A simple and rapid HPLC method for the determination of atorvastatin in human plasma with UV detection and its application to pharmacokinetic studies

A rapid and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of atorvastatin (CAS 134523-00-5) in plasma was developed in this study. Atorvastatin was isolated from plasma using protein precipitation by acetonitrile. Diltiazem (CAS 33286-22-5) was used as internal standard. The chromatographic conditions were as follows: analytical 125 x 4 mm (i.d.) Nucleosil C8 column (5 microm particle size), mobile phase consisting of sodium dihydrogen phosphate buffer-acetonitrile (60:40, v/v) adjusted to pH 5.5 at a flow rate of 1.5 ml/min, UV detection at 245 nm. The detection limit for atorvastatin in plasma was 1 ng ml(-1). The calibration curve was linear over the concentration range 20-800 ng ml(-1). The recovery was complete. The inter-day and intra-day assay coefficients of variation were found to be less than 7%. The present validated method was successfully used for pharmacokinetic studies of atorvastatin in human subjects.     

In-vitro and in-vivo evaluation of the drug-drug interaction between fluvoxamine and clozapine

The drug-drug interaction between fluvoxamine (FLV) and clozapine (CLZ) was evaluated by in-vitro and in-vivo methods. In-vitro studies were conducted using human hepatic microsomal preparations with standard chemical inhibitors of the cytochrome P450 (CYP 450) isozyme system. Furafyline, FLV, troleandomycin (TAO) and erythromycin were used as the chemical inhibitors. For the in-vivo study, nine male schizophrenic patients were administered a single dose of CLZ 50 mg on two separate occasions with a 2-week FLV treatment of 50 mg twice a day in between each CLZ dose. Blood samples were obtained over 48 h following CLZ administration. CLZ and its two principle metabolites, clozapine N-oxide (CNO) and desmethylclozapine (DCLZ), were measured by high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection for both in-vitro and in-vivo studies. The in-vitro formation of DCLZ was inhibited by furafyline and FLV by 42.0% and 48.5% (P < 0.01), respectively. TAO and erythromycin had only modest inhibition effects on DCLZ formation of 18.3% and 21.0% (P = NS), respectively. CNO in-vitro formation was significantly reduced by TAO and erythromycin by 44.5% and 45.0% (P < 0.01), respectively. Furafyline and FLV had only modest effects of 19.2% and 8.5% (P = NS), respectively. In schizophrenic patients, FLV resulted in a pronounced increased in CLZ plasma concentrations with the total mean CLZ AUC increased by a factor of 2.58 from 780.8 ng/ml per hour to 2218.0 ng/ml per hour (P < 0.001). All patients were sedated during combined FLV and CLZ use. During FLV treatment, CNO and DCLZ AUC both decreased by 18.8% (P = 0.07) and 9.0% (P = NS), respectively. These results indicate that in-vitro evaluations may not always accurately reflect changes in drug-drug interaction observed in-vivo. Careful patient monitoring is recommended during FLV/CLZ co-administration. Received: 19 October 1998/Final version: 5 February 1999     

Quantitative determination of nitrendipine in human plasma using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

A sensitive and highly selective liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS) method was developed to determine nitrendipine (4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-3, 5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid ethyl methyl ester, CAS 39562-70-4) in human plasma. The analyte and the internal standard nimodipine (CAS 66085-59-4) were extracted from plasma samples by n-hexane-isopropanol (95:5, v/v), and analyzed on a commercially available column Interfaced with a mass spectrometer. Positive atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) was empolyed as the ionization source. The samples were detected by the use of selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. The mobile phase consisted of methanol-water (75:25, v/v). The method has a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.1 ng/ml. The linear calibration curves were obtained in the concentra tions range of 0.3-40 ng/ml (r2 > or = .99). The intra- and inter-day batch precisions were lower than 10% in terms of relative standard deviation (R. S. D.), and the accuracy ranged from 85 to 110% in terms of percent accuracy. The overall extraction recoveries were determined to be about 75% on average. This validated method was successfully applied to the evaluation of the pharmacokinetic profiles of nitrendipine tablets administered to 8 Chinese healthy volunteers.     

