Highly selective and sensitive determination of tricyclic antidepressants in human plasma using high-performance liquid chromatography with post-column tris(2,2′-bipyridyl) ruthenium(III) chemiluminescence detection

Terbium(iii)-coated carbon quantum dots for the detection of clomipramine through aggregation-induced emission from the analyte

CQD-Tb: a selective chemosensor for detecting the antidepressant drug clomipramine in aqueous media.

A simple poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene)-coated glass blood spot method for monitoring of seven antidepressants using capillary liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

A simple, rapid, selective and sensitive monitoring method for the simultaneous determination of the widely-prescribed antidepressants agomelatine, bupropion, citalopram, fluoxetine, mirtazapine, paroxetine, trazodone in just a human blood drop is here developed and validated. This methodology is based on the use of lab manufactured poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene)-coated glass (PS-DVB) blood spot for the extraction of the analytes and their subsequent separation and detection by capillary liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (CLC-MS). Briefly, 10 mm-side squares were punched out from blood spots collected on glass substrate coated by 10 µg of the PS-DVB polymer and eluted with 1.0 mL of 2.0% acetic acid in methanol. The analytes were then separated and detected in less than 20 min by capillary CLC-MS using a Jupiter 4 µm Proteo 90 Å column and water: acetonitrile (20:80 v/v) and ammonium acetate (5 mM, pH 3.0) as mobile phase. Limit of detection (LOD) ranged from 0.018 to 0.038 µg mL^-1, and remarkable precision values for the responses and retention times lower than 5.89% and 1.92% were calculated, respectively. Moreover, accuracy values ranging between 85% and 104% were obtained.

Analysis of tricyclic antidepressants in human plasma using online-restricted access molecularly imprinted solid phase extraction followed by direct mass spectrometry identification/quantification

The use of a new class of hybrid materials, called restricted access molecularly imprinted polymers (RAMIPs) seems to present a good strategy for the sample preparation of complex matrices, since these materials combine good protein elimination capacity with high degree selectivity. Mass spectrometers (MS) have been successfully used for polar drug identification and quantification. In order to combine the advantages of both RAMIPs and mass spectrometry, we proposed a study that joins these properties in a single system, where we could analyse tricyclic antidepressants from human plasma, without offline extraction or chromatographic separation. A RAMIP for amitriptyline was synthesised by the bulk method, using methacrylic acid as a functional monomer and glycidilmethacrylate as a hydrophilic co-monomer. Then, epoxide ring openings were made and the polymer was covered with bovine serum albumin (BSA). A column filled with RAMIP-BSA was coupled to a MS/MS instrument in an online configuration, using water as loading and reconditioning mobile phase and a 0.01% acetic acid aqueous solution: acetonitrile at 30:70 as elution mobile phase. The system was used for on-line extraction and simultaneous quantification of nortriptyline, desipramine, amitriptyline, imipramine, clomipramine and clomipramine-d3 (IS) (from 15.0 to 500.0μgL^-1) from plasma samples. The correlation coefficient was higher than 0.99 for all analytes. The CV (coefficient of variation) values ranged from 1.34% to 19.13% for intra assay precision and 1.32-19.77% for inter assay precision. The E% (relative error) values ranged from -19.15% to 19.51% for intra assay accuracy and from -9.04% to 16.22% for inter assay accuracy.

Kinetic modelling for the assay of nortriptyline hydrochloride using potassium permanganate as oxidant

