A Semiautomated Analysis Method for Catecholamines, Indoleamines, and Some Prominent Metabolites in Microdissected Regions of the Nervous System: An Isocratic HPLC Technique Employing Coulometric Detection and Minimal Sample Preparation

The application of a commercially available coulometric electrochemical detector to the automated HPLC analysis of some monoamines and their metabolites in microdissected areas of the rat nervous system is described. Apart from the stability and high sensitivity of the system, other appealing features of the technique are the facile sample preparation and long-term sample storage characteristics which show minimal analyte degradation. Basal values of some regional monoamine and metabolite concentration are listed together with a brief appendix that serves as a user's guide to the operation and maintenance of the detection system.     

Stability studies of amphetamine and ephedrine derivatives in urine

Knowledge of the stability of drugs in biological specimens is a critical consideration for the interpretation of analytical results. Identification of proper storage conditions has been a matter of concern for most toxicology laboratories (both clinical and forensic), and the stability of drugs of abuse has been extensively studied. This concern should be extended to other areas of analytical chemistry like antidoping control. In this work, the stability of ephedrine derivatives (ephedrine, norephedrine, methylephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and norpseudoephedrine), and amphetamine derivatives (amphetamine, methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)) in urine has been studied. Spiked urine samples were prepared for stability testing. Urine samples were quantified by GC/NPD or GC/MS. The homogeneity of each batch of sample was verified before starting the stability study. The stability of analytes was evaluated in sterilized and non-sterilized urine samples at different storage conditions. For long-term stability testing, analyte concentration in urine stored at 4 degrees C and -20 degrees C was determined at different time intervals for 24 months for sterile urine samples, and for 6 months for non-sterile samples. For short-term stability testing, analyte concentration was evaluated in liquid urine stored at 37 degrees C for 7 days. The effect of repeated freezing (at -20 degrees C) and thawing (at room temperature) was also studied in sterile urine for up to three cycles. No significant loss of the analytes under study was observed at any of the investigated conditions. These results show the feasibility of preparing reference materials containing ephedrine and amphetamine derivatives to be used for quality control purposes.     

Rapid and sensitive determination of fentanyl in dog plasma by on-line solid-phase extraction integrated with a hydrophilic column coupled to tandem mass spectrometry

We have developed and validated a method for the quantification of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, in dog plasma by on-line SPE with a hydrophilic column coupled to tandem mass spectrometry in positive electrospray mode. A column-switching instrument with 10-port valve and two HPLC pumping systems were employed. Deuterated fentanyl served as the internal standard. A Waters Oasis HLB extraction column and a Waters Atlantis HILIC Silica analytical column in a column-switching set-up with gradient elution were utilized. Both fentanyl (analyte) and the internal standard (fentanyl-d5) were determined via multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) and the MS/MS ion transitions monitored were m/z 337.0/188.0 and 342.0/188.0, respectively. Each plasma sample was chromatographed within 5 min. The calibration curves were linear over a widely range of 0.01-50 ng/mL using weighted linear regression analysis (1/x). The low limit of quantitation was 0.01 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day accuracy ranged from 102 to 112% and the overall precision was less than 3%. The recoveries ranged from 90 to 105% in plasma at the concentrations of 0.04, 0.4, 4 and 40 ng/mL. No influence of freeze/thaw and long-term stability were observed. This validated method has been successfully applied to analyze the dog plasma samples of a pharmacokinetics study.     

Multi-analyte analysis of biological fluids with a recycling immunoaffinity column array.

