Simultaneous determination of six phthalate esters in bottled milks using ultrasound-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction coupled with gas chromatography

A new method was developed for the simultaneous determination of six phthalate esters in bottled milks using ultrasound-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (UA-DLLME) followed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID). 0.8 mL of methanol (dispersant) and 40 μL of CCl(4) (extractant) were injected into 8.0 mL of milk solution and then emulsified the mixture by ultrasound for 2.0 min to form the cloudy solution. Under the optimum condition, the enrichment factors of the analytes ranged from 220 to 270 fold and the recovery ranged from 93.2% to 105.7%. Good linearity was observed for all analytes in a range of 0.8-51 ngg(-1) with the correlation coefficient (r(2)) ≥ 0.9992. The limits of detection (LODs) based on signal to noise of 3 were 0.64-0.79 ngg(-1). The repeatability evaluated as intra-day and inter-day precision (relative standard deviation, RSD) were less than 4.0% (n=5). The presented UA-DLLME-GC-FID method was successfully applied to determine the six phthalate esters in different bottled milk products.     

Simultaneous determination of seven nitroimidazole residues in meat by using HPLC-UV detection with solid-phase extraction

A method was developed for the determination of the seven nitroimidazoles including metronidazole (MNZ), ronidazole (RNZ), dimetridazole (DMZ), tinidazole (TNZ), ornidazole (ONZ), secnidazole (SNZ) and the common metabolite of RNZ and hydroxydimetridazole (DMOHZ) in poultry and pork muscles by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet detection (UV). After extraction with ethyl acetate and evaporation, the nitroimidazoles were redissolved in ethyl acetate and purified using strong cation exchange (SCX) solid-phase extraction (SPE) column. The HPLC separation was carried through on a C(18) bonded silica column with a deionized water-methanol-acetonitrile mobile phase using a gradient elution procedure. The limit of detection of all the seven nitroimidazoles was 0.2 microg/kg. The recoveries of the seven nitroimidazoles for chicken, pork and bacon samples spiked with 1-20 microg/kg were in the range of 71.4-99.5%. The linearity is satisfactory with a correlation coefficient of >0.998 at concentrations ranging from 0.7 to 60 microg/kg. The relative standard deviations of 10 measurements for spiked chicken, pork and bacon samples at the concentration of 1 and 20 microg/kg were in the range of 6.2-13.9% and 4.0-8.7%, respectively. The intra-day precision (n=5) for nitroimidazoles residues in chicken spiked at 20 microg/kg is 6.9%, and the inter-day precision for 5 days (n=25) is 11%. The method is capable of identifying nitroimidazole residues at > or =0.7 microg/kg levels and was applied in the determination of nitroimidazole residues in meat sample.     

Determination of trace lead in biological and water samples with dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction preconcentration

A new method for the determination of trace lead was developed by dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction preconcentration and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. In the proposed approach, 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-benzoyl-5-pyrazolone (PMBP) was used as a chelating agent, and carbon tetrachloride and ethanol were selected as extraction and dispersive solvents. Some factors influencing the extraction efficiency of lead and its subsequent determination, including extraction and dispersive solvent type and volume, pH of sample solution, concentration of the chelating agent, and extraction time, were studied and optimized. Under the optimum conditions, the enrichment factor of this method for lead was reached at 78. The detection limit for lead was 39 ng L⁻¹ (3σ), and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was 3.2% (n = 7, c = 10 ng mL⁻¹). The method was successfully applied to the determination of trace amounts of lead in human urine and water samples.     

Determination of amosulalol in human plasma using solid-phase extraction combined with liquid chromatography and ultraviolet detection

Amosulalol is an antihypertensive drug with selective postsynaptic alpha 1 and non-selective beta blocking effects. A simple solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method has been developed and validated for the quantitative determination of amosulalol in human plasma. A reversed phase C18 column was used for the separation of amosulalol and ethyl paraben (internal standard) with a mobile phase composed of 0.025 M phosphate buffer (pH 6.0).acetonitrile (73:27, v/v) at a flow rate of 1.5 mL/min. The ultraviolet detector was operated at the 272 nm wavelength. Intra- and inter-day precision and accuracy were acceptable for all quality control samples including the lower limit of quantification of 30 ng/mL. Recovery of amosulalol from human plasma was >95.6%. Amosulalol was stable in human plasma under various storage conditions. This method was used successfully for a pharmacokinetic study in plasma after oral administration of a single 20 mg dose of amosulalol hydrochloride to 16 healthy volunteers.     

