Aspects of the epimerization of certain tetracycline derivatives

Accurate determination of four tetracycline residues in chicken meat by isotope dilution-liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

An analytical method based on isotope dilution-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (ID-LC‒MS/MS) was developed to accurately determine four representative tetracyclines (tetracycline, chlortetracycline, doxycycline, and oxytetracycline) in chicken meat. Tetracyclines are known to have a great tendency for epimerization and keto-enol tautomerism, which often provoke major challenges in their determination. Since this isomerization was found to be unavoidable during the whole chain of the current analysis, the total content (µg kg^‒1) of individual tetracycline was quantified as a sum of each parent compound and its respective isomeric forms. Using this approach in combination with IDMS analysis, more consistent, accurate, and reproducible measurement results for the four tetracyclines in chicken meat were acquired. LC-MS/MS conditions and sample preparation processes were comprehensively optimized to minimize the chelating effect of tetracyclines and possible co-extracted interferences. Details of the sample preparation scheme, LC‒MS/MS detection, calculation equation, and method validation are described in this article. The method provided very good accuracy (97.7-102.6%) for all analytes across the concentration range of 10-200 µg kg^‒1, with relative standard deviations for intra-day and inter-day precision of less than 4%. The limits of quantification were below 0.2 µg kg^‒1, demonstrating the high sensitivity of the method. Furthermore, the measurement uncertainty was generally below 5.5%. Hence, the established method exhibits high-order metrological quality with superior performance over various existing methodologies. Moreover, this method can provide references for general food testing laboratories close to and far below the established maximum residue limits (100 µg kg^‒1) for animal muscle tissues.

Tetracycline Derivatives Inhibit Plasmodial Cysteine Protease Falcipain-2 through Binding to a Distal Allosteric Site

Allosteric inhibitors regulate enzyme activity from remote and usually specific pockets. As they promise an avenue for less toxic and safer drugs, the identification and characterization of allosteric inhibitors has gained great academic and biomedical interest in recent years. Research on falcipain-2 (FP-2), the major papain-like cysteine hemoglobinase of Plasmodium falciparum, might benefit from this strategy to overcome the low selectivity against human cathepsins shown by active site-directed inhibitors. Encouraged by our previous finding that methacycline inhibits FP-2 noncompetitively, here we assessed other five tetracycline derivatives against this target and characterized their inhibition mechanism. As previously shown for methacycline, tetracycline derivatives inhibited FP-2 in a noncompetitive fashion, with K_i values ranging from 121 to 190 μM. A possible binding to the S' side of the FP-2 active site, similar to that described by X-ray crystallography (PDB: 6SSZ) for the noncompetitive inhibitor E-chalcone 48 (EC48), was experimentally discarded by kinetic analysis using a large peptidyl substrate spanning the whole active site. By combining lengthy molecular dynamics (MD) simulations that allowed methacycline to diffuse from solution to different FP-2 surface regions and free energy calculations, we predicted the most likely binding mode of the ligand. Of note, the proposed binding pose explains the low differences in K_i values observed for the tested tetracycline derivatives and the calculated binding free energies match the experimental values. Overall, this study has implications for the design of novel allosteric inhibitors against FP-2 and sets the basis for further optimization of the tetracycline scaffold to produce more potent and selective inhibitors.

Enrichment of potential degrading bacteria accelerates removal of tetracyclines and their epimers from cow manure biochar amended soil

The excessive usage of tetracyclines in animal husbandry and aquaculture invariably leads to deterioration of the microbial quality of nearby soils. We previously reported the accelerated removal of tetracyclines and their intermediates from the cow manure biochar amended soil (CMB). However, little is known about the underlying changes in the microbial community that mediate the accelerated removal of tetracyclines from the CMB. Here, we compared the concentration of parent tetracyclines along with their intermediates, microbial biomass, and microbial (fungal and bacterial) community in CMB and the control soil (CK) on the day of 1, 5, 10, 20, 30, 45, and 60. The biochar amendment accelerated the removal of tetracyclines and their epimers from the soil. Bacterial community composition varied between the CMB and CK. The relative abundance and richness of the bacteria that correlated with the degradation of tetracyclines and their epimers was significantly higher in the CMB as compared to the CK. Specifically, the CMB had a more intricate network of the degrading bacteria with the three keystone genera viz. Acidothermus sp., Sphingomonas sp., and Blastococcus sp., whereas, the CK had a simple network with Sphingomonas sp. as the keystone genus. Overall, the biochar amendment accelerated the removal of tetracyclines and their epimers through the enrichment of potential tetracycline degrading bacteria in the soil; thus, it can be applied for the in situ remediation of soils contaminated with tetracyclines.