A system for isolating and measuring up to 30 analytes in a single biological sample is described. The system is based on recycling a pre-labeled sample through an array of capillary immunoaffinity columns, each packed with glass beads, coated with a different antibody, thus enabling each column to isolate and extract a single analyte. Detection of the bound analytes is achieved by laser-induced fluorescence (LIF), using a laboratory-built scanning detector coupled to a fiber-optic spectrometer. The array can be regenerated up to 200 times, provided a suitable temperature is maintained. The individual immunoaffinity columns are able to bind between 2.9 and 3.6 ng of analyte, depending upon the individual column, with lower limits of detection (LOD) in the order of 1.6-2.8 pg/ml. The inter- and intra-assay coefficients of variation (CV) for all 30 columns in the array were less than 6.03+/-0.33 at analyte concentrations of 100 pg/ml. Comparison to standard enzyme-immunoassays demonstrated r(2) values in the range of 0.9151-0.9855 when analyzed by least-squares linear regression.     

Evaluation of Dried Blood Spots with a Multiplex Assay for Measuring Recent HIV-1 Infection

Laboratory-based HIV tests for recent infection (TRIs), which primarily measure a specific serological biomarker(s) that distinguishes recent from long-term HIV infection, have facilitated the estimation of population-based incidence. Dried blood spots (DBS) on filter paper are an attractive sample source for HIV surveillance, given the simplified and cost-effective methods of specimen collection, storage, and shipment. Here, we evaluated the use of DBS in conjunction with an in-house multiplex TRI, the HIV-1-specific Bio-Plex assay, which measures direct antibody binding and avidity to multiple HIV-1 analytes. The assay performance was comparable between matched plasma and DBS samples from HIV-1 infected individuals obtained from diverse sources. The coefficients of variation, comparing the median antibody reactivity for each analyte between plasma and DBS, ranged from 2.78% to 9.40% and the correlation coefficients between the two sample types ranged from 0.89 to 0.97, depending on the analyte. The correlation in antibody reactivity between laboratory and site-prepared DBS for each analyte ranged from 0.87 to 0.98 and from 0.90 to 0.97 between site-prepared DBS and plasma. The correlation in assay measures between plasma and DBS indicate that the sample types can be used interchangeably with the Bio-Plex format, without negatively impacting the misclassification rate of the assay.     

Grating-coupled surface plasmon resonance: a cell and protein microarray platform

Grating-coupled surface plasmon resonance (GCSPR) is a method for the accurate assessment of analyte in a multiplexed format using small amounts of sample. In GCSPR, the analyte is flowed across specific receptors (e.g. antibodies or other proteins) that have been immobilized on a sensor chip. The chip surface is illuminated with p-polarized light that couples to the gold surface's electrons to form a surface plasmon. At a specific angle of incidence, the GCSPR angle, the maximum amount of coupling occurs, thus reducing the intensity of reflected light. Shifts in the GCSPR angle can be correlated with refractive index increases following analyte capture by chip-bound receptors. Because regions of the chip can be independently analyzed, this system can assess 400 interactions between analyte and receptor on a single chip. We have used this label-free system to assess a number of molecules of immunological interest. GCSPR can simultaneously detect an array of cytokines and other proteins using the same chip. Moreover, GCSPR is also compatible with assessments of antigen expression by intact cells, detecting cellular apoptosis and identifying T cells and B cells. This technology represents a powerful new approach to the analysis of cells and molecular constituents of biological samples.     

Developing a robust ultrafiltration-LC-MS/MS method for quantitative analysis of unbound vadimezan (ASA404) in human plasma

