Direct determination of paracetamol and its metabolites in urine and serum by capillary electrophoresis with ultraviolet and mass spectrometric detection

Sample plug induced peak splitting in capillary electrophoresis studied using dual backscattered interferometry and fluorescence detection

The appearance of unexpected peaks in capillary electrophoresis (CE) is common and can lengthen the time of method development as assay conditions and experimental parameters are varied to understand and mitigate the effects of the additional peaks. Additional peaks can arise when a single-analyte zone is split into multiple zones. Understanding the underlying mechanism of these phenomena, recognizing conditions that favor its presence, and knowing how to confirm and eliminate the effect are important for efficient method optimization. In this study, we examine how the overlap of analyte zones with the sample plug can lead to peak splitting. This is explored experimentally using dual detection CE, which enables both the sample plug and analyte zones to be independently and simultaneously measured from the same detection volume. Simulations performed via COMSOL Multiphysics confirm the origin of the splitting and help guide experiments to reduce and eliminate the effect. Our findings show that this peak splitting mechanism can arise in separations of both small and large molecules but is, especially, prevalent in separations of slowly migrating macromolecules. This effect is also more prevalent when using a short length-to-detector, as is commonly found in microfluidic applications. A simple diffusion-less model is introduced to develop strategies for reducing peak splitting that avoids modifying the apparatus, such as by lengthening the separation length, which can be difficult. Decreasing the sample plug length and slowing the electroosmotic flow can both reduce this effect, which is confirmed experimentally.

Transition Metal Substituted Barium Hexaferrite-Modified Electrode: Application as Electrochemical Sensor of Acetaminophen

This study used substituted barium hexaferrites, which were previously prepared and reported by the authors, to detect acetaminophen by the modification of a conventional glassy carbon electrode (GCE), which led to promising results. The synthesis of this electrode-modifying material was conducted using a citrate sol gel process. A test synthesis using glycerin and propylene glycol revealed that glycerin produced a better result, while less positive anodic potential values were associated with the electrooxidation of N-acetyl-p-aminophenol (NAP). Excellent electroactivity was exhibited by the cobalt-substituted barium-hexaferrite-nanomaterial-modified electrode. A good linear relationship between the concentration and the current response of acetaminophen (paracetamol) was obtained with a detection limit of (0.255 ± 0.005) µM for the Ba_1.0Co_1.22Fe_11.41O_18.11 GCE, (0.577 ± 0.007) µM for the Ba_1.14Cu_0.82Fe_11.65O_18.02 GCE, and (0.595 ± 0.008) µM for the bare GCE. The levels of NAP in a real sample of urine were quantitatively analyzed using the proposed method, with recovery ranges from 96.6% to 101.0% and 93.9% to 98.4% for the modified electrode with Cobalt-substituted barium hexaferrites (CoF_M) and Copper-substituted barium hexaferrites (CuF_M), respectively. These results confirm the high electrochemical activity of Ba_1.0Co_1.22Fe_11.41O_18.11 nanoparticles and thus their potential for use in the development of sensing devices for substances of pharmaceutical interest, such as acetaminophen (NAP).

An ultra-rapid drug screening method for acetaminophen in blood serum based on probe electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry

