On-line sample preparation of paraquat in human serum samples using high-performance liquid chromatography with column switching

A new ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatographic method with column-switching has been developed for the determination of paraquat in human serum samples. The diluted serum sample was injected onto a precolumn packed with LiChroprep RP-8 (25-40 μm) and polar serum components were washed out by 3% acetonitrile in 0.05 M phosphate buffer (pH 2.0) containing 5 mM sodium octanesulfonate. After valve switching to inject position, concentrated compounds were eluted in the back-flush mode and separated on an Inertsil ODS-2 column with 17% acetonitrile in 0.05 M phosphate buffer (pH 2.0) containing 10 mM sodium octanesulfonate. The total analysis time per sample was about 30 min and mean recovery was 98.5±2.8% with a linear range of 0.1–100 μg/ml. This method has been successfully applied to serum samples from incidents by paraquat poisoning.     

Effectiveness of fine root fingerprinting as a tool to identify plants of the Alps: Results of a preliminary study

To identify plants of the Alps through analysis of their roots is currently extremely difficult when using traditional identification methods such as dichotomous keys and/or illustrated atlases. Besides genetic analysis, other analytical methods, such as chromatographic analysis, could also be useful for root identification. Chromatographic fingerprints of root extracts of six species (Betula pendula, Picea abies, Fagus sylvatica, Larix decidua, Fraxinus excelsior and Corylus avellana) were analyzed in order to understand whether these species have a chromatographic fingerprint that identifies them, and hence to ascertain whether they can be identified by applying the method of analysis presented below. One hundred and sixty-two root samples were collected in various areas of the Alps and subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. Multivariate analysis techniques (e.g. cluster analysis) were employed for statistical analysis of chromatographic fingerprints. This study revealed that the chromatographic fingerprints of birch, spruce and larch samples were similar and that the method can therefore clearly identify the respective species. Instead, chromatographic fingerprint samples of beech, hazel and ash presented greater variability. Research proposals based on the results obtained in this study were also developed in order to implement and facilitate studies regarding plant roots.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic assay for pilocarpine in aqueous humor

A high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for pilocarpine has been developed for the determination of pilocarpine in aqueous humor. A structurally similar internal standard is used, and pilocarpine is separated from isopilocarpine under the chromatographic conditions used. A 100μl sample is mixed with an aliquot of internal standard at pH 8.3 and extracted with methylene chloride. The extract is evaporated to dryness and the alkaloids are quaternized with p-nitrobenzyl bromide. Following the quaternization, the sample is evaporated to dryness, washed and diluted with a mobile phase—triethylamine mixture and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography using a reversed-phase octadecylsilane column with detection at a wavelength of 254 nm. This is a highly sensitive, reproducible and selective assay for measuring pilocarpine at physiological levels in individual aqueous humor samples.     

Development of a routine analysis method for liposome encapsulated recombinant interleukin-2

This paper describes the development of an isocratic reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the routine analysis of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) in liposome samples. The chromatographic system employed a C₄ column maintained at 30°C eluted with 52.5% (w/w) acetonitrile in water, containing 100 mM NaClO₄ and 10 mM HClO₄. To remove phospholipid interference the chromatographic method was combined with a lipid-extraction procedure. No significant loss of rIL-2 was noted upon inclusion of this extraction step. The protein eluted from the column with a capacity factor (k′) of 5.8. The method was validated for robustness, linearity, precision and reproducibility. It was shown that the method was linear over a sample concentration range of 1–100 μg/ml. Upon assessment of the intra-day and inter-day precision, the relative standard deviations (RSD) were within the range of the methodical error (approximately 5%), except at the lower concentration of 10 μg/ml, where the intra-day RSD was relatively high (17.8%). The recovery of rIL-2 upon liposome preparation and subsequent analysis of the samples was in the range 94±9%. The results indicate that the method is suitable for routine quantitation of rIL-2 in liposomal samples.     

