Investigating the influence of temperature-dependent rheological properties on nanofluid behavior in heat transfer

Nanofluids are advanced heat transfer fluids whose performance is influenced by various thermo-physical properties, including nanoparticle volume fraction, base fluid, and temperature. Rheological mathematical models have been established by using empirical data in order to characterize these features as dependent on parameters such as volume fraction, base fluid composition, and temperature. These models have been integrated into transport equations. Nanofluids composed of metallic oxides (Al2O3, SiO2) and carbon nanostructures (PEG-GnP, PEG-TGr) dispersed in deionized H2O, with nanoparticle concentrations ranging from 0.025% to 0.1%, and temperatures between 30 °C and 50 °C, were utilized to investigate flow over thin needle. The rheological models contained transport equations include the partial differential equations. The transport equations were simplified through various transformations and then solved numerically. The results in form of velocity and temperature distributions were obtained, along with boundary layer parameters, Nusselt number and coefficient of skin friction. The present study contributes to the existing knowledge by elucidating the intricate relationship between nanoparticle volume fraction, base fluid properties, and temperature in nanofluid behavior.

The Role of Nanofluids in Renewable Energy Engineering

The phenomenon of nanofluid flows is intrinsically characterized by several scales and intricate physical processes [...].

Unraveling the nature of nano-diamonds and silica in a catheterized tapered artery: highlights into hydrophilic traits

In this work, we observe the behavior of a hybrid nanofluidic model containing nanodiamonds and silica nanoparticles. The nanofluid propagates through a catheterized tapered artery with three distinct configurations: converging tapered, non-tapered and diverging tapered arteries. In order to assess the rheological properties of the blood, the third-grade non-Newtonian fluid is employed in the flow model such that the Newtonian versus non-Newtonian effects are revealed. The system of equations governing the flow is modeled under magnetic field and with heat transfer, then solved in a closed form using the perturbation approach for the pertinent parameters. The interpretations of the physical variables of interest, such as the velocity, temperature and wall shear stress, are explained. The integration of diamonds and silica nanoparticles give rise to diverse of biological applications since they are used in the drug delivery and biological imaging in genetic materials due to their hydrophilic surfaces. The present mathematical analysis lays a solid foundation on possible therapeutic applications in biomedicine.

Entropy Generation and Thermal Radiation Analysis of EMHD Jeffrey Nanofluid Flow: Applications in Solar Energy

This article examines the effects of entropy generation, heat transmission, and mass transfer on the flow of Jeffrey fluid under the influence of solar radiation in the presence of copper nanoparticles and gyrotactic microorganisms, with polyvinyl alcohol-water serving as the base fluid. The impact of source terms such as Joule heating, viscous dissipation, and the exponential heat source is analyzed via a nonlinear elongating surface of nonuniform thickness. The development of an efficient numerical model describing the flow and thermal characteristics of a parabolic trough solar collector (PTSC) installed on a solar plate is underway as the use of solar plates in various devices continues to increase. Governing PDEs are first converted into ODEs using a suitable similarity transformation. The resulting higher-order coupled ODEs are converted into a system of first-order ODEs and then solved using the RK 4th-order method with shooting technique. The remarkable impacts of pertinent parameters such as Deborah number, magnetic field parameter, electric field parameter, Grashof number, solutal Grashof number, Prandtl number, Eckert number, exponential heat source parameter, Lewis number, chemical reaction parameter, bioconvection Lewis number, and Peclet number associated with the flow properties are discussed graphically. The increase in the radiation parameter and volume fraction of the nanoparticles enhances the temperature profile. The Bejan number and entropy generation rate increase with the rise in diffusion parameter and bioconvection diffusion parameter. The novelty of the present work is analyzing the entropy generation and solar radiation effects in the presence of motile gyrotactic microorganisms and copper nanoparticles with polyvinyl alcohol-water as the base fluid under the influence of the source terms, such as viscous dissipation, Ohmic heating, exponential heat source, and chemical reaction of the electromagnetohydrodynamic (EMHD) Jeffrey fluid flow. The non-Newtonian nanofluids have proven their great potential for heat transfer processes, which have various applications in cooling microchips, solar energy systems, and thermal energy technologies.

