Determination of norfloxacin in human plasma and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection

A method for the determination of norfloxacin in human plasma and urine is described. Plasma samples were deproteinized using acetonitrile. The supernatant was analysed by C18 HPLC. Fluorescence detection at an excitation wavelength of 300 nm and an emission wavelength of 450 nm was utilized. The assay was validated in the concentration range of 31 to 2507 ng/ml when 0.5-ml aliquots of plasma were handled. The intra-day precision of the spiked quality control samples ranged from +/- 0.37 to +/- 4.14% in plasma (concentration range: 70.3-2109.2 ng/ml) and from +/- 0.51 to +/- 1.56% in urine (concentration range: 7.5-299.4 micrograms/ml). The intra-day accuracy obtained for norfloxacin in the quality control samples ranged from -5.18% to -9.47% in plasma and from -10.56% to - 5.91% in urine. The assay has been used to support human pharmacokinetic studies.     

Determination of N,N',N"-triethylenthiophosphoramide in biological samples using capillary gas chromatography

A sensitive assay for the determination of N,N',N"-triethylenthiophosphoramide (thioTEPA) in microvolumes of human plasma and urine has been developed. ThioTEPA was analysed using gas chromatography with selective nitrogen-phosphorus detection, after extraction with ethyl acetate from the biological matrix. Diphenylamine is the internal standard. The limit of quantitation was 0.1 ng/ml, using only 100 microl of sample; recoveries ranged between 85 and 100% and both accuracy and precision were less than 10%. Using a flame ionisation nitrogen-phosphorus detector, the assay was not linear over the concentration range of 2-1000 ng/ml for plasma and 10-1000 ng/ml for urine. Linearity was accomplished in the range of 1-1000 ng/ml for plasma and urine when a thermionic nitrogen/phosphorous detector was used. The stability of thioTEPA in plasma proved to be satisfactory over a period of 3 months, when kept at -20 degrees C, whereas it was stable in urine for at least 1 month at -80 degrees C. ThioTEPA plasma concentrations of two patients treated with thioTEPA are presented demonstrating the applicability of the assay.     

Determination of ivabradine and its N-demethylated metabolite in human plasma and urine, and in rat and dog plasma by a validated high-performance liquid chromatographic method with fluorescence detection

A sensitive and selective high-performance liquid chromatographic method with native detection of fluorescence was developed and validated for the quantitation of ivabradine and its N-demethylated metabolite in plasma (rat, dog, human) and human urine. The procedure involves the use of an analogue as internal standard, solid-phase extraction on cyano cartridges, separation on a Nova-Pak C8 column and fluorescence detection. Calibration curves are linear in the concentration ranges from 0.5 to 100 ng/ml in plasma and 2.0 to 500 ng/ml in urine with a limit of quantitation set at 0.5 and 2.0 ng/ml in plasma and urine, respectively. The analysis of plasma and urine samples (spiked with the analytes at low, medium and high concentrations of the calibration range) demonstrates that both analytes can be measured with precision and accuracy within acceptable limits. Quality controls spiked with analyte concentrations up to 10000 ng/ml can also be analysed with excellent precision and accuracy after dilution of the samples. The parent drug and its metabolite are stable in plasma and urine after short-term storage (24 h at room temperature and after three freeze-thaw cycles) as well as after long-term storage at -20 degrees C (at least 6 months in animal plasma and 12 months in human plasma and urine). The method has been used to quantify both compounds in plasma and urine samples from clinical and non-clinical studies with ivabradine.     

Determination of ethambutol in plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography after pre-column derivatization

A new HPLC assay using UV detection (200 nm) was developed to determine ethambutol (EMB) concentrations in plasma. Following extraction (0.1 ml plasma) with chloroform, EMB and octylamine (used as internal standard) were derivatized with phenylethylisocyanate. Quantitation in plasma was achieved at 200 nm. There were no interferences from endogenous compounds. Intra- and inter-day variabilities were lower than 5.2 and 7.6%, respectively. The limit of quantitation of the method was 0.2 microg/ml. In plasma, ethambutol was found to be stable for at least one month when samples were stored at -20 degrees C. This assay was applied to the therapeutic monitoring of EMB concentrations in 19 patients suffering from tuberculosis.     