Ultrafiltration of human plasma in combination with LC-MS/MS has been increasingly used in the quantitative analysis of the free fraction of drug candidates for PK/efficacy assessment. In addition to controlling the pre-incubation and centrifugation temperatures, some important factors that must be investigated and addressed include: (1) possible nonspecific binding, (2) possible impact of freeze/thaw cycles of plasma samples and extended storage of plasma samples at room temperature on the analyte recovery prior to ultrafiltration, and (3) identification of the appropriate assay dynamic range to avoid unnecessary dilutions. These factors were explored in the development and validation of a robust LC-MS/MS assay for the quantitative analysis of unbound vadimezan (ASA404) in human plasma. First, to mimic human physiological conditions, all plasma samples were incubated at ~37°C for a minimum of 30 min after thawing and prior to centrifugation to obtain the ultrafiltrate. Second, by passing the calibration standards and QC samples in plasma ultrafiltrate through the ultrafiltration membrane, the observed non-specific binding of the analyte due to the membrane was corrected. Third, the effects of multiple freeze/thaw cycles and/or storage at room temperature for various periods (4, 8, 16 and 24h) were evaluated to determine the impact on analyte concentrations in the ultrafiltrate from the plasma QC samples. Fourth, the appropriate dynamic range was established to accommodate the expected incurred sample free analyte concentrations. The validated assay has a dynamic range of 30.0-30,000 ng/ml for ASA404 in human plasma ultrafiltrate using a sample volume of 30 μl. Quality control pools containing the analyte were prepared at concentrations of 30.0-22,500 ng/ml to cover the assay calibration range. The intra-assay and inter-assay precision and accuracy were ≤ 15% (CV) and within ± 15% (bias) of the nominal values, respectively, for all measured QC concentrations, including the LLOQ. Freeze/thaw for up to three cycles of the plasma samples and/or the extended human plasma sample exposure to room temperature for up to 24h were confirmed to have no impact on the assay results for the free analyte. The validated method was successfully implemented to support clinical studies for the compound.     

Bioanalytical aspects on method validation

The validation of methods for neurotransmitter amines and metabolites depends on various sample related factors such as interferences, complexity of matrix composition, analyte stability or variations in concentration due to changing physiological responses. Also, the ultimate precision and accuracy of a method in whole would be related to the complexity of the sample work up procedure, the efficiency and reproducibility of the separation system, the use of a suitable internal standard to correct for volumetric errors and the sensitivity, linearity and selectivity of the detection system. A critical factor in the validation of those methods based in the chromatographic separation of the analyte is the confirmation of peak homogeneity through procedures such as changes on retention time, collection of analyte and reinjection into another system, correlation of recoveries in both systems, pharmacological manipulations prior to the assay or collection and derivatization followed by rechromatography. Isotope dilution GC-MS is widely accepted as a definitive reference method for its accuracy and precision although, as it is not always available, crossvalidation between different non-mass spectrometric methods is often given as proof of analytical reliability.     

Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of low-molecular mass aldehydes in human urine

A simple and sensitive method is proposed for the determination of seven low-molecular mass aldehydes in human urine samples using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric detection. Urine samples diluted twofold with 0.3 M hydrochloric acid are aspirated into a LiChrolut EN solid-phase extraction column impregnated with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine for cleanup, derivatization and preconcentration of the aldehydes. After elution of the hydrazones with acetonitrile, an aliquot is injected directly into the chromatograph. Identification and quantification of aldehydes was performed with electrospray in negative ion mode by selected reaction monitoring. By using synthetic urine samples, linearity is established over the concentration range 0.1–30 μg/l and limits of detection from 15 to 65 ng/l. The intra- and inter-day precision (RSD, %) of the aldehydes ranged from 2.9% to 6.4% and 3.6% to 9.3%, respectively, and specific uncertainties were ca. 5.0 ± 0.3 ng for all aldehydes. Average recoveries performed on two levels by enriching synthetic urine samples ranged between 92% and 100%. The method was also validated in terms of study sample stability including long-term and short-term analyte stability, freeze–thaw and extract stability. In summary, the method proposed surpasses other recent chromatographic alternatives in terms of the limit of detection and sample requirements for analysis.     