Magnetic Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery through Tapered Stenosed Artery with Blood Based Non-Newtonian Fluid

Nanoparticles play an essential role in biomedical applications. A most promising area in nanomedicine is drug targeting which is done with the aid of magnetized nanoparticles. In this study, the hemodynamics of hybrid nanofluid flow with gold and copper nanoparticles suspended in it is investigated. This research primarily focuses on magnetic drug delivery which is propagated through a tapered stenosed artery under three situations, including converging, diverging, and non-tapering arteries. To explore the rheological characteristics of blood, a Sutterby fluid, which is a non-Newtonian fluid, is postulated. The energy equation also incorporates the effects of the magnetic field and joule heating, as well as the viscous dissipation function. Lubrication theory provides a mathematical framework for model formulation. The hypothesized modeling is simplified to a set of nonlinear differential equations that are then solved using a perturbation method up to the second order of approximation. Graphs are used to describe the outcomes of different evolving parameters. The Sutterby fluid parameter opposes the flow negligibly, whereas the Hartmann number and thermal Grashof number strengthen the flow field. Copper nanoparticles (in the absence of gold nanoparticles) are observed to deplete the thermal profile substantially more than gold nanoparticles. Nevertheless, the thermal profile is enhanced by the presence of both nanoparticles (hybrid nanofluids). For greater values of the Sutterby fluid parameter, the wall shear stress has been observed to rise considerably, whereas the inverse is true for the Hartmann number and the thermal Grashof number. The present results have been improved to give significant information for biomedical scientists who are striving to study blood flow in stenosis situations, as well as for those who will find the knowledge valuable in the treatment of different diseases.

Study of the Magnetized Hybrid Nanofluid Flow through a Flat Elastic Surface with Applications in Solar Energy

The main theme of the present study is to analyze numerically the effects of the magnetic field on the hybrid nanofluid flow over a flat elastic surface. The effects of the thermal and velocity slips are also analyzed in view of the hybrid nanofluid flow. It is considered a combination of titanium oxide (TiO₂) and copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles that are suspended in the incompressible and electrically conducting fluid (water). The behavior of the Brownian motion of the nanoparticles and the thermophoretic forces are contemplated in the physical and mathematical formulations. Moreover, the impact of the Joule heating and viscous dissipation are also discussed using the energy equation. The mathematical modeling is simulated with the help of similarity variables. The resulting equations are solved using the Keller-Box method with a combination of finite difference schemes (FDSs). Hybrid nanofluids provide significant advantages over the usual heat transfer fluids. Therefore, the use of nanofluids is beneficial to improve the thermophysical properties of the working fluid. All of the results are discussed for the various physical parameters involved in governing the flow. From the graphical results, it is found that the hybrid nanoparticles improve the concentration, temperature, and velocity profiles, as well as the thickness of the relevant boundary layer. The conjunction of a magnetic field and the velocity slip, strongly opposes the fluid motion. The boundary layer thickness and concentration profile are significantly reduced with the higher levels of the Schmidt number.

Rheological Modeling of Metallic Oxide Nanoparticles Containing Non-Newtonian Nanofluids and Potential Investigation of Heat and Mass Flow Characteristics

Nanofluids have great potential due to their improved properties that make them useful for addressing various industrial and engineering problems. In order to use nanofluids on an industrial scale, it is first important to discuss their rheological behavior in relation to heat transfer aspects. In the current study, the flow characteristics of nanofluids are discussed using a mathematical model that is developed by fundamental laws and experimental data. The data are collected in the form of viscosity versus shear rate for different homogeneous ethylene glycol- (EG) based nanofluids, which are synthesized by dispersing 5–20% nanoparticle concentrations of SiO₂, MgO, and TiO₂ with diameters of (20–30 nm, 60–70 nm), (20 nm, 40 nm), and (30 nm, 50 nm), respectively. The data are fitted into a rheological power-law model and further used to govern equations of a physical problem. The problem is simplified into ordinary differential equations by using a boundary layer and similarity transformations and then solved through the numerical Runge–Kutta (RK) method. The obtained results in the form of velocity and temperature profiles at different nanoparticle concentrations and diameters are displayed graphically for discussion. Furthermore, displacement and momentum thicknesses are computed numerically to explain boundary-layer growth. The results show that the velocity profile is reduced and the temperature profile is raised by increasing the nanoparticle concentration. Conversely, the velocity profile is increased and the temperature profile is decreased by increasing the nanoparticle diameter. The results of the present investigation regarding heat and mass flow behavior will help engineers design equipment and improve the efficacy and economy of the overall process in the industry.