Determination of glycerolipid composition of rice and maize tissues using solid-phase extraction

Currently available techniques for the separation and characterization of different glycerolipids are complicated and/or time consuming. By modulating the stationary phase in a solid-phase extraction (SPE) manifold, efficient and rapid separation of plant membrane lipids was achieved. The glycerolipids from rice and maize tissues were separated into seven classes (monogalactosyldiacylglycerol, digalactosyldiacylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, sulphoquinovosyldiacylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylglycerol). The pigments present in the rice and maize leaves and rice stems were successfully removed from the total lipid extracts. Pigment-free plant tissue (rice roots) was also analysed. The fatty acid profile of each lipid class isolated by SPE agreed well with those obtained by other separation techniques. The recovery of glycerolipids was at least 87%.     

Liquid-phase and dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction techniques with derivatization: recent applications in bioanalysis

Liquid phase microextraction (LPME), especially hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction (HF-LPME), and dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) offer high enrichments of target analytes in a single step. The analytical usefulness of these techniques is significantly enhanced by coupling them with suitable derivatization methods. Due to their simplicity, diverse bioanalytical applications have recently been reported. This review focuses on the recent developments of the combined LPME (mainly HF-LPME and single drop microextraction (SDME)) and DLLME techniques with derivatization for the analysis of biological samples. A broad range of sample matrices such as urine, blood, plasma and human hair samples with various derivatization methods for polar or ionizable organic compounds will be considered. These techniques can also be extended to the determination of trace metal ions, such as the heavy metal ions (Hg, Pb, and Co) and Se. Future trends of the techniques will also be discussed.     

Determination of the novel non-peptidic HIV-protease inhibitor tipranavir by HPLC-UV after solid-phase extraction

An HPLC method previously described for the assay of amprenavir (APV), ritonavir (RTV), indinavir (IDV), saquinavir (SQV), nelfinavir (NFV), lopinavir (LPV), atazanavir (ATV), nevirapine (NVP) and efavirenz (EFV) can be also conveniently applied, with minor gradient program adjustment, for the determination of the novel non-peptidic HIV protease inhibitor tipranavir (TPV) in human plasma, by off-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) followed by HPLC coupled with UV-diode array detection (DAD). After viral inactivation by heat, the plasma is diluted with phosphate buffer (pH 7), and subjected to a SPE on a C18 cartridge. Matrix components are eliminated with a solution of 0.1% H3PO4 solution neutralised to pH 7, and TPV is eluted with MeOH. The resulting eluate is evaporated and reconstituted in 100 microl MeOH/H2O 50/50. A 40 microl volume is injected onto a Nucleosil C18 AB column and TPV is analysed by UV detection at 201 nm using a gradient elution program constituted of MeCN and phosphate buffer adjusted to pH 5.12 and containing 0.02% sodium heptanesulfonate. The calibration curves are linear up to 75 microg/ml, with a lower limit of quantification of 0.125 microg/ml. The mean absolute recovery of TPV is 77.1+/-4.0%. The method is precise with mean inter-day coefficient of variations (CVs) within 2.2-3.4%, and accurate (range of inter-day deviations from 0.7 to 1.2%). The method has been validated and is currently applied to the monitoring of TPV plasma levels in HIV patients.     

Determination of hyperforin in human plasma using solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection

The role of the Mg2+ cation on antihypertensive molecule binding on human serum albumin (HSA) was studied by affinity chromatography. The thermodynamic data corresponding to this binding were determined for a wide range of Mg2+ concentrations (c). For the nifedipine molecule, an increase in the Mg2+ concentration produced a decrease in binding due to a decrease in the electrostatic interactions. For verapamil and diltiazem, which have the highest solvent accessible surface area, the solute binding on HSA was divided into two Mg2+ concentration regions. For a low c value below c(c) (approximately 1.6 mmol/l), the binding dependence with c was similar to that of nifedipine. For c above c(c) the hydrophobic effect created in the bulk solvent associated with a decrease in the van der Waals interactions between the solute molecule and the HSA implied a decrease in its binding. These results showed that for patients with hypertension, an Mg2+ supplementation during treatment with these antihypertensive molecules can increase the active pharmacological molecule concentration.     

