Analysis of drugs from biological fluids using disposable solid phase columns

Determination of ragaglitazar, a novel dual acting peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) alpha and -gamma agonist, in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry

A sensitive and specific LC/MS/MS method has been developed and validated for determination of ragaglitazar (NNC 61-0029 or DRF 2725) in human plasma. After solid-phase extraction (SPEC((R)) PLUS C(8)) of plasma, separation was performed on a Symmetry Shield RP8 column (mobile phase: acetonitrile: 10 mM ammonium acetate, pH 5.6 (40:60 v/v)). Two ranges were validated having LLOQs of either 0.500 or 100 ng/ml and linearity up to either 500 or 50000 ng/ml. The intra-assay precision and accuracy were 1.1% to 15.7% and 85.8% to 118.2% (range 0.500-500 ng/ml) and 2.0% to 8.8% and 92.9% to 104.8% (range 100-50000 ng/ml). The method was applied for determination of ragaglitazar in plasma from phase 1 and 2 clinical studies.

Novel solid-phase extraction strategy for the isolation of basic drugs from whole blood. Preliminary study using commercially available extraction cartridges

A novel strategy for the solid-phase extraction of basic drugs has been developed using commercial extraction cartridges. The procedure involves the sequential application of very different isolation mechanisms, viz. hydrophobic extraction on non-porous carbon followed by ionic extraction on a strong cation exchanger. This approach to extraction achieves both high recoveries and clean extracts when analysed by GC-MS. The potential for automation has been demonstrated using commercial sample preparation equipment.

Automatic determination of diltiazem and desacetyldiltiazem in human plasma using liquid-solid extraction on disposable cartridges coupled to HPLC--Part II: Optimization of liquid-solid extraction

An automatic liquid-solid extraction (LSE) procedure to be coupled to HPLC for the determination of diltiazem and desacetyldiltiazem in plasma has been developed. The LSE operations are performed on disposable extraction cartridges (DECs) by means of a sample processor equipped with a robotic arm holding a needle through which the different liquids are dispensed. The operating parameters of LSE have been optimized with respect to recovery, detectability and reproducibility by using, whenever possible, aqueous solutions of the analytes. Different kinds of DECs have been tested. For the compounds studied, DECs filled with 50 mg of cyanopropyl silica have been selected. The influence of the pH of the buffer used in the washing step has been studied, leading finally to the selection of the same phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) as in the HPLC mobile phase. The minimum volume of methanol which still gives a nearly complete elution of the analytes from the extraction cartridges has been determined. Under these conditions, a high sensitivity can be obtained without an evaporation step. Moreover, the volume of buffer to be added to the methanolic eluate before injection into the HPLC system has been optimized in such a way that a focusing effect is obtained at the top of the analytical column while the dilution of the extract is minimized.

Bioequivalence assessment of diltiazem preparations by means of discriminant analysis of data from solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography

A solid-phase extraction technique for sample clean-up coupled with a new LC procedure is reported for the assay of diltiazem in plasma. The use of disposable cartridges provides selective extraction and easy automation. A new LC system based on LiChrospher RP 60 Select B columns is described. For routine analysis, the procedure provides a rapid simultaneous clean-up of several samples prior to chromatography and reproducible recoveries over a concentration range of 10-800 ng. The procedure was used to analyse the plasma samples from a bioequivalence study of three commercial diltiazem preparations. The pharmacokinetic parameters in 12 healthy male volunteers were determined and the assessment of bioequivalence was conducted by discriminant analysis.

Bioanalysis of anti-ulcer agents

In reviewing the analytical methods for the analysis of anti-ulcer drugs we observed an increase in the utilization of solid-phase extraction techniques, though the traditional liquid-liquid methods are still predominant. Liquid chromatographic techniques are employed more than gas chromatographic methods which reflects the general trend in chromatographic analysis for analytes in the nanogram range. We foresee a continued increase in the use of solid-phase extraction methodology (automated or otherwise) due to the potential for dramatic decreases in extraction times, cost and significant enhancement of extraction efficiency. Because the therapeutic concentrations of these drugs tend to be in the low nanogram range in plasma and the current trend in drug development is toward more potent agents, we anticipate the application of more sensitive liquid chromatographic detection techniques such as electrochemical and chemiluminescence detection to overcome the limitations of currently used technology.

Chromatography of beta-adrenergic blocking agents

The determination of beta-blockers has posed pharmaceutical analysts with a variety of problems arising from the essential characteristics of these compounds as bases and the variability of physicochemical properties of individual drugs. Liquid chromatography has become the favoured method of analysis and to a certain extent there is a standardised approach to analysis based on either solvent or solid-phase extraction and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to fluorescence detection. The analyst must be aware of interactions occurring during extraction stages. All manipulations should be fully evaluated for individual drugs and metabolites prior to use. Other analytical options are chosen for specific or more demanding applications. The use of unmodified silicas for the liquid chromatography of beta-blockers (and other basic drugs) is an example of a potential alternative mode of chromatography. The stereoselectivity of the pharmacology of beta-blockers has spawned a great deal of literature describing the resolution of enantiomers by chromatographic methods. It is envisaged that this area will achieve greater prominence in the future as drug development pursues optical purity. The demand for the availability of enantiomerically pure pharmaceutical preparations will certainly see developments for preparative-scale separations as well as analytical methods and will surely promote developments in new and established methods of chromatography.

