Liquid chromatographic assay of moxidectin in human plasma for application to pharmacokinetic studies

A sensitive and selective high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method is presented for the analysis of moxidectin in human plasma. Solid phase extraction using Oasis HLB cartridges is used for sample preparation. The fluorescent derivative is obtained by a dehydrative reaction with trifluoroacetic anhydride and N-methylimidazole. Separation is achieved on a Bondapak C(18) reversed-phase column with a mobile phase composed of tetrahydrafuran-acetonitrile-water (40:40:20, v/v/v). Detection is by fluorescence, with excitation at 365 nm and emission at 475 nm. The retention times of moxidectin and internal standard, ivermectin are approximately 10.7 and 18.6 min, respectively. The assay is linear over the concentration range 0.2-1000 ng/ml for moxidectin in human plasma (r=0.9999, weighted by 1/concentration). Recoveries at concentrations 0.2, 400, 1000 ng/ml are 94, 75, and 71%, respectively. The analysis of quality control (QC) samples for moxidectin (0.2, 400, and 1000 ng/ml) demonstrates excellent precision with relative standard deviations of 11.9, 5.7, and 2.7%, respectively (n=6). The method is accurate with all intra- (n=6) and inter-day (n=18) mean concentrations within (5.0%) from nominal at all QC sample concentrations. Moxidectin was found to be stable after three free-thaw cycles, and with storage at -20 and -80 degrees C for 12 weeks. The method is suitable for pharmacokinetic studies of moxidectin after oral administration to humans.     

Gas chromatographic assay of diethylcarbamazine in human plasma for application to clinical pharmacokinetic studies

A sensitive and selective gas chromatography method using flame ionization detection was developed for the determination of diethylcarbamazine (DEC) in human plasma. DEC and the internal standard, 1-diethylcarbamyl-4-ethyl piperazine HCl (E-DEC), were extracted from human plasma after loading onto a conditioned C(18) solid phase extraction cartridge, rinsed with water and eluted with methanol. After evaporation under a stream of nitrogen and reconstitution in methanol, 3 microl were injected onto the GC system. Separation was achieved on a A Heliflex(R) AT-35 capillary column (length 30 m, internal diameter 0.32 mm). Gas flow rates were: hydrogen, 35 ml/min; carrier gas (helium), 1.5 ml/min, make-up gas (helium), 25 ml/min; and air 420 ml/min. The retention times of DEC and internal standard were approximately 5.5 and 7.28 min, respectively. The GC run time was 22 min. The assay was linear in concentration range 100-2000 ng/ml for DEC in human plasma. The analysis of quality control samples for DEC (120, 1000, 2000 ng/ml) demonstrated excellent precision with coefficients of variation of 4.5,1.3, and 1.6%, respectively (n=6). The method was accurate with all intra-day (n=6) and inter-day (n=12) mean concentrations within 4.3% from nominal at all quality control sample concentrations. DEC was found to be stable after 3 freeze-thaw cycles, and with storage at -20 degrees C for 12 weeks. The method is currently being used for pharmacokinetic studies of DEC in healthy volunteers.     

Liquid chromatographic assay of nifedipine in human plasma and its application to pharmacokinetic studies

A highly sensitive, selective and reproducible reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the determination of nifedipine in human plasma with minimum sample preparation. The method is sensitive to 3 ng/ml in plasma, with acceptable within- and between-day reproducibilities and linearity (r2 > 0.99) over a concentration range from 10-200 ng/ml. Acidified plasma samples were extracted using diethyether containing diazepam as internal standard and chromatographic separation was accomplished on C18 column using a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile, methanol and water (35:17:48, v/v). The within-day precision ranged from 2.22 to 4.64% and accuracy ranged from 102.4-106.4%. The day-to-day precision ranged from 2.34-7.07% and accuracy from 95.1-100.1%. The relative recoveries of nifedipine from plasma ranged from 91.0-107.3% whereas extraction recoveries were 88.6-93.3%. Following eight 6-week freeze-thaw cycles, nifedipine in plasma samples proved to be stable with accuracy ranging from 0.64 to 3.0% and precision ranging from 3.6 to 4.15%. Nifedipine was also found to be photostable for at least 120 min in plasma, 30 min in blood and for 60 min in aqueous solutions after exposure to light. The method is sensitive and reliable for pharmacokinetic studies and therapeutic drug monitoring of nifedipine in humans after the oral administration of immediate-release capsules and sustained-release tablets to five healthy subjects.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of dihydralazine and hydralazine in human plasma and its application to pharmacokinetic studies of dihydralazine