Validated high performance liquid chromatographic method for simultaneous determination of phenytoin, phenobarbital and carbamazepine in human serum

A high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the simultaneous determination of phenytoin (CAS 57-41-0), phenobarbital (CAS 50-06-6, phenobarbitone) and carbamazepine (CAS 298-46-4) is described. The serum was extracted with ethyl acetate, the dried extract was reconstituted in mobile phase and the aliquot was injected. The eluent drugs were detected at 230 nm. The mobile phase consisting of methanol: water: glacial acetic acid mixture (67:33:1, v/v/v) was used at a flow rate of 1 ml/min on C-18 column. The absolute recovery was above 96% of all the three drugs over a concentration range of 0.5-50.0 micrograms/ml. The inter-day and intra-day precision relative standard deviation (RSD) ranged from 0.79-5.13% and 0.11-6.81%, respectively. The method is simple, rapid, accurate and sensitive and is presently used for therapeutic drug monitoring in epileptic patients. The results obtained with this method showed very good clinical correlation.     

Simultaneous determination of liensinine, isoliensinine and neferine from seed embryo of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. in rat plasma by a rapid HPLC method and its application to a pharmacokinetic study

A rapid and specific HPLC method has been developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of liensinine (CAS 2586-96-1), isoliensinine (CAS 6817-41-0) and neferine (CAS 2292-16-2) in rat plasma. The sample was prepared by a liquid-liquid extraction with diethyl ether and the recovery was above 80% from the plasma for the three compounds. Chromatographic separation was achieved with a Hypersil BDS C18 column (4.0 mm x 250 mm, particle size 5 microm). A mobile phase consisting of methanol: 0.2 M KH2PO4:0.2 M NaOH:triethylamine (71:17:12:0.002, v/v/v/v, pH 9.2-9.3) was slowly delivered at 0.8 ml/min in isocratic mode with a detection wavelength of 282 nm. The linearity of calibration curves were good (r > 0.999) in the concentration range of 0.031-2.00 microg/ ml. The lower limit of quantification can reach 0.03 microg/ml for the three compounds. The intra-day and inter-day variations estimated with QC samples were less than 8% for the three tested concentration levels. This developed method was applied in the plasma pharmacokinetic study of total bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids (TAL) of the lotus flower (Lian Zi Xin) following a single oral and intravenous administration of TAL in rats.     

A rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of pantoprazole in plasma using UV detection. Application in pharmacokinetic studies

A rapid, sensitive and reproducible HPLC method was developed and validated for the analysis of pantoprazole (CAS 102625-70-7) in human plasma. The separation was achieved on a monolithic silica column using acetonitrile-potassium dihydrogen phosphate buffer (25:75,v/v), pH 3.0, as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.5 ml min(-1). The wavelength was set at 290 nm. The assay enables the measurement of pantoprazole for therapeutic drug monitoring with a minimum quantification limit of 20 ng ml(-1). The method involves a simple protein precipitation procedure. Analyticil recovery was complete. The calibration curve was linear over the concentration range 20-3500 ng ml(-1) The coefficients of variation forthe inter-day and intra-day assay were found to be less than 7%.     

Quantification of the cephalosporin antibiotic cefditoren in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography

A simple, sensitive and selective high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with ultraviolet detection (305 nm) was developed and validated for quantification of cefditoren (CAS 104145-95-1), a broad-spectrum orally administered cephalosporin in human plasma. Following solid-phase extraction using Waters Oasis SPE cartridges, the analyte and internal standard (hydrochlorothiazide, CAS 58-93-5) were separated using an isocratic mobile phase of 0.03 % trifluoro acetic acid buffer / acetonitrile (81/19, v/ v) on reverse phase Waters symmetry C18 column. The lower limit of quantification was 50 ng/mL, with a relative standard deviation of less than 4%. A linear range of 50 to 5000 ng/mL was established. This HPLC method was validated with between-batch and within-batch precision of 0.5 to 3.7 % and 0.5 to 2.5%, respectively. The between-batch and within-batch accuracy was 96.9 to 103.8% and 97.5 to 102.3%, respectively. Stability of cefditoren in plasma was excellent, with no evidence of degradation during sample processing (autosampler) and 30 days storage in a freezer. This validated method is sensitive, simple and repeatable enough to be used in pharmacokinetic studies.     