Interaction between tetracycline and microorganisms during wastewater treatment: A review

Tetracycline (TC) is a commonly used human and veterinary antibiotic that is mostly discharged into wastewater in the form of the parent compounds. At present, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) use activated sludge processes that are not specifically designed to remove such pollutants. Considering the biological toxicity of TC in aquatic environment, the migration and fate of TC in the process of wastewater treatment deserve attention. This paper reviews the influence of TC on the functional bacteria in the sludge matrix and the development of tetracycline-resistant genes, and also discusses their adsorption removal rates, their adsorption kinetics and adsorption isotherm models, and infers their adsorption mechanism. In addition, the biodegradation of TC in the process of biological treatment is reviewed. Co-metabolism and the role of dominant bacteria in the degradation process are described, along with the formation of degradation byproducts and their toxicity. Furthermore, the current popular integrated coupling-system for TC degradation is also introduced. This paper systematically introduces the interaction between TC and activated sludge in WWTPs. The review concludes by providing directions to address research and knowledge gaps in TC removal from wastewater.

Removal of Antibiotics in Biological Wastewater Treatment Systems-A Critical Assessment Using the Activated Sludge Modeling Framework for Xenobiotics (ASM-X)

Many scientific studies present removal efficiencies for pharmaceuticals in laboratory-, pilot-, and full-scale wastewater treatment plants, based on observations that may be impacted by theoretical and methodological approaches used. In this Critical Review, we evaluated factors influencing observed removal efficiencies of three antibiotics (sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin, tetracycline) in pilot- and full-scale biological treatment systems. Factors assessed include (i) retransformation to parent pharmaceuticals from e.g., conjugated metabolites and analogues, (ii) solid retention time (SRT), (iii) fractions sorbed onto solids, and (iv) dynamics in influent and effluent loading. A recently developed methodology was used, relying on the comparison of removal efficiency predictions (obtained with the Activated Sludge Model for Xenobiotics (ASM-X)) with representative measured data from literature. By applying this methodology, we demonstrated that (a) the elimination of sulfamethoxazole may be significantly underestimated when not considering retransformation from conjugated metabolites, depending on the type (urban or hospital) and size of upstream catchments; (b) operation at extended SRT may enhance antibiotic removal, as shown for sulfamethoxazole; (c) not accounting for fractions sorbed in influent and effluent solids may cause slight underestimation of ciprofloxacin removal efficiency. Using tetracycline as example substance, we ultimately evaluated implications of effluent dynamics and retransformation on environmental exposure and risk prediction.

A Critical Review of Properties and Analytical Methods for the Determination of Oxytetracyline in Biological and Pharmaceutical Matrices

Antibiotics have an unquestionable importance in the treatment of many infections. Oxytetracycline is an antibiotic belonging to the class of tetracyclines, available for use in human and veterinary medicine. Development of analytical methods that prove the quality and efficacy of these drugs is fundamentally important to the pharmaceutical industry. In this context, the research presents an overview of the analytical profile of oxytetracycline, describing its chemical and pharmacological properties, and analytical methods for quantification of this drug in biological samples and pharmaceutical products. Oxytetracycline can be analyzed in these matrices by many types of methodologies. However, high-performance liquid chromatography is the most widely used, being recommended by official compendia. This kind of study can be useful to support the development of new efficient and sustainable analytical methods that may be utilized in the quality control routine of oxytetracycline in pharmaceutical products and pharmacokinetic monitoring in biological samples.

