Determination of l-carnitine, acetyl-l-carnitine and propionyl-l-carnitine in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography after pre-column derivatization with 1-aminoanthracene

A new sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic procedure for the determination of l-carnitine (LC), acetyl-l-carnitine (ALC) and propionyl-l-carnitine (PLC) in human plasma has been developed. Precolumn derivatization with 1-aminoanthracene (1AA), performed in phosphate buffer in the presence of 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) as catalyst, is involved. The fluorescent derivatives were isocratically separated on a reversed-phase column (C₁₈). The eluate was monitored with a fluorimetric detector set at 248 nm (excitation wavelength) and 418 nm (emission wavelength). Because of the presence of endogenous carnitines, the validation was performed using dialyzed plasma. The identity of the derivatized compounds was assessed by mass spectrometry and the purity of the chromatographic peaks was confirmed by HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry. The limits of quantitation were 5 nmol/ml for LC, 1 nmol/ml for ALC and 0.25 nmol/ml for PLC. The recovery of the extraction procedure was in the range 82.6%–95.4% for all 3 compounds. Good linearity (R≈0.99) was observed within the calibration ranges studied: 5–160 nmol/ml for LC, 1–32 nmol/ml for ALC and 0.25–8 nmol/ml for PLC. Precision was in the range 0.3–16.8% and accuracy was always lower than 10.6%.     

Simultaneous determination of a potassium channel opener and its metabolite in rat plasma with column-switching liquid chromatography using atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation

A specific LC–MS assay was developed for simultaneous determination of Ro 31-7837 (I) and its metabolite Ro 31-6930 (II) in rat plasma, using on-line SPE by column-switching reversed-phase HPLC combined with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) tandem mass spectrometry for detection in the selected reaction monitoring mode. The method involved precipitation of plasma proteins with ethanol and automatic injection of a 1-ml aliquot of the supernatant onto a standard bore trapping column (LC-ABZ, 20×4.6 mm) for compound retention. Using the backflush mode, the analytes were transferred onto the analytical column (Kromasil C₁₈, 125×4.0 mm) for chromatographic separation and mass spectrometric detection. The mean precision and accuracy for I and II in the concentration range 0.25–100 ng/ml were found to be 3.7% and 101%, and 3.5% and 106%, respectively. The data were assessed from QC samples during the validation phase of the assay. The lower limit of quantification for both I and II was 0.25 ng/ml, using a 0.5-ml plasma aliquot. This LC–MS method provided the requisite specificity, sensitivity, accuracy and precision to assess the pharmacokinetics of the compounds in the rat.     

Development of liquid chromatographic method for the analysis of kanamycin residues in varicella vaccine using phenylisocyanate as a derivatization reagent

A liquid chromatographic method for the determination of the aminoglycoside kanamycin in varicella vaccine is described. Kanamycin sulfate was derived with phenylisocyanate (PIC) and triethylamine for 10 min at 70°C and chromatographed on a alkylamide-bonded column, Suplex pKb-100. A derivative of kanamycin sulfate was attached to four phenylisocynato groups and that molecular mass was confirmed with liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC–ESI-MS). The kanamycin-PIC derivative was found to have a retention time of 11.7 min using an eluent composed of 40% acetonitrile in water at 1.2 ml/min column flow-rate. Detection was at a wavelength of 240 nm. Recoveries ranging from 97.5 to 99.8% were found. The correlation coefficient was greater than 0.9998 over the range between 10 and 100 μg/ml. The method precision of within-day assay showed a 0.5 to 4.0% coefficient of variation (n=5) ranging from 10 to 70 μg/ml of kanamycin concentration levels. Kanamycin-PIC derivative in reaction solution was stable for 24 h at room temperature. A simple and efficient method for the analysis of the kanamycin in varicella vaccine was developed and validated.     

Measurement of bumetanide in plasma and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography and application to bumetanide disposition

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the measurement of bumetamide in plasma and urine is described. Following precipitation of proteins with acetonitrile, bumetanide was extracted from plasma or urine on a 1-ml bonded-phase C₁₈ column and eluted with acetonitrile. Piretanide dissolved in methanol was used as the internal standard. A C₁₈ Radial Pak column and fluorescence detection (excitation wavelength 228 nm; emission wavelength 418 nm) were used. The mobile phase consisted of methanol—water—glacial acetic acid (66:34:1, v/v) delivered isocratically at a flow-rate of 1.2 ml/min. The lower limit of detection for this method was 5 ng/ml using 0.2 ml of plasma or urine. Nafcillin, but not other semi-synthetic penicillins, was the only commonly used drug that interfered with this assay. No interference from endogenous compounds was detected. For plasma, the inter-assay coefficients of variation of the method were 7.6 and 4.4% for samples containing 10 and 250 ng/ml bumetanide, respectively. The inter-assay coefficients of variation for urine samples containing 10 and 2000 ng/ml were 8.1 and 5.7%, respectively. The calibration curve was linear over the range 5–2000 ng/ml.     