Determination of propofol in rat whole blood and plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography

A simple, accurate and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the determination of propofol, an intravenous anaesthetic agent, in rat whole blood or plasma samples. The method is based on precipitation of the protein in the biological fluid sample and direct injection of the supernatant into an HPLC system involving a C18 reversed-phase column using a methanol-water (70:30) mobile phase delivered at 1 ml/min. Propofol and the internal standard (4-tert.-octylphenol) were quantified using a fluorescence detector set at 276 nm (excitation) and 310 nm (emission). The analyte and internal standard had retention times of 6.3 and 10.5 min, respectively. The limit of quantification for propofol was 50 ng/ml using 100 microl of whole blood or plasma sample. Calibration curves were linear (r2=0.99) over a 1-10 microg/ml concentration range and intra- and inter-day precision were between 4-11%. The assay was applied to the determination of propofol whole blood pharmacokinetics and propofol whole blood to plasma distribution ratios in rats.     

Concatemeric intermediates of equine herpesvirus type 1 DNA replication contain frequent inversions of adjacent long segments of the viral genome

A reliable reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the determination of bromocriptine (BCT) in plasma and eye tissues. The BCT and propranolol, added as an internal standard (I.S.), were extracted by a liquid-liquid technique followed by an aqueous back-extraction, allowing injection of an aqueous solvent into a 4-microm Nova-Pak C18 column (150x3.9 mm I.D.). The mobile phase was a mixture of 30 parts of acetonitrile and 70 parts of 0.2% triethylamine (pH 3) at a flow-rate of 1 ml/min. Fluorescence detection was at an excitation wavelength of 330 nm and an emission wavelength of 405 nm. The retention times of I.S. and BCT were 4.1 and 11.6 min, respectively. The calibration curve was linear over the concentration range 0.2-10 microg/l for plasma (r>0.999) and vitreous humour (r>0.997) and 1-50 microg/l for aqueous humour (r>0.985). The limit of quantification was 0.2 microg/l for plasma and vitreous humour using a 1-ml sample and was 1 microg/l for aqueous humour using a 0.2-ml sample. The quality control samples were reproducible with acceptable accuracy and precision. The within-day recovery (n=3) was 100-102% for plasma, 91-106% for aqueous humour and 96-111% for vitreous humour. The between-day recovery (n=9) was 90-114% for plasma, 83-115% for aqueous humour and 90-105% for vitreous humour. The within-day precision (n=3) and the between-day precision (n=9) were 1.7-7.0% and 8.1-13.6%, respectively. No interferences from endogenous substances were observed. Taken together, the above simple, sensitive and reproducible high-performance liquid chromatography assay method was suitable for the determination of BCT in plasma and eye tissues following ocular application of BCT for the therapy of myopia.     

Sensitive chiral high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for labetalol in biological fluids

The four stereoisomers of the combined alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor antagonist labetalol were separated and quantified at therapeutic concentrations by normal-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography using a chiral stationary phase and fluorescence detection. Drug in plasma or urine was recovered by solid-phase extraction with 83+/-5% efficiency. Limits of detection from biological samples (3 ml) were between 1.5-1.8 ng ml(-1). Intra-day and inter-day variation at 25 ng ml(-1) were < or = 2.7% and < or = 5.80% respectively for all stereoisomers. The assay was applied to an examination of the disposition of labetalol stereoisomers after a single oral dose of racemate to a human volunteer. Labetalol appears to undergo enantioselective metabolism leading to relatively low plasma concentrations of the pharmacologically active enantiomers.     

Automated procedure for determination of barbiturates in serum using the combined system of PrepStation and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A sensitive HPLC method with piroxicam as internal standard was developed for assaying amphotericin B in plasma and tissue. An Ultrabase-C18 column and a simple mobile phase consisting of an acetonitrile-acetic acid (10%)-water (41:43:16) mixture were used. The flow-rate was 1 ml/min and the effluent was monitored at 405 nm. The linearity of the assay method was up to 1000 ng/ml and 100 micrograms/g for plasma and tissue, respectively. Intra-day and inter-day RSDs were below 10% for all the sample types. This HPLC assay has been applied to determine amphotericin B in plasma and tissue samples taken during pharmacokinetic and tissue distribution studies in rats.     

