High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of carbamazepine and metabolites in human hair

To study the use of hair analysis in monitoring drug compliance and historical changes in pharmacokinetics we developed a method for the quantitative determination of the anti-epileptic drug carbamazepine (CBZ) and trans-10,11-dihydro-10,11-dihydroxy-carbamazepine (CBZ-diol) in hair from carbamazepine users. Digestion by 1 M NaOH was found to be the best method for isolating CBZ and CBZ-diol from hair, followed by solid-phase extraction and reversed-phase HPLC with UV detection. Recoveries from spiked hair samples were 76–86%. Within-day precision (C.V.; n=10) for CBZ and CBZ-diol in hair of a CBZ user containing 10.9 μg/g CBZ and 3.2 μg/g CBZ-diol were 1.7 and 5.0%, respectively. Sectional hair analysis of a patient on a constant dosage of CBZ demonstrates an exponential decrease in hair concentrations of CBZ and CBZ-diol with increasing distance from the root, probably caused by shampooing. No CBZ-10,11-epoxide (CBZ-epox) could be detected. However, one component in the chromatogram is probably CBZ-β-hydroxythioether, an adduct of CBZ-epox with cysteine, or acridinethioacetal, its rearrangement product. The concentration of this component does not decrease with increasing distance from the root.     

Simultaneous stereoselective high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of 10-hydroxycarbazepine and its metabolite carbamazepine-10,11-trans-dihydrodiol in human urine

An enantioselective HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of the concentration of the enantiomers of the oxcarbazepine metabolites 10-hydroxycarbazepine (MHD) and carbamazepine-10,11-trans-dihydrodiol (DHD) in human urine is described. The method is based on extraction with tert.-butylmethyl ether–dichloromethane (2:1, v/v) under alkaline conditions, separation and evaporation of the organic phase and dissolution of the residue in the mobile phase. Enantiomers are resolved on a Diacel Chiralcel OD column (250 mm×4.6 mm I.D.) under isocratic conditions using as mobile phase n-hexane–ethanol–2-propanol (18:2:1, v/v/v) with addition of glacial acetic acid (0.1%). The enantiomers are detected by UV at 215 nm. The method allows reliable determination of the MHD and DHD enantiomers in human urine with limits of quantification of 0.2 mg/l and 0.4 mg/l, respectively.     

High-speed liquid chromatographic method for the monitoring of carbamazepine and its active metabolite, carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide, in human plasma

The assays of antiepileptic drugs, which are performed by central laboratories in Phase II and III clinical trials, require both a very fast turn-around time and a suitable specificity. In order to decrease the run time and to keep the powerful specificity of the liquid chromatography (HPLC), the use of a reversed-phase 1.5 μm monosized non-porous silicon dioxide microspheres column instead of regular columns containing spherical porous C₁₈ material was studied. The determination of carbamazepine (CBZ) and its active metabolite, carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide (CBZ-E), in human plasma or serum was chosen to demonstrate the utility of these columns. As a prerequisite of this work, no modification of a regular HPLC system was allowed. The samples were prepared in autosampler vials by protein precipitation with acetonitrile, followed by a quick centrifugation. Without any change to a conventional HPLC system, CBZ and CBZ-E are well separated in less than 2.5 min using a Kovasil MS C₁₄ column. No interference was observed with endogenous compounds and with nine antiepileptic drugs commonly prescribed as co-medication, and their metabolites. Due to the very low specific surface area of the packing, the required organic modifier volume per chromatographic run was decreased by a factor of 25. The method was validated. The developed method is well suited for the determination of CBZ and CBZ-E in clinical trials. It can be easily adapted to the monitoring of other antiepileptic drugs. No modification of a regular HPLC system was required.     