Development of a Validated LC Method for Separation of Process‐Related Impurities Including the R‐enantiomer of S‐Pramipexole on Polysaccharide Chiral Stationary Phases

Despite the availability of a few methods for individual separation of S‐pramipexole from its process‐related impurities, no common liquid chromatography (LC) method is reported so far in the literature. The present article describes the development of a single‐run LC method for simultaneous determination of S‐pramipexole and its enantiomeric and process‐related impurities on a Chiralpak AD‐H (150 x 4.6 mm, 5μm) column using n‐hexane/ethanol/n‐butylamine (75:25:0.1 v/v/v) as a mobile phase in an isocratic mode of elution at a flow rate of 1.2 ml/min at 30°C. The chromatographic eluents were monitored at a wavelength of 260 nm using a photodiode array detector. Excellent enantioseparation with good resolutions (Rs ≥ 2.88) and peak shapes (A_s ≤ 1.21) for all analytes was achieved. The proposed method was validated according to International Conference Harmonization (ICH) guidelines in terms of accuracy, precision, sensitivity, and linearity. Limits of quantification of impurities (0.25–0.55 μg/ml) indicate the highest sensitivity achievable by the proposed method. The method has an advantage of selectivity and suitability for routine determination of not only chiral impurity but also all possible related substances in active pharmaceutical ingredients of S‐pramipexole. Chirality 27:430–435, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Simultaneous determination of nefiracetam and its metabolites by high-performance liquid chromatography

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic assay was developed to simultaneously quantitate nefiracetam (NEF), a novel nootropic agent, and its three known oxidized metabolites (N-[(2,6-dimethylphenylcarbamoyl)methyl]succinamic acid (5-COOH-NEF), 4-hydroxy-NEF and 5-hydroxy-NEF) in human serum and urine. The quantitative procedure was based on solid-phase extraction with Sep-Pak C₁₈ and ultraviolet detection at 210 nm. The calibration curves of NEF and the metabolites were linear over a wide range of concentrations (0.5–21.5 nmol/ml for NEF and 0.4–9.5 nmol/ml for metabolites in serum and 4–86 nmol/ml for NEF and 8–190 nmol/ml for metabolites in urine). Intra- and inter-day assay coefficients of variation for the compounds were less than 10%. The limit of detection was 0.1 nmol/ml for NEF, 5-COOH-NEF and 4-hydroxy-NEF, and 0.2 nmol/ml for 5-hydroxy-NEF in both serum and urine. This method is applicable for the determination of NEF and its metabolites in human serum and urine with satisfactory accuracy and precision.     

Determination of non-protein bound phenylbutazone in bovine plasma using ultrafiltration and liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection

A liquid chromatographic procedure using UV detection was coupled with ultrafiltration for the quantitation of free phenylbutazone in bovine plasma, in the range of 20 ng/ml to 2.0 μg/ml. Whole plasma samples (0.5 to 1 ml) were placed in a 2-ml centrifugal concentrator with a molecular-mass cut-off membrane of 10 000 and centrifuged at 4500 g for 2 h at 4°C using a fixed angle rotor. The ultrafiltrate was transferred to an LC vial with a 200-μl insert and 100 μl was injected into an LC system. The chromatographic system used a C₁₈ reversed-phase column connected to a UV detector set at 264 nm. The mobile phase was 0.2 M sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7)–methanol (1:1). Recoveries of phenylbutazone from protein-free plasma water fortified at levels of 20 ng/ml to 2 μg/ml ranged from 91 to 93%, with relative standard deviations (R.S.D.s) ranging from 1 to 4%. The concentration of incurred non-protein bound phenylbutazone obtained from a cow intravenously dosed twice with 2 g phenylbutazone, 8 h apart, was 111, 26 and 11 ng/ml for 2, 72 and 104 h post first phenylbutazone dose, respectively.     

