Separation of antipsychotic drugs (clozapine, loxapine) and their metabolites by capillary zone electrophoresis

Electrochemical study of the catechol-modified chitosan system for clozapine treatment monitoring

This work presents a thorough electrochemical and reliability analysis of a sensing scheme for the antipsychotic clozapine. We have previously demonstrated a novel detection approach for this redox-active drug, highly effective in schizophrenia treatment, based on a catechol-modified chitosan film. The biomaterial film enables amplification of the oxidative current generated by clozapine through redox cycling. Here, we study critical electrochemical and material aspects of the redox cycling system to overcome barriers in point-of-care monitoring in complex biological samples. Specifically, we explore the electrochemical parameter space, showing that enhanced sensing performance depends on the presence of a reducing mediator as well as the electrochemical technique applied. These factors account for up to 1.75-fold and 2.47-fold signal enhancement, respectively. Looking at potential interferents, we illustrate that the redox cycling system allows for differentiation between selected redox-active species, clozapine's structurally largely analogous metabolite norclozapine as well as the representative catecholamine dopamine. Furthermore, we investigate material stability and fouling with reuse as well as storage. We find no evidence of film fouling due to clozapine; slow overall biomaterial degradation with successive use accounts for a 2.2% absolute signal loss and can be controlled for. Storage of the redox cycling system appears feasible over weeks when kept in solution with only 0.26%/day clozapine signal degradation, while ambient air exposure of three or more days reduces performance by 58%. This study not only advances our understanding of the catechol-modified chitosan system, but also further establishes the viability of applying it toward sensing clozapine in a clinical setting. Such point-of-care monitoring will allow for broader use of clozapine by increasing convenience to patients as well as medical professionals, thus improving the lives of people affected by schizophrenia through personalized medicine.

Simultaneous determination of the antipsychotic drugs levomepromazine and clozapine and their main metabolites in human plasma by a HPLC-UV method with solid-phase extraction

A HPLC method with UV detection has been developed for the simultaneous determination of levomepromazine, clozapine and their main metabolites: N-desmethyl-levomepromazine, levomepromazine sulphoxide, O-desmethyl-levomepromazine, N-desmethylclozapine and clozapine N-oxide. The analytes were separated on a C8 reversed-phase column using a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile and a pH 2.0, 34 mM phosphate buffer containing 0.3% triethylamine (29:71, v/v). Loxapine was used as the internal standard. A reliable biological sample pre-treatment procedure by means of solid-phase extraction on C1 cartridges was implemented, which allows to obtain good extraction yields (>91%) for all analytes and appropriate sample purification from endogenous interference. The method was validated in terms of extraction yield, precision and accuracy. These assays gave RSD% values for precision always lower than 4.9% and mean accuracy values higher than 92%. The method is suitable for the therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of patients undergoing polypharmacy with levomepromazine and clozapine.

Validated spectrophotometric and fluorimetric methods for analysis of clozapine in tablets and urine

Five spectrophotometric methods and one fluorimetric method have been developed and validated for the analysis of clozapine. The spectrophotometric methods were based on the charge-transfer complexation reaction between clozapine as electron donor and each of iodine as sigma-acceptor or 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinondimethane (TCNQ), 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzo-quinone (DDQ), tetracyanoethane (TCNE), and p-chloranilic acid (pCA) as pi-acceptors. The obtained complexes were measured spectrophotometrically at 365, 843, 460, 414, and 520 nm for iodine, TCNQ, DDQ, TCNE, and pCA, respectively. The fluorimetric method was based on the oxidation of clozapine in the presence of perchloric acid by cerium (IV), and subsequent measuring the fluorescence of the produced cerium (III) fluorimetrically at lambda(excitation) 260 and lambda(emission) 355 nm. Under the optimum assay conditions, Beer's law was obeyed at concentrations ranged from 4-200 microg mL(-1) for the spectrophotometric methods and from 24-250 ng mL(-1) for the fluorimetric method. The limits of detection for the spectrophotometric methods were 1.12, 1.76, 2.22, 0.95, and 13.26 microg mL(-1) for iodine, TCNQ, DDQ, TCNE, and pCA, respectively. The limit of detection for the fluorimetric method was 6.69 ng mL(-1). The proposed methods were successfully applied to the analysis of clozapine in tablets with good recoveries. The fluorimetric method could also be applied to the analysis of clozapine in spiked urine samples. The molar ratios and the reaction mechanisms were investigated.