A single exposure of sediment sulphate-reducing bacteria to oxytetracycline concentrations relevant to aquaculture enduringly disturbed their activity, abundance and community structure

AIM

Although feed medicated with antibiotics is widely used in animal production to prevent and treat bacterial infections, the effect of these drugs on nontarget anaerobic bacteria is unknown. We aimed to clarify whether a single exposure of sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) from a tilapia pond to oxytetracycline (OTC) concentrations relevant to aquaculture impacts their function, abundance and community structure.

METHODS AND RESULTS

To demonstrate changes in SO4(2-) content, SRB abundance, dsrB copy number and SRB diversity, sediment mesocosms were spiked with 5, 25, 50 and 75 mg OTC kg(-1) and examined for 30 days by means of ion chromatography, qPCR, cultivation and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). On day 3, we measured higher SO4(2-) concentrations (ca. two-fold) and a reduction in dsrB copy numbers of approximately 50% in the treatments compared to the controls. After 30 days, a subtle yet measurable enrichment of bacteria from the order Desulfovibrionales occurred in mesocosms receiving ≥ 50 mg OTC kg(-1), notwithstanding that SRB counts decreased two orders of magnitude. OTC was dynamically and reversibly converted into 4-epioxytetracycline and other related compounds in a dose-dependent manner during the experiment.

CONCLUSIONS

A single exposure to rather high OTC concentrations triggered functional and structural changes in a SRB community that manifested quickly and persisted for a month.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This study improves our limited knowledge on the ecotoxicology of antibiotics in anaerobic environments.

Chlorination and chloramination of tetracycline antibiotics: disinfection by-products formation and influential factors

Formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs) from chlorination and chloramination of tetracycline antibiotics (TCs) was comprehensively investigated. It was demonstrated that a connection existed between the transformation of TCs and the formation of chloroform (CHCl3), carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), dichloroacetonitrile (DCAN) and dichloroacetone (DCAce). Factors evaluated included chlorine (Cl2) and chloramine(NH2Cl) dosage, reaction time, solution pH and disinfection modes. Increased Cl2/NH2Cl dosage and reaction time improved the formation of CHCl3 and DCAce. Formation of DCAN followed an increasing and then decreasing pattern with increasing Cl2 dosage and prolonged reaction time. pH affected DBPs formation differently, with CHCl3 and DCAN decreasing in chlorination, and having maximum concentrations at pH 7 in chloramination. The total concentrations of DBPs obeyed the following order: chlorination>chloramination>pre-chlorination (0.5h)>pre-chlorination (1h)>pre-chlorination (2h).

Tetracycline and 4-epitetracycline modified the in vitro catabolic activity and structure of a sediment microbial community from a tropical tilapia farm idiosyncratically

Aquaculture farmers commonly add tetracycline to fish feed or to their ponds to prevent or treat bacterial infections in their crops. To assess the short-term effect of tetracycline (TET) and of one of its reversible epimers, 4-epitetracycline (ETC), on the function and structure of a sediment microbial community from a tropical tilapia farm, we contrasted community-level physiological profiles (CLPP) and phospholipid fatty acid profiles (PLFA) obtained from microcosms exposed for 12 days to 5, 10, 50, or 75 mg kg(-1)of these antibiotics. Notwithstanding that the concentration of the antibiotics during the experiment decreased between 13-100% (TET) or 16-61% (ETC), both compounds provoked opposing metabolic responses that did not revert. TET displayed a tendency to inhibit respiration at concentrations < 50 mg kg(-1), whereas ETC showed the opposite effect. As revealed by the finding of the fatty acids 11:0 iso 3OH, 16:1w6c, and 18:1w6c, the sediment analyzed was predominantly colonized by Gram-negative bacteria. A marked decrease in fatty acid diversity accompanied the aforementioned metabolic responses, with TET concentrations > 50 mg kg(-1)leading to an enrichment of yeast and fungal biomarkers and both antibiotics at concentrations < 10 mg kg(-1)selecting for microorganisms with 11:0 iso 3OH. In agreement with CLPP data, differences between the PLFA profiles of control and treated microcosms were more pronounced for TET than for ETC. We conclude that high, yet field-relevant, concentrations of TET and ETC have the potential to modify the composition, and to a lesser extent, the functioning of a sediment microbial community. This study highlights the importance of considering antibiotic degradation products in ecotoxicological research.