Quantification of faropenem in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography

A simple, sensitive and specific high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with ultraviolet detection (315 nm) was developed and validated for quantitation of faropenem (CAS 106560-14-9), the newest addition to the group of beta-lactam antimicrobials, in human plasma. Following solid-phase extraction using Waters Oasis SPE cartridges, the analyte and internal standard (hydrochlorothiazide, CAS 58-93-5) were separated using an isocratic mobile phase of 10 mmol/L acetate buffer (pH adjusted to 7.0 with dilute acetic acid) / methanol / triethyl amine (70/30/0.03, v/v/v) on reverse phase Waters symmetry C18 column. The lower limit of quantitation was 200 ng/mL, with a relative standard deviation of less than 2 %. A linear range of 200 to 25000 ng/mL was established. This HPLC method was validated with between-batch and within-batch precision of 1.6 to 2.3 % and 0.4 to 1.6 %, respectively. The between-batch and within-batch bias was -3.1 to 5.3 % and -6.0 to 1.5 %, respectively. Frequently coadministered drugs did not interfere with the described methodology. The stability of faropenem in plasma was excellent, with no evidence of degradation during sample processing (autosampler) and 30 days storage in a freezer. This validated method is sensitive, simple and repeatable enough to be used in pharmacokinetic studies.     

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.     

Determination of cetirizine in human plasma using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometric detection: application to a bioequivalence study

A rapid, sensitive and selective HPLC-MS/ MS method was developed and validated for the quantification of cetirizine dihydrochloride (CAS 83881-51-0) in human plasma using mosapride citrate as internal standard (IS, CAS 112885-42-4). Following liquid-liquid extraction, the analytes were separated using a mobile phase consisting of methanol and aqueous ammonium acetate solution (10 mM) (60:40, v/v) on a reverse phase C18 column and analyzed by a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer in the selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode using the respective [M+H]+ ions, m/z 398 --> 201 for cetirizine and m/z 422 --> 198 for mosapride. The analysis time for each run was 8.0 min. The assay exhibited a linear dynamic range of 0.5-500 ng/ml for cetirizine dihydrochloride in human plasma. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 0.5 ng/ml with a relative standard deviation of less than 15% (all the concentration data in this study related to the salt (cetirizine dihydrochloride)). Acceptable precision and accuracy were obtained for concentrations over the standard curve range. It is the first time that the validated HPLC-MS/MS method has been successfully applied to a bioequivalence study in 20 healthy male Chinese volunteers.     

HPLC determination of omeprazole in human plasma using a monolithic column

A rapid and sensitive HPLC method using a monolithic column has been developed for quantification of omeprazole (CAS 73590-58-6) in plasma. The method was specific and sensitive with a quantification limit of 10 ng/ml. Sample preparation involves simple, one-step extraction procedure and analytical recovery was complete. The separation was carried out in reversed-phase conditions using a Chromolith Performance (RP-18e, 100 x 4.6 mm) column with an isocratic mobile phase consisting of 0.01 mol/l disodium hydrogen phosphate buffer-acetonitrile (73:27 v/v) adjusted to pH 7.1. The wavelength was set at 302 nm. The calibration curve was linear over the concentration range 20-1500 ng x ml(-1). The coefficients of variation for inter-day and intra-day assay were found to be less than 7%.     

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.     

Bioanalytical method development, validation and quantification of flupirtine maleate in rat plasma by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A simple, highly sensitive, precise and accurate high-performance liquid chromatographic (LCMSMS) method with mass detection was developed and validated for the rapid quantification of flupirtine (CAS 75507-68-5) in rat plasma samples. The chromatographic separation was achieved with a reverse phase column (4.6 x 50 mm, 5 microm) and the mobile phase consisted of cyanomethane and 5 mM ammonium formate buffer pH 4.5 (70:30 v/v) as eluent, at a flow rate of 0.6 mL/min. Labetalol (CAS 36894-69-6) was used as an internal standard. The effluence was ionized by positive electrospray ionization and measured by mass spectrometry. The retention times of flupirtine and labetalol were found to be 2.16 and 1.66 min respectively. The calibration curve was linear (r2 > or = 0.99) ranging from 0.98 to 1000 ng/ml and the lower limit of quantification was 0.98 ng/ mL. Inter-day and Intra-day precision were lower than 5% (CV) and accuracy ranged from 90 to 110% in terms of percent accuracy. Mean extraction recovery was found to be above 86.5%. The method was successfully applied for evaluation of the pharmacokinetic profile of flupirtine in male Sprague-Dawley rats and validated for excellent selectivity, accuracy, precision, recovery and stability.     