Kinetic methods for accurate determination of nortriptyline hydrochloride have been described. The methods are based on the oxidation of nortriptyline hydrochloride with KMnO4 in acidic and basic media. In acidic medium, the decrease in absorbance at 525.5 nm and in basic medium, the increase in absorbance at 608.5 nm were measured as a function of time. The variables affecting the reactions were carefully investigated and optimised. Kinetic models such as initial rate, rate constant, variable time and fixed time were employed to construct the calibration curves. The initial rate and fixed time methods were selected for quantification of nortriptyline hydrochloride. In acidic medium, the calibration curves showed a linear response over the concentration range 10-50 μg mL(-1) for initial rate and 10-60 μg mL(-1) for fixed time method (2 min). In basic medium, the calibration graphs were linear over the concentration range 10-100 μg mL(-1) for initial rate and fixed time methods (4 min). In acidic medium, the limits of detection for initial rate and fixed time methods (2 min) were 1.02 and 3.26 μg mL(-1), respectively. In basic medium, the limits of detection were found to be 1.67 and 1.55 μg mL(-1) for initial rate and fixed time methods (4 min), respectively. The initial rate and fixed time methods have been successfully applied to the determination of nortriptyline hydrochloride in commercial dosage form. Statistical comparison of the results of the proposed methods with those of reference method exhibited excellent agreement and there is no significant difference between the compared methods in terms of accuracy and precision.

Liquid three-phase microextraction based on hollow fiber for highly selective and sensitive determination of using an ion selective electrode

In this paper, for the first time, a combination of hollow fiber based liquid 3-phase microextraction with a potentiometric method was applied as a highly selective and sensitive method of analysis. Desipramine, as a model compound, was extracted from a small volume in the presence of 0.10 mol L-1 NaOH (donor solution) through a thin phase of propyl benzoate inside the pores of a polypropylene hollow fiber and finally into a 10 μL acidic acceptor solution inside the hollow fiber. Two microelectrodes were designed and inserted into the two ends of a hollow fiber inside the acceptor solution. Potentiometric analysis was performed in situ within an extraction time of 15 min; the final stable signal was used for analytical application. Under the optimized conditions, an enrichment factor of 296 was achieved and the relative standard deviation (RSD%) of the method was 4.5%. The calibration curve was obtained in the range of 3.0 × 10-5 to 3.4 × 10-8 mol L-1 with a reasonable linearity (R2 > 0.9849) and a limit of detection (LOD) of 3.1 × 10-8 mol L-1. Finally, the applicability of the proposed method was evaluated by extraction and determination of desipramine in plasma and urine samples without any special pretreatment.

Bio-sample preparation and analytical methods for the determination of tricyclic antidepressants

An extended and comprehensive review is presented herein, focusing on sample preparation (pretreatment and extraction) and different analytical methods applied for the quantification of tricyclic antidepressants. These procedures are relevant tools in clinical and forensic toxicology. It is revealed that SPE, for sample preparation, and HPLC, using reversed-phase alkyl (C18) or cyanopropyl-bonded silica columns for the analytes separation, are effective and versatile methods for assay of tricyclic antidepressants. These methods enable achievable detection limits using UV/diode array detection, readily available in most laboratories, down to 1–8 ng ml-1, and using electron capture detection better than 1 ng ml-1, which is lower than that for nitrogen–phosphorus detector. MS interfaced with electrospray ionization offered similar sensitivity, whilst sonic spray ionization provided detection down to 0.03 ng ml-1. A brief discussion on chemical structures, metabolism and mechanism of action of this group of drugs is also presented.

Simultaneous HPLC determination of 14 tricyclic antidepressants and metabolites in human plasma

A HPLC method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of seven tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and seven metabolites in human plasma. The analyte separation was obtained using a C8 reversed phase column and a mobile phase composed of 68% aqueous phosphate buffer at pH 3.0 and 32% ACN. The UV detector was set at 220 nm and loxapine was used as the internal standard. A careful pre-treatment procedure for plasma samples was developed, using SPE on C2 cartridges, which gives satisfactory extraction yields (>80%) and good sample purification. The LOQs were always lower than 9.1 ng/mL and the LODs always lower than 3.1 ng/mL for all analytes. The method was successfully applied to plasma samples from depressed patients undergoing therapy with one or more TCA drugs. Precision data (RSD <8.1%), as well as accuracy results (recovery >80%), were satisfactory and no interference from other drugs was found. Hence the method seems to be suitable for the therapeutic drug monitoring of patients treated with TCAs under monotherapy or polypharmacy regimens.