Oxidative degradation kinetics and products of chlortetracycline by manganese dioxide

This study investigated the abiotic transformation kinetics of chlortetracycline (CTC) by synthesized δ-MnO(2) under conditions of different solutions. CTC was rapidly oxidized by δ-MnO(2), with the generation of Mn(2+). The measured CTC transformation rate increased considerably with an increase in initial δ-MnO(2) concentration but it decreased as the initial CTC concentration increased. Both the measured CTC transformation rate and the amount of Mn(2+) generated decreased with increasing pH. The CTC transformation rate rose with an increase in temperature. The apparent activation energy (45 ± 14 kJ mol(-1)) was consistent with a surface-controlled reaction. Dissolved Mn(2+) and Zn(2+), as background cations, and substituted phenols, as co-solutes, remarkably decreased the transformation rate of CTC. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) was used to identify oxidation products, which include iso-CTC, 4-epi-CTC, anhydro-CTC and 4-epi-anhydro-CTC, keto-CTC, 4-epi-keto-CTC, N-demethyl-CTC, 4-epi-N-demethyl-CTC, N-didemethyl-CTC and 4-epi-N-didemethyl-CTC. Product identification together with Fourier transform-infrared (FTIR) spectra suggested that the hydroxyl groups at C6 and C12 and the dimethylamine group of CTC reacted with the Mn-OH groups on the δ-MnO(2) surface. Thus, δ-MnO(2) in the soils most probably plays an important role in the abiotic transformation of tetracycline antibiotics.

Reactions of tetracycline antibiotics with chlorine dioxide and free chlorine

Tetracyclines (TCs) are a group of widely used antibiotics that have been frequently found in the aquatic environment. The potential reactions of TCs with common water disinfection oxidants such as chlorine dioxide (ClO(2)) and free available chlorine (FAC) have not been studied in depth and are the focus of this study. The oxidation kinetics of tetracycline, oxytetracycline, chlorotetracycline and iso-chlorotetracycline by ClO(2) and FAC are very rapid (with large apparent second-order rate constants k(app) = 2.24 × 10(5)-1.26 × 10(6) M(-1) s(-1) with ClO(2) and k(app) = 1.12 × 10(4)-1.78 × 10(6) M(-1) s(-1) with FAC at pH 7.0) and highly dependent on pH. Species-specific rate constants are obtained by kinetic modeling that incorporates pH-speciation of TCs and the oxidants (for FAC), and reveal that TCs primarily react with ClO(2) and FAC by their unprotonated dimethylamino group and deprotonated phenolic-diketone group. The modest difference in reactivity among the four TCs toward the oxidants is consistent with expectation and can be explained by structural influences on the two reactive moieties. Product evaluation shows that oxidation of TCs by ClO(2) leads to (hydr)oxylation and breakage of TC molecules, while oxidation of TCs by FAC leads to chlorinated and (hydr)oxylated products without any substantial ring breakage. Results of this study indicate that rapid transformation of TCs by oxidants such as ClO(2) and FAC under water and wastewater treatment conditions can be expected.

Transformation of tetracyclines mediated by Mn(II) and Cu(II) ions in the presence of oxygen

Complexation of tetracyclines (TCs) with dissolved Mn(II) and Cu(II) ions were found to significantly enhance the transformation of these antibiotics in the presence of oxygen at pH 8-9.5 and pH 4-6, respectively. In the TC-Mn(II)-O2 system, oxidation of the TC-complexed Mn(II) to Mn(III) by oxygen occurs, followed by oxidation of TC by Mn(III) to regenerate Mn(II). In the TC-Cu(II)-O2 system, Cu(II) oxidizes TC within the complex and the yielded Cu(I) is reoxidized by the present oxygen. Opposite reactivity trends were observed with the two metals: OTC (oxytetracycline) > TTC (tetracycline) >> iso-CTC (iso-chlorotetracycline) for the Mn(II)-mediated reaction, whereas CTC > TTC > OTC > epimers for the Cu(II)-mediated reaction. The reactivity results and examination of TC-metal ion complexation and transformation products suggest that the BCD-ring and A-ring of TC are crucial to interact with Mn(II) and Cu(II), respectively. This study highlights that the fate of TCs in aquatic environments may differ significantly by their strong interactions with different metal species present in the systems.