Improved high performance liquid chromatographic analysis of omeprazole in human plasma

A simple high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the determination of omeprazole in human plasma. Omeprazole and the internal standard, chloramphenicol, were extracted from alkalinized plasma samples using dichloromethane. The mobile phase was 0.05 M Na2HPO4-ACN (65:35, v/v) adjusted to pH 6.5. Analysis was run at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min at a detection wavelength of 302 nm. The method was specific and sensitive with a detection limit of 2.5 ng/ml at a signal-to-noise ratio of 4:1. The limit of quantification was set at 5 ng/ml. The calibration curve was linear over a concentration range of 5-1280 ng/ml. Mean recovery value of the extraction procedure was about 96%, while the within and between day coefficient of variation and percent error values of the assay method were all less than 14%.     

Quantification of oxcarbazeipine and its active metabolite 10-hydroxycarbazepine in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography

A simple, sensitive and selective high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with ultraviolet detection (230 nm) was developed and validated for the quantification of oxcarbazepine (CAS 28721-07-5), a new antiepileptic drug, and its active metabolite 10-hydroxycarbazepine (CAS 29331-92-8) in human plasma. Following solid-phase extraction, the analytes and internal standard (zaleplon, CAS 151319-34-5) were separated using an isocratic mobile phase on a reverse phase C18 column. The lower limit of quantification was 50 ng/mL for oxcarbazepine and 100 ng/mL for 10-hydroxycarbazepine with a relative standard deviation of less than 10%. A linear dynamic range of 50 to 5000 ng/mL for oxcarbazepine and of 100 to 10000 ng/mL for 10-hydroxycarbazepine was established. This HPLC method was validated with between-batch precision of 0.8 to 8.6% and 3.2 to 7.5% for oxcarbazepine and 10-hydroxycarbazepine respectively. The between-batch accuracy was 94.0 to 102.4% and 95.4 to 105.6%, respectively. Stability of oxcarbazepine and 10-hydroxycarbazepine in plasma was excellent, with no evidence of degradation during sample processing (autosampler) and 30 days storage in a freezer. This validated method is sensitive, simple and repeatable enough to be used in pharmacokinetic studies.     

Determination of saquinavir and ritonavir in human plasma by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and the analytical error function

Two simple and reproducible high-performance liquid chromatography methods with ultraviolet detection were developed and validated for the quantitation of two protease inhibitors, saquinavir and ritonavir, in human plasma. The same single liquid-liquid extraction procedure with ethyl acetate-hexane (50:50, v/v), reversed-phase column and mobile phase were used. The analyses were accomplished using a Luna C(18) column (150 mm x 4.6mm i.d.) with a C(18) guard column and, the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and 70 mM KH(2)PO(4) adjusted to pH 5 with 80 mM Na(2)HPO(4) (46:54, v/v). The wavelength was set at 240 nm for saquinavir and at 210 nm for ritonavir. The retention times were 6.4 min for saquinavir and 8.3 min for ritonavir. The methods were linear over the range of 100-2500 ng/ml for saquinavir and 200-2500 ng/ml for ritonavir. Intra and inter-day precision and accuracy were less than 10.2% for both drugs. Recovery were 90 and 87% for saquinavir and ritonavir, respectively. The drugs were stable at different relevant storage and working conditions. After the validation, their analytical error functions were established as standard deviation (S.D., ng/ml) = 4.84 + 7.14 x 10(-2)C (C is the theoretical concentration value) for saquinavir and S.D. (ng/ml) = 39.98 + 2.40 x 10(-5)C(2) for ritonavir.     