An analytical method is described for the concurrent determination of dihydralazine (1) and hydralazine (2) in human plasma as unchanged or apparent compounds. For the assay of the unchanged compounds, plasma samples were acidified with 0.02 M HCI and derivatized first with nitrous acid, and afterwards with sodium methylate. For the assay of the apparent compounds, plasma samples were acidified with 3 M HCI, incubated at 90 degrees C for 30 min and derivatized as above. The derivatives were extracted and chromatographed by reversed-phase mode on a C18 mu Bondapak column. The fluorescence of the compounds was measured (excitation wavelength = 230 nm, emission wavelength = 430 nm). The limits of quantitation were 0.5 ng/mL for the unchanged compounds and 1 ng/ml for the apparent compounds. After oral administration of 25 mg of 1 to 2 healthy volunteers, the mean areas under the plasma concentration-time curves were respectively 43.7 and 590 ng X h/mL for unchanged and apparent 1. The corresponding mean elimination half-lives were 1.03 and 3.9 h. The mean area under the curve measured for 2 amounted to 6.3% of that obtained for 1 for the unchanged compounds and to 10.3% for the apparent compounds.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic assay for morphine in small plasma samples: application to pharmacokinetic studies in rats

In order to perform a reliable pharmacokinetic study of morphine during subchronic treatment in rats, an easy, rapid, sensitive and selective analytical method was proposed and validated. The analyte and internal standard (naloxone) were extracted from plasma samples (100 μL) by a single solid-phase extraction method prior to reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) along with electrochemical detection (ED). Standard calibration graphs were linear within a range of 3.5–1000 ng/mL (r = 0.999). The intra-day coefficients of variation (CV) were in the range of 5.8–8.5% at eight concentration levels (7–1000 ng/mL) and the inter-day coefficient of variation ranged from 7.4 to 8.8%. The intra-day assay accuracy was in the range of −5–10% and the inter-day assay accuracy ranged from 3.0 to 9.3% of relative error (RE). The limit of quantification was 3.5 ng/mL using a plasma sample of 100 μL (15.8% of CV and 12.8% of RE). Plasma samples were stable for 2 months at −20 °C. This method was found to be suitable for pharmacokinetic studies in rats, after subcutaneous administration of morphine (5.6 mg/kg per day) in subchronic treatment for 6 and 12 days.     

Liquid chromatographic/mass spectrometry assay of triptolide in dog plasma and its application to pharmacokinetic study

A rapid and sensitive method for the determination of triptolide in dog plasma was developed and validated, using high-performance liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (LC/APCI/MS). Sample preparation consisted of liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate from dog plasma. The analytes and internal standard prednisolone were well separated on a Zorbax Extend-C18 analytical column. Detection was performed on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer using selected-ion monitoring (SIM) mode on the deprotonated ions [M-H]- at m/z 359. Calibration curves were linear over the concentration range of 0.5-200 ng/mL of triptolide with the intra- and inter-day precision (the relative standard deviation values) were being less than 7%. Triptolide was stable under different conditions. The intra-day and inter-day accuracy were 99.3-105.2% and 101.3-107.0%, respectively. The lower limit of quantification was 0.5 ng/mL. The method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study after an intragastric administration (i.g.) of triptolide to dogs with a dose of 0.05 mg/kg. The results confirm that the assay is suitable for the pharmacokinetic study of triptolide.     