Formulation of Hydrophilic Non-Aqueous Gel: Drug Stability in Different Solvents and Rheological Behavior of Gel Matrices

PURPOSE

This study was aimed at formulating a hydrophilic non-aqueous gel for topical delivery of the model moisture-sensitive drug, minocycline hydrochloride (MH).

METHODS

Stability study of MH dissolved in water and various hydrophilic non-aqueous solvents was performed over a period of four months in order to select a suitable non-aqueous solvent for MH gel. To improve MH stability, the effect of different cation additives on MH stability in the selected solvent was investigated. Non-aqueous gel matrices were prepared from three different types of hydrophilic polymers in glycerin-propylene glycol mixture with Mg(2+) cation additive. Oscillatory shear rheometry was performed on the gel matrices using a cone-and-plate rheometer.

RESULTS

MH stability was affected by the type of solvent employed and the duration of storage. Different cation additives affected the extent of MH stabilization through MH-cation complex formation. Rheological properties of the non-aqueous gel matrices were significantly affected by the type and concentration of polymer, and the vehicle ratios in the formulations.

CONCLUSIONS

MH stabilization could be achieved using the selected glycerin-propylene glycol mixture containing MgCl(2). Gel matrix formulated using this solvent system and 3%w/w N-vinylacetamide/sodium acrylate copolymer had demonstrated the most favorable rheological properties as a gel for topical application.

Degradation patterns of tetracycline antibiotics in reverse micelles and water

The objective of this study was to determine the chemical stability of tetracycline and oxytetracycline hydro-chlorides in reverse micelles. Their reverse micellar solutions were prepared using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, water and ethyl formate. The aqueous solutions of the tetracycline antibiotics were also prepared for comparison. The reverse micellar and aqueous solutions were stored at 37 degrees C. Samples were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. When evaluation was performed on an aqueous tetracycline HCl solution, its half-life was estimated to be 329 h. Its chemical stability was not improved after being dissolved in the reverse micelles, and a similar half-life of 330 h was observed. However, there were noticeable differences between the two systems in terms of degradation kinetics and degradation byproducts. On the other hand, oxytetracycline HCl was unstable in water so that its half-life was only 34 h. Very interestingly, pronounced improvement in stability was attained with the reverse micellar system: upon dissolving in the reverse micelles, its half-life was increased to 2402 h. There were also marked differences in degradation patterns and mechanisms of oxytetracycline HCl in water and the reverse micelles. Our study indicates that the reverse micellar system has potential applications in solubilizing and stabilizing oxytetracycline HCl, thereby contributing to the development of its dosage forms.

Versatile and facile synthesis of diverse semisynthetic tetracycline derivatives via Pd-catalyzed reactions

A diverse collection of tetracycline derivatives has been synthesized utilizing Heck, Suzuki, and other palladium-coupling reactions via tetracycline arenediazonium and iodoarene salts. Large numbers of tetracyclines are now possible via these reactions, including numerous upper periphery derivatives of doxycycline, minocycline, sancycline, and methacycline modified at positions C7, C9, and C6-C13 on the tetracycline naphthacene ring. Application of palladium-coupling reactions to the tetracyclines has yielded new tetracycline classes with differing structural attributes, greatly increasing the structural diversity of this family of antibiotics, one of the last of the early antibiotic families to be expanded by organic and medicinal chemistry.

Stomach-specific anti-H. pylori therapy. I: Preparation and characterization of tetracyline-loaded chitosan microspheres

The main objective of the study was to develop a stomach-specific drug delivery system to increase the efficacy of tetracycline against Helicobacter pylori. Chitosan microspheres were prepared by ionic cross-linking and precipitation with sodium sulfate. Two different methods were used for drug loading. In method I, tetracycline was mixed with chitosan solution before the simultaneous cross-linking and precipitation. In method II, the drug was incubated with pre-formed microspheres for 48 h. The cumulative amount of tetracycline that was released from chitosan microspheres and the stability of the drug was examined in different pH medium at 37 degrees C. Microspheres with a spherical shape and an average diameter of 2.0-3.0 microm were formed. When the drug was added to the polymer solution before cross-linking and precipitation only 8% (w/w) was optimally incorporated in the final microsphere formulation. When the drug was incubated with the pre-formed microspheres, on the other hand, a maximum of 69% (w/w) could be loaded. Thirty percent of tetracycline either in solution or when released from microspheres was found to degrade at pH 1.2 in 12 h. The preliminary results from this study suggest that chitosan microspheres can be used to incorporate antibiotic drugs and may be effective when administered locally in the stomach against H. pylori.