Poisoning incidents caused by drugs, accidental ingestion of poisons, attempted suicide, homicide, and exposure to toxic compounds occur frequently every year across the globe. This raises the need to rapidly identify toxic agents in poisoned patients in a clinical emergency setting. In addition, determining drug/poison concentration is undoubtedly necessary to arrive at a toxicological treatment plan. The purpose of this study was to develop an ultra-rapid drug screening method for the clinical treatment of poisoning. Probe electrospray ionization (PESI), one of the ambient ionization techniques, is able to detect compounds from various biological materials almost directly. We applied the PESI technique to the rapid detection of acetaminophen (APAP). Blood serum samples were diluted 100-fold with 10 mM ammonium formate/ethanol (1:1 v/v) solution including deuterium-labeled internal standards (IS; APAP-d4). Only 10 μL of the diluted sample was used for measurement. The tandem mass spectrometer (MS/MS) equipped with a PESI was used in selected reaction monitoring mode for the quantitation of APAP; the measurement time was only 18 s. Transitions were set at 152 > 110 for quantitation, 152 > 65 for qualifier, and 156 > 114 for IS (APAP-d4). All measurements were conducted in positive mode. The calibration curve (1/x²) was linear over the range of 1.56–200 μg/mL (r² = 0.998), and the limit of detection and quantitation were 0.37 μg/mL and 1.56 μg/mL, respectively. The accuracy (bias) and precision (RSD%) of the method were within an acceptable range (−0.15–2.8% and 2.3–6.1%, respectively) and matrix effect at 3 concentrations (95.1–104%) indicated that PESI-MS/MS is only slightly affected by matrices. In real forensic cases, quantitative values of APAP determined by the PESI-MS/MS were almost identical to those determined by the liquid chromatography-MS/MS method. Since PESI-MS/MS is a simple, reliable, and rapid determination method for toxic agents with virtually no need for blood serum pretreatment, it would be highly suitable for poisoning cases in clinical emergency settings. In the future, a method for simultaneous rapid determination of multiple toxic agents will be developed.

Metabolomics Approach for Validation of Self-Reported Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen Use

Over-the-counter analgesic use is common and is typically assessed through self-report; therefore, it is subject to misclassification. Detection of drug metabolites in biofluids offers a viable tool for validating self-reported analgesic use. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the utility of a metabolomics approach for the validation of acetaminophen and ibuprofen use in blood samples. Untargeted mass spectrometry-based metabolomics analysis was conducted in serum samples from 1547 women and plasma samples from 556 men. The presence of two metabolites each for acetaminophen and ibuprofen at levels at or above a defined cutoff value was used to determine concordance with self-reported use. For acetaminophen use based on the presence of both acetaminophen and acetamidophenylglucuronide, concordance was 98.5–100% among individuals reporting use today, and 79.8–91.4% for those reporting never or rare use. Ibuprofen use based on the presence of both carboxyibuprofen and hydroxyibuprofen resulted in concordance of 51.3–52.5% for individuals reporting use today and 99.4–100% for those reporting never or rare use. Our findings suggest that an untargeted metabolomics approach in blood samples may be useful for validating self-reported acetaminophen use. However, this approach appears unlikely to be suitable for validating ibuprofen use.

Circulating acetaminophen metabolites are toxicokinetic biomarkers of acute liver injury

Acetaminophen (paracetamol-APAP) is the most common cause of drug-induced liver injury in the Western world. Reactive metabolite production by cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP-metabolites) causes hepatotoxicity. We explored the toxicokinetics of human circulating APAP metabolites following overdose. Plasma from patients treated with acetylcysteine (NAC) for a single APAP overdose was analyzed from discovery (n = 116) and validation (n = 150) patient cohorts. In the discovery cohort, patients who developed acute liver injury (ALI) had higher CYP-metabolites than those without ALI. Receiver operator curve (ROC) analysis demonstrated that at hospital presentation CYP-metabolites were more sensitive/specific for ALI than alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity and APAP concentration (optimal CYP-metabolite receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (ROC-AUC): 0.91 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.83-0.98); ALT ROC-AUC: 0.67 (0.50-0.84); APAP ROC-AUC: 0.50 (0.33-0.67)). This enhanced sensitivity/specificity was replicated in the validation cohort. Circulating CYP-metabolites stratify patients by risk of liver injury prior to starting NAC. With development, APAP metabolites have potential utility in stratified trials and for refinement of clinical decision-making.

Spectrophotometric and chemometric methods for determination of imipenem, ciprofloxacin hydrochloride, dexamethasone sodium phosphate, paracetamol and cilastatin sodium in human urine