Quantification of dimethindene in plasma by gas chromatography—mass fragmentography using ammonia chemical ionization

A gas chromatographic—mass fragmentographic method using ammonia chemical ionization for the determination of dimethindene in human plasma is described. The drug was isolated from plasma by liquid—liquid extraction with hexane—2-methylbutanol. Plasma components were separated on a capillary column coated with chemically bonded methyl silicone. For detection of dimethindene, its quasi-molecular ion (M + H⁺) was mass fragmentographically monitored after chemical ionization with ammonia as reagent gas. Dimethindene was quantified using methaqualone as the internal standard: the quantification limit in plasma was 0.2 ng/ml, the within-run precision was 8.0% and the inter-run precision 5.6%. The plasma concentration—time profile was established after a single dose of 4 mg of dimethindene with an average maximum concentration of 5.5 ng/ml, detectable up to 48 h post application.     

Column Chromatographic Fractionation of Apricot Emulsin

Crude emulsin of apricot (Prunas armenica) kernel was prepared by the method of tannin-fractionation. It was then purified by a fractional ammonium sulfate precipitation. The purified enzyme was further fractioned by adsorbing the enzyme on a CM-cellulose column and eluting it with the diluted Mcllvaine’s buffer solution. By this chromatography, six peaks of activities of β-glucosidase and β-xylosidase were developed. From one component of these peaks, petal-like crystals were obtained. The fractions thus obtained by chromatographic fractionation and crystallization were found differ with regard to the ratio of the β-glucosidase activity to the β-xylosidase one.     

Determination of famotidine in human plasma and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography

An improved, rapid and specific high-performance liquid chromatographic assay was developed for the determination of famotidine in human plasma and urine. Plasma samples were alkalinized and the analyte and internal standard (cimetidine) extracted with water-saturated ethyl acetate. The extracts were reconstituted in mobile phase, and injected onto a C₁₈ reversed-phase column; UV detection was set at 267 nm. Urine samples were diluted with nine volumes of a mobile phase-internal standard mixture prior to injection. The lower limits of quantification in plasma and urine were 75 ng/ml and 1.0 μg/ml, respectively; intra- and inter-day coefficients of variation were ≤10.5%. This method is currently being used to support renal function studies assessing the use of intravenously administered famotidine to characterize cationic tubular secretion in man.     

Effect of domestic sewage wastewater irrigation on nutritional and nutraceutical perspectives of Eleusine coracana and Zea mays (raw and processed) from selected semi-urban and rural areas of Coimbatore,Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Rapid growth of the urban population, particularly in developing countries, places an enormous pressure on water. Sewage farming is common in all urban areas in India. This study is an attempt to evaluate the effect of diluted sewage wastewater irrigation on cultivation of Eleusine coracana and Zea mays from selected semi-urban and rural areas of Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. For this, parameters analyzed were water/soil quality, crop quality, and mineral analysis including heavy metal composition and in vitro antioxidant potential. From the results, the physicochemical parameters of both rural and semi-urban wastewater samples are within the permissible limits according to the WHO. In mineral analysis, the heavy metals such as Pb, Fe, and Zn are high in all samples and Ni, Cr, and Cu are within the permissible limits in rural samples but slightly high in semi-urban samples. The proximate composition provides general overview of the nutritional value of a food. E. coracana and Z. mays samples collected from rural area show adequate mineral profile required for growth and nutrition. Both the samples show significant antioxidant values significant at p < 0.05. The results demonstrated that the diluted sewage wastewater has physicochemical properties for safe irrigation. Micronutrient and heavy metal contents in the plant samples were not extremely high and were within the range of FAO/WHO standards.     

Establishment and evaluation of detection methods for process-specific residual host cell protein and residual host cell DNA in biological preparation