The effects of pH and PEG 400-water cosolvents on oxytetracycline-magnesium complex formation and stability

The effects of pH and PEG 400 on the stoichiometry, conformation, and stability of the magnesium-oxytetracycline (Mg+2-OTC) complex were evaluated. Circular dichroism (CD) and HPLC were used to investigate Mg+2-OTC complex formation and determine the stability of the complexes formed. The stoichiometry of the complex was determined to be a 1:1 molar ratio of Mg+2 to OTC regardless of changes in pH, in the range 7-10, and regardless of the percentage of polyethylene glycol (PEG) 400 in solution. CD showed that the conformation assumed by Mg+2-OTC complex is sensitive to changes in pH, however, little to no effect was found when the PEG 400 concentration was varied. PEG 400 was found to effect the magnitude of complexation as evident by the dependence of CD peak intensity on the cosolvent concentration in solution. The Job's method confirmed that the formation of this complex increased with increasing PEG 400 concentration and was most favored at pH 8. HPLC analyses of OTC solutions at pH 9 revealed the formation of multiple degradation products after storage at 50 degrees C. The incidence and magnitude of OTC degradation products were reduced in the presence of Mg+2 and PEG 400. Despite the HPLC results of maintained OTC stability in magnesium-complexed solutions over time, visual inspection showed these solutions to have darkened, indicating that an oxidative process is responsible for initial degradation of OTC. Therefore, the need for additional measures (i.e., antioxidants) was established to ensure the long-term stability of OTC in solution.

Degradation kinetics of 4-dedimethylamino sancycline, a new anti-tumor agent, in aqueous solutions

The kinetics of degradation of the new anti-tumor drug, 4-dedimethylamino sancycline (col-3) in aqueous solution at 25oC were investigated by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) over the pH-range of 2-10. The influences of pH, buffer concentration, light, temperature, and some additives on the degradation rate were studied. The degradation of col-3 was found to follow first order kinetics. A rate expression covering the degradation of the various ionic forms of the drug was derived and shown to account for the shape of the experimental pH-rate profile. Under basic conditions, the degradation of col-3 involves oxidation, which is catalyzed by metal ions and inhibited by EDTA and Sodium bisulfite.

Development and validation of a sensitive method for tetracycline in gingival crevicular fluid by HPLC using fluorescence detection

Increased interest in the clinical use of antibiotics for periodontal therapy required the development of a sensitive assay for the quantitation of tetracycline in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). An HPLC method was developed and validated for tetracycline which separates and identifies the degradation component epi-tetracycline. The HPLC assay employs a C18 reversed-phase Hypersil column with a mobile phase composed of methanol and sodium acetate buffer containing CaCl2 and EDTA disodium salt. The chromatographic separation was monitored by a fluorescent detector with an excitation wavelength of 375 nm and an emission wavelength of 512 nm. Tetracycline was extracted from GCF collected on Periopapers by addition of a methanol solution containing the internal standard, doxycycline, and the mobile phase buffer (25:75, v/v). The mean percent recovery for the extraction method was 107.8% with all the % R.S.D. below 7.5%. The mean inter- and intra-batch accuracy was 104.1 and 105.3%, respectively with a coefficient of variation of less than 9.5%. The lower limit of detection was 2.5 ng on the Periopapers. The typical GCF volumes collected were 0.1-1 microliter. The method was validated for the linear concentration range 2.5-1000 ng of tetracycline on the Periopaper. This assay for tetracycline was shown to be an accurate, precise and rugged method.