Simple and rapid liquid chromatography method for determination of moxifloxacin in saliva

A high performance liquid chromatographic method for determination of moxifloxacin in human saliva was developed. The method involved deproteinisation of the sample with perchloric acid and analysis of the supernatant using a reversed-phase C18 column (150 mm) and fluorescence detection at an excitation wavelength of 290 nm and an emission wavelength of 460 nm. The assay was specific for moxifloxacin and linear from 0.25 to 10.0 μg/ml. The relative standard deviation of intra- and inter-day assays was lower than 10%. The average recovery of moxifloxacin from saliva was 101%. Due to its simplicity, the assay can be used for pharmacokinetic studies of moxifloxacin.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic method for the detection and quantitation of haloperidol and seven of its metabolites in microsomal preparations

An isocratic high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) system was developed to analyze haloperidol and its potential metabolites. These compounds included 4-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-hydroxypiperidine (CPHP), haloperidol N-oxide (HNO), reduced haloperidol (RHAL), the 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine analogue and its N-oxide, and the pyridinium ion from haloperidol (HP⁺). The HPLC system comprised a Hypersil CPS5 column with a mobile phase of acetonitrile (67%) and ammonium acetate (final concentration 10 mM) which was adjusted to pH 5.4 by acetic acid. The solvent was delivered at 1 ml/min. RHAL and CPHP were determined by an ultraviolet detector at 220 nm with a detection limit of 1 nmol/ml. All other compounds were determined at 245 nm and had a detection limit of 0.3 nmol/ml. This system was used to analyze a microsomal metabolic mixture of haloperidol. It was found that all above compounds except HNO were metabolites of haloperidol. In addition, two other metabolites were also well separated in this HPLC system which are proposed to be oxygenated haloperidol and the pyridone analogue of haloperidol. The HPLC system was used to carry out quantitative metabolic studies of haloperidol. It was found that the metabolism of haloperidol exhibits large inter-species differences. The apparent enzyme kinetic parameters were also determined using mice microsomes.     

Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of 6-thioguanine applicable to pharmacologic studies in humans

6-Thioguanine (6TG) and its metabolites were analyzed in human plasma with a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method. 6TG and related compounds were extracted from plasma with an equal volume of 2 N perchloric acid at a 50–100% recovery efficiency. The neutralized extracts were chromatographed on a μBondapak C₁₈ column by two separate isocratic conditions. 6TG, 6-thiouric acid, 6-thioxanthine, 6-thioguanosine, and 6-methylthiouric acid were analyzed with 0.01 M sodium acetate, pH 3.5–10% methanol as the mobile phase and 340 nm for detection. 6-Methylthioguanine and three unknown metabolites were separated with acetate—25% methanol and 310 nm detection. One of the unknowns was identified as 6-methylthioguanosine. External standard calibration was used for quantitation. The 6TG detection limit was 0.8 nmol/ml in plasma.     

Quantitation of ibogaine and 12-hydroxyibogamine in human plasma by liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with fluorimetric detection was developed for the simultaneous determination of ibogaine and noribogaine in human plasma using fluorescein as internal standard. This method involved a solid phase extraction of the compounds from plasma using N-vinylpyrrolidone-divinybenzene copolymer cartridges. Separation of the three analytes was performed on a reversed-phase Supelcosil C18 analytical column (75 mm x 4.6mm i.d., 3 microm particle size). The excitation wavelength was set at 230 nm for the first 15.8min and then at 440 nm for the following 14.2 min; the emission wavelength was set at 336 nm for the first 15.8 min and then at 514 nm for the following 14.2 min. Obtained from the method validation, inter-assay precision was 6.0-12.5% and accuracy was 95.4-104%. The extraction efficiencies of the assay were higher than 94% and were constant across the calibration range. The lower limits of quantitation were 0.89 ng/ml for ibogaine and 1 ng/ml for noribogaine; at these levels, precision was < or =17% and accuracy was 95-105%. In this paper, extensive stability testing was undertaken using a wide range of storage conditions. Special attention must be paid to sample handling to avoid light degradation of the compounds.     

Simple high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of ranitidine in human plasma

A simple high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the determination of ranitidine in human plasma. Prior to analysis, ranitidine and the internal standard (metoprolol) were extracted from alkalinized plasma samples using dichloromethane. The mobile phase was 0.05 M potassium dihydrogenphosphate–acetonitrile (88:12, v/v) adjusted to pH 6.5. Analysis was run at a flow-rate of 1.3 ml/min and at a detection wavelength of 229 nm. The method is sensitive with a detection limit of 1 ng/ml at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3:1, while the quantification limit was set at 15 ng/ml. The calibration curve was linear over a concentration range of 15–2000 ng/ml. Mean recovery value of the extraction procedure was about 90%, while the within-day and between-day coefficients of variation and percent error values of the assay method were all less than 15%.     

