Validated HPLC method for the determination of gabapentin in human plasma using pre-column derivatization with 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and its application to a pharmacokinetic study

A rapid, sensitive and accurate high-performance liquid chromatographic method with UV detection was developed and validated for the quantification of gabapentin in human plasma. Gabapentin was quantified using pre-column derivatization with 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene following protein precipitation of plasma with acetonitrile. Amlodipine was used as internal standard. The chromatographic separation was carried out on a Nova-Pak C(18) column using a mixture of 50 mM NaH(2)PO(4) (pH=2.5)-acetonitrile (30:70, v/v) as mobile phase with UV detection at 360 nm. The flow rate was set at 1.5 ml/min. The method was linear over the range of 0.05-5 microg/ml of gabapentin in plasma (r(2)>0.999). The within-day and between-day precision values were in the range of 2-5%. The limit of quantification of the method was 0.05 microg/ml. The method was successfully used to study the pharmacokinetics of gabapentin in healthy volunteers.     

Determination of mitiglinide in rat plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection

A selective and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography method has been developed and validated for determination of mitiglinide (MGN) in rat plasma using 2-(4-biphenylyl) propionic acid (BPA) as internal standard. Liquid-liquid extraction was used for sample preparation. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a C(18) column using acetonitrile and 0.02 mol/l KH(2)PO(4) buffer (pH 4.0) (45:55, v/v) as mobile phase delivered at 1.0 ml/min. The UV detector was set at 210 nm. The assay was linear over the range 0.1-20 microg/ml for MGN. The average extraction recoveries of MGN and BPA from rat plasma were 98.6 and 97.4%, respectively. The developed method has been applied to the pharmacokinetic study of MGN in rats.     

Determination of myo-inositol in biological samples by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method using liquid-liquid extraction was developed for the determination of 1-(3-fluoro-4-hydroxy-5-mercaptomethyl-tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)-5-methyl-1H-pyrimidine-2,4-dione (l-FMAUS; I) in rat plasma and urine. A 100 microl aliquot of distilled water containing l-cysteine (100 mg/ml) was added to a 100 microl aliquot of biological sample. l-Cysteine was employed to protect binding between the 5'-thiol of I and protein in the biological sample. After vortex-mixing for 30s and adding a 50 microl aliquot of the mobile phase containing the internal standard (10 microg/ml of 3-aminophenyl sulfone), 1 ml of ethyl acetate was used for extraction. After vortex-mixing, centrifugation, and evaporating the ethyl acetate, the residue was reconstituted with a 100 microl aliquot of the mobile phase. A 50 microl aliquot was injected onto a C(18) reversed-phase column. The mobile phases, 50 mM KH(2)PO(4) (pH = 2.5):acetonitrile (85:15, v/v) for rat plasma and 50 mM KH(2)PO(4) (pH 2.5):acetonitrile:methanol (85:10:5, v/v/v) for urine samples, were run at a flow-rate of 1.2 ml/min. The column effluent was monitored by an ultraviolet detector set at 265 nm. The retention times for I and the internal standard were approximately 9.7 and 12.5 min, respectively, in plasma samples and the corresponding values in urine samples were 16.8 and 14.9 min. The quantitation limits of I in rat plasma and urine were 0.1 and 0.5 microg/ml, respectively.     

Simultaneous Determination of 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine, 5-Hydroxytryptophan, Dopamine, 4-Hydroxy-3-Methoxyphenylalanine, Norepinephrine, 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid, Homovanillic Acid, Serotonin, and 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid in Rat Cerebrospinal Fluid and Brain by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Electrochemical Detection

A method using reversed-phase ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection for the simultaneous determination of tryptophan (TRP), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA), and their metabolites in whole brain, small-brain parts, and cerebrospinal fluid of rats has been developed. The sample preparation requires only homogenization in perchloric acid and centrifugation before injection onto the column. With a LiChrosorb RP-18 (10 micrometer) column and a mobile phase consisting of a phosphate (NaH2PO4, 0.1 M)-methanol mixture with octylsulfonate (2.6 x 10(-3) M) at pH 3.35 and 26 degrees C, the separation of DOPA, dopamine, norepinephrine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, homovanillic acid, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylalanine, TRP, 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), serotonin, and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid was achieved. The method has been applied to study the effect of alpha-monofluoromethyldopa alone and in combination with L-DOPA or L-5-HTP, on the catechol and 5-OH indole levels in brain and CSF of the rat.     