Limit of blank, limit of detection and limit of quantitation

* Limit of Blank (LoB), Limit of Detection (LoD), and Limit of Quantitation (LoQ) are terms used to describe the smallest concentration of a measurand that can be reliably measured by an analytical procedure. * LoB is the highest apparent analyte concentration expected to be found when replicates of a blank sample containing no analyte are tested. LoB = mean(blank) + 1.645(SD(blank)). * LoD is the lowest analyte concentration likely to be reliably distinguished from the LoB and at which detection is feasible. LoD is determined by utilising both the measured LoB and test replicates of a sample known to contain a low concentration of analyte. * LoD = LoB + 1.645(SD (low concentration sample)). * LoQ is the lowest concentration at which the analyte can not only be reliably detected but at which some predefined goals for bias and imprecision are met. The LoQ may be equivalent to the LoD or it could be at a much higher concentration.     

New multi-step kinetics using common affinity biosensors saves time and sample at full access to kinetics and concentration

Today, affinity-based biosensorics is a standard technology in quantitative biomolecular interaction analysis, but suffers from low sample throughput and sometimes from inaccessible kinetics. A new methodology for such biosensors is introduced here that cuts down measurement time dramatically and increases confidentiality of results. In contrast to traditional applications, the ligand immobilized on the sensor chip is exposed to the binding analyte at a rapid stepwise change of the analyte concentration without the need for regenerations between analyte additions. In the application presented here, each addition of the analyte is succeeded by a buffer flow, yielding alternating association and dissociation phases in a "zigzag" style. This binding curve pattern is analyzed by means of novel fitting algorithms, which render detailed kinetics rate constants at a high level of self-consistency, and hence, validity due to multiple cross-checks. In comparison with traditional sequential kinetics analysis, this new multi-step kinetics approach returns practically identical (or improved) kinetics constants--at valuable savings in time/material since regeneration steps, ligand re-captures, or titration equilibrations are unnecessary.     

Quantitative analysis of NIM811, a cyclophilin inhibitor, in human dried blood spots using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method has been developed and validated for the quantitative analysis of NIM811, a cyclophilin inhibitor, in human dried blood spot (DBS) samples, which were produced by spotting 20 μl whole blood onto FTA cards. A 3mm disc was cut from the DBS samples and extracted using methanol, followed by liquid-liquid extraction with MTBE. The reconstituted extracts were chromatographed using a Halo C(18) column and gradient elution for MS/MS detection. The possible impact of hematocrit, blood sample volume and punching location on DBS sampling was investigated. The results showed that blood sample volume or punching location has no impact on assay performance, but the presence of a high hematocrit resulted in significantly increased analyte concentrations measured from the high QC samples. The current method was fully validated over the range of 10.0-5000 ng/ml with correlation coefficients (r(2)) for three validation batches equal to or better than 0.991. The accuracy and precision (CV) at the LLOQ were -0.7 to 6.0% bias of the nominal value (10.0 ng/ml) and 10.2-2.3%, respectively. For the balance of QC samples (20.0, 50.0, 750, 1500 and 3750 ng/ml), the precision (CV) ranged from 3.2 to 11.7% and from 5.6 to 10.2%, respectively, for the intra-day and inter-day evaluations. The accuracy ranged from -6.8 to 8.5% and -0.2% to 2.7% bias, respectively, for the intra-day and inter-day batches. NIM811 is stable in the DBS samples for at least 24h at room temperature and 4h at 60°C. Interestingly, the long term stability (LTS) assessment showed that the stability of the analyte is better when the DBS samples were stored at a lower storage temperature (e.g. ≤ -60°C) compared to storage at room temperature. This is probably due to the interaction of the additives and/or other materials (e.g. cellulose, etc) on the DBS card with NIM811, a cyclic peptide. The current methodology has been applied to determine the NIM811 levels in DBS samples prepared from a clinical study.     