To establish accurate detection methods of process-specific Escherichia coli residual host cell protein (HCP) and residual host cell DNA (rcDNA) in recombinant biological preparations. Taking the purification process of GLP expressed by E. coli as a specific-process model, the HCP of empty E. coli was intercepted to immunize mice and rabbits. Using IgG from immunized rabbits as the coating antibody and mouse immune serum as the second sandwich antibody, a process-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for E. coli HCP was established. Targeting the 16S gene of E. coli, ddPCR was used to obtain the absolute copies of rcDNA in samples. Non-process-specific commercial ELISA kit and the process-specific ELISA established in this study were used to detect the HCP in GLP preparation. About 62% of HCPs, which should be process-specific HCPs, could not be detected by the non-process-specific commercial ELISA kit. The sensitivity of established ELISA can reach 338 pg/mL. The rcDNA could be absolutely quantitated by ddPCR, for the copies of rcDNA in three multiple diluted samples showed a reduced gradient. While the copies of rcDNA in three multiple diluted samples could not be distinguished by the qPCR. Process-specific ELISA has high sensitivity in detecting process-specific E. coli HCP. The absolutely quantitative ddPCR has much higher accuracy than the relatively quantitative qPCR, it is a nucleic acid quantitative method that is expected to replace qPCR in the future.     

Determination of eltanolone in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of eltanolone in plasma has been developed. Plasma samples containing eltanolone were diluted with acetonitrile to precipitate plasma proteins, and derivatized with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine before direct injection onto a C₁₈ column. The mobile phase was acetonitrile–water (70:30, v/v) containing 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid and detection was by UV absorbance at 367 nm. The quantitation limit was 0.020 μg/ml. The method has proven to be rapid, precise and sensitive in the range of concentrations found during and following intravenous anaesthesia.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic method for determination of DDT and its degradation products in rat plasma, liver and brain: validation and application to a pharmacokinetic study

A sensitive and reliable high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method, using a solid-phase extraction (SPE), was established and validated for determination of p,p′-DDT [1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane] and its metabolite p,p′-DDE [1,1-(2,2-dichloroethanylidene)-bis(4-chlorobenzene)] in rat plasma, liver and brain. After being diluted with water, plasma, liver and brain samples were applied to a solid-phase extraction C₁₈ cartridge. The extraction containing p,p′-DDT and p,p′-DDE from the cartridge were cleaned-up using a Florisil Sep-Pak cartridge. The samples were analyzed by HPLC using UV detection at 238 nm. The limit of detection for p,p′-DDT and p,p′-DDE was 0.1 mg kg⁻¹ liver or brain and 0.1 mg l⁻¹ plasma. For six replicate samples at 40, 4 and 0.2 mg kg⁻¹, intra-day precision values were within 4.9% for plasma, 6.4% for liver, and 9.7% for brain. Inter-day precision values at 4 mg kg⁻¹ were within 8.2% for plasma and tissues. The method performances were shown to be selective for p,p′-DDT and p,p′-DDE, and linear over the range 0.04–12 mg kg⁻¹ (mg l⁻¹ for plasma). The absolute recoveries of p,p′-DDT and p,p′-DDE in rat plasma and tissues were over 92%. The method was proved to be applicable to the pharmacokinetic study of DDT in rats after a single oral administration.     

Determination of a new oral iron chelator, ICL670, and its iron complex in plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography and ultraviolet detection

ICL670 is a representative of a new class of orally active tridentate selective iron chelators. Two molecules of ICL670 are required to form a complete hexacoordinate chelate Fe–[ICL670]₂ with one ferric iron. A simple and rapid HPLC–UV method for the separate determination of ICL670 and Fe–[ICL670]₂ in the plasma of iron-overloaded patients is described. Plasma samples were prepared as rapidly as possible, the tubes being kept at 4°C. Plasma proteins were precipitated with methanol. The supernatant was diluted with water and placed on the refrigerated sample rack of an autosampler before injection. The chromatographic separations were achieved on an Alltima C₁₈ column using 0.05 M Na₂HPO₄ and 0.01 M tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulfate–acetonitrile–methanol (41:9:50, v/v/v) as mobile phase. The analytes were detected at 295 nm. Calibration and quality control samples were prepared in normal human plasma. The mean accuracy (n=6) over the entire investigated concentration range 0.25–20 μg/ml ranged from 91 to 109% with a coefficient of variation (C.V.) from 4 to 8% for ICL670, and from 95 to 105% with a C.V. from 2 to 20% for the iron complex. The dissociation of the complex during analysis was shown to be marginal. The iron removal from plasma of iron-overloaded patients by free ICL670 during analysis was low. The in vitro iron transfer from the iron pools of iron-overloaded plasma onto ICL670 was shown to be a slow process.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of penicillamine in whole blood, plasma, and urine

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of penicillamine in plasma, whole blood, and urine samples is described. The method uses a commercially available electrochemical detector at a potential of +0.1 V versus the Ag/AgCl reference electrode. This method is selective and sensitive for sulfhydryl compounds. The chromatography separates penicillamine from other endogenous sulfhydryl compounds with a limit of detection for penicillamine in biological samples of ca. 10⁻⁷M.     