Determination of N-acetylation phenotype using caffeine as a metabolic probe and high-performance liquid chromatography with either ultraviolet detection or electrospray mass spectrometry

A rapid, sensitive method using liquid chromatography–electrospray mass spectrometry (LC–ES-MS) was developed and evaluated for the simultaneous quantitative determination of caffeine metabolites 1U, 1X and AAMU in human urine. This method involved a simple dilution of urine samples. The chromatographic separation was achieved on a C₁₈ reversed-phase column using a gradient of acetonitrile in 2 mM, pH 3.0 ammonium formate as mobile phase. After ionisation in an electrospray source, mass spectrometric detection was performed in the negative ion, selected ion monitoring mode. This method yielded acceptable accuracy and precision within the range 0.25–50 μg/ml. This analytical method was applied to investigate the N-acetylator phenotype of HIV-infected patients and compared with high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection. Its specificity was better, which appeared to be absolutely necessary to prevent errors in metabolic ratios and phenotype interpretation.     

Achiral-chiral LC/LC-FLD coupling for determination of carvedilol in plasma samples for bioequivalence purposes

Bioequivalence data for two pharmaceutical formulations (solid oral dosage forms) containing carvedilol is presented for both racemic and enantiomers of the active substance. This was achieved by on-line coupling of two liquid chromatographic separations followed by fluorescence detection. The first LC dimension was used for a fast separation of racemic carvedilol from propranolol (IS) and the endogenous matrix, by means of a reversed phase mechanism. The peak of racemic carvedilol was on-line transferred to the second enantioselective LC dimension, based on a reversed phase separation on cellulose tris(3,5-dimethyl-phenylcarbamate) stationary phase. Both stages were monitored over a single run by means of a fluorescence detector operated at an excitation wavelength of 285 nm and an emission wavelength of 355 nm. Automated shortcutting of the racemic carvedilol peak to the chiral column and simultaneous detection over the two LC dimensions have been obtained by using an experimental set-up based on two six-port rotative switching valves. Linearity was demonstrated on the interval 2-150 ng/mL for racemic carvedilol and on 1-75 ng/mL intervals for enantiomers. LLOQ fits between 0.7 and 1.4 ng/mL. Recoveries of the target compounds are 87+/-4 and 81+/-4% for the IS. Precision ranged from 0.6 to 2.5% and the mean accuracy obtained on quality control samples (measured as % bias) over the whole study falls between -0.8 and 6.3%.     

Development and validation of HPLC method for the determination of tobramycin in urine samples post-inhalation using pre-column derivatisation with fluorescein isothiocyanate

A reversed-phase liquid chromatography method involving pre-column derivatisation with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC, isomer I) for determination of tobramycin in urine samples after inhalation has been developed. FITC reacts with the primary amino groups of tobramycin and other aminoglycosides under mild conditions to form a highly fluorescent and stable derivative. The chromatographic separation was carried out on a Phenomenex Luna C(18) column at ambient temperature using a constant flow rate of 1 ml/min and mobile phase of acetonitrile-methanol-glacial acetic acid-water (420:60:5:515, v/v/v/v). The tobramycin-FITC derivative was monitored by fluorescent detection at an excitation wavelength 490 nm and emission wavelength 518 nm. The linearity of response for tobramycin was demonstrated at 11 different concentrations of tobramycin extracted from spiked urine, ranging from 0.25 to 20 microg/ml. Tobramycin and neomycin were extracted from spiked urine by a solid phase extraction clean-up procedure on a carboxypropyl-bonded phase (CBA) weak cation-exchange cartridge, and the relative recovery was >99% (n=5). The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) in urine were 70 and 250 ng/ml, respectively. The method had an accuracy of <0.2%, and intra-day and inter-day precision (in term of %coefficient of variation) were <4.89% and 8.25%, respectively. This assay was used for urinary pharmacokinetic studies to identify the relative lung deposition of tobramycin post-inhalation of tobramycin inhaled solution 300 mg/5 ml (TOBI) by different nebuliser systems.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of AG-331, a novel anti-cancer agent,in human serum and urine using solid-phase extraction and photodiode-array detection

A reversed-phase isocratic high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the determination of AG-331, a novel thymidylate synthase inhibitor, in human serum and urine. The method involves a solid-phase extraction from C₁₈ cartridges without addition of an internal standard. The methanol eluent is evaporated under nitrogen at 40°C, and reconstituted in mobile phase, acetonitrile-water (35:65, v/v) containing 25 mM ammonium phosphate. Separation of AG-331 was obtained on a C₁₈ column at a flow-rate of 1 ml/min. Chromatographic signals were monitored by a photodiode-array detector at a primary wavelength of 457 nm with a bandwidth of 4.8 nm. Standard curves are linear in the range of 22–2175 ng/ml in plasma and 44–2175 ng/ml in urine, respectively. The extraction recovery ranged from 92.9–102.4%. Intra-day coefficient of variation was less than 9.5%, and inter-day coefficient of variation was less than 14.3% for an AG-331 concentration of 44 ng/ml. This method has been used to characterize the pharmacokinetics of AG-331 in cancer patients as part of ongoing Phase I trials.     