Kinetic Model Development for Accelerated Stability Studies

Accelerated stability coupled with modeling to predict the stability of compounds, blends, and products at long-term storage conditions provides significant benefits in science-based decision-making throughout drug substance and drug product development. The study can often be completed, including data analysis in the space of three working weeks, and the information gathered and learning made in this time period can rival years of traditional analysis. The speed of the studies allows an earlier assessment of risk to quality enabling appropriate risk mitigation strategies to be implemented in a timely manner. The scientific foundation is based upon Arrhenius kinetic equations that can be linear or nonlinear in time, and can be based upon water vapor pressure or liquid water activity (relative humidity). A variety of kinetic models are evaluated, and the best model is chosen based upon both Bayesian information criteria and an automated assessment of kinetic model parameters fitting within acceptable ranges. Confidence intervals are estimated based upon a bootstrapping approach. Moisture vapor transmission rate models are applied on top of the resulting kinetic models in order to simulate different packaging types and the use of desiccant. The kinetic models are integrated with the prediction of packaging humidity over time to create a long-term prediction of impurities and other phenomena. The resulting models have been shown to be useful for not only the prediction of drug product impurities in long-term storage but other physical phenomena as well such as hydrate development and solvate loss.     

Evaluation of Sampling-Based Methods for Sensitivity Analysis: Case Study for the E. coli Food Safety Process Risk Model

This article evaluates selected sensitivity analysis methods applicable to risk assessment models with two-dimensional probabilistic frameworks, using a microbial food safety process risk model as a test-bed. Six sampling-based sensitivity analysis methods were evaluated including Pearson and Spearman correlation, sample and rank linear regression, and sample and rank stepwise regression. In a two-dimensional risk model, the identification of key controllable inputs that can be priorities for risk management can be confounded by uncertainty. However, despite uncertainty, results show that key inputs can be distinguished from those that are unimportant, and inputs can be grouped into categories of similar levels of importance. All selected methods are capable of identifying unimportant inputs, which is helpful in that efforts to collect data to improve the assessment or to focus risk management strategies can be prioritized elsewhere. Rank-based methods provided more robust insights with respect to the key sources of variability in that they produced narrower ranges of uncertainty for sensitivity results and more clear distinctions when comparing the importance of inputs or groups of inputs. Regression-based methods have advantages over correlation approaches because they can be configured to provide insight regarding interactions and nonlinearities in the model.     

An electrospray/inductively coupled plasma dual-source time-of-flight mass spectrometer for rapid metallomic and speciation analysis. Part 1. Molecular channel characterization

A new time-of-flight mass spectrometer has been developed that uses an electrospray source and an inductively coupled plasma to extract molecular, atomic, and isotopic information simultaneously from a single sample. This paper will focus on characterization of the ESI channel. Sensitivities are reported for hexadecyltrimethylammonium, tetrahexylammonium, tetraoctylammonium, myoglobin, insulin, cyanocobalamin, leucine enkephalin, and alcohol dehydrogenase. Skimmer-nozzle collisionally induced dissociation is explored for adduct removal and analyte fragmentation on the ESI channel for tetraoctylammonium ion and leucine enkephalin. Long-term and short-term spray stability is also examined.     

The simultaneous determination of caffeine,aspirin and paracetamol by principal components regression using automatic dilution and calibration

The development of continuous and stepwise automatic dilution and calibration systems that enable analyte dilution and enhancement in multicomponent analyses are described. The continuous system has been used with a robot and the stepwise configuration integrated into a flow-injection analysis system. All analyses are performed using a UV/Visible diode-array detector and data analysis performed using principal components regression. Results of both systems are presented for the simultaneous determination of caffeine, aspirin and paracetamol in pharmaceutical formulations.     

Evidence of canister contamination causing false positive detections in vapor intrusion investigation results

ABSTRACT

We have utilized the California GeoTracker database to evaluate field duplicate variability and the significance of sample contamination for groundwater and vapor samples collected from contaminated sites in California. Vapor duplicates are more variable than water duplicates with median percent difference in concentration of 25% compared to 7% for water samples. In addition, large differences in concentration were more common in vapor duplicates. For vapor analyte pairs, 20% of pairs had a percent difference in concentration of >300% while, for groundwater analyte pairs, only 3% had a percent difference of >300%. Contamination of samples during collection or analysis is also more significant for vapor samples. For water samples, sample contamination appears unlikely to result in false positive exceedances of drinking water standards; however, for vapor samples, sample contamination may result in false positive exceedances of indoor air screening values. For vapor samples, the use of reusable canisters and flow controllers is likely an important source of sample contamination.     