HPLC method for analysis of a new 1,4-dihydropyridine: application to pharmacokinetic study in rabbit

A high sensitive HPLC assay for plasma analysis of a new 1,4-dihydropyridine (nitrimidodipine) was developed to support the subsequent preclinical development of the compound. To 1 ml of rabbit plasma was added internal standard (3-(4-nitrooxy butyl)-5-ethyl-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(1-methyl-5-nitro-2-imidazolyl)-3,5-pyridine dicarboxylate) and 0.5 ml of 1M HCl. The plasma was extracted using 5 ml ethyl acetate which evaporated under gentle stream of nitrogen. The residue was reconstituted in 200 microl mobile phase and 100 microl of aliquots were injected to HPLC system. Chromatographic separation was accomplished on octadecyl column (250 mm x 4.6mm) using a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-water (45:55, v/v). The method was sensitive to 2.5 ng/ml in plasma (LOD), acceptable within- and between day reproducibility and a linearity (r2>0.9957) over a concentration range from 5 to 400 ng/ml. The mean extraction efficacy was 90.6% and no interfering peaks of the blank plasma chromatograms were observed. By using the above procedure, a simple, sensitive and convenient HPLC assay for determination, stability evaluation and pharmacokinetic study of nitrimidodipine was developed.     

Development of HPLC method for the determination of levosulpiride in human plasma

A rapid and simple high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed and validated for determination of levosulpiride in human plasma. After extraction with ethylacetate/methylene chloride (5:1, v/v), analysis of levosulpiride in plasma samples was carried out using a reverse phase C18 column with fluorescence detector (maximum excitation at 300 nm and maximum emission at 365 nm) for separation and quantification. A mixture of methanol-20 mM phosphate buffer (pH 3.5, 16:84, v/v) was used as a mobile phase. The method was specific and sensitive with a limit of quantification of 5 ng/ml. This HPLC method was validated by examining the precision and accuracy for inter- and intra-day analysis in the concentration range of 5-150 ng/ml. The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) in inter- and intra-day validation were 8.16-19.75 and 3.90-11.69%, respectively. In stability tests, levosulpiride in human plasma was stable during the storage and assay procedure. The method was applied to the bioequivalence study of two levosulpiride tablet formulations (25 mg) after a single oral administration.     

Simple high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of buspirone in human plasma

A simple, rapid and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of buspirone in plasma was developed. Buspirone was isolated from plasma using protein precipitation by acetonitrile and the recovery was complete. Citalopram was used as internal standard. The chromatographic conditions were as follows: analytical 125 x 4 mm, i.d. Nucleosil C18 column (5 microm particle size), mobile phase consisting of sodium dihydrogen phosphate buffer/acetonitrile (60:40, v/v) adjusted to pH 5.5 at a flow rate of 1.0 ml min(-1), UV detection at 235 nm. The quantification limit for buspirone in plasma was 0.5 ng ml(-1).The calibration curve was linear over the concentration range 0.5-10 ng ml(-1). The inter- and intra-day assay coefficients of variation were found to be less than 8%. The present validated method was successfully used for bioequivalence studies of buspirone in human subjects.     

Sensitive determination of nefopam and its metabolite desmethyl-nefopam in human biological fluids by HPLC

Nefopam (NEF) and desmethyl-nefopam (DMN) were assayed simultaneously in plasma, globule and urine samples using imipramine as internal standard. A liquid-liquid extraction procedure was coupled with a reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography system. This system requires a mobile phase containing buffer (15 mM KH(2)PO(4) with 5 mM octane sulfonic acid: pH 3.7) and acetonitrile (77:33, v/v) through (flow rate=1.5 ml/min) a C(18) Symmetry column (150x4.6 I.D., 5 micrometer particle size: Waters) and a UV detector set at 210 nm. Internal standard was added to 1 ml of plasma or globule sample or 0.5 ml of urine sample, prior to the extraction under alkaline ambiance with n-hexane. The limits of quantification were 1 and 2 ng/ml for both molecules in plasma and globule, respectively; 5 and 10 ng/ml for NEF and DMN in urine, respectively. The method proved to be accurate and precise: the relative error at three concentrations ranged from -13.0 to +12.3% of the nominal concentration for all molecule and biological fluid; the within-day and between-day precision (relative standard deviation %) ranged from 1.0 to 10.1% for all the molecules and biological fluids. The method was linear between 1 and 60 ng/ml for both molecules in the plasma; 2 and 25 ng/ml for both molecules in the globule; 25 and 250 ng/ml for NEF and 50 and 500 ng/ml for DMN in the urine: correlation coefficients of calibration curves (determined by least-squares regression) of each molecule were higher than 0.992 whatever the biological fluid and during the pre-study and in-study validations. This method was successfully applied to a bio-availability study of NEF in healthy subjects.