Rapid quantitation of (-)-2'-deoxy-3'-thiacytidine in human serum by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection

A rapid, sensitive and specific high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay was developed and validated for the measurement of (-)-2'-deoxy-3'-thiacytidine (3TC) in human serum. The method included precipitation of serum proteins by trichloroacetic acid (20%, w/v) treatment followed by centrifugation. The resulting supernatant was directly injected and 3TC was isocratically chromatographed on a reversed-phase C18 column using a mixture of phosphate buffer and methanol (88.3:11.7. v/v) and monitored at 280 nm. The limit of quantitation was 20 ng/ml using 100 microl of serum. The standard curve was linear within the range of 20-10,000 ng/ml. Replicate analysis of three quality control samples (40-1500 ng/ml) led to satisfactory intra- and inter-assay precision (coefficient of variation from 3.0 to 12.9%) and accuracy (deviation from 6.3 to 9.7%). Moreover, sample treatment processes including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) heat-inactivation, exposure at room temperature and freezing-thawing cycles did not influence the stability of the analyte. This assay was successfully applied to the determination of 3TC serum levels in HIV-infected patients. In addition, preliminary results indicated that this procedure may also be extended to the measurement of 3TC in human plasma and urine.     

Inhibition of signal-regulated protein kinases by plant-derived hydrolysable tannins

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 degrees 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.     

Requirement of CD4 T cells for skin graft rejection against thymus leukemia (TL) antigen and multiple epitopes on the TL molecule recognized by CD4 T cells

Two HPLC assays were developed and validated for simultaneous quantitation of two sulfate metabolites, PD 163637 (VI) and PD 163639 (VIII), of an investigational antipsychotic drug CI-1007 (I) in monkey plasma and urine. VI and VIII were identified as major metabolites in monkey plasma, and both were excreted in urine. Monkey plasma samples were directly injected after deproteinization, and urine samples were analyzed after a clean-up procedure using methyl-tert.-butyl ether. Liquid chromatographic separation was achieved on a Zorbax RX C8 analytical column using gradient elution. Column effluent was monitored using fluorescence detection with excitation and emission wavelengths of 254 and 330 nm, respectively. Minimum quantitation limit was 50 ng/ml in plasma and 100 ng/ml in urine. Linearity was demonstrated up to 3000 ng/ml in plasma and urine. Recoveries of the analytes from plasma and urine were greater than 85%. The assay has been applied to the determination of VI and VIII in plasma and urine samples from monkeys receiving oral administration of I.     

Determination of ticarcillin epimers in plasma and urine with high-performance liquid chromatography

A high-performance liquid chromatogaphic method was developed for determining the concentrations of ticarcillin (TIPC) epimers in human plasma and urine. Samples were prepared for HPLC analysis with a solid-phase extraction method and the concentrations of TIPC epimers were determined using reversed-phase HPLC. The mobile phase was a mixture of 0.005 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) and methanol (12:1, v/v) with a flow-rate of 1.0 ml/min. TIPC epimers were detected at 254 nm. Baseline separation of the two epimers was observed for both plasma and urine samples with a detection limit of ca. 1 microg/ml with a S/N ratio of 3. No peaks interfering with either of the TIPC epimers were observed on the HPLC chromatograms for blank plasma and urine. The recovery was more than 80% for both plasma and urine samples. C.V. values for intra- and inter-day variabilities were 0.9-2.1 and 1.1-6.4%, respectively, at concentrations ranging between 5 and 200 microg/ml. The present method was used to determine the concentrations of TIPC epimers in plasma and urine following intravenous injection of TIPC to a human volunteer. It was found that both epimers were actively secreted into urine and that the secretion of TIPC was not stereoselective. Plasma protein binding was also measured, which revealed stereoselective binding of TIPC in human plasma.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic assay for a new fasciolicide agent, alphaBIOF10, in biological fluids

This paper describes a high-performance liquid chromatographic method with ultraviolet absorbance detection at 304 nm for the determination of 6-chloro-5-(1-naphthyloxy)-2-methylthio benzimidazole (alphaBIOF10) -- a new fasciolicide agent -- and its sulphoxide (SOalphaBIOF10), in plasma and urine. It requires 2 ml of biological fluid, an extraction using Sep-Pak cartridges, and methanol for drug elution. Analysis is performed on a microBondapak C18 (10 microm) column, using methanol-acetonitrile-water (40:30:30, v/v) as the mobile phase. Results showed that the assay is sensitive: 7.2 ng/ml for alphaBIOF10 and SOalphaBIOF10 in plasma and 3.6 ng/ml for both compounds in urine. The response was linear between 0.195 and 12.5 microg/ml. Maximum intra-day coefficient of variation was 5.3%. Recovery obtained was 97.8% for both alphaBIOF10 and SOalphaBIOF10. In urine, recovery was 99.6% and 93.1% for alphaBIOF10 and SOalphaBIOF10 respectively. The method was used to perform a preliminary pharmacokinetic study in two sheep and was found to be satisfactory.     