Utility of 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane charge transfer reagent for the spectrophotometric determination of trazodone, amineptine and amitriptyline hydrochlorides

A simple and rapid spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of tricyclic anti-depressant drugs such as trazodone (TZH), amineptine (APH) and amitriptyline (ATPH) hydrochlorides in pure form and in different pharmaceutical preparations. The charge transfer (CT) reaction between TZH, APH and ATPH as electron donors and TCNQ as electron acceptor was utilized for their spectrophotometric determination. The optimum experimental conditions, like time, temperature, stoichiometry, solvents, for the CT complex formation are established. The method permits the determination of TZH, APH and ATPH over a concentration range of 10-400, 10-440 and 10-300 microg ml(-1), respectively. The sensitivity (S) is found to be 0.09, 0.087 and 0.069 g cm(-2) for TZH, APH and ATPH, respectively. The SD values are found to be 0.146-0.293, 0.154-0.285 and 0.091-0.212 and RSD values are 0.142-1.92, 0.297-1.92 and 0.212-0.915 for TZH, APH and ATPH, respectively. The low values of the relative standard deviation indicate the high accuracy and precision of the method. The mean recovery values obtained together with a high correlation coefficient values, amount in the range 98-101.5, 98.7-102.9 and 93-101.9 for TZH, APH and ATPH, respectively. The method is applicable for the assay of the investigated drugs in different dosage forms and the results are in good agreement with those obtained by the official method.

Development of an HPLC method for the monitoring of tricyclic antidepressants in biofluids

A simple, rapid and sensitive HPLC method was developed and validated for the determination of four tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs): amitriptyline, doxepin, clomipramine (CLO) and imipramine, in pharmaceutical formulations and biological fluids. A Kromasil C(8 )analytical column (250 x 4 mm, 5 microm) was used for the separation, with a mobile phase consisting of 0.05 M CH(3)COONH(4) and CH(3)CN (45:55 v/v) delivered at 1.5 mL/min isocratically. Quantification was performed at 238 nm, with bromazepam (1.5 ng/microL) as the internal standard. The determination of TCAs in blood plasma was performed after protein precipitation. Urine analysis was performed by means of SPE using Lichrolut RP-18 Merck cartridges providing high absolute recoveries (> 94%). Direct analysis of urine was also performed after two-fold dilution. The developed method was fully validated in terms of selectivity, linearity, accuracy, precision, stability and sensitivity. Repeatability (n = 5) and between-day precision (n = 5) revealed RSD <13%. Recoveries from biological samples ranged from 91.0 to 114.0%. The absolute detection limit of the method was calculated as 0.1-0.6 ng in blood plasma and 0.2-0.5 ng in extracted urine or 0.4-0.7 in diluted urine. The method was applied to real samples of plasma from a patient under CLO treatment.

High-performance liquid chromatography–post-column chemiluminescence determination of aminopolycarboxylic acids at low concentration levels using tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(III)

A simple, selective and sensitive method for the determination of aminopolycarboxylic acids [diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), S,S-ethylenediamine N,N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS), ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) and nitrilotriacetate (NTA)] has been developed using high-performance liquid chromatography with chemiluminescence detection. The aminopolycarboxylic acids were separated on a C18 reversed-phase column with an aqueous sulfuric acid mobile phase at a pH lower than 1.5. The eluate was mixed with tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(III), which was on-line generated by photooxidation of the ruthenium(II) complex in the presence of peroxydisulfate, and the generated chemiluminescence was detected. Calibration graphs, based on standard solutions, were linear over the range 8x10(-9) to 4x10(-5) M. The detection limits at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 ranged from 9x10(-10) to 8x10(-8) M. The relative standard deviations of intra- and inter-day precision were below 1.3% and 2.1%, respectively. This HPLC system was successfully applied to the determination of aminopolycarboxylic acids in three different types of water samples. The low pH of the mobile phase limits interference from metal ions in natural waters. When such interference occurs, a cation-exchange column can be used to suppress it. The lowest amounts measurable were: 75 pg for NTA, 0.7 ng for EDDS, 0.8 ng for DTPA and 12ng for EDTA. The method was also applied for the EDTA assay in canned foods.