Comparison between micellar liquid chromatography and capillary zone electrophoresis for the determination of hydrophobic basic drugs in pharmaceutical preparations

The determination of highly hydrophobic basic compounds by means of conventional reversed-phase liquid chromatographic methods has several drawbacks. Owing to the characteristics of micellar liquid chromatography (MLC) and capillary electrophoresis (CE), these techniques could be advantageous alternatives to reversed-phase chromatographic methods for the determination of these kinds of compounds. The objective of this study was to develop and compare MLC and CE methods for the determination of antipsychotic basic drugs (amitryptiline, haloperidol, perphenazine and thioridazine) in pharmaceutical preparations. The chromatographic determination of the analytes was performed on a Kromasil C(18) analytical column; the mobile phase was 0.04 m cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), at pH 3, containing 5% 1-butanol, at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. The CE separation was performed in a fused-silica capillary with a 50 mm tris-(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane buffer, pH 7, at an applied voltage of 20 kV, using barbital as internal stardard. The proposed methods are suitable for a reliable quantitation of these compounds in the commercial tablets and drops in terms of accuracy and precision and require a very simple pre-treatment of the samples. By comparing the performance characteristics and experimental details of the MLC and CE methods we conclude that CE seems to be slightly better than MLC in the determination of highly hydrophobic compounds in pharmaceuticals in terms of resolution and economy, taking into account that the limits of detection are not a handicap in pharmaceutical samples.

2-O-(2-Hydroxybutyl)-.BETA.-cyclodextrin as a Chiral Selector for the Capillary Electrophoretic Separation of Chiral Drugs

A new beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) derivative, 2-O-(2-hydroxybutyl)-beta-CD (HB-beta-CD), was successfully synthesized and used as chiral selector in capillary zone electrophoresis. Six chiral drugs, such as anisodamine, ketoconazole, propranolol, promethazine, adrenaline and chlorphenamine enantiomers, belonging to different classes of compounds of pharmaceutical interest were resolved. The chiral resolution (R(S)) was strongly influenced by the concentrations of the cyclodextrin derivative, the background electrolyte, and the pH of the background electrolyte. Under the conditions of 50 mmol/L tris-phosphate buffer at pH 2.5 containing 5 mmol/L 2-O-(2-hydroxybutyl)-beta-CD, the baseline separation of enantiomers, such as anisodamine (R(S) = 3.10), ketoconazole (R(S) = 3.01), propranolol (R(S) = 3.87), promethazine (R(S) = 3.63), adrenaline (R(S) = 3.42) and chlorphenamine (R(S) = 2.96), could be achieved.

Field-amplified sample stacking in capillary electrophoresis for the determination of clozapine, clozapine N-oxide, and desmethylclozapine in schizophrenics’ plasma