New accurate, sensitive and selective spectrophotometric and chemometric methods were developed and subsequently validated for determination of Imipenem (IMP), ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (CIPRO), dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DEX), paracetamol (PAR) and cilastatin sodium (CIL) in human urine. These methods include a new derivative ratio method, namely extended derivative ratio (EDR), principal component regression (PCR) and partial least-squares (PLS) methods. A novel EDR method was developed for the determination of these drugs, where each component in the mixture was determined by using a mixture of the other four components as divisor. Peak amplitudes were recorded at 293.0 nm, 284.0 nm, 276.0 nm, 257.0 nm and 221.0 nm within linear concentration ranges 3.00-45.00, 1.00-15.00, 4.00-40.00, 1.50-25.00 and 4.00-50.00 μg mL(-1) for IMP, CIPRO, DEX, PAR and CIL, respectively. PCR and PLS-2 models were established for simultaneous determination of the studied drugs in the range of 3.00-15.00, 1.00-13.00, 4.00-12.00, 1.50-9.50, and 4.00-12.00 μg mL(-1) for IMP, CIPRO, DEX, PAR and CIL, respectively, by using eighteen mixtures as calibration set and seven mixtures as validation set. The suggested methods were validated according to the International Conference of Harmonization (ICH) guidelines and the results revealed that they were accurate, precise and reproducible. The obtained results were statistically compared with those of the published methods and there was no significant difference.

Impact of liming and drying municipal sewage sludge on the amount and availability of (14)C-acetyl sulfamethoxazole and (14)C-acetaminophen residues

Acetyl Sulfamethoxazole (AC-SMX) and acetaminophen (ACM) can be found in municipal sewage sludge, and their content and availability may be influenced by sludge treatments, such as drying and liming. A sludge similarly centrifuged with/without a flocculant was spiked with (14)C-labelled AC-SMX or ACM. Then, it was either limed (20% CaO) or/and dried under different laboratory conditions (1 week at ambient temperature; and 48 h at 40 or 80 °C). The total amount and distribution of the (14)C-compounds among several chemical fractions, based on the sludge floc definition, were assessed at the end of the treatments. All the (14)C-activity brought initially was recovered in the limed and/or dried sludges for AC-SMX but only between 44.4 and 84.9% for ACM, with the highest rate obtained for the limed sludge. Drying at 80 °C or liming increased the percentage of the sludge total organic carbon recovered in the extracts containing soluble extracellular polymeric substances (S-EPS) and the percentage of the total (14)C-activity extracted simultaneously. The non-extractable residues represented only 3.9-11.6% of the total (14)C-activity measured in the treated sludges for AC-SMX and 16.9-21.8% for ACM. The presence of AC-SMX and ACM residues in the treated sludges, after liming and drying under different conditions, was shown using some (14)C-labelled molecules. At this time scale and according to the extraction method selected, most of the (14)C-residues remained soluble and easily extractable for both compounds. This result implies that certain precautions should be taken when storing sludges before being spread on the field. Sludge piles, particularly the limed sludge, should be protected from rain to limit the production of lixiviates, which may contain residues of AC-SMX and ACM.

Validation thin layer chromatography for the determination of acetaminophen in tablets and comparison with a pharmacopeial method

Adsorption thin layer chromatography (NP-TLC) with densitometry has been established for the identification and the quantification of acetaminophen in three leading commercial products of pharmaceutical tablets coded as brand: P1 (Product no. 1), P2 (Product no. 2), and P3 (Product no. 3). Applied chromatographic conditions have separated acetaminophen from its related substances, namely, 4-aminophenol and and 4′-chloroacetanilide. UV densitometry was performed in absorbance mode at 248 nm. The presented method was validated by specificity, range, linearity, accuracy, precision, detection limit, quantitative limit, and robustness. The TLC-densitometric method was also compared with a pharmacopeial UV-spectrophotometric method for the assay of acetaminophen, and the results confirmed statistically that the NP-TLC-densitometric method can be used as a substitute method. It could be said that the validated NP-TLC-densitometric method is suitable for the routine analysis of acetaminophen in quantity control laboratories.

Evaluation of paracetamol distribution and stability in case of acute intoxication in rats

Effects of different storing conditions on paracetamol concentration in biological samples of acute intoxicated rats were investigated. The stability and distribution of paracetamol was observed in postmortem serum, liver, kidney and brain tissues. The serum samples were stored for 30 days and daily changes were evaluated for paracetamol. A significant difference ( p = 0.05) was noticed on the 30th experimental day. Paracetamol serum levels changed as much as 66.30% and 33.78% for 4°C and −20°C, respectively. The stability of paracetamol in liver stored at −20°C was also evaluated for 30 days. The paracetamol concentration levels taken from liver samples dramatically decreased from 30.36% on the 1st day to 94.97% on the 30th day. The paracetamol distribution in organs was as 2.68 , 1.11 and 0.68 mg/g in liver, kidney and brain samples, respectively. Meaningful difference in paracetamol in serum and liver samples was in observed in 30th day values ( p = 0.05).