Capillary Column Switching Restricted-Access Media-Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Ionization-Tandem Mass Spectrometry System for Simultaneous and Direct Analysis of Drugs in Biofluids

Capillary online restricted-access media-liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (RAM-LC-ESI-MS/MS) for direct analysis of drugs and metabolites spiked in biological fluids was developed. Using a column switching setup it was possible to perform effective sample preparation and analysis of raw biological fluids (plasma and urine) without matrix effects in the electrospray mass spectrometric detection step. The peak focusing efficiency of the extraction column was more effective in backflush compared to foreflush mode. The system was able to concentrate diminished samples of polar drugs and their metabolites reaching quantifiable results as low as 1 ng/mL utilizing a sample volume of only 333 nL of biofluids. New column hardware was developed to circumvent clogging problems experienced with plasma injections. The glass fiber filter frit, which is commonly used, was replaced with a short piece of 20 microm i.d. fused silica capillary. The extraction columns were able to handle up to 60 injections and showed a high loading capacity, making the saturation of the MS detector the limiting factor on the linear dynamic range. The simultaneous separation and detection of 10 drugs and metabolites was obtained in 8 min of analysis, including the online sample preparation and enrichment step.

Flow Injection Chemiluminescence Determination of Imipramine in Tablets, Human Plasma and Urine Samples Based upon Oxidation with Singlet Oxygen Generated in N-Bromosuccinimide-Hydrogen Peroxide Reaction

Singlet oxygen generated in a reaction between N-bromosuccinimide and hydrogen peroxide was used for the chemiluminescence oxidation of imipramine. A strong chemiluminescence signal was observed when imipramine was mixed with N-bromosuccinimide and hydrogen peroxide under an alkaline condition. The chemiluminescence signal was linearly dependent on the concentration of imipramine in the range of 0.01 - 1.0 mg/L. The detection limit was 0.005 mg/L imipramine and the relative standard deviation was 1.5% for a 0.4 mg/L imipramine solution in 11 repeated measurements. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of imipramine in tablets, human plasma and urine samples.

Spectrophotometric determination of trazodone, amineptine and amitriptyline hydrochlorides through ion-pair formation with molybdenum and thiocyanate

Extraction spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of tricyclic drugs such as trazodone (TZH), amineptine (APH) and amitriptyline (ATPH) hydrochlorides in pure form and in the dosage forms coming from different Egyptian markets. The method based on the formation of ion-pairs between these drugs under investigation and inorganic complex of Mo(V)-thiocyanate followed by its extraction with methylene chloride. The optimum conditions for the ion-pairs formation are established. The method permits the determination of TZH, APH and ATPH over the concentration range of 2-28, 2-32 and 1-30 microg ml(-1), respectively. The Sandell sensitivity (S) is found to be 0.105, 0.138 and 0.118 g cm(-2) for TZH, APH and ATPH, respectively. The SD is found to be 0.16-0.377, 0.12-0.259 and 0.091-0.286 and the R.S.D. are 0.14-0.55, 0.12-0.399 and 0.095-0.485 for TZH, APH and ATPH, respectively. The method is applicable for the assay of the investigated drugs in different dosage forms and the results are in good agreement with those obtained by the official method.