Evaluation of extenders and cryopreservatives for cooling and cryopreservation of spermatozoa from the western spotted skunk (Spilogale gracilis)

Experiments were conducted to develop a suitable protocol for cryopreservation of spotted skunk semen. Semen was collected by electroejaculation of captive male skunks (n = 16) from late January through late November. In the first experiment, fresh semen was diluted in either TEST (n = 10), TRIS (n = 9), or BF5F (n = 7) extenders and maintained at 4°C for 16 hr. Sperm motility in these extenders was not significantly different before cooling (P = 0.71), but samples diluted with BF5F exhibited significantly lower sperm motility than the other extenders at all time points after cooling (P < 0.05). In the second experiment, fresh semen was diluted in TEST containing either 3, 5, or 10% DMSO or 3, 5, or 10% glycerol as a cryopreservative. These samples were cooled to 4°C and frozen in 0.25 ml French straws on dry ice. Some samples containing 5% DMSO or 5% glycerol (n = 4), were also frozen on dry ice as pellets. Frozen samples were maintained in liquid nitrogen. Fresh samples had significantly greater sperm motility in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) than in glycerol (P < 0.05), while frozen and thawed samples had the highest motility in 5 or 10% DMSO or 10% glycerol. Samples frozen in French straws had significantly greater sperm motility after freezing and thawing than those frozen by the pellet method (P < 0.05). Optimum cryoprotection was achieved with the TEST extender containing 5 or 10% DMSO, when used in conjunction with French straws. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

On-line monitoring of the purification of GST-(His)6 from an unclarified Escherichia coli homogenate within an immobilised metal affinity expanded bed

The use of a rapid chromatographic assay to monitor the level of a specific protein during its downstream processing by expanded bed adsorption is described. An expanded bed column (5 cm diameter) has been modified to allow the abstraction of liquid samples at various heights along the bed, in an automated, semi-continuous manner throughout the separation. The withdrawn samples were filtered in-line and the level of the target protein assayed by a rapid on-line chromatographic method. Using this technique it was possible to monitor the development of adsorbate profiles during the loading, washing and elution phases of the application of an unclarified feedstock. The potential of the technique is demonstrated using the separation of histidine tagged glutathione s-transferase (GST-(His)₆) from an unclarified Escherichia coli homogenate using an expanded bed of Ni²⁺ loaded STREAMLINE Chelating^TM. The level of GST-(His)₆ in the abstracted homogenate samples was measured using Zn²⁺ loaded NTA-silica as an affinity chromatographic sensor. The approach described demonstrates potential for the on-line monitoring and control of expanded bed separations and for providing a greater understanding of adsorption/desorption and hydrodynamic processes occurring within the bed.     

HPLC‐method for determination of permethrin enantiomers using chiral β‐cyclodextrin‐based stationary phase

The liquid chromatographic separation of permethrin enantiomers on chiral β‐cyclodextrin‐based stationary phase has been investigated. All four enantiomers are obtained by using simple methanol and water mobile phase, under gradient mode. The method was optimized and validated. The relationship between temperature and chromatographic parameters: k′ (capacity factor), α (separation factor) and Rs (resolution factor) was studied. Van't Hoff's curves for each enantiomer were plotted for temperature range 288–318 K. It was noticed that the response factor ratio of permethrin isomers differ and calculated value is found to be 1.66 (cis/trans, for n = 5). This method has been used for determining permethrin enantiomer ratio for a few samples of working standards and one formulation. Chirality 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Studies of the metabolism of the antihistaminic drug dimethindene by high-performance liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis including enantioselective aspects