High-performance liquid chromatography method for the simultaneous determination of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim in bovine milk using an on-line clean-up column

A bidimensional HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and trimethoprim (TMP) in bovine milk has been developed and validated. After centrifugation, aliquots (150 microl) of milk samples were directly injected to a column-switching HPLC system. At the first step a RAM octyl-BSA column was employed to automatically remove proteins that otherwise would interfere with milk analysis. The mobile phase 0.01 M phosphate buffer pH 6.0:acetonitrile (95:5, v/v) was used in the first 5 min for the elution of milk proteins and then 0.01 M phosphate buffer pH 6.0:acetonitrile (83:17, v/v) for transfer SMX and TMP to the analytical column. The separation of SMX and TMP from one another and from other remaining milk components was performed on an octyl column using the mobile phase 0.01 M phosphate buffer pH 5.0:acetonitrile (82:18, v/v), which were detected by UV at 265 nm. The calibration graphs were linear in the concentration ranges of 25-800 ng/ml and 50-400 ng/ml for SMX and TMP, respectively. The intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were less than 15% for both drugs. The validated method was applied to the analysis of milk samples of twelve (two groups of six) cows after administration (intramuscular or subcutaneous) of a single recommended therapeutic dose of the SMX-TMP combination.     

Comparison of performance of C18 monolithic rod columns and conventional C18 particle-packed columns in liquid chromatographic determination of Estrogel and Ketoprofen gel

The performance of monolithic HPLC columns Chromolith (made by Merck, Germany) and conventional C18 columns Discovery (Supelco, Sigma-Aldrich, Prague, Czech Republic) was tested and the comparison for two topical preparations Ketoprofen gel and Estrogel gel was made. The composition of mobile phases - for Ketoprofen analysis a mixture of acetonitrile, water and phosphate buffer adjusted to pH 3.5 (40:58:2) and for Estrogel analysis a mixture of acetonitrile, methanol, water (23:24:53) - was usually not optimal for analyses at all types of columns. Thus an adjustment of components ratio was necessary for sufficient resolution of the compounds analysed. Various flow rates (1.0-5.0 ml/min) and mobile phases (usually increasing ratio of water content) were applied. Determination of active substances, preservatives and impurities and comparison of retention times and system suitability test parameters was accomplished. For Estrogel gel, following chromatographic conditions were found: using Chromolith Flash RP-18e monolith column, mobile phase was acetonitrile, methanol, water (13:24:63, v/v/v) and flow-rate 3.0 ml/min. Using monolith column ChromolithSpeedROD RP-18e, the mobile phase was acetonitrile, methanol, water (18:24:58, v/v/v) and flow-rate 4.0 ml/min. For the monolith column Chromolith Performance RP-18e, the mobile phase was acetonitrile, methanol, water (23:24:53, v/v/v), flow-rate 3.0ml/min. Analysis of Ketoprofen gel gave the best results using following analytical conditions: for monolith column Chromolith Flash RP-18e, mobile phase as a mixture of acetonitrile, water, phosphate buffer pH 3.5 (30:68:2, v/v/v) was used, at flow-rate 2.0 ml/min. For ChromolithSpeedROD RP-18e monolith column, acetonitrile, water, phosphate buffer pH 3.5 (35:63:2, v/v/v) was used as a mobile phase at flow-rate 3.0 ml/min. Chromolith Performance RP-18e gave the best results using mobile phase acetonitrile, water, phosphate buffer pH 3.5 (30:68:2, v/v/v) at the flow-rate 5.0 ml/min. It was proved that monolith columns, due to their porosity and low back-pressure, can save analysis time by about a factor of three with sufficient separation efficiency. Thus, for example 11 min long analysis can be performed in 4 min with comparable results.     

Free malonaldehyde determination in tissues by high-performance liquid chromatography

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the quantification of free malonaldehyde (MA) in tissues. HPLC separation was performed using a TSK G1000 PW column (7.5-mm i.d. X 30 cm) with a mobile phase of 0.1 M Na3PO4 buffer, pH 8.0, at a flow rate of 0.6 ml/min. The eluant was monitored at 267 nm. Free MA in the tissue sample was separated and quantified in approximately 50 min. The lowest amount of MA that can be determined by this HPLC technique is approximately 1 ng per injection. This method was successfully applied to rat liver and beef, pork, and chicken muscle and was compared to the thiobarbituric acid (TBA) test. It was found to be more sensitive, accurate, and specific for the determination of free MA than the TBA method.     