Determination of iloprost in 5% dextrose in water solution by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method utilizing absorbance detection was developed for the rapid and precise determination of the stable prostacyclin analogue iloprost in 5% dextrose in water solution (D5W). Samples were prepared for chromatographic analysis by extracting the drug into chloroform, evaporating the solvent, and solubilizing the residue in methanol. The resulting solutions were chromatographed on a Shandon ODS Hypersil column using 0.02 M potassium phosphate (pH 3.0), methanol, and acetonitrile (456:144:400, v/v) at a flow rate of 1.8 mL/min. 2-Naphthoic acid was employed as an internal standard. The detector response at 207 nm was linear (correlation coefficient greater than 0.9998) for concentrations of iloprost from 10 ng on-column, the lower limit of quantitation, up to 7 micrograms on-column. The precision of the method was approximately 5% based on peak area, with a recovery of iloprost from D5W of 87%. Liquid-liquid extraction was found to be superior to solid-phase sorbent extraction as a sample preparation method due to incompatibility of dextrose with the sorbent bed.

Two systems for the automated analysis of drugs in biological fluids using high-performance liquid chromatography

This paper describes two fully automated assays. One for zaprinast, a cGMP specific phosphodiesterase inhibitor, which uses the Gilson-Advanced Automated Sample Processor combination, and the other for an H+/K+ ATPase inhibitor and its sulphone metabolite, which uses direct injection. Both assays were developed to support pharmacokinetic studies at therapeutic doses in small animals as well as in man. Plasma or serum (20-200 microliters) is placed directly into an autosampler and all subsequent manipulations are performed mechanically.

Sample preparation for biomedical analysis

A review of sample preparation techniques for biomedical analysis is presented. Firstly, sample preparation techniques can be divided into unit operations which can be classified into four groups: release of the analyte from the matrix, removal of endogenous material, liquid handling procedures and the enhancement of selectivity and sensitivity. The concept of unit operations gives an analyst a tool with which to evaluate critically any method for preparing a sample for analysis. Secondly, the major techniques of sample preparation (protein precipitation, liquid-liquid extraction, liquid-solid extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography, HPLC) are discussed and their advantages and disadvantages presented. Thirdly, the rationale for the automation of sample preparation is reviewed; in general liquid-solid extraction and HPLC are the best techniques for automation. The means by which this can be effected (either flexible or dedicated automation) is discussed. Finally, techniques such as supercritical fluid extraction, micellar liquid chromatography, microwave energy and immunoextraction which may be applied to biomedical sample preparation are evaluated briefly.

Determination of delta 1-tetrahydrocannabinol in human fat biopsies from marihuana users by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC/MS) method for analysis of delta 1-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta 1-THC) in human fat samples is described. The fat sample, obtained from heavy marihuana users 1 week before and 4 weeks after smoking, is homogenized in hexane + 2-propanol, centrifuged, and the supernatant mixed with Lipidex 5000. The solvent is evaporated and the dried gel is packed in a glass column. delta 1-THC is eluted from the column with methanol + water + acetic acid, diluted with water and the eluent is passed through a bed of Octadecylsilane-bonded silica. After washing and drying, the retained delta 1-THC is eluted with hexane, derivatized with N-methyl-N-(t-butyl-dimethysilyl)trifluoroacetamide (MTBSTFA) and finally purified by HPLC on an Octadecyl Sl 100 column in methanol. The amount of delta 1-THC is determined by GC/MS, using selected ion monitoring, and a deuterated internal standard. The recovery of delta 1-THC is about 80%, and the concentration of delta 1-THC in the fat samples analysed ranged between 0.4 and 193 ng/g wet tissue.

Fully automated analytical system using liquid-solid extraction and liquid chromatography for the determination of CGP 6140 in plasma

Liquid-solid extraction on disposable extraction columns (DECs) and liquid chromatography can be combined in a completely automated analyser. The Gilson ASPEC system was used to develop a procedure for the determination of CGP 6140 in plasma. Both sample preparation via C8 Bond-Elut DECs and injection were fully automatic. The fully automated system prepared the samples by performing the same operations as for a manual procedure. The DEC was first wetted with methanol, then with water. A 400-microliters volume of plasma and 40 microliters of the internal standard solution, diluted with 1 ml of water, were applied to the DEC, rinsed with 10(-2) mol/l dipotassium hydrogenphosphate and eluted from the DEC with 300 microliters of acetonitrile-methanol (50:50, v/v). The eluting strength of the eluate was reduced by dispensing 1 ml of water into each vial prior to direct injection into a Spherisorb ODS column via a 1-ml loop. This allowed the reconcentration of the extracted compounds on the top of the column, as they were injected in a large volume of solvent of lower eluting strength than the mobile phase [acetonitrile-methanol-4 x 10(-3) mol/l ammonia solution (54.5:5:40.5, v/v/v)]. Reproducibility results are presented.