Mechanisms of Action of Carbamazepine and Its Derivatives,Oxcarbazepine, BIA 2-093, and BIA 2-024

Carbamazepine (CBZ) has been extensively used in the treatment of epilepsy, as well as in the treatment of neuropathic pain and affective disorders. However, the mechanisms of action of this drug are not completely elucidated and are still a matter of debate. Since CBZ is not very effective in some epileptic patients and may cause several adverse effects, several antiepileptic drugs have been developed by structural variation of CBZ, such as oxcarbazepine (OXC), which is used in the treatment of epilepsy since 1990. (S)-(–)-10-acetoxy-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenz[b,f]azepine-5-carboxamide (BIA 2-093) and 10,11-dihydro-10-hydroxyimino-5H-dibenz[b,f]azepine-5-carboxamide (BIA 2-024), which were recently developed by BIAL, are new putative antiepileptic drugs, with some improved properties. In this review, we will focus on the mechanisms of action of CBZ and its derivatives, OXC, BIA 2-093 and BIA 2-024. The available data indicate that the anticonvulsant efficacy of these AEDs is mainly due to the inhibition of sodium channel activity.     

Synthesis of (<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>)-2-trimethylsilyl-2-hydroxyl-ethylcyanide catalyzed with (<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>)-oxynitrilase from loquat seed meal

The synthesis of optically active (R)-2-trimethylsilyl-2-hydroxyl-ethylcyanide by asymmetric trans-cyanation of acetyltrimethylsilane with acetone cyanohydrin in a biphasic system was achieved using (R)-oxynitrilase from loquat seed meal. Diisopropyl ether was the most suitable organic phase among the organic solvents examined. The optimal concentration of acetyltrimethylsilane, concentration of crude enzyme, volume ratio of the aqueous to the organic phase, temperature and the buffer pH value were 14 mM, 61.4 U ml^-1, 13% (v/v), 30 °C and 4, respectively. The substrate conversion and the product enantiomeric excess were 95% and 98% under the optimized conditions. Acetyltrimethylsilane was a better substrate of the enzyme than its carbon counterpart. Revisions requested 24 August 2004; Revisions received 12 November 2004     

Optimization of enantioselective resolution of racemic ibuprofen by native lipase from Aspergillus niger

Resolution of (R,S)-ibuprofen (2-(4-isobutylphenyl)propionic acid) enantiomers by esterification reaction with 1-propanol in different organic solvents was studied using native Aspergillus niger lipase. The main variables controlling the process (enzyme concentration and 1-propanol:ibuprofen molar ratio) have been optimized using response surface methodology based on a five-level, two-variable central composite rotatable design, in which the selected objective function was enantioselectivity. This enzyme preparation showed preferentially catalyzes the esterification of R(−)-ibuprofen, and under optimum conditions (7% w/v of enzyme and molar ratio of 2.41:1) the enantiomeric excess of active S(+)-ibuprofen and total conversion values were 79.1 and 48.0%, respectively, and the E-value was 32, after 168 h of reaction in isooctane.     

Determination of carbamazepine and carbamazepine 10,11-epoxide in human plasma by tandem liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry with electrospray ionisation

A sensitive method for the determination of carbamazepine and carbamazepine 10,11-epoxide in plasma is described, using high-performance liquid chromatographic separation with tandem mass spectrometry. Samples were purified using liquid-liquid extraction and separated on a Phenomenex Luna C18 5 microm. 150 x 2 mm column with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile, methanol and formic acid (0.1%) (10:70:20, v/v). Detection was performed by a Micromass Quattro Ultima mass spectrometer in the MRM mode (LC-MS-MS) using electro spray ionisation (ESI+), monitoring the transition of the protonated molecular ion for carbamazepine at m/z 237.05 and carbamazepine 10,11-epoxide at m/z 253.09 to the predominant ions of m/z 194.09 and 180.04, respectively. The mean recovery was 95% for carbamazepine and 101% for carbamazepine 10,11-epoxide, with a lower limit of quantification of 0.722 ng/ml for carbamazepine and 5.15 ng/ml for carbamazepine 10,11-epoxide, when using 0.5 ml plasma. This high-throughput method was used to quantify 230 samples per day, and is sufficiently sensitive to be employed in pharmacokinetic studies.     