Effect of metoclopramide on the excretion rate of paracetamol using HPLC-DAD

A simple, precise, accurate and robust high-performance liquid chromatography assay was developed and validated for the simultaneous analysis of metoclopramide and paracetamol in human urine. The drugs were isolated from urine samples by solid-phase extraction using C8 cartridges, then analyzed on a C18 reversed-phase column using a mixture of aqueous phase (water containing 0.2% TEA adjusted to pH 3 using ortho-phosphoric acid) and methanol in a ratio of 80:20 (v/v). The method was found to be linear for both drugs in a concentration range of 0.5 to 160 µg/mL using a concentration of 10 µg/mL of internal standard (theophylline) in urine samples (r > 0.999). The accuracy of the method was higher than 91.73% (percentage of the grand mean of recoveries) and the precision was lower than 3.4% (overall percentage of relative standard deviation) for both metoclopramide and paracetamol. The method was applied to the determination of the drugs in urine samples obtained from male volunteers, following the administration of two formulations, one containing paracetamol alone (Paracetamol(®)) and the other containing a mixture of paracetamol and metoclopramide (Migracicid(®)). Determination of the drugs was conducted and the effect of increasing the rate of absorption, consequently increasing the mean urinary excretion of paracetamol due to the presence of metoclopramide in the pharmaceutical formulation, was recorded.

Rapid and sensitive drug metabolism studies by SU-8 microchip capillary electrophoresis-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Monolithically integrated, polymer (SU-8) microchips comprising an electrophoretic separation unit, a sheath flow interface, and an electrospray ionization (ESI) emitter were developed to improve the speed and throughput of metabolism research. Validation of the microchip method was performed using bufuralol 1-hydroxylation via CYP450 enzymes as the model reaction. The metabolite, 1-hydroxybufuralol, was easily separated from the substrate (R(s)=0.5) with very good detection sensitivity (LOD=9.3nM), linearity (range: 50-500nM, r(2)=0.9997), and repeatability (RSD(Area)=10.3%, RSD(Migrationtime)=2.5% at 80nM concentration without internal standard). The kinetic parameters of bufuralol 1-hydroxylation determined by the microchip capillary electrophoresis (CE)-ESI/mass spectrometry (MS) method, were comparable to the values presented in literature as well as to the values determined by in-house liquid chromatography (LC)-UV. In addition to enzyme kinetics, metabolic profiling was demonstrated using authentic urine samples from healthy volunteers after intake of either tramadol or paracetamol. As a result, six metabolites of tramadol and four metabolites of paracetamol, including both phase I oxidation products and phase II conjugation products, were detected and separated from each other within 30-35s. Before analysis, the urine samples were pre-treated with on-chip, on-line liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) and the results were compared to those obtained from urine samples pre-treated with conventional C18 solid-phase extraction (SPE, off-chip cartridges). On the basis of our results, the SU-8 CE-ESI/MS microchips incorporating on-chip sample pre-treatment, injection, separation, and ESI/MS detection were proven as efficient and versatile tools for drug metabolism research.

Synthesis and characterization of polymer eight-coordinate (enH2)[YIII(pdta)(H2O)](2)·10H2O as well as the interaction of [YIII(pdta)(H2O)]2(2-) with BSA