Determination of metacycline and related substances by column liquid chromatography on poly(styrene-divinylbenzene)

Isocratic column liquid chromatography on poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) copolymer allowed complete separation of metacycline, 4-epimetacycline, oxytetracycline, doxycycline and 6-epidoxycycline. 2-Acetyl-2-decarboxamidometacycline was eluted on the tail of metacycline. The mobile phase was 2-methyl-2-propanol-0.2 M phosphate buffer (pH 9.0)-0.01 M sodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (pH 9.0)-water (2.5:10:10:77.5, m/v/v/v). The flow-rate was 1.0 ml/min and detection was performed at 254 nm. Official standards were compared and a number of commercial bulk samples and specialties were analysed. 2-Acetyl-2 decarboxamidometacycline, 6-epidoxycycline and doxycycline were the main impurities, while 4-epimetacycline and oxytetracycline were minor impurities.

Identification and determination of the two principal metabolites of minocycline in humans

A chromatographic method has been developed for the quantification of minocycline in human serum and urine. The chromatographically determined concentration of minocycline correlated well with the microbiologically active concentration in serum. Two metabolites, 9-hydroxyminocycline and N-demethylated minocycline, could be isolated and identified as the principal metabolites of this tetracycline antibiotic. The structure of the 9-hydroxy compound was proved by nuclear magnetic resonance analysis for the first time. About 15% of the drug was actively converted in the body into a substance less microbiologically active than the parent compound and excreted in the urine within 96 h after the application.

Quantitative analysis of oxytetracycline and related substances by high-performance liquid chromatography

Isocratic high-performance liquid chromatography on PLRP-S 8-microns poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) copolymer allows complete separation of oxytetracycline, 4-epioxytetracycline, tetracycline, anhydrooxytetracycline, alpha- and beta-apooxytetracycline. The mobile phase was tert.-butanol-0.2 M phosphate buffer pH 8.0-0.02 M tetrabutylammonium sulphate pH 8-0.0001 M sodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate pH 8.0-water (5.9:10:5:10:78.1, m/v/v/v/v). With this isocratic method, 2-acetyl-2-decarboxamidooxytetracycline is only partly resolved from oxytetracycline. The separation and the detection limits can be improved by the use of gradient elution. Gradient elution was used for the comparison of official standards and for the analysis of a number of commercial samples, and to monitor the stability of oxytetracycline hydrochloride during storage in the solid state for about 6 years at various temperatures.

Determination of the stability of tetracycline suspensions by high performance liquid chromatography

High performance liquid chromatography was used to examine the stability of tetracycline suspensions, prepared according to the Formulary of the Dutch Pharmacists and the National Formulary v (Belgium). The influence of the nature of the buffer salt, of the pH, and of the temperature and time of storage are discussed. At slightly acid pH (4 to 5.5) and at room temperature suspensions are stable for at least three months.

Analysis and quantitation of a metabolite of doxycycline in mice, rats, and humans by high-performance liquid chromatography

A metabolite of doxycycline has not previously been isolated. In this paper it is demonstrated that doxycycline is metabolized in mice, rats, and humans. By means of high-performance liquid chromatography and consecutive gel chromatography one metabolite of doxycycline was isolated from animal organs and human urine. The metabolite was tentatively identified as N-monodemethyldoxycycline by mass spectral and spectrophotometric analyses. The rate of metabolism could be enhanced by pretreatment of the animals with phenobarbital, an inducing agent of the drug-metabolizing enzymes.

Differential pulse polarography of some degradation products of tetracycline

In an attempt to develop a more rapid, convenient, and precise method for the direct detection and analysis of the degradation products of tetracycline, a study of those products utilizing differential pulse polarography was initiated. The investigation was concentrated on the subject of the kinetics of the epimerization of anhydrotetracycline to 4-epianhydrotetracycline in acetate buffer. The reaction was followed at 25 and 50 degrees. Duplicate experiments were run at each temperature. The apparent rate constants obtained were 4.17 +/- 0.13 X 10(-1)/hr (25 degrees) and 6.97 +/- 1.00 X 10(-2)/hr (50 degrees).