Development of an HPLC method for the determination of nifedipine in human plasma by solid-phase extraction

Nifedipine, a dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonist, is widely used in the treatment of hypertension and other cardiovascular disorders. A selective, sensitive and accurate high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed, validated and applied for determination of nifedipine in human plasma samples. A series of studies were conducted in order to investigate the effects of mobile phase composition, buffer concentration, mobile phase pH and concentration of organic modifiers, and to develop a convenient and easy-to-use method for quantitative analysis of nifedipine. The method involves solid-phase extraction on C18 cartridges. The chromatographic separation was accomplished on a Lichrocart Lichrospher 60 RP selectB column with a mobile phase composed of 0.020 mol/L KH2PO4 (pH 4.8) and acetonitrile (42:58, v/v). UV detection was set at 240 nm. The calibration curve was linear in the concentration range of 5.0-200.0 ng/mL for nifedipine in plasma and the limit of quantification was 5.0 ng/mL.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of inactive carboxylic acid metabolite of clopidogrel in human serum: Application to a bioequivalence study

A sensitive and rapid method is described for determination of clopidogrel carboxylic acid (CCA), the inactive metabolite of anti platelet agent, clopidogrel, in human serum. The analytical procedure involves liquid-liquid extraction of the analyte and an internal standard (phenytoin) with ethyl acetate. A mobile phase consisting of 0.05 M phosphate buffer containing triethylamine (0.5 mL/L; pH 5.7) and acetonitrile (56:44 v/v) was used and chromatographic separation was achieved using C18 analytical column at detector wavelength of 220 nm. The calibration curves were linear over a concentration range of 0.05-10 microg/mL of CCA in human serum. The total run time of analysis was 5.5 min and the lower limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were 0.02 and 0.05 microg/mL, respectively. The method validation was carried out in terms of specificity, sensitivity, linearity, precision, accuracy and stability. The validated method was applied in a randomized cross-over bioequivalence study of two different clopidogrel preparations in 24 healthy volunteers.     

Determination of donepezil, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet absorbance detection

A simple and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with UV absorbance detection is described for the quantification of donepezil, a centrally and selectively acting acetyleholinesterase inhibitor, in human plasma. After sample alkalinization with 0.5 ml of NaOH (0.1 M), the test compound was extracted from I ml of plasma using isopropanol-hexane (3:97, v/v). The organic phase was back-extracted with 75 microl of HCl (0.1 M) and 50 microl of the acid solution was injected into a C18 STR ODS-II analytical column (5 microm, 150x4.6 mm I.D.). The mobile phase consisted of phosphate buffer (0.02 M, pH 4.6), perchloric acid (6 M) and acetonitrile (59.5:0.5:40, v/v) and was delivered at a flow-rate of 1.0 ml/min at 40 degrees C. The peak was detected using a UV detector set at 315 nm, and the total time for a chromatographic separation was approximately 8 min. The method was validated for the concentration range 3-90 ng/ml. Mean recoveries were 89-98%. Intra- and inter-day relative standard deviations were less than 7.3 and 7.6%, respectively, at the concentrations ranging from 3 to 90 ng/ml. The method shows good specificity with respect to commonly prescribed psychotropic drugs, and it could be successfully applied for pharmacokinetic studies and therapeutic drug monitoring.     

Development and validation of a reversed-phase HPLC method for determination of lesatropane and enantiomeric impurity

Lesatropane is a novel muscarinic receptor agonist and is currently being under preclinical development in China as a single enantiomer drug for the treatment of primary glaucoma. A reversed-phase chiral HPLC method for determination of lesatropane and enantiomeric impurity was developed. Enantiomeric separation of lesatropane from its enantiomer (desatropane) was achieved in normal-phase mode with Chiralpak AD-H and in reversed-phase mode with Chiralpak AS-RH. The conditions using a Chiralpak AS-RH column and mobile phase of K(2) HPO(4) -KH(2) PO(4) (pH 7.0; 0.02 M)-acetonitrile (69:31, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.5 ml/min have been fully validated with satisfactory specificity, linearity, accuracy, and precision. The method was found to be suitable for the simultaneous quantitation of lesatropane and enantiomeric impurity desatropane.     