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method for the determination of dimethindene and its main metabolites N-demethyldimethindene, 6-hydroxydimethindene and 6-hydroxy-N-demethyldimethindene in human urine was developed. The assay was also applied to the quantification of dimethindene-N-oxide in rat urine. Conjugates of the hydroxylated metabolites were determined after enzymatic deconjugation. Moreover the direct determination of dimethindene and its metabolites without prior extraction from urine was performed by capillary electrophoresis. The direct simultaneous determination of the enantiomers of dimethindene and N-demethyldimethindene was achieved on a Chiralcel OD column. Urinary data after oral administration of dimethindene are presented. The assays were used to study dimethindene and it metabolites in urine upon oral administration of the drug to rats and human volunteers.     

Isolation and quantitation of isotopically labeled amino acids from biological samples

To face the problem of simultaneous isolation and quantitation of isotopically labeled amino acids in biological samples, two semi-preparative chromatographic methods were developed. One method was especially designed to isolate radioactively labeled amino acids for which we used derivatization with the fluorophore o-phtaaldialdehyde (OPA), which is known to be easy and reliable. Isolation of amino acids labeled with stable isotopes required another approach as we wanted to use isotope ratio mass spectroscopy (IRMS), which can only be performed on pure, non-derivatized amino acids. Becuase the OPA probe cannot be removed after isolation of the derivative, we used 9-fluorenylmethylchloroformate (FMOC) instead. This probe is linked to an amino acid via a peptide bond which can easily be broken byb gas-phase acid hydrolysis (103% recovery after 5 h at 150°C: S.D = 3.5%, n = 14). Run time (injection to injection) was 60 min for the OPA method and 75 min for the FMOC method. Both fluorescence and UV absorbance detection can be employed. The coefficient of variation (C.V.) for peak area measurement was below 2% for most OPA amino acids and below 3% for most FMOC amino acids. At maximum, a total of 1000 μl could be injcted, representing approximately 200 μl of deproteinized plasma. The methods were linear up to injection of 0.5 μmol of all amino acids (OPA: r²=0.995−0.999; FMOC: r²=0.992−0.999). The C.V. of the IRMS measurement within the range which can be isolated maximally in one chromatographic run (50–500 nmol), was less than 3% above 100 mmol, indicating that chromatographic isolation fulfils the needs of the IRMS determination. The resulting methods are suitable for the isolation and quantitation of micromolar amounts of labeled amino acids from biological samples.     

Quantitation of o-, m- and p-cresol and deuterated analogs in human urine by gas chromatography with electron capture detection

A gas chromatographic method for the analysis of cresol metabolites of toluene and [²H₈]toluene in urine was developed. Cresol glucuronides and sulfates in urine were hydrolyzed with β-glucuronidase and arylsulfatase. Following extraction with tert.-butyl methyl ether and solvent exchange into benzene, the cresols were derivatized with heptafluorobutyric anhydride to form the heptafluorobutyrate esters. The derivatives were analyzed by gas chromatography with electron capture detection. Chromatographic resolution was achieved between all cresol isomers and their ²H₇ analogs. Calibration ranged from 0.001 to 500 μg/ml. Recoveries were 55–97% and showed no trend with respect to analyte concentration. Within-day precision of analyses of benchmark urine samples had a coefficient of variation of less than 4%. The assay sensitivity was limited by chromatographic background but was sufficient for quantification of the unlabeled cresols in urine from men with only environmental exposure to toluene. Average levels in urine samples from 45 men were 0.023, 0.054 and 37 μg/ml for o-, m- and p-cresol, respectively.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of 1-β- -arabinofuranosyl-E-5-(2-bromovinyl)uracil and its metabolite (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)uracil in serum

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed to assay 1-β- -arabinofuranosyl-E-5-(2-bromovinyl)uracil and its metabolite (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)uracil in serum. The chloro analogue of the parent drug is used as internal standard. Human serum samples were assayed to establish the pharmacokinetic parameters. Acetonitrile, used as a protein precipitant, was evaporated to dryness and the residue, containing the analytes and internal reference, was dissolved in mobile phase prior to chromatographic analysis. The minimum quantifiable level was 0.02 μg of each analyte per ml of serum.