The eight-coordinate (enH2)[YIII(pdta)(H2O)](2)·10H2O (en=ethylenediamine and H4pdta=1,3-propylenediamine-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid) was synthesized, meanwhile its molecular and crystal structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction technology. The interaction between [Y(III)(pdta)(H2O)]2(2-) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was investigated by UV-vis and fluorescence spectra. The results indicate that [YIII(pdta)(H2O)]2(2-) quenched effectively the intrinsic fluorescence of BSA via a static quenching process with the binding constant (Ka) of the order of 10(4). Meanwhile, the binding and damaging sites to BSA molecules were also estimated by synchronous fluorescence. Results indicate that the hydrophobic environments around Trp and Tyr residues were all slightly changed. The thermodynamic parameters (ΔG=-25.20 kJ mol(-1), ΔH=-26.57 kJ mol(-1) and ΔS=-4.58 J mol(-1) K(-1)) showed that the reaction was spontaneous and exothermic. What is more, both ΔH and ΔS were negative values indicated that hydrogen bond and Van der Waals forces were the predominant intermolecular forces between [YIII(pdta)(H2O)]2(2-) and BSA.

INDO/SCF-CI calculations and structural spectroscopic studies of some complexes of 4-hydroxyacetanilide

The electronic energies among different possible structures of 4-hydroxyacetanilide (paracetamol) (PA) molecule, were calculated using INDO method and it has been concluded that its structure has C(s) point group symmetry of the cis-form. The ionization potential, electron affinity, dipole moment and binding energy have been calculated. The calculated electronic transitions of the cis-form of PA using SCF-CI method have good coincidence with the electronic absorption spectrum. The temperature effect on the electronic spectrum of PA confirms the presence of one conformer only. The electronic spectra of PA compound were studied in different polar- and non-polar solvents and the hydrogen bonding as well as the orientation energies of the polar solvents were determined from the mixed solvents studies. Complexes of PA with various metal ions such as, Cu(II), Zn(II) or Fe(II) ions of ratio 2:1, respectively, have been prepared and their structure has been confirmed by elemental analysis, atomic absorption spectra, IR spectra and (1)H NMR spectra and finally it can be concluded that the structure of the complexes has C2h point group symmetry in which two PA molecules are chelated to any one of the metal ions, Cu(II), Zn(II) and Fe(II) ions.

Capillary electrophoresis and the clinical laboratory

Over the past 15 years, CE as an analytical tool has shown great promise in replacing many conventional clinical laboratory methods, such as electrophoresis and HPLC. CE's appeal was that it was fast, used very small amounts of sample and reagents, was extremely versatile, and was able to separate large and small analytes, whether neutral or charged. Because of this versatility, numerous methods have been developed for analytes that are of clinical interest. Other than molecular diagnostic and forensic laboratories CE has not been able to make a major impact in the United States. In contrast, in Europe and Japan an increasing number of clinical laboratories are using CE. Now that automated multicapillary instruments are commercially available along with cost-effective test kits, CE may yet be accepted as an instrument that will be routinely used in the clinical laboratories. This review will focus on areas where CE has the potential to have the greatest impact on the clinical laboratory. These include analyses of proteins found in serum and urine, hemoglobin (A1c and variants), carbohydrate-deficient transferrin, forensic and therapeutic drug screening, and molecular diagnostics.

Optimization of a capillary zone electrophoresis method by using a central composite factorial design for the determination of codeine and paracetamol in pharmaceuticals

Capillary zone electrophoresis was optimized to quantitatively determine codeine and paracetamol via central composite factorial design. Critical parameters (concentration, buffer, pH, voltage) assessed effects on resolution, analysis time and efficiencies. Optimum separation conditions were achieved using phosphate buffer 20 mM (pH 6.8) and voltage (15 kV). The optimized procedure easily determined codeine and paracetamol with separation in less than 3 min. Calibration curves (R > 0.999) were prepared, with LODs of 13.5 and 340 ng mL(-1) for codeine and paracetamol, respectively, and a good R.S.D.% (<3%). This method was applied to determine codeine and paracetamol in pharmaceutical formulations; recoveries coincided with stated contents.

Urine profiling using capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry and multivariate data analysis

This work presents the development of a general and fast method for metabolic profiling of urine, using capillary electrophoresis-electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (CE-ESIMS) and multivariate data analysis (DA). Human urine samples collected before and after ingestion of paracetamol were analysed at acidic and basic CE conditions, using both positive and negative ESI-MS detection. Analysis of the entire resulting data set, with no prior knowledge of the target compounds, using pair-wise 'fuzzy' correlation and eigenvalue analysis enabled the samples to be discriminated between on the basis of blank urine and urine collected after drug intake. By generating two-dimensional loadings plots, it was also possible to identify the m/z values of the substances responsible for the differentiation between control and dosed samples.