Determination of arbidol in rat plasma by HPLC-UV using cloud-point extraction

A method based on cloud-point extraction (CPE) was developed to determine arbidol in rat plasma by high performance liquid chromatography separation and ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV). The non-ionic surfactant Triton X-114 was chosen as the extract solvent. Variable parameters affecting the CPE efficiency were evaluated and optimized. A Zorbax SB-C(18) column (4.6 mm i.d. x 150 mm, 5 microm particle size) was used for isocratic elution separation at 40 degrees C with detection wavelength at 316 nm. Under the optimum conditions, the method was shown to be reproducible and reliable with intraday precision below 6.6%, interday precision below 8.8%, accuracy within +/-5.0% and mean extraction recovery more than 89.7%, which were all calculated using a range of spiked samples at three concentrations of 0.2, 2 and 16 microg/ml for arbidol in plasma. The linear range was from 0.08 to 20 microg/ml. After strict validation, the method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of arbidol in rats after oral and intravenous administration, respectively.     

Determination of A 3,4-diaminopyridine in plasma by liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection using solid-phase extraction

In order to quantify a small amount of a drug, 3,4-diaminopyridine (3,4-DAP), in animal plasma samples, an analytical method was developed. It involved an extraction of 3,4-DAP and phenylephrine, used as internal standard (IS), from plasma with solid-phase extraction (SPE) on C18 cartridges. This analytical method is a hyphenated technique based on high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-EC) whose purpose is to obtain first a sensitive method and second a satisfying separation between 3,4-DAP and phenylephrine. The analytical method is accurate, specific, and linear between 10 and 500 g of 3,4-DAP per litre. The recovery of 3,4-DAP is estimated at 70.8% with a 95% confidence interval of (66.0 -75.6%). Intermediate precision was evaluated on three quality control samples; the intra-day precision was estimated at 13.5, 9.1, 7.8% and the inter-day precision at 17.9, 8.4, 9.3%. The limit of quantification of the method was evaluated at 10 g l-1. First toxicokinetic parameters determined on dogs plasma samples after one 3,4-DAP oral administration of 1 mg kg-1 were: Cmax=395.7 microg l-1; Tmax =15 min; t1/2=113.6 min; Clearance/F=16.8 ml kg-1 min-1 and Vd/F=2.7 l kg -1.     

Quantification of multi-residue levels in peach juices, pulps and peels using dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction based on floating organic droplet coupled with gas chromatography-electron capture detection

In this paper, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), organochlorine pesticide (OCP) and pyrethroid pesticides in peach was investigated by comparing their residual level in peach juice, pulps and peels using dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction based on solidification of floating organic droplet (DLLME-SFO) combined with gas chromatography-electron capture detection (GC-ECD). Extraction conditions such as the type of extractant, volume of extractant and dispersant, salt effect and extraction time were optimized. For juice samples, the linearity of the method was obtained in the range of 10-2000 ng L(-1),with determination coefficients>0.99. The limits of detection (LOD) of the method were ranged between 2.8 and 18.5 ng L(-1). For pulp and peel samples, the developed method is linear over the range assayed, 1-20 μg kg(-1),with coefficients also >0.99. The relative recoveries of compounds analyzed from juice, pulp and peel samples were in the range of 73-106% with a relative standard deviation between 2.6 and 11.8%. The proposed method was applied to the simultaneous analysis of residues in real peach juice, pulp and peel samples. As a result, there were no target analytes found in peach juices and pulps while 3.3 μg kg(-1) cyhalothrin and 3.5 μg kg(-1) fenvalerate were found in peels. The experiment results revealed that the pyrethroid residues just deposited on the peels of the fruits, but did not move into pulps and juices.     