Prevention of N-methylnitrosourea-induced colon carcinogenesis in F344 rats by lycopene and tomato juice rich in lycopene

A liquid chromatographic/tandem mass spectrometric (LC/MS/MS) assay was developed for the quantitative determination of olanzapine (LY170053, OLZ) in human plasma and serum. Bond Elut C2 solid-phase extraction cartridges (single cartridge or 96-well format), in conjunction with a positive pressure manifold, were used to extract OLZ and its internal standard, LY170222, from the biological matrix. Chromatographic resolution of OLZ from endogenous plasma interferences and its metabolites was accomplished with a MetaChem monochrom HPLC (4.6 x 150 mm, dp 5 microns). Detection was effected with a Perkin-Elmer SCIEX API III Plus mass spectrometer using positive ion atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and a multiple reaction monitoring protocol. The linear dynamic range was from 250 pg ml-1 to 50 ng ml-1 of human plasma/serum using a 0.5 ml aliquot. The inter-day precision (relative standard deviation) and accuracy (relative error) in plasma ranged from 6.26 to 7.66% and from -3.54 to 7.52%, respectively. The intra-day precision and accuracy in serum ranged from 3.46 to 8.76% and from -8.06 to 12.46%, respectively. This assay is sensitive and selective, and will be used to support both human clinical and toxicological analyses. Furthermore, using the 96-well solid-phase extraction format, sample preparation can be easily automated.     

Determination of cefixime in human plasma and urine using high performance liquid chromatography column switching technique

A double column and double pump HPLC switching system is described for the analysis of cefixime in human plasma and urine. The system used muBondapak C18 short pretreatment column for on-line sample clean-up and a Hitachi GEL 3056 (ODS) analytical column for separation. A mixed solution of 0.01 mol/L H3PO4-0.1 mol/L KH2PO4-H2O (20:1:79) was used as the pretreatment mobile phase and CH2CH-0.01 mol/L H3PO4-0.1 mol/L KH2PO4-H2O (13:20:1:66) was used as analytical mobile phase. The compound in plasma and urine is detected by ultraviolet absorption at 286 nm and 314 nm, respectively. The absolute recoveries of the method in plasma and urine were 99.1% and 98.6% respectively. The relative standard deviations of the method are 0.70-3.82% and 0.80-3.73% in plasma, 1.53-3.08% and 1.31-2.67% in urine between days and day-to-day. Linear calibration curve for cefixime was measured over the range of 0.1-3.2 micrograms/ml in plasma and 1.0-32.0 micrograms/ml in urine, and the correlation coefficients were all 0.9999. The detection limit was 0.05 micrograms/ml in plasma and 0.2 micrograms/ml in urine. The plasma and urine samples were diluted with water and injected directly onto the HPLC system. The operation is simple and the relative sensitivity is markedly increased because of higher recoveries and larger loading capacity of the sample.     

Automated determination of levodopa and carbidopa in plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical detection using an on-line flow injection analysis sample pretreatment unit

This method describes the determination of propiomazine by direct injection of rat plasma into a chromatography system based on coupled reversed-phase columns. An extraction column, packed with porous silica particles with covalent-bound alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), was used to separate the plasma proteins from the analyte. After isolation the analyte was transferred to the analytical column for separation and detection. Propiomazine was detected by an electrochemical detector and the limit of quantification was 2.0 ng/ml (100 pg injected). The absolute recovery was 80.9+/-2.4% at 9.0 ng/ml level. The inter-day and intra-day precision was 10.9% (5.6 ng/ml) and 2.8% (9.0 ng/ml), respectively.     

Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of enoxacin and 4-oxo-enoxacin in human plasma and prostatic tissue. Application to a pharmacokinetic study

A simple high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of enoxacin and 4-oxo-enoxacin in plasma and prostatic tissue. The work-up procedure involves a liquid-liquid extraction step followed by isocratic chromatography on a reversed-phase analytical column, with ultraviolet absorbance detection (lambda = 340 nm). Using a mobile phase of 20.9% (v/v) acetonitrile buffer (pH 2.1), adequate retention time and separation among the analytes has been obtained using tetrabutylammonium hydroxide included in the eluent. Retention times are 5.2 min for enoxacin, 6.8 min for pefloxacin and 12 min for 4-oxo-enoxacin. For plasma and prostatic tissue, the precision of the assay was below 9%. The percent recovery from the nominal values for accuracy ranged from 94 to 108%. The limits of quantitation were 20 ng/ml for plasma and 50 ng/g for tissue (precision < 18%). The detection limits were 10 ng/ml and 25 ng/g, respectively. The calibration curves were linear from 20 to 1000 ng/ml for plasma and from 50 to 2500 ng/g for tissue. In plasma, the extraction recoveries averaged 52% for enoxacin and 63% for 4-oxo-enoxacin. In prostatic tissue, they were 57 and 76% for the two analytes, respectively. This method has been employed for the determination of enoxacin and 4-oxo-enoxacin in plasma and prostatic tissue samples from patients following repeated oral administration of enoxacin (400 mg twice a day for four days).     

Methamphetamine-stimulated striatal dopamine release declines rapidly over time following microdialysis probe insertion

A sensitive and selective HPLC method for the determination of ethambutol in human plasma and urine was developed. Ethambutol was extracted from basified plasma samples (0.2 ml) with diethyl ether, back-extracted into 0.01 M phosphoric acid and derivatized with 4-fluoro-7-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1, 3-diazole. After 30 min at 80 degrees C and elimination of the reactive excess, the compound was determined by reversed-phase liquid chromatography. urine was analysed for ethambutol after dilution 1:200 with distilled water and derivatization as described for plasma. Quantification in plasma and urine was achieved by fluorescence detection of the eluate. The linearity, precision and accuracy of the method were evaluated. No interference from the constituents of human plasma and urine was observed. The limit of quantification was 10 ng/ml in plasma and 10 micrograms/ml in urine. The suitability of the method for in vivo samples was checked by analysis of plasma and urine samples drawn from healthy volunteers who had received a 1200-mg oral dose of the test compound.     

Determination of gacyclidine enantiomers in human plasma by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using selected-ion monitoring

A sensitive gas chromatographic assay using mass selective-detection has been developed for the simultaneous quantitation of the enantiomers of (+/-)-gacyclidine (a non competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist) in human plasma. Gacyclidine enantiomers and phencyclidine (PCP), the internal standard, were extracted using a single-step liquid-liquid extraction with hexane at pH 8.0. Each enantiomer was separated on a chiral gas chromatography capillary column and specifically detected by mass spectrometry (MS) in selected-ion monitoring (SIM) mode. Gacyclidine enantiomers and PCP were monitored using the fragment ions at m/z 206 and 200, respectively. No interference was observed from endogenous components. The limit of quantitation (LOQ) for each enantiomer of gacyclidine was 300 pg/ml by using plasma samples of 500 microl. The calibration curves were linear (r2=0.998) over a range of 0.3125 to 20 ng/ml. The extraction efficiency was higher than 95% for both enantiomers. Intra- and inter-day bias were less than 10% at every standard curve concentration. Intra-day precision was less than 19% for (-)-gacyclidine and 15% for (+)-gacyclidine. Inter-day precision was below 15% for both enantiomers. The assay was validated for an enantioselective pharmacokinetic study in healthy male volunteers.     

Monitoring of tricyclic antidepressants in human serum and plasma by HPLC: characterization of a simple, laboratory developed method via external quality assessment

A reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the determination of plasma and serum levels of amitriptyline (AMI), nortriptyline (NORT), imipramine (IMI), desipramine (DESI), clomipramine (CLOMI), and norclomipramine (NCLOMI) is described. The assay is based upon single step liquid/liquid extraction of these compounds using hexane at pH 11 (recovery between 92 and 105%), a Nova-Pack C-18 HPLC cartridge column, a mobile phase composed of a phosphate buffer with 50% (v/v) acetonitrile and about 0.2% (v/v) diethylamine (final pH: 8) and solute detection at 242 nm. Using 1 ml of plasma or serum and econazole as internal standard, drug levels between 20 and 400 ng ml(-1) (about 60-1450 nM) were found to provide linear calibration graphs. For drug concentrations in the range of 70-120 ng ml(-1) (about 240-430 nM), intraday and interday imprecisions (n = 5) were determined to be < 6.0, and < 15%, respectively. Data reported include those gathered over a 3-year period during which this assay was employed for therapeutic drug monitoring and clinical toxicology. The performance of the laboratory developed assay was assessed via analysis of monthly samples provided by an external quality control scheme.