Simple high-performance liquid chromatographic method for determination of ketoconazole in human plasma

A simple high-performance liquid chromatographic method using fluorescence detection was developed for the determination of ketoconazole in human plasma. The method entailed direct injection of the plasma sample after deproteinization using acetonitrile. The mobile phase comprised 0.05 M disodium hydrogen orthophosphate and acetonitrile (50:50, v/v) adjusted to pH 6. Analysis was run at a flow-rate of 1.5 ml/min with the detector operating at an excitation wavelength of 260 nm and an emission wavelength of 375 nm. The method is specific and sensitive with a quantification limit of approximately 60 ng/ml and a detection limit of 40 ng/ml at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3:1. Mean absolute recovery value was about 105%, while the within-day and between-day coefficient of variation and percent error values of the assay method were all less than 14%. The calibration curve was linear over a concentration range of 62.5–8000 ng/ml.     

Determination of the antihypertensive drug cilazapril and its active metabolite cilazaprilat in pharmaceuticals and urine by solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography with photometric detection

A liquid chromatographic method with photometric detection for the determination of cilazapril and its active metabolite and degradation product cilazaprilat in urine and pharmaceuticals has been developed. The chromatographic method consisted of a μBondapak C₁₈ column maintained at 30±0.2°C, using a mixture of methanol-10 mM phosphoric acid (50:50 v/v) as mobile phase at a flow-rate of 1.0 ml/min. Enalapril maleate was used as internal standard. The detection was performed at a wavelength of 206 nm. A study of the retention of cilazapril and cilazaprilat using solid–liquid extraction has been carried out in order to optimise the clean-up procedure for urine samples, which consisted of a solid–liquid extraction using C₈ cartridges. Recoveries greater than 85% are obtained for both compounds. The method was sensitive, precise and accurate enough to be applied to the determination of urine samples obtained from three hypertensive patients up to 24 h after intake of a therapeutic dose (detection limit of 70 ng/ml for cilazapril and cilazaprilat in urine). A comparison of the method developed using photometric and amperometric detection has been carried out.     

Quantitative analysis of Z-2-[4-(4-chloro-1,2-diphenyl-but-1-enyl)phenoxy]ethanol in human plasma using high-performance liquid chromatography

A highly sensitive and precise high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay was developed and validated for the quantitation of Z-2-[4-(4-chloro-1,2-diphenyl-but-1-enyl) phenoxy]ethanol (FC-1271a) in human plasma. Plasma samples (1.0 ml) containing FC-1271a and internal standard (toremifene citrate; Fareston^®) were extracted using a 2% 1-butanol, 98% hexane solution with an extraction efficiency of >97%. Samples were reconstituted in methanol, irradiated with high intensity ultraviolet light (254 nm) for 1 min, and injected onto a C₁₈ reverse phase column. Samples were eluted isocratically at a flow-rate of 0.5 ml/min with a mobile phase consisting of 6.5% water and 0.5% triethylamine in methanol. The fluorescence of photochemically activated compounds was detected using a fluorometer set at an excitation wavelength of 266 nm and emission wavelength of 370 nm. Under these assay conditions, standard calibration curves were linear through a concentration range of 10–400 ng/ml. In summary, we have developed and validated an HPLC assay to quantitate FC-1271a in human plasma.     

Simultaneous determination of primidone and its three major metabolites in rat urine by high-performance liquid chromatography using solid-phase extraction

A new high-performance liquid chromatographic method for simultaneous determination of primidone (PRM) and of its three major metabolites, phenobarbital (PB), p-hydroxyphenobarbital (p-HO-PB) and phenylethylmalonamide (PEMA), in rat urine, was developed. After acid hydrolysis, these compounds were extracted from urine by means of a Bond Elut Certify LRC column with good clean-up. The extracts were chromatographed on a C₁₈ reversed-phase column using isocratic elution at 40°C, with UV detection at 227 nm. The limit of detection was 0.5 mg/ml for the four compounds. Good linearity (r²>0.99) was observed within the calibration ranges studied: 37.4–299.3 μg/ml for PRM, 26.4–211.2 μg/ml for PB, 12.5–100.2 μg/ml for p-HO-PB and 12.1–97.0 μg/ml for PEMA. Repeatability was in the range 3.1–6.8%. This method constitutes a useful tool for studies on the influence of various parameters on primidone metabolism.