HPLC assay for albendazole and metabolites in human plasma for clinical pharmacokinetic studies

A sensitive and selective HPLC chromatography method using UV detection (295 nm) was developed for the determination of albendazole, albendazole sulfoxide (ABZSO), and albendazole sulfone (ABZSO2) in human plasma. Albendazole, ABZSO, ABZSO2, and the internal standard, oxibendazole, were extracted from human plasma by loading onto a conditioned C(18) SPE cartridge, rinsing with 15% methanol, and eluting with 90% methanol. Samples were evaporated under a stream of nitrogen, reconstituted with mobile phase, 1.25% triethylamine in water-methanol-acetonitrile (72:15:13, v/v/v) (pH* 3.1), and injected onto a Waters muBondapak Phenyl 3.9 x 300 mm HPLC column. Mobile phase flow rate was 1.0 ml/min. The retention times of albendazole, ABZSO, ABZSO2, and the internal standard were approximately 24.4, 7.9, 13.4, and 11.3 min, respectively. Total run time was 30 min. The assay was linear for concentration ranges in human plasma of 20-600 ng/ml for albendazole, 20-1000 ng/ml for ABZSO, and 20-300 ng/ml for ABZSO2. The analysis of quality control samples demonstrated excellent precision. Coefficients of variation for albendazole (20, 400, 600 ng/ml) were 6.7, 8.1 and 7.0%; ABZSO (20, 400, 800 ng/ml) were 6.0, 8.5 and 5.9%; ABZSO2 (20, 150, 300 ng/ml) were 3.1, 3.9 and 2.3%, respectively. The method appears to be robust and has been applied to a pharmacokinetic study of albendazole in healthy volunteers.     

Rapid liquid chromatographic assay for the determination of acetaminophen in plasma after propacetamol administration: application to pharmacokinetic studies

A simple method for the rapid estimation of acetaminophen in plasma is described here. p-Propionamidophenol was used as internal standard. The assay involved a single ethyl acetate extraction and liquid chromatographic analysis at a wavelength of 242 nm using a reversed-phase encapped column, with a mobile phase of acetonitrile and 0.005 M potassium dihydrogen phosphate adjusted at pH 3.00. The limit of quantitation of acetaminophen by this method was 0.05 microg ml(-1), only 0.1 ml of the plasma sample was required for the determination. The calibration graph was linear from 0.05 to 100 microg ml(-1). Intra and inter-day precision (CV) did not exceed 8.93%. Mean recoveries of 90.31% with a CV of 1.38% were obtained. Applicability of the method was demonstrated by a pharmacokinetic study in normal volunteers who received 2 mg propacetamol.     

Liquid chromatographic analysis of sulfaquinoxaline and its application to pharmacokinetic studies in rabbits

A specific, sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method is described for sulfaquinoxaline (I) and its major metabolite, the N4-acetyl metabolite (II), in biological fluids. Detection limits for I and II were 0.25 and 0.50 micrograms/mL in plasma and 0.10 and 0.20 micrograms/mL in urine, respectively. The pharmacokinetics of sulfaquinoxaline and its metabolite were studied in New Zealand White rabbits after individual doses of 50 mg/kg of sulfaquinoxaline and its metabolite were administered intravenously. Mean (+/- SD) plasma half-lives were 12.7 (8.0) h for sulfaquinoxaline and 15.4 (3.5) h for the metabolite. After administration of the N-acetyl metabolite sulfaquinoxaline appeared in the plasma and urine indicating that deacetylation had occurred. The repercussions of this observation are briefly discussed with respect to two rabbits in which plasma analyses and complete urine collections were made. As sulfaquinoxaline is administered prophylactically to rabbits by some breeders, it is recommended that investigators allow a washout period of about one week after receipt of the animals.     