A novel method to measure self-association of small amphipathic molecules: temperature profiling in reversed-phase chromatography

Biophysical techniques such as size-exclusion chromatography, sedimentation equilibrium analytical ultracentrifugation, and non-denaturing gel electrophoresis are the classical methods for determining the self-association of molecules into dimers, trimers, or other higher order species. However, these techniques usually require high (mg/ml) loading concentrations to detect self-association and also possess a lower size limit that is dependent on the ability of the technique to resolve monomeric from higher order species. Here we describe a novel, sensitive method with no upper or lower molecular size limits that indicates self-association of molecules driven together by the hydrophobic effect under aqueous conditions. "Temperature profiling in reversed-phase chromatography" analyzes the retention behavior of a sample over the temperature range of 5-80 degrees C during gradient elution reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Because this technique greatly increases the effective concentration of analyte upon adsorption to the column, it is extremely sensitive, requiring very small sample quantities (microgram or less). In contrast, the classical techniques mentioned above decrease the effective analyte concentration during analysis, decreasing sensitivity by requiring larger amounts of analyte to detect molecular self-association. We demonstrate the utility of this technique with 14-residue cyclic and linear cationic peptides (<2000 Da) based on the sequence of the de novo-designed cytolytic peptide, GS14. The only requirements for the analyte molecule when using this technique are its ability to be retained on the reversed-phase column and to be subsequently removed from the column during gradient elution.     

Regression analysis of panel count data with dependent observation times

Panel count data often occur in long-term studies that concern occurrence rate of a recurrent event. Methods have been proposed for regression analysis of panel count data, but most of the existing research focuses on situations where observation times are independent of longitudinal response variables and therefore rely on conditional inference procedures given the observation times. This article considers a different situation where the independence assumption may not hold. That is, the observation times and the response variable may be correlated. For inference, estimating equation approaches are proposed for estimation of regression parameters and both large and finite sample properties of the proposed estimates are established. An illustrative example from a cancer study is provided.     

A sample preparation process for LC-MS/MS analysis of total protein drug concentrations in monkey plasma samples with antibody

The determination of protein concentrations in plasma samples often provides essential information in biomedical research, clinical diagnostics, and pharmaceutical discovery and development. Binding assays such as ELISA determine meaningful free analyte concentrations by using specific antigen or antibody reagents. Concurrently, mass spectrometric technology is becoming a promising complementary method to traditional binding assays. Mass spectrometric assays generally provide measurements of the total protein analyte concentration. However, it was found that antibodies may bind strongly with the protein analyte such that total concentrations cannot be determined. Thus, a sample preparation process was developed which included a novel "denaturing" step to dissociate binding between antibodies and the protein analyte prior to solid phase extraction of plasma samples and LC-MS/MS analysis. In so doing, the total protein analyte concentrations can be obtained. This sample preparation process was further studied by LC-MS analysis with a full mass range scan. It was found that the protein of interest and other plasma peptides were pre-concentrated, while plasma albumin was depleted in the extracts. This capability of the sample preparation process could provide additional advantages in proteomic research for biomarker discovery and validation. The performance of the assay with the novel denaturing step was further evaluated. The linear dynamic range was between 100.9ng/mL and 53920.0ng/mL with a coefficient of determination (r(2)) ranging from 0.9979 and 0.9997. For LLOQ and ULOQ samples, the inter-assay CV was 12.6% and 2.7% and inter-assay mean accuracies were 103.7% and 99.5% of theoretical concentrations, respectively. For QC samples, the inter-assay CV was between 2.1% and 4.9%, and inter-assay mean accuracies were between 104.1% and 110.0% of theoretical concentrations.