A method of field-amplified sample stacking in capillary electrophoresis is described for the simultaneous determination of clozapine (CZP) and its metabolites, clozapine N-oxide (CNO), and desmethylclozapine (DMC), in human plasma. Plasma (0.2 mL) was extracted with organic solvents (ethyl acetate/n-hexane/isopropyl alcohol, 8/1/1 by volume) and centrifuged. An aliquot of supernatant was evaporated and suitably reconstituted with water for CE analysis. An untreated fused-silica capillary was used (31.2 cm; effective length, 20 cm; 50 microm i.d.) for the analysis. The background buffer was phosphate buffer (400 mM, pH 3.0) containing 50% ethylene glycol. The separation voltage was 25 kV with a detection wavelength of 214 nm. In the method validation, the calibration curves were linear (r > or = 0.98) over a range of 50-800 ng/mL for CZP, 30-180 ng/mL for CNO, and 25-600 ng/mL for DMC. The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) and relative error (R.E.) were all less than 11% for the intra- and inter-day assays. The limits of detection (S/N = 3, electric-driven injection, 99.9s) of CZP, DMC, and CNO were 5, 5, and 10 ng/mL, respectively. After continuing treatment with the CZP tablets, a blood sample from one male schizophrenic patient (41-year-old, 62 kg) who had been receiving ongoing treatment with the CZP tablets was prepared and analyzed. The levels of CZP, DMC, and CNO were determined and the feasibility of the method's application in clinical treatment was proven.

Optimization and validation of a capillary zone electrophoretic method for the simultaneous analysis of four atypical antipsychotics

A capillary zone electrophoretic method has been developed and optimized for separation of four atypical antipsychotics (AAPs): clothiapine (cT), clozapine (cZ), olanzapine (O), and quetiapine (Q). A three-level full-factorial design was applied to study the effect of the pH and molarity of the running buffer on separation. Combination of the studied parameters permitted the separation of the four AAPs, which was best carried out using 80 mM sodium phosphate buffer (pH 3.5). The same system can also be applied for the quantitative determination of these compounds. The method was then validated regarding linearity, precision, and accuracy. Especially, the possibility of simultaneous quantification and identification of the active ingredient in the finished product is very attractive.

Comprehensive strategy for chiral separations using sulfated cyclodextrins in capillary electrophoresis

This review focuses on the emerging role of sulfated cyclodextrins in the capillary electrophoretic (CE) separation of chiral analytes. Since being introduced as enantioselective agents for CE in 1995, these anionic additives have continued to demonstrate remarkable application universality. The broad spectrum of chiral compounds successfully separated using this approach includes acidic, basic, neutral, and zwitterionic species. This impressive array of analyte structures is derived from a growing diversity of compound classes including pharmaceuticals, plant extracts, biomarkers, herbicides, alkaloids, fungicides, and metal ions. Moreover, literature reports highlight the minimal optimization required to achieve a successful separation. Based on these findings, sulfated cyclodextrins appear to be well suited for the development of a more universal, comprehensive separation strategy for chiral compounds. This review explores this proposition by beginning with the structure and migration properties of sulfated cyclodextrins, using applications to highlight the separating power of this technique and ending with a pragmatic, comprehensive separation strategy.

Simultaneous determination of four antipsychotic drugs in plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography

A specific reversed phase-high pressure liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of clozapine (CZP), loxapine (LXP), zuclopenthixol (ZPT) and flupenthixol (FPT) in plasma. These four antipsychotic drugs are frequently used for the treatment of schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric diseases. Carpipramine, a dihydrodibenzazepine, was used as an internal standard (I.S.). A liquid-liquid procedure was used to extract the drugs from human plasma. The analysis was performed on a XTerra MS C18 column with UV detection. Calibration curves were linear in the range 50-1000 microg/l. The limit of quantification (LOQ) was 15 microg/l for clozapine and loxapine and 20 microg/l for zuclopenthixol and flupenthixol. The coefficient of variation (CV) for intra- and inter-day precision was 7.2% or less with accuracies within 10% for the three concentrations.This isocratic and rapid method (run time<10 min) is useful for the management of acute intoxication.