Determination of paracetamol: historical evolution

Paracetamol is a common analgesic and antipyretic drug that is used for the relief of fever, headaches and other minor aches and pains. Their determination in pharmaceuticals is of paramount importance, since an overdose of paracetamol can cause fulminating hepatic necrosis and other toxic effects. Many analytical methodologies have been proposed for the determination of paracetamol. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the utility of different techniques for quantification of paracetamol content in pharmaceutical formulations and biological samples.

Rapid Separation and Determination of Process-Related Substances of Paracetamol Using Reversed-Phase HPLC with Photo Diode Array as a Detector

A simple and rapid gradient reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method for simultaneous separation and determination of paracetamol and its related compounds in bulk drugs and pharmaceutical formulations has been developed. As many as nine process impurities and one degradation product of paracetamol have been separated on a Symmetry C18 column (4.6 x 250 mm i.d., particle size 5 microm) with gradient elution using 0.01 M potassium dihydrogen phosphate buffer (pH 3.0) and acetonitrile as mobile phase and photo diode array detection at 215 nm. The chromatographic behavior of all the compounds was examined under variable compositions of different solvents, temperatures, buffer concentrations and pH values. The correlation coefficients for calibration curves for paracetamol as well as impurities were in the range of 0.9951 - 0.9994. The proposed RP-LC method was successfully applied to the analysis of commercial formulations; the recoveries of paracetamol were in the range of 99-101%. The method could be of use not only for rapid and routine evaluation of the quality of paracetamol in bulk drug manufacturing units but also for detection of its impurities in pharmaceutical formulations.

Progress in capillary electrophoresis of biomarkers and metabolites between 2002 and 2005

Biomarker discovery and metabolite research is a fast-growing and extremely important domain not only for the early detection of certain diseases but also for controlling its progress as well as in pharmaceutical investigations. For the analytical separation and identification, CE plays an indisputable role. Capillary systems enhancing different selectivity are applied and connected to different kind of detection systems. As the choice of buffer and its composition is responsible for a successful separation, special emphasis is put on solvent effects in this review. Altogether the most important capillary electrophoretic techniques applied for biomarker and metabolites analysis published between 2002 and 2005 are summarized and discussed.

Spectrophotometric Determination of Paracetamol in Urine with Tetrahydroxycalix[4]arene as a Coupling Reagent and Preconcentration with Triton X-114 Using Cloud Point Extraction

In the present paper, conventional spectrophotometry in conjunction with cloud point extraction-preconcentration were investigated as alternative methods for paracetamol (PCT) assay in urine samples. Cloud point extraction (CPE) was employed for the preconcentration of p-aminophenol (PAP) prior to spectrophotometric determination using the non-ionic surfactant Triton X-114 (TX-114) as an extractant. The developed methods were based on acidic hydrolysis of PCT to PAP, which reacted at room temperature with 25,26,27,28-tetrahydroxycalix[4]arene (CAL4) in the presence of an oxidant (KIO(4)) to form an blue colored product. The PAP-CAL4 blue dye formed was subsequently entrapped in the surfactant micelles of Triton X-114. Cloud point phase separation with the aid of Triton X-114 induced by addition of Na(2)SO(4) solution was performed at room temperature as an advantage over other CPE assays requiring elevated temperatures. The 580 nm-absorbance maximum of the formed product was shifted bathochromically to 590 nm with CPE. The working range of 1.5-12 microg ml(-1) achieved by conventional spectrophotometry was reduced down to 0.14-1.5 microg ml(-1) with cloud point extraction, which was lower than those of most literature flow-through assays that also suffer from nonspecific absorption in the UV region. By preconcentrating 10 ml sample solution, a detection limit as low as 40.0 ng ml(-1) was obtained after a single-step extraction, achieving a preconcentration factor of 10. The stoichiometric composition of the dye was found to be 1 : 4 (PAP : CAL4). The impact of a number of parameters such as concentrations of CAL4, KIO(4), Triton X-100 (TX-100), and TX-114, extraction temperature, time periods for incubation and centrifugation, and sample volume were investigated in detail. The determination of PAP in the presence of paracetamol in micellar systems under these conditions is limited. The established procedures were successfully adopted for the determination of PCT in urine samples. Since the drug is rapidly absorbed and excreted largely in urine and its high doses have been associated with lethal hepatic necrosis and renal failure, development of a rapid, sensitive and selective assay of PCT is of vital importance for fast urinary screening and antidote administration before applying more sophisticated, but costly and laborious hyphenated instrumental techniques of HPLC-SPE-NMR-MS.

Desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for the analysis of pharmaceuticals and metabolites

The performance of desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) in the analysis of a group of pharmaceuticals and their glucuronic acid conjugates is reported. The suitability of different sprayer solvents and different surfaces was examined. In the positive ion mode, water/methanol/trifluoroacetic acid performed best, whereas, in the negative ion mode, water/methanol/ammonium hydroxide was found to be the most suitable spray solvent. Of the surfaces investigated, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) was found to give the best performance in terms of sensitivity. Spray solution flow rate and the distance of the sprayer tip from the surface were also found to have significant effects on the signal intensity. Analytes with basic groups efficiently formed the corresponding protonated molecules in the positive ion mode, whereas acidic analytes, such as the glucuronic acid conjugates, formed intense signals due to the deprotonated molecules in the negative ion mode. Ionization of neutral compounds was less efficient and in many cases it was achieved through adduct formation with simple anions or cations.

Recent applications of capillary electrophoresis-electrospray ionisation-mass spectrometry in drug analysis

A critical review of applications for the period 2000-2004, taken from the Web of Knowledge database, of the technique capillary electrophoresis-electrospray ionisation-mass spectrometry (CE-ESI-MS) in drug analysis is presented. The review is concerned with molecules of mass less than 500 Da, chosen according to selected structural classes in which they give ESI signals primarily as [M+H](+) ions although other ions, such as [M-H](-), [M+Na](+), and [M+NH(4)](+), are also reported. These structural classes are drugs with amine-containing side chains, drugs with N-containing saturated ring structures, 1,4-benzodiazepines, other heterocyclic hypnotics, carbohydrates, sulphonylureas, anthracyclines, sulphonamides, penicillins, cephalosporins, tetracyclines, nitrocatechols, steroids, flavonoids/polyphenols, cannabinols, and miscellaneous molecules. Details are given on the fragmentations, where available, that these ionic species exhibit in-source and in ion-trap, triple quadrupole, and time of flight-mass spectrometers. The review gives a critical evaluation of these recent CE-ESI-MS analytical methods in drug analysis. Analytical information on, for example, sample concentration techniques, CE separation conditions, recoveries from biological media and limits of detection (LODs) are provided. Potential applications of CE-MS to particular drugs or drug classes are also briefly discussed in the text.

Quantification in capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry: long- and short-term variance components and their compensation using internal standards

Different approaches were chosen to examine ionization reproducibility of analytes after separation by capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (CE-MS) in a commercially available sheath-flow electrospray interface. For this task three different standard samples were examined. Sample 1 contained neostigmine bromide (cationic), paracetamol (PCM) (neutral) and nicotinic acid (anionic component). Results were evaluated using internal standard (IS) calculations. Sample 2 represented an isotopically labelled IS of the quantified substance (PCM/D4-PCM), while sample 3 (neostigmine bromide/scopolamine hydrobromide) provided an IS closely migrating to the tested substance. Furthermore, short-time variations inside the interface were examined by multiple injections of the same substance. For sample 1, the relative standard deviations (RSD%s) were between 8 and 25% (n at least 58) for the peak area ratios. Multiple injected samples gave 5.5-19.4% (n = 25) for peak area RSD%. Using a closely migrating IS, sample 3, RSD%s between 6.5 and 10% (n at least 63) were achieved. With isotopically labelled IS, sample 2, an RSD% of 3-4% was achieved for peak area ratios over long periods (n = 25), for shorter periods (n = 9) even 1-2% RSD% was obtained. Keeping the instrument settings constant, the influence on the ionization efficiency and reproducibility was tested, varying the buffer pH, the organic buffer modifier and the sample concentration. Repeatabilities of migration time and peak area were measured and compared. Two 10 mM ammonium acetate buffers with pH 4.0 and 8.5 were investigated. No influence of buffer pH on peak area reproducibility was found. Isopropanol as organic buffer modifier significantly improved the ionisation leading to larger peak areas, but reduced reproducibility. The basic buffer produced slightly better RSD%s for migration times (2.5-4.0%) (n = 180) and faster analysis for the different test analytes of sample 1, while with the acetic buffer, RSD%s from 3.9 to 6.0% were obtained (n at least 163). The positioning of the capillary turned out to be the crucial parameter to ensure reproducible results. Thus, a procedure was established to ensure a defined ion-intensity level after capillary changes. The investigation of the different sample concentrations gave negligible differences in RSD%, showing that the signal-to-noise ratio was not the crucial parameter for reproducibility here, in contrast to CE-UV detection.