A validated high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of glibenclamide in human plasma and its application to pharmacokinetic studies

Glibenclamide is a potent second generation oral sulfonylurea antidiabetic agent widely used for the treatment of type II diabetes melitus. A rapid, sensitive, precise, accurate and specific HPLC assay for the determination of glibenclamide in human plasma was developed and validated. After addition of flufenamic acid as internal standard, the analytes were isolated from human plasma by liquid-liquid extraction. The method was linear in the 10-400 ng/ml concentration range (r > 0.999). Recovery for glibenclamide was greater than 91.5% and for internal standard was 93.5%. Within-day and between-day precision, expressed as the relative standard deviation (RSD%), ranged from 1.4 to 5.9% and 5.8 to 6.6%, respectively. Assay accuracy was better than 93.4%. The assay was used to estimate the pharmacokinetics of glibenclamide after oral administration of a 5 mg tablet of glibenclamide to 18 healthy volunteers.     

Liquid chromatographic tandem mass spectrometric validated method for pharmacokinetic estimation of flecainide in human plasma

A sensitive high throughput LC/MS/MS method fully validated as per USFDA guidelines is described for pharmacokinetic estimation of flecainide in human plasma using loperamide as the internal standard. Plasma samples were monitored by cation exchange solid phase extraction achieving 78.6% extraction efficiency (mean recovery) followed by chromatographic separation on a PurospherStar RP-18e column. Detection was carried out on an API positive ESI by MRM transitions m/z 415.2/301.1 and 477.3/266.3 for flecainide and loperamide respectively. High sensitivity of 1.17ng/ml, dynamic linearity of 1.17–396.75 ng/ml and short run time within 3 minutes are other interesting aspects of this new bioanalytical method. This method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study with 100mg tablet flecainide administered in Indian population for the first time. A randomized, single dose, two sequence, cross over study design was used to evaluate bioequivalence on 40 healthy male fasted volunteers and blood samples were collected up to 96 hours post dose. Noncompartmental pharmacokinetic analysis was used to evaluate AUC_0-t, AUC_0-inf, C_max, T_max, T_1/2 and λz scaled on a 90% confidence interval approach. Average bioequivalence results showed ratios of least square means and its 90% CIs for ln-transformed C_max, AUC_0-t and AUC_0-inf for flecainide were 99.99 (95.21–104.99) %, 98.27(93.89–102.86)% and 98.08(93.68–102.68)% respectively. Both the test and reference products were closely comparable in terms of rate and extent to which the drugs access the systemic circulation.     

Liquid chromatographic assay for fluoxymesterone in human serum with application to a preliminary bioavailability study

Fluoxymesterone was extracted from serum with a liquid-liquid extraction procedure. Serum containing both drug and internal standard, 6 alpha-methylprednisolone, was extracted with methylene chloride. The extract was washed with 0.1 M NaOH and water, evaporated, and reconstituted with mobile phase. Chromatography was performed on a Zorbax Sil column, preceded by a guard column, with a mobile phase composed of 50% water-saturated butyl chloride:tetrahydrofuran:methanol:phosphoric acid (880:100:15:0.5). Fluoxymesterone and methylprednisolone were detected by UV absorption at 236 nm. Overall recovery was 80%. Calibration curves were linear for fluoxymesterone concentrations from 5 to 100 ng/mL. The assay is accurate and precise (RSD values less than or equal to 7%); endogenous steroids did not interfere with the assay. Assay suitability was assessed in a bioavailability study in which six subjects each received two treatments of 10-mg fluoxymesterone tablets in a Latin-square crossover study. The two treatments were a tablet administered either buccally or orally. Cmax values ranged from 40 to 150 ng/mL with tmax values of 1-2 h. The harmonic mean half-life of fluoxymesterone was 2.0 h. Less than 8% of the AUC was extrapolated. Mean Cmax and AUC values from the oral treatment were 80 and 76%, respectively, of the mean values from the buccal treatment.     