Doxycycline determination in human serum and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method for quantitative doxycycline determination in human serum and urine is described. The drug was extracted from buffered (pH 6.1) serum or urine into ethyl acetate. A structural analog, demeclocycline, was added as the internal standard. A 10-cm X 2-mm i.d., 5-micrometers Lichrosorb RP8 column with acetonitrile-0.1 M citric acid as the eluent was used. The effluent was monitored at 350 nm. The extraction recovery from spiked serum was 87-8 +/- 4.3% (mean +/- SD, n = 11); for urine, a value of 92.2 +/-2.0% (mean +/- SD, n = 10) was found. Within-run and within-day relative standard deviations averaged (x = 2.5 micrograms/ml, n = 10) and 4.75% (x = 2.6 micrograms/ml, n = 9), respectively. The detection limit was estimated at 50 ng/ml of serum. No significant extra peaks were observed in chromatograms obtained on serum or urine extracts, suggesting the probable absence of metabolic processes in vivo.

Kinetics of concomitant degradation of tetracycline to epitetracycline, anhydrotetracycline, and epianhydrotetracycline in acid phosphate solution

The concentrations of tetracycline, epitetracycline, anhydrotetracycline, and epianhydrotetracycline in pH 1.5 phosphate solution were followed as a function of time at four temperatures. Separation and quantification of all four species were accomplished using high-pressure liquid chromatography. Through nonlinear regression analysis, rate constants for the reversible first-order epimerization of tetracycline and anhydrotetracycline and for the first-order dehydration of tetracycline and epitetracycline were obtained. Solutions to the differential equations obtained through Laplace transforms successfully predict concentrations found experimentally. The energy of activation for each reaction step was calculated and ranged from 15 to 27 kcal/mole. The rate constants for tetracycline and epitetracycline dehydration conform with those of earlier studies that used different experimental methods. The study shows that epimerization of tetracycline and anhydrotetracycline can take place at a low pH.

Rate and proposed mechanism of anhydrotetracycline epimerization in acid solution

The pathway through which the toxic tetracycline degradation product epianhydrotetracycline forms in solution was studied using high-performance liquid chromatography and circular dichroism, taking advantage of the large difference in ellipticity between the reactant and the product at 285 nm. The epimerization of anhydrotetracycline followed a reversible first-order process, and both analytical methods yielded the same rate constants. The rate constants indicate that anhydrotetracycline epimerization is faster than tetracycline epimerization. The equilibrium favored anhydrotetracycline, and the activation energies for the forward and reverse rates were almost the same as those for tetracycline epimerization. The epimerization was catalyzed by phosphate. Activation energies in 0.1 and 1 M phosphate were essentially the same. The equilibrium constants for both anhydrotetracycline and tetracycline favored the natural configuration rather than the epi series. Possible rationalization based on conformational and hydrogen bonding effects is presented.

Oxidation photosensitized by tetracyclines

Irradiation with 365-nm UV light of aerated aqueous solutions of tetracycline gives rise to oxygen uptake when the pH of the solution is above 7.5. The kinetics of the reaction were followed using a polarographic oxygen electrode at a range of pH values for seven currently prescribed tetracyclines. Variation of tetracycline concentration, UV light intensity, and temperature showed the characteristics normally associated with a sensitized photo-oxygenation mechanism rather than a free-radical process. Copper(II) ions inhibited the photo-oxidation of tetracycline, apparently by complex formation. The tetracyclines were tested for photosensitizing capability with oxidizable acceptors. In aqueous solution, no photosensitizing effect could be seen, but methanol solutions of 2,5-dimethylfuran and dl-limonene were oxidized at considerably increased rates when small amounts of tetracyclines were present. This observations has implications for the mechanism of in vivo photosensitivity reactions that occur when tetracyclines are taken internally.

Stability of frozen rat plasma containing different antibiotics

The antibiotic activity was determined at different intervals of time on plasma samples, taken from rats treated with a certain number of commonly used antibiotics, and kept at -20 C up to 8 weeks. The results of the microbiological assays demonstrate that the stability of the antibiotics in the frozen plasma decreases in the following order: oxytetracycline > cephalexin, streptomycin, erythromycin > demeclocycline > ampicillin, amoxycillin > penicillin G, cephaloridine, rolitetracycline, and tetracycline.