Analysis of drugs, natural and bioactive compounds containing phenolic groups by capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry

This review summarizes the use of capillary electrophoresis (CE) coupled to mass spectrometry (MS) for the analysis of phenolic compounds and its latest developments. Special attention is paid to the different interfaces. The instrumental setups are discussed and demonstrated in a high number of real applications.

Pharmacokinetics of intravenous paracetamol in children and adolescents under major surgery

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to describe the pharmacokinetics of paracetamol (acetaminophen) and to get primary information on its metabolism after first indicated intravenous administration of paracetamol in children and adolescents undergoing major surgery.

METHODS

About 4 weeks after the last chemotherapy, seven children and adolescents (five osteosarcoma, two Ewing tumors) received paracetamol infusion (median: 15.0 mg/kg) for analgesia. Sparse serum (37 samples; 4-7 per patient) and urine samples (27 samples; 0-15 per patient) were analyzed for paracetamol, paracetamol-glucuronide, paracetamol-sulfate, paracetamol-mercapturate and paracetamol-cysteine using capillary electrophoresis. Nonlinear mixed-effect models were used to describe the pharmacokinetics of paracetamol in plasma.

RESULTS

Pharmacokinetics of paracetamol after intravenous administration was best described by a two-compartment model with clearance of 13.2 l/h per 70 kg (between-subject variability: 30%), intercompartmental clearance of 45.7 l/h per 70 kg (both parameters standardized to a 70-kg person using allometric "1/4 power models"), central volume of distribution of 13.2 l per 70 kg (between-subject variability: 71%) and peripheral volume of distribution of 33.0 l per 70 kg. Paracetamol, the glucuronide- and sulfate conjugates as well as cysteine and mercapturic acid conjugates, both products of oxidative pathways of paracetamol, were excreted in urine.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgery, with all its potential influencing factors, together with chemotherapy given about 4 weeks previously do not seem to have a major impact on the pharmacokinetic behavior and the between-subject variability of paracetamol after intravenous administration.

Capillary electrophoresis of highly sulfated flavanoids and flavonoids

Flavanoids and flavonoids are natural products present in our diet and known to possess multiple biological activities. Sulfated species of these natural products represent highly charged water-soluble organic molecules that possess unique biochemical properties. We describe here the first studies on capillary electrophoresis of these highly charged molecules. Fully sulfated flavanoids and flavonoids can be electrophoresed and resolved under reverse polarity at pH 3.5 using 5-10 kV in less than 20 min. In contrast, at high pH under normal polarity these species can be electrophoresed only if a pressurized capillary is employed. (+/-)-Catechin sulfate, a racemic sulfated flavanoid, was resolved into its enantiomers using 15% beta-cyclodextrin, a chiral selector, but not with alpha- or gamma-cyclodextrins. Yet, the high charge density of these molecules challenges the resolving capability of capillary electrophoresis as diastereomers (-)-epicatechin sulfate and (+)-catechin sulfate do not resolve, even in the presence of cyclodextrins or chiral positively charged amino acids. Overall, capillary electrophoresis of highly sulfated flavanoids and flavonoids is expected to be useful in rapid structure analysis of sulfated flavonoids, either synthetic or natural.