A stability-indicating high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay for the simultaneous determination of atorvastatin and amlodipine in commercial tablets

A simple, rapid, precise and accurate isocratic reversed-phase stability-indicating HPLC method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of atorvastatin (AT) and amlodipine (AM) in commercial tablets. The method has shown adequate separation for AM, AT from their associated main impurities and their degradation products. Separation was achieved on a Perfectsil Target ODS-3, 5 microm, 250 mm x 4.6 mm i.d. column using a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-0.025 M NaH(2)PO(4) buffer (pH 4.5) (55:45, v/v) at a flow rate of 1 ml/min and UV detection at 237 nm. The drugs were subjected to oxidation, hydrolysis, photolysis and heat to apply stress conditions. The linearity of the proposed method was investigated in the range of 2-30 microg/ml (r=0.9994) for AT and 1-20 microg/ml (r=0.9993) for AM. The limits of detection were 0.65 microg/ml and 0.35 microg/ml for AT and AM, respectively. The limits of quantitation were 2 microg/ml and 1 microg/ml for AT and AM, respectively. Degradation products produced as a result of stress studies did not interfere with the detection of AT and AM and the assay can thus be considered stability-indicating.     

Femtomole quantitation of 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecine (SN-38) in plasma samples by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

7-Ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecine (SN-38) is the active metabolite of the topoisomerase I inhibitor and antineoplastic agent, irinotecan (CPT-11). Here, we present a new and sensitive reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of SN-38 in human plasma samples. Sample pretreatment involves a protein precipitation of 1-mL samples with 2 mL of acetonitrile, followed by a one-step solvent extraction with 5 mL of chloroform, with camptothecine used as internal standard. Chromatographic separation was achieved on an analytical column packed with Hypersil ODS material (100 x 4.6 mm i.d., 5 microm P.S.), and isocratic elution with a mixture of acetonitrile:0.1 M ammonium acetate containing 10 mM tetrabutylammonium sulfate (23:77, v/v), pH 5.3 (hydrochloric acid). The column effluent was monitored at excitation and emission wavelengths of 380 and 556 nm, respectively. The limit of quantitation of the method presented was at the low femtomole level ( approximately 8.4 fmol; equivalent to 5 pg/mL), with the standard curves being linear over nearly three orders of magnitude. Intraassay precision was <9%, while interassay variations were between 2 and 5%. The extraction efficiency was concentration independent and averaged 88.0 +/- 14.3% (mean +/- standard deviation; n = 59). The described method will be used in future studies to assess the extent of enterohepatic recirculation of SN-38 in cancer patients following intravenous CPT-11 treatment.     

Simple and simultaneous determination for 12 phenothiazines in human serum by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the simultaneous analysis of the 12 phenothiazines (chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, levomepromazine, perazine, perphenazine, prochlorperazine, profenamine, promethazine, propericiazine, thioproperazine, thioridazine and trifluoperazine) in human serum using HPLC/UV. The separation was achieved using a C(18) reversed-phase column (250 mm x 4.6 mm I.D., particle size 5 microm, Inersil ODS-SP). The mobile phase, consisting of acetonitrile-methanol-30 mM NaH(2)PO(4) (pH 5.6) (300:200:500, v/v/v), was delivered at a flow rate of 0.9 mL/min and UV detection was carried out at 250 nm. The recoveries of the 12 phenothiazines spiked into serum samples were 87.6-99.8%. Regression equations for the 12 phenothiazines showed excellent linearity, with detection limits of 3.2-5.5 ng/mL for serum. The inter-day and intra-day coefficients of variation for serum samples were commonly below 8.8%. The selectivity, accuracy and precision of this method are satisfactory for clinical and forensic purposes. This sensitive and selective method offers the opportunity for simultaneous screening and quantification of almost all phenothiazines available in Japan for the purposes of clinical and forensic applications.     

Measurement of resiniferatoxin in cerebrospinal fluid by high-performance liquid chromatography

A sensitive and simple high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay was developed for the quantification of resiniferatoxin (RTX) in canine cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). A reversed-phase C(18) column and acetonitrile in 0.02 M NaH(2)PO(4) as mobile phase provided satisfactory resolution for RTX analysis. Direct HPLC analysis of the CSF samples without sample extraction or preparation improves the accuracy and detection limits of this assay. This assay was applied to measure CSF RTX content to test this method for research and clinical applications related to studies examining its analgesia effects.     