Liquid chromatographic assay using electrochemical detection for the quantitation of indoramin in human plasma

An automated high-performance liquid chromatographic method with electrochemical detection is described for the determination of indoramin, a new antihypertensive drug. The procedure involves a single extraction of the drug from alkaline plasma with chlorobutane. The chlorobutane extract is evaporated to dryness, reconstituted in methanol and injected into the chromatograph. Separation is achieved using a CN-bonded silica column and an isocratic elution with 0.01 M sodium phosphate in 50% acetonitrile. Detection is at 0.95 V applied potential on a glassy carbon electrode versus an Ag/AgCl electrode. Electrochemical methods that depend on a high oxidation potential suffer from rapid electrode passivation by significant amounts of impurities extracted from plasma. Therefore, the instrumentation includes a valve-switching unit to divert most of the impurities away from the electrode compartment; thus, maintaining sensitivity during the automated analysis of a large number of samples. An RSD of 5-15% was obtained in the concentration range of 0.5-100 ng/mL plasma. The limit of detection is 0.5 ng/mL. The method has been successfully used for the determination of indoramin in plasma samples from human subjects given a 50-mg oral dose of the drug.     

Rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic method for determination of adefovir in plasma using UV detection: application to pharmacokinetic studies

A rapid, sensitive and reproducible HPLC method was developed and validated for the analysis of adefovir (CAS 106941-25-7) in human plasma. The separation was achieved on a monolithic silica column (Chromolith Performance RP-18e, 100 x 4.6 mm) using acetonitrile-ammonium dihydrogen phosphate buffer (6:94, v/v), pH 5.2, as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.5 ml min(-1). The wavelength was set at 260 nm. The assay enables the measurement of adefovir for therapeutic drug monitoring with a minimum quantification limit of 1 ng ml(-1). The method involves a simple protein precipitation procedure. Analytical recovery was complete. The calibration curve was linear over the concentration range 1-40 ng ml(-1). The coefficients of variation for inter-day and intra-day assay were found to be less than 5%. The method was applied to the determination of adefovir in plasma from 12 subjects dosed with adefovir 2 x 10 mg tablets and pharmacokinetic parameters were evaluated.     

Validated HPLC method for determination of amlodipine in human plasma and its application to pharmacokinetic studies

A rapid, simple and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method has been developed for quantification of amlodipine in plasma. The assay enables the measurement of amlodipine for therapeutic drug monitoring with a minimum detectable limit of 0.2 ng ml(-1). The method involves simple, one-step extraction procedure and analytical recovery was about 97%. The separation was performed on an analytical 125 x 4.6 mm i.d. Nucleosil C8 column. The wavelength was set at 239 nm. The mobile phase was a mixture of 0.01 M sodium dihydrogen phosphate buffer and acetonitrile (63:37, v/v) adjusted to pH 3.5 at a flow rate of 1.5 ml min(-1). The calibration curve was linear over the concentration range 0.5-16 ng ml(-1). The coefficients of variation for inter-day and intra-day assay were found to be less than 10%.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic assay for etoposide in human plasma

A sensitive, selective reversed phase-high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay that uses UV detection has been developed for etoposide (4'-demethylepipodophyllotoxin 9-[4,6-O-(R)-ethylidene-beta-D-glucopyranoside) 1. Parent drug is separated from its known metabolites, the cis-picrolactone 2, the hydroxy derivative 3, and the aglycone 4. After the addition of the internal standard (teniposide, 5) to 0.5 mL of plasma, 3 mL of chloroform is added and the sample is centrifuged. The lower organic layer is removed, evaporated in a stream of nitrogen, and reconstituted with 500 microL of mobile phase prior to injection. A phenyl mu Bondapak column (30 cm X 4 mm) and a mobile phase, consisting of 10 microM ammonium acetate (pH 5.5) in methanol:water:acetonitrile (50:45:5), were used to separate the compounds. The flow rate was 2 mL/min. Detection was achieved with a UV monitor set at 230 nm. The aglycone 4, etoposide (1), cis-picrolactone 2, and teniposide (5) had retention times of 3, 4, 4.8, and 9 min, respectively. The extraction efficiency of etoposide ranged from 88 to 94% with a coefficient of variation of 12% at 0.8 micrograms/mL and 4% at 28 micrograms/mL. This assay has an intraday and interday coefficient of variation of 6%, quantitates etoposide at concentrations as low as 0.4 micrograms/mL, and separates etoposide from its known metabolites. The procedure described represents an alternative to a previously published assay that also separated etoposide from its metabolites, but used electrochemical detection.     