Resolution,determination of enantiomeric purity and chiral recognition mechanism of new xanthone derivatives on (S,S)‐whelk‐O1 stationary phase

The enantioresolution and determination of the enantiomeric purity of 32 new xanthone derivatives, synthesized in enantiomerically pure form, were investigated on (S ,S )‐Whelk‐O1 chiral stationary phase (CSP). Enantioselectivity and resolution (α and R_S) with values ranging from 1.41–6.25 and from 1.29–17.20, respectively, were achieved. The elution was in polar organic mode with acetonitrile/methanol (50:50 v/v ) as mobile phase and, generally, the (R )‐enantiomer was the first to elute. The enantiomeric excess (ee ) for all synthesized xanthone derivatives was higher than 99%. All the enantiomeric pairs were enantioseparated, even those without an aromatic moiety linked to the stereogenic center. Computational studies for molecular docking were carried out to perform a qualitative analysis of the enantioresolution and to explore the chiral recognition mechanisms. The in silico results were consistent with the chromatographic parameters and elution orders. The interactions between the CSP and the xanthone derivatives involved in the chromatographic enantioseparation were elucidated.     

Development of a bioconversion process for production of cis-1S,2R-indandiol from indene by recombinant Escherichia coli constructs

Recombinant Escherichia coli cells expressing the toluene dioxygenase (TDO) genes from Pseudomonas putida convert indene to cis-1S,2R-indandiol, a potentially important intermediate for the chemical synthesis of the HIV-1 protease inhibitor, Crixivan. A bioconversion process was developed through optimization of medium composition and reaction conditions at the shake-flask and 23-l fermentor scales. A cis-1,2-indandiol productivity of approx. 1000 mg/l was achieved with construct TDO123, which represents a 50-fold increase over the initial titer. Varying the bioconversion conditions did not change the enantiomeric excess (e.e.) for the 1S,2R enantiomer from about 30%, suggesting that toluene dioxygenase intrinsically converts indene to 1S,2R- and 1R,2S-indandiols at a ratio of 2:1. Further inclusion of the Pseudomonas dehydrogenase gene in construct D160-1 led to the production of chirally pure cis-1S,2R-indandiol (e.e. > 99%) as a result of the selective degradation of the 1R,2S enantiomer, with the overall yield (650 mg/l) proportionally reduced. A single stage process was developed for D160-1 and scaled up to the 23-l fermentor, achieving a cis-1S,2R-indandiol titer of 1200 mg/l. Received: 24 September 1998 / Received revision: 22 January 1999 / Accepted: 31 January 1999     

AN EFFICIENT SYSTEM FOR THE ASYMMETRIC ACYLATION OF (R,S)-3-n-BUTYLPHTHALIDE CATALYZED BY NOVOZYME 435

Novozyme 435 could be a highly efficient catalyst in the asymmetric acylation of (R,S)-3-n-butylphthalide in tetrahydrofuran–hexane solvents. The effect of various reaction parameters such as agitation velocity, water content, mixed media, temperature, concentration of Novozyme 435, molar ratio of acetic anhydride to (R,S)-3-n-butylphthalide, reaction time, enantiomeric excess of substrate (ee_S), enantiomeric excess of product (ee_P), and enantioselective ratio (E) were studied. Tetrahydrofuran markedly improved (R,S)-3-n-butylphthalide conversion, enantiomeric excess of remaining 3-n-butylphthalide, and enantiomeric ratio. The optimum media were 50% (v/v) tetrahydrofuran and 50% (v/v) hexane. Other ideal reaction conditions were an agitation velocity of 150 rpm, 0.4% (v/v) water content, temperature of 30°C, 8 mg/mL dosage of Novozyme 435, 8:1 (0.4 mmol: 0.05 mmol) molar ratio of acetic anhydride to (R,S)-3-n-butylphthalide, and a reaction time of 48 hr. Under the optimum conditions, 96.4% ee_S and 49.3% conversion of (R,S)-3-n-butylphthalide were achieved. In addition, enantiomeric excess of the product was above 98.0%.     