Simultaneous determination of three local anesthetic drugs from the pipecoloxylidide group in human serum by high-performance liquid chromatography

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method has been developed for the simultaneous analysis of the local anesthetic amide drugs, bupivacaine, mepivacaine and ropivacaine, belonging to the pipecoloxylidide group using a C(18) reversed-phase column (150 x 4.6 mm I.D.) filled with 5-microm particles and attached to a UV detector. The mobile phase was composed of acetonitrile-methanol-30 mM NaH(2)PO(4) (pH 5.6) (100:100:300, v/v/v) and the flow rate was 1ml/min. The absorbance of the eluate was monitored at 210 nm. The retention times of the three compounds were: 4.6 min (mepivacaine), 9.7min (ropivacaine) and 16.4 min (bupivacaine). With this sample preparation method, good and consistent recoveries of the three compounds were obtained: 88-91% for mepivacaine, 87-89% for ropivacaine and 88-91% for bupivacaine. The limit of quantification for three compounds in human serum was 2 ng/ml for mepivacaine, 5 ng/ml for bupivacaine and ropivacaine. This method may be useful in clinical and forensic applications for the determination or identification of the local anesthetic drugs: bupivacaine, mepivacaine or ropivacaine.     

Comparison of polysaccharide-based and protein-based chiral liquid chromatography columns for enantioseparation of drugs

Two different columns—Lux Cellulose-1 and Chiralpak CBH—were evaluated for their chiral recognition abilities for eight drugs comprising three β-blockers, one antacid, and four cathinones in polar-organic elution mode and reversed-phase elution mode, respectively. The factors that affected the enantioseparation were tested and optimized to develop a suitable chiral separation method whose LC conditions are compatible with MS detection. In polar-organic elution mode with the Lux Cellulose-1 column, methanol and acetonitrile were tested as the main components of the mobile phase. In addition, the effects of adding isopropanol as organic modifier, acidic additives (formic acid), and basic additives (diethylamine) were evaluated. In reversed-phase elution mode with the Chiralpak CBH column, the effect of type and concentration of organic modifier (isopropanol, acetonitrile, and methanol), the mobile phase pH (6.4 and 5.0), and buffer concentration (1mM-20mM ammonium acetate) were evaluated. The best enantioseparation was achieved with the Chiralpak CBH column with a mobile phase composed of 5mM ammonium acetate aqueous (pH = 6.4)/methanol (95/5, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.1 mL/min and a temperature of 30°C. Under these conditions, six of eight chiral drugs were baseline separated.     

Size-exclusion chromatography study of the molecular-weight distribution of gamma-irradiated pullulan

The polyelectrolyte behavior of gamma-irradiated pullulan in aqueous solutions leads to secondary effects of adsorption on a Shodex OHPak KB 806 column gel during size-exclusion chromatography. Suppression of the polyelectrolyte properties of gamma-irradiated pullulan is achieved by using a 0.05 M aqueous solution of NaH2PO4 (pH 4.95) as the mobile phase. Under these conditions, adequate molecular-weight distributions of gamma-irradiated pullulan samples are obtained.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of DA-7867, a new oxazolidinone,in human plasma and urine and in rat tissue homogenates

An HPLC method was developed for the determination of a new oxazolidinone, DA-7867 (I), in human plasma and urine and in rat tissue homogenates. To 100 microl of biological sample, 300 microl acetonitrile and 50 microl methanol containing 10 microg/ml DA-7858 (the internal standard) were added. After vortex-mixing and centrifugation, the supernatant was evaporated under a gentle stream of nitrogen. The residue was reconstituted in 100 microl of the mobile phase and a 50-microl aliquot was injected directly onto the reversed-phase (C(18)) column. The mobile phase, 20 mM KH2PO4:acetonitrile (75:25, v/v) was run at a flow rate of 1.5 ml/min and the column effluent was monitored by a UV detector set at 300 nm. The retention times of I and DA-7858 were approximately 6.5 and 8.7 min, respectively. The detection limits of I in human plasma and urine and in rat tissue homogenates were 20, 20, and 50 ng/ml, respectively.