Development and validation of a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry assay for the determination of pyronaridine in human blood for application to clinical pharmacokinetic studies

A reliable and sensitive method for the determination of pyronaridine in human blood was developed and validated. A 0.3 ml aliquot of whole blood was extracted using liquid-liquid extraction after addition of amodiaquine as an internal standard. Analysis was performed on a Shimadzu LCMS-2010A in single ion monitoring positive mode using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) as an interface. The extracted ion for pyronaridine was m/z 518.20 and for amodiaquine was m/z 356.10. Separation was achieved on a Gemini 5 microm C18 3.0 x 150 mm column using a mobile phase composed of 2mM perflurooctanoic acid-acetonitrile mixture delivered at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. The mobile phase was delivered in gradient mode. The retention times of pyronaridine and amodiaquine were 9.2 and 8.2 min, respectively, with a total run time of 14 min. The estimated calibration range of the method was 5.7-855 ng/mL. The analysis of quality control samples for pyronaridine at 11.4, 285, and 760 ng/mL demonstrated excellent precision with relative standard deviation of 11.1, 4.8 and 2.2%, respectively (n=5). Recoveries at concentrations of 11.4, 285 and 760 ng/mL were all greater than 75%. No interference peaks or matrix effects were observed. This LC-MS method for the determination of pyronaridine in human blood has excellent specifications for sensitivity, reproducibility and accuracy. This LC-MS technique was found to improve the quantitation of pyronaridine in whole blood allowing its use in pharmacokinetic studies with clinically relevant doses.     

High performance liquid chromatographic analysis of rabeprazole in human plasma and its pharmacokinetic application

A simple and sensitive HPLC method for the analysis of rabeprazole in plasma is described using UV detection in the presence of lorazepam as the internal standard. Rabeprazole and lorazepam were extracted with ethyl ether and quantitated using a reverse-phase C(18) column. The method was specific as there were no interfering peaks in the human plasma eluting at the retention times of rabeprazole and lorazepam. The method was fully validated in human plasma for the concentration range of 20.0-1000.0 ng/ml. The correlation coefficients were greater than 0.999. Extraction recoveries were 72.3% for the drug and 79.1% for the internal standard. The method was simple, reliable, and accurate for the quantitation of rabeprazole in human plasma. The same plasma samples, which were collected in healthy male volunteers administered a 20 mg tablet of Pariet, were analyzed by HPLC and LC/MS/MS. As a result of that, there was no significant difference between pharmacokinetic parameters. The suitability of HPLC method for pharmacokinetic studies was verified by determining the relevant pharmacokinetic parameters.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic assay for cinnarizine in human plasma

The high performance liquid chromatography for the determination of cinnarizine in human plasma is described. The procedure involves liquid-liquid extraction followed by reversed phase high-performance chromatographic analysis with fluorometric detection. The method was validated for accuracy, precision, specificity, linearity, sensitivity, recovery, and stability. No endogenous compounds were found to interfere. The absolute extraction recovery of cinnarizine and clocinizine (internal standard) from plasma samples were 97% and 89%, respectively. The linearity was assessed in the range 1-100 ng/mL. The intra-day and inter-day relative standard deviations were less than 10%, and the accuracy of the assay expressed by bias was in the range 0.14-2.37%. The method was proved to be suitable for human pharmacokinetic studies following single oral dose.