12-Oxophytodienoate-10,11-Reductase: Occurrence of Two Isoenzymes of Different Specificity against Stereoisomers of 12-Oxophytodienoic Acid

The reduction of 12-oxophytodienoic acid (OPDA) to 3-oxo-2(2′[Z]-pentenyl)-cyclopentane-1-octanoic acid is catalyzed by 12-oxophytodienoate-10,11-reductase (OPR). Analysis of the isomer preference of OPR has indicated that the activity is composed of two isoenzymes exhibiting different stereoselectivities. The two isoforms of OPR have been separated, using protein extracts of Rock Harlequin (Corydalis sempervirens) as the starting material. OPRI, the enzyme reported earlier from the same species and corresponding to the cloned OPR from Arabidopsis, utilized 9R,13R-OPDA >> 9S,13R-OPDA but not the 13S-configured isomers, whereas the new activity, OPRII, effectively reduced all four OPDA isomers, including the natural 9S,13S-OPDA (cis-[+]-OPDA). OPRII activity is characterized in detail. The enzyme's enzymatic, biochemical, and immunological properties prove that it is a close relative of OPRI. The roles of OPRI and OPRII in octadecanoid biology are discussed.     

Synthesis,chromatographic resolution and chiroptical properties of carboxyibuprofen stereoisomers: Major metabolites of ibuprofen in man

The chromatographic resolution of the four stereoisomers of carboxyibuprofen, a major metabolite of ibuprofen in man, was achieved using a Chiralpak AD chiral stationary phase (CSP) (J.T. Baker, Milton, Keynes, UK). The elution order of the stereoisomers was determined to be 2′S,2R; 2′R,2R; 2′R,2S; 2′S,2S by a combination of stereoselective synthesis of diastereoisomeric mixtures and analysis of the two diastereoisomers isolated from human urine following the administration of (S)-ibuprofen. The individual stereoisomers were isolated by semipreparative chiral phase chromatography and characterized by circular dichroism spectroscopy. Chirality 9:75–87, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Isolation and characterization of Acinetobacter sp. ES-1 excreting a lipase with high enantioselectivity for (S)-ketoprofen ethyl ester

A new Acinetobacter sp. ES-1, grown on triolein, tryptone and Triton X-100, excreted a lipase that hydrolyzed 10m M (R,S)-ketoprofen ethyl ester into (S)-ketoprofen. The crude lipase had an activity of 10Uml^-1 and, at 30°C and pH7 over 48h, gave a conversion yield of 35% with an enantiomeric excess for the product 96%.     

Parameters influencing asymmetric synthesis of (R)-mandelonitrile by a novel (R)-hydroxynitrile lyase from Eriobotrya japonica

(R)-Mandelonitrile was successfully synthesized by an enzymatic transcyanation reaction of benzaldehyde and acetone cyanohydrin catalyzed by a hydroxynitrile lyase from Eriobotrya japonica (EjHNL) in an aqueous-organic biphasic system. The effects of pH, temperature, organic solvent, substrate concentration and enzyme concentration on the initial activity and enantioselectivity of the enzyme were studied. Both pH and temperature had a large effect on the initial velocity and enantiomeric excess (e.e.) of the product, (R)-mandelonitrile. High enantiomeric purity of the product was observed at low pH and temperature because the non-enzymatic reaction producing racemates of mandelonitrile was almost suppressed. The optimum pH and temperature to obtain high e.e. were pH 4.0 and 10 °C, respectively. Surprisingly, the organic solvents had a significant influence on the initial velocity of the reaction but less influence on the enantiomeric purity of product. The EjHNL was very stable in ethyl acetate, diethyl ether, methyl-t-butyl ether, diisopropyl ether, dibutyl ether and hexane for 12 h. The best solvent for the highest initial velocity and e.e. was diethyl ether with an optimum aqueous phase content of 50% (v/v). The initial reaction rate increase as the aqueous phase content rose, but when the content was more than 50%, a reduction of e.e. was observed. Increasing the concentration of the substrates accelerated the initial velocity, but caused a slight decrease in the e.e. of the product. Under the optimized conditions, the conversion and e.e. of (R)-mandelonitrile for 3 h were 40 and 99%, respectively. The aqueous phase containing the enzyme also showed considerably efficient reusability for 4 batch reactions.     