Extraction and determination of opium alkaloids in urine samples using dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction followed by high-performance liquid chromatography

A simple, rapid and sensitive method based on dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) combined with high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV) was used to determine opium alkaloids in urine samples. Some effective parameters on extraction were studied and optimized. Under the optimum conditions, enrichment factors and recoveries for different opiates are in the range of 63.0-104.5 and 31.5-52.2%, respectively. The calibration graphs are linear in the range of 0.50-500 μg L(-1) and limit of detections (LODs) are in the range of 0.2-10 μg L(-1). The relative standard deviations (RSDs) for 200 μg L(-1) of morphine, codeine and thebaine, 5.0 μg L(-1) of papaverine and 10.0 μg L(-1) of noscapine in diluted urine sample are in the range of 2.8-6.1% (n=7). The relative recoveries of urine samples spiked with alkaloids are 84.3-106.0%. The obtained results show that DLLME combined with HPLC-UV is a fast and simple method for the determination of opium alkaloids in urine samples.     

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 organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in human serum using headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-electron capture detection

A simple procedure for the determination of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in human serum using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) was developed. The analysis was carried out by gas chromatography (GC) equipped with electron capture detector (ECD). A 2(7-4) Plackett-Burman reduced factorial design for screening and a central composite design for optimizing the significant variables were applied. A 100 microm PDMS fiber, 3/5 headspace ratio (3 ml in 5 ml vial), 85 degrees C extraction temperature, 50 min extraction time, and 1 ml of acidic solution (pH 3) added to 1 ml of diluted serum (1:1) were chosen for the best response in HS extraction mode. The detection limits found were from 1 pg/ml (PCB 167) to 52 pg/ml (beta-HCH), the relative standard deviation for the procedure varied from 3% (PCB 52) to 12% (PCB 189) and the accuracy was checked by using validated solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedure. The method that avoids the use of clean-up steps and the hazardous solvents enabled reliable determinations of the OCPs and the PCBs except beta-HCH. The method was applied to the analysis of 33 human serum samples. The most abundant target compound was p-p'-DDE (range, 0.3-8.0 ng/ml; median value, 2.1 ng/ml). Among the PCBs the prevalent congeners were 138, 153 and 180.     

Determination of atomoxetine in human plasma by a high performance liquid chromatographic method with ultraviolet detection using liquid-liquid extraction

A HPLC method with UV detection (210 nm) was developed and validated for the quantification of atomoxetine, a new medication for the treatment of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, in human plasma. Following a two-step liquid-liquid extraction with diethyl ether, the analyte and internal standard (maprotiline) were separated using an isocratic mobile phase of acetonitrile/phosphate buffer (39/61, v/v, pH 6.6) on a reverse phase Inertsil C(18) column. Linearity was verified over the range of 3.12-200 ng/mL atomoxetine in plasma. The lowest limit of detection is 2.5 ng/mL (S/N=10). This HPLC method was validated with within- and between-batch precisions of 4.9-14.4% and 4.7-13.1%, respectively. The within- and between-batch biases were -1.9 to 1.4% and 0.1-13.8%, respectively. Commonly used psychotropic drugs and frequently coadministered drugs did not interfere with the drug and internal standard. This method is simple, economical and specific, and has been used successfully in a pharmacokinetic study of atomoxetine.     

Sequential liquid-liquid extraction of some enzymes from porcine muscle using polymer-bound triazine dyes

Extraction between two aqueous phases has been used for rapid partial purification of enzymes present in porcine muscle using polymer-bound triazine dyes. These enzyme ligands, bound to poly(ethylene glycol), are restricted to the upper phase of a water-dextran-poly(ethylene glycol) two-phase (liquid-liquid) system. Nineteen triazine dyes were tested for their abilities to extract some enzymes (lactate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, myokinase and pyruvate kinase) present in crude muscle sap into the dye-containing upper phase. Bulk proteins were to large extent recovered in the lower dextran-rich phase. By sequential change of the ligand several of the studied enzymes were extracted into separate upper phases and in 2–8 times purification (relative to protein) within 25 min. The two dehydrogenases were, however, extracted together. The total time for enzyme preparation was reduced to 40 min by direct homogenization of the tissue in the liquid-liquid two-phase system followed by five affinity extraction steps and separation of enzyme from the dye ligands. The yield was in this case considerably reduced.     