Octakis-6-sulfato-gamma-cyclodextrin as additive for capillary electrokinetic chromatography of dibenzoazepines: carbamazepine, oxcarbamazepine and their metabolites

Single isomer octakis-(2,3-dihydroxy-)6-sulfato-gamma-cyclodextrin used as pseudostationary phase of the background electrolyte interacts with dibenzo[b,f]azepines (consisting of a condensed 3-ring system) and forms negatively charged complexes. Hydroxygroups in position 2 and 3 at carbamazepine increase the extent of interaction, whereas substitution by oxygen at position 10 and/or 11 reduces it. The complex constants for the analytes are ranging from few tens L/mol (10-hydroxycarbamazepine, 10,11-dihydroxycarbamazepine, 10,11-epoxycarbamazepine, oxcarbazepine) to several hundreds L/mol (carbamazepine, 2-hydroxycarbamazepine, 3-hydroxycarbamazepine), and are much larger than those of the analytes with octakis-(2,3-dimethyl-)-6-sulfato-gamma-cyclodextrin. Full enantiomeric separation of the chiral metabolites of carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine is obtained at octakis-(2,3-dihydroxy-)-6-sulfato-gamma-cyclodextrin concentrations of about 10 mM (3 mM borate buffer, pH 8.5). Compared to heptakis-6-sulfato-beta-cyclodextrin, selectivity differs and stereoselectivity is more pronounced.

Chiral recognition of functionalized cyclodextrins in capillary electrophoresis

The chiral recognition of hydroxypropylated, dimethylated, and sulfated cyclodextrins was evaluated by utilizing them as chiral additives in capillary electrophoresis. Although each selector yielded enantiomeric separations of most of the target analytes, differences were observed in the electrophoretic results for the different derivatized cyclodextrins and for additives having varying degrees of substitution. The results for the sulfated cyclodextrins also highlighted the importance of knowing the degree of substitution as well as the location of the substituents when comparing chiral selectors.

Separation of olanzapine, carbamazepine and their main metabolites by capillary electrophoresis with pseudo-stationary phases

Conditions were worked out for the separation of carbamazepine, olanzapine, and their main metabolites carbamazepine 10,11-epoxide, 10-hydroxycarbamazepine, and desmethylolanzapine. The separation was based on electrokinetically driven methods in the capillary format. The main difficulty in separating these compounds is related to their different chemical classes. Whereas the carbamazepine members are amides, and are electrically neutral, the olanzapine members have aliphatic amino groups and are thus cationic under most experimental conditions. Different additives were applied as pseudo-stationary phases to implement selectivity. Poly(diallyldimethylammonium), PDADMA, is a polycationic replaceable and soluble polymer, that interacts mainly according to the polarisability of the analyte molecules. The MEKC principle was applied with the common SDS as micelle former. In both systems, only partial resolution of the analytes was obtained. The most favorable system consisted of a charged, oligomeric additive: full separation of all analytes within 4 min was achieved with heptakis-6-sulfato-beta-cyclodextrin (7 mM) in 30 mM borate buffer, pH 8.5.

Recent innovations in the use of charged cyclodextrins in capillary electrophoresis for chiral separations in pharmaceutical analysis

A review is presented on the use of charged cyclodextrins (CDs) as chiral selectors in capillary electrophoresis (CE) for the separation of analytes in pharmaceutical analysis. An overview is given of theoretical models that have been developed for a better prediction of the enantiomeric resolution and for a better understanding of the separation mechanism. Several types of charged CDs have been used in chiral capillary electrophoretic separation (anionic, cationic, and amphoteric CDs). Especially the anionic CDs seem to be valuable due to the fact that many pharmaceutically interesting compounds can easily be protonated (e.g., amine groups). For that reason several anionic CDs are now commercially available. Cationic and amphoteric CDs are less common in chiral analysis and only a few are commercially available. Attention is paid to the most common synthesis routes and the characterization of the CDs used in chiral capillary electrophoretic separations. The degree of substitution in the synthesized CDs may vary from one manufacturer to another or even from batch to batch, which may have a detrimental effect on the reproducibility and ruggedness of the separation system. In Sections 4, 5, and 6 the applications of anionic, cationic, and amphoteric CDs for the chiral separation in CE are described. Many interesting examples are shown and the influence of important parameters on the enantioselectivity is discussed.