Simultaneous determination of epirubicin, doxorubicin and their principal metabolites in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography and electrochemical detection

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method with electrochemical detection has been developed for the simultaneous determination of epirubicin, 13-S-dihydroepirubicin, doxorubicin and 13-S-dihydrodoxorubicin in human plasma. An aliquot of 200 μl plasma, spiked with internal standard, was extracted by solid-phase extraction using polymeric adsorbent columns. Chromatography was performed using a C₁₈ reversed-phase column with a mobile phase consisting of water–acetonitrile (71:29, v/v) containing 0.05 M Na₂HPO₄ and 0.05% v/v triethylamine adjusted to pH 4.6 with citric acid. Linearity of the method was obtained in the concentration range of 1–500 ng/ml for all the analytes. Analytical recoveries of the analytes ranged from 89 to 93%. The assay can be used for the simultaneous determination of the four analytes, or for epirubicin and its metabolite or doxorubicin and its metabolite, using the other parent drug as an internal standard. The method was applied to analyze human plasma samples from patients treated with epirubicin using doxorubicin as an internal standard.     

Synthesis and cytotoxic activity of benzopyran-based platinum(II) complexes

A series of benzopyran-based platinum complexes of types 4 and 5 were synthesized as potential anticancer agents. The novel compounds were synthesized in several steps using simple and efficient chemistry. The newly synthesized compounds were evaluated for their biological efficacy and showed significant in vitro cytotoxic activity in different hormone-dependent and -independent breast cancer cell lines. Docking and other molecular modeling experiments were also performed for one of the potent compounds, 5f, which showed that both the possible enantiomeric forms (5f with 3R,4R and 5f with 3S,4S) of the molecule have comparable lowest energy (for 5f with 3R,4R, −31.953 kcal/mol and for 5f with 3S,4S, −31.944 kcal/mol). The 3D QSAR was examined for the derivatives of both enantiomeric forms and a novel relationship for the 3S,4S derivatives is discussed.     

Highly sensitive coupled-column high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the separation and quantitation of the diastereomers of leucovorin and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate in serum and urine

A column-switching chiral HPLC assay was developed that allows the separation and quantitation of the diastereomers of leucovorin (LV, 5-formyltetrahydrofolic acid) and its metabolite 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (METHF) in serum and urine by means of fluorescence detection. The analysis procedure consists of an on-line concentration of the folates in the HPLC system which is followed by the elution and separation of folates on an achiral 3-μm Microbore C₁₈ column in (6R,S)-LV and (6R,S)-LV and (6R,S)-METHF are subsequently transferred on-line onto a chiral 7-μm bovine serum albumin column through a Rheodyne valve system and are separated into their distereometers. Time of analysis is 70 min. Detection limit is 5 ng/ml for each diastereometer. The within-day variation ranges between 3.2 and 15.8% in relation to the measured concentration. Between-day variation is 4.4–12.1% for a concentration of 100 ng/ml for each diastereometer. (6R,S)-LV and (6S)-LV pharmacokinetics were assessed by analyzing serum and urine samples of four-healthy volunteers.     

No carrier added synthesis of O-(2'-[18F]fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine via a novel type of chiral enantiomerically pure precursor, NiII complex of a (S)-tyrosine Schiff base

