) was bound to 15 mg anion-exchange resin, interfering ions were removed in a 2-ml Bio-Spin column, and cadmium was extracted into 100 microl 1M nitric acid for analysis. Cadmium in the sample extract was concentrated 7-fold for blood and 10-fold for urine over the starting material. These steps produced cadmium atomic absorption traces with high signal to background ratios and allowed analysis against aqueous standards. At approximately 0.1 ng Cd/ml, mean intra- and interassay coefficients of variation were 11-12%. Cadmium recovery for 0.1 to 0.6 ng added cadmium was 107+/-4% for blood and 94+/-4% for urine (mean+/-SE, n=3). The mean detection limit (mean + 3 x SD of blank) was 0.008 ng/ml for blood and 0.003 ng/ml for urine. Samples from "unexposed" animals including humans ranged from 0.051+/-0.000 to 0.229+/-0.035 ng/ml. Values were approximately 10-fold lower than those obtained by the method of Stoeppler and Brandt using Zeeman background-correction ETAAS. This new high-sensitivity, low-volume assay will be useful for epidemiological studies, even those involving children, and will provide a means to help determine the contribution of cadmium to disease incidence in the general population.     

Determination of estrogens in human urine by high-performance liquid chromatography/diode array detection with ultrasound-assisted cloud-point extraction

A novel and efficient analytical methodology is proposed for extracting and preconcentrating three kinds of estrogens (17β-estradiol (βE2), estrone (E1), and diethylstilbestrol (DES)) in human urine prior to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. It is based on the induction of micellar organized medium by using a nonionic surfactant (Tergitol TMN-6) to extract the target estrogens. Ultrasound was applied to enhance the extraction efficiency. Parameters affecting the extraction of target analytes including the concentration of surfactant, temperature, extraction time, sample pH, ionic strength, and centrifuging time were investigated. Under the optimum conditions, the linear range of βE2, E1, and DES was from 5.0 to 1000 ng/ml. All correlation coefficients of the calibration curves were higher than 0.997. The relative standard deviations (RSD, n=5) were 2.36-5.27% and the limits of detection (LOD) were 0.1, 0.2, and 0.1 ng/ml for βE2, E1, and DES in human urine, respectively. The results indicated that the method was successfully applied for analyzing βE2, E1, and DES in human urine.     

Optimization of a solid-phase extraction method for determination of indapamide in biological fluids using high-performance liquid chromatography

A new simple and rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with UV detection for the determination of indapamide in biological fluids has been developed. Indapamide and internal standard were isolated from serum and whole blood samples by solid-phase extraction with RP select B cartridges. The chromatographic separation was accomplished on a reversed-phase C(8) column with a mobile phase composed of 0.1% (v/v) triethylamine in water (pH 3.5) and acetonitrile (63:37, v/v). UV detection was set at 240 nm. The calibration curves were linear in the concentration range of 10.0-100.0 ng/ml for serum, and 50.0-500.0 ng/ml for whole blood, and the limits of quantification were 10.0 and 50.0 ng/ml, respectively.     

Single hair analysis of methamphetamine and amphetamine by solid phase microextraction coupled with in matrix derivatization

A sensitive method for detection of methamphetamine (MA) and amphetamine (AP) in human hair was developed using solid phase microextraction (SPME) and one-pot derivatization. MA and AP were directly derivatized to N-propoxycarbonyl derivatives in an aqueous solution by propylchloroformate in a one-pot reaction before extraction by SPME. The derivatives were extracted to a coating of SPME from a headspace of the vial. The adsorbed derivatives were thermally desorbed in the injection port of a gas chromatograph. Pentadeuterated MA was used as an internal standard. The absolute recoveries of MA and AP from the spiked hair were 2.80-17.5%, respectively. The calibration curves showed linearity in the range of 0.05-20 ng/0.08 mg/vial for MA and 0.1-20 ng/0.08 mg/vial for AP in hair. Detection limits (S/N = 3) of MA and AP were 0.02 and 0.05 ng/0.08 mg/vial. The coefficients of variation of intraday were 1.04-26.4%. Additionally, this proposed method was applied to segmental analysis in clinical and medico-legal cases of MA intoxication.