Spectrophotometric determination of trazodone, amineptine and amitriptyline hydrochlorides through ion-pair formation using methyl orange and bromocresol green reagents

A simple and rapid extraction spectrophotometric procedure has been developed for the determination of tricyclic anti-depressant drugs such as trazodone (TZH), amineptine (APH) and amitriptyline (ATPH) hydrochlorides in pure form and in different dosage forms. The method involves the formation of intense yellow ion-pairs between these drugs under investigation and methyl orange (MO) and bromocresol green (BCG) reagents followed by their extraction with 1,2-dichloroethane and quantitative microdetermination at 420 and 410 nm using MO or BCG, respectively. The optimum experimental conditions for the ion-pairs formation are established. The method permits the determination of TZH, APH and ATPH over a concentration range of 2-50, 2-50 and 1-25 microg ml(-1) for TZH, APH and ATPH, using MO and 1-25 microg ml(-1) for TZH, APH and ATPH, using BCG, respectively. The Sandell sensitivity (S) is found to be 0.106, 0.1071 and 0.0907 g cm(-2) for TZH, APH and ATPH, respectively, using MO reagent and 0.0788, 0.0661 and 0.0494 g cm(-2) for TZH, APH and ATPH, respectively, using BCG. The method is applicable for the assay of the investigated drugs in different dosage forms and the results are in good agreement with those obtained by the official method.

Simultaneous determination of psychotropic drugs in human urine by capillary electrophoresis with electrochemiluminescence detection

Amitriptyline, doxepin and chlorpromazine are often used as psychotropic drugs in treatment of the various mental diseases, and are also partly excreted by kidney. This work developed a simple, selective and sensitive method for their simultaneous monitoring in human urine using capillary electrophoresis coupled with electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detection based on end-column ECL reaction of tris-(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) with aliphatic tertiary amino moieties. Acetone was used as an additive to the running buffer to obtain their absolute separation. Under optimized conditions the proposed method displayed a linear range from 5.0 to 800 ng mL(-1) for the three drugs with the correlation coefficients more than 0.995 (n=8). Their limits of detection were 0.8 ng mL(-1) (3.6 fg), 1.0 ng mL(-1) (4.5 fg) and 1.5 ng mL(-1) (6.8 fg) at a signal to noise ratio of 3, respectively. The relative standard deviations for five determinations of 20 ng mL(-1) amitriptyline, doxepin and chlorpromazine were 1.7%, 4.2% and 3.6%, respectively. For practical application an extract step with 90:10 heptane/ethyl acetate (v/v) was performed to eliminate the influence of ionic strength in sample. The recoveries of amitriptyline, doxepin and chlorpromazine at different levels in human urine were between 83% and 93%, which showed that the method was valuable in clinical and biochemical laboratories for monitoring amitriptyline, doxepin and chlorpromazine.

Analysis of ethambutol and methoxyphenamine by capillary electrophoresis with electrochemiluminescence detection

A capillary electrophoresis (CE) coupled with electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detection method for the analysis of ethambutol (EB) and methoxyphenamine (MP) has been investigated. Complete separation of EB and MP was achieved in 8 min using a background electrolyte of 20 mM sodium phosphate at pH 10.0 and a separation voltage of 9 kV. ECL detection was performed with an indium/tin oxide (ITO) working electrode biased at 1.4 V (versus a Pt wire reference) in a 200 mM sodium phosphate buffer (pH 8.0) containing 3.5 mM Ru(bpy)3(2+) (where bpy = 2,2'-bipyridyl). Linear correlation (r > or = 0.993) between ECL intensity and drug concentration was obtained in the range 2-50 ng/ml. The limits of detection (LODs) for EB and MP in water were 1.0 and 0.9 ng/ml, respectively. The relative standard deviation values on peak size (10 ng/ml level) and migration time for the two drugs were in the ranges 5-8 and 0.2-0.7% (n = 7), respectively. Applicability of the CE-ECL method to the analysis of human plasma spiked with EB and MP was examined. The LODs for EB and MP in plasma were 0.4 and 0.3 microg/ml, respectively.

Tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) chemiluminescence

This paper critically reviews analytical applications of the chemiluminescence from tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) and related compounds published in the open literature between mid-1998 and October 2005. Following the introduction, which summarises the reaction chemistry and reagent generation, the review divides into three major sections that focus on: (i) the techniques that utilise this type of detection chemistry, (ii) the range of analytes that can be determined, and (iii) analogues and derivatives of tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II).