O-(2′-[¹⁸F]fluoroethyl)-l-tyrosine ([¹⁸F]FET) has gained much attention as a promising amino acid radiotracer for tumor imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) due to favorable imaging characteristics and relatively long half-life of ¹⁸F (110 min) allowing remote-site application. Here we present a novel type of chiral enantiomerically pure labeling precursor for [¹⁸F]FET, based on NiII complex of a Schiff’s base of (S)-[N-2-(N′-benzylprolyl)amino]benzophenone (BPB) with alkylated (S)-tyrosine, Ni-(S)-BPB-(S)-Tyr-OCH2CH2X (X = OTs (3a), OMs (3b) and OTf (3c)). A series of compounds 3a–c was synthesized in three steps from commercially available reagents. Non-radioactive FET as a reference was prepared from 3a in a form of (S)-isomer and (R,S) racemic mixture. Radiosynthesis comprised two steps: (1) n.c.a. nucleophilic fluorination of 3a–c (4.5–5.0 mg) in the presence of either Kryptofix 2.2.2.or tetrabutylammonium carbonate (TBAC) in MeCN at 80 °C for 5 min, followed by (2) removal of protective groups by treating with 0.5 M HCl (120 °C, 5 min). The major advantages of this procedure are retention of enantiomeric purity during the ¹⁸F-introduction step and easy simultaneous deprotection of amino and carboxy moieties in 3a–c. Radiochemically pure [¹⁸F]FET was isolated by semi-preparative HPLC (C18 μ-Bondapak, Waters) eluent aq 0.01 M CH₃COONH₄, pH 4/C₂H₅OH 90/10 (v/v). Overall synthesis time operated by Anatech RB 86 laboratory robot was 55 min. In a series of compounds 3a–c, tosyl derivative 3a provided highest radiochemical yield (40–45%, corrected for radioactive decay). Enantiomeric purity was 94–95% and 96–97%, correspondingly, for Kryptofix and TBAC assisted fluorinations. The suggested procedure involved minimal number of synthesis steps and suits perfectly for automation in the modern synthesis modules for PET radiopharmaceuticals. Preliminary biodistribution study in experimental model of turpentine-induced aseptic abscess and Glioma35 rat’s tumor (homografts) in Wistar rats has demonstrated the enhanced uptake of radiotracer in the tumor area with minimal accumulation in the inflamed tissues.     

Enantioselective hydrolysis of (R)-2, 2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxamide by immobilized cells of an R-amidase-producing bacterium, Delftia tsuruhatensis CCTCC M 205114, on an alginate capsule carrier

Immobilized cells of Delftia tsuruhatensis CCTCC M 205114 harboring R-amidase were applied in asymmetric hydrolysis of (R)-2, 2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxamide (R − 1) from racemic (R, S)-2, 2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxamide to accumulate (S)-2, 2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxamide (S − 1). Maximum R-amidase activity of 13.1 U/g wet cells (0.982 U/g beads) was obtained under conditions of 3% sodium alginate, 2.5% CaCl₂, 15 h crosslinking and 2 mm bead size, which was 53.9% of that of free cells (24.3 U/g wet cells). In addition, characterization of the immobilized cells was examined. The optimum R − 1 hydrolysis conditions were identified as follows: substrate concentration 10 mM, pH 8.5, temperature 35°C and time course 40 min. Under optimum conditions, the maximum yield and enantiomeric excess of (R)-2, 2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid were 49.5% and >99%, respectively. This afforded S − 1 with a yield >49% and an e.e. of 97.7%. With good operational stability and excellent enanotioselectivity, the immobilized cells could be potentially utilized in industrial production of S − 1.     

R-mandelic acid production with immobilized recombinant Escherichia coli cells in a recirculating packed bed reactor

A recirculating packed bed reactor (RPBR) was used for efficient production of R-mandelic acid (R-MA) by kinetic resolution of racemic R,S-mandelonitrile (R,S-MN) using the recombinant E. coli cells crosslinked with diatomite (DA)/glutaraldehyde (GA)/polyethyleneimine (PEI). The performance and productivity of RPBR were evaluated by several parameters, including cell load, substrate feeding rate, height diameter (H/D) ratio, reactor structures, and operation stability. The kinetic resolution process showed higher initial reaction rate (1.52?mM/min) and yield (100%) by recycling 100?mL of substrate solution (70?mM) through RPBR packed with 6.0?g immobilized cells at a substrate-feeding rate of 19?mL/min while the H/D ratio was 2.8. The immobilized cells were successfully applied into kinetic resolution of R,S-MN in the RPBR for 50 batches with an average productivity of 4.12?g/L/h for R-MA with >99% of enantiomeric excess.