Determination of ketorolac in human plasma by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography using solid-phase extraction and ultraviolet detection

An improved high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed to measure human plasma concentrations of the analgesic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug ketorolac for use in pharmacokinetic studies. Samples were prepared for analysis by solid-phase extraction using Bond-Elut PH columns, with nearly complete recovery of both ketorolac and the internal standard tolmetin. The two compounds were separated on a Radial-Pak C₁₈ column using a mobile phase consisting of water–acetonitrile–1.0 mol/l dibutylamine phosphate (pH 2.5) (30:20:1) and detected at a UV wavelength of 313 nm. Using only 250 μl of plasma, the standard curve was linear from 0.05 to 10.0 μg/ml.     

Determination of apovincaminic acid in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography using solid-phase extraction and ultraviolet detection

A new, simple and rapid high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with UV detection has been developed for the determination of apovincaminic acid in human plasma. Apovincaminic acid and internal standard were isolated from plasma samples by solid-phase extraction with OASIS HLB cartridges. The chromatographic separation was accomplished on a reversed-phase C(18) column and UV detection was set at 311 nm. The calibration curves were linear in the concentration range of 2.4-240.0 ng/ml, and the limits of quantification was 2.4 ng/ml. The precision and accuracy ranged from 0.84 to 8.54% and 91.5 to 108.3%, respectively. The developed method was subsequently applied to study the pharmacokinetics of apovincaminic acid in a group of 20 human subjects at a single oral dose of 10mg of vinpocetine tablet.     

Simultaneous determination of rivanol and mifepristone in human plasma by a HPLC-UV method with solid-phase extraction

A HPLC method with UV detection was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of rivanol and mifepristone in human plasma. Norethisterone was used as the internal standard. Separation was performed by a C18 reversed-phase column maintained at 20 degrees C. The mobile phase was a mixture of methanol-acetonitrile-0.05% sodium dodecylsulfonate in a 0.05 M phosphate buffer with the pH adjusted to 3.0 (30:30:40, v/v/v) at a flow rate of 0.8 ml/min. Dual wavelength mode was used, with mifepristone monitored at UV 302 nm, while rivanol and norethisterone at 272 nm. A reliable biological sample pre-treatment procedure by means of solid-phase extraction was used, which allowed to obtain good extraction efficiency (>93%) for both of the analytes and the internal standard. The calibration curves were both linear with the correlation coefficient r equal to 0.9999. For rivanol, the assay gave CV% values for precision always lower than 7.8% and mean accuracy values higher than 95.3%. As to mifepristone, precision was always lower than 10.1% and mean accuracy values were higher than 93.8%. The limit of detection for the assay of rivanol and mifepristone was 1.1 and 3 ng/ml, respectively. The method is simple, sensitive and accurate, and allow for simultaneous determination of nanogram levels of rivanol and mifepristone in human plasma. It could be applied to assess the plasma level of rivanol and mifepristone in women undergoing polypharmacy with the two drugs.     

Determination of tramadol in human plasma and urine samples using liquid phase microextraction with back extraction combined with high performance liquid chromatography

Liquid phase microextraction by back extraction (LPME-BE) combined with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-fluorescence detection was developed for the determination of tramadol in human plasma. Tramadol was extracted from 2 mL of basic sample solution (donor phase) with pH 11.5 through a micro liter-size organic solvent phase (100 microL n-octane) for 25 min and finally into a 3.5 microL acidic aqueous acceptor microdrop with pH 2.5 suspended in the organic phase from the tip of a HPLC microsyringe needle for 15 min with the stirring rate of 1250 rpm. After extraction for a period of time, the microdrop was taken back into the syringe and injected into HPLC. Effected the experimental parameters such as the nature of the extracting solvent and its volume, sample temperature, stirring rate, volume of the acceptor phase, pH and extraction time on LPME-BE efficiency was investigated. At the optimized condition, enrichment factor of 366 and detection limit (LOD) of 0.12 microg L(-1) were obtained. The calibration curve was linear (r=0.999) in the concentration range of 0.3-130 microg L(-1). Within-day relative standard deviation RSD (S/N=3) and between-day RSD were 3.16% and 6.29%, respectively. The method was successfully applied to determine the concentration of tramadol in the plasma and urine samples and satisfactory results were obtained.