Computational Framework of Magnetized MgO-Ni/Water-Based Stagnation Nanoflow Past an Elastic Stretching Surface: Application in Solar Energy Coatings

In this article, motivated by novel nanofluid solar energy coating systems, a mathematical model of hybrid magnesium oxide (MgO) and nickel (Ni) nanofluid magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) stagnation point flow impinging on a porous elastic stretching surface in a porous medium is developed. The hybrid nanofluid is electrically conducted, and a magnetic Reynolds number is sufficiently large enough to invoke an induced magnetic field. A Darcy model is adopted for the isotropic, homogenous porous medium. The boundary conditions account for the impacts of the velocity slip and thermal slip. Heat generation (source)/absorption (sink) and also viscous dissipation effects are included. The mathematical formulation has been performed with the help of similarity variables, and the resulting coupled nonlinear dimensionless ordinary differential equations have been solved numerically with the help of the shooting method. In order to test the validity of the current results and the convergence of the solutions, a numerical comparison with previously published results is included. Numerical results are plotted for the effect of emerging parameters on velocity, temperature, magnetic induction, skin friction, and Nusselt number. With an increment in nanoparticle volume fraction of both MgO and Ni nanoparticles, the temperature and thermal boundary layer thickness of the nanofluid are elevated. An increase in the porous medium parameter (Darcy number), velocity slip, and thermal Grashof number all enhance the induced magnetic field. Initial increments in the nanoparticle volume fraction for both MgO and Ni suppress the magnetic induction near the wall, although, subsequently, when further from the wall, this effect is reversed. Temperature is enhanced with heat generation, whereas it is depleted with heat absorption and thermal slip effects. Overall, excellent thermal enhancement is achieved by the hybrid nanofluid.

Mathematical modeling and simulation of electromagnetohydrodynamic bio-nanomaterial flow through physiological vessels

Gold-based metal nanoparticles serve a key role in diagnosing and treating important illnesses such as cancer and infectious diseases. In consideration of this, the current work develops a mathematical model for viscoelastic nanofluid flow in the peristaltic microchannel. Nanofluid is considered as blood-based fluid suspended with gold nanoparticles. In the investigated geometry, various parametric effects such as Joule heating, magnetohydrodynamics, electroosmosis, and thermal radiation have been imposed. The governing equations of the model are analytically solved by using the lubrication theory where the wavelength of the channel is considered large and viscous force is considered more dominant as compared to the inertia force relating the applications in biological transport phenomena. The graphical findings for relevant parameters of interest are given. In the current analysis, the ranges of the parameters have been considered as: 0<κ<6,0<λ1<0.6,2<M<8,0<ζ1<3,0<ζ2<3,0.1<ϕ1<0.4,0<Br<3,0<β<3,0<Rn<0.3and0<ϕ<π/2.The current results reveal that, A stronger magnetic field leads the enhancement in nanoparticle temperature and shear stress, and it reduces the velocity and trapping bolus. The nanoparticle temperature rises with the increasing parameters such as Brinkman number and Joule heating parameter.

Double-diffusion convective biomimetic flow of nanofluid in a complex divergent porous wavy medium under magnetic effects

We explore the physical influence of magnetic field on double-diffusive convection in complex biomimetic (peristaltic) propulsion of nanofluid through a two-dimensional divergent channel. Additionally, porosity effects along with rheological properties of the fluid are also retained in the analysis. The mathematical model is developed by equations of continuity, momentum, energy, and mass concentration. First, scaling analysis is introduced to simplify the rheological equations in the wave frame of reference and then get the final form of equations after applying the low Reynolds number and lubrication approach. The obtained equations are solved analytically by using integration method. Physical interpretation of velocity, pressure gradient, pumping phenomena, trapping phenomena, heat, and mass transfer mechanisms are discussed in detail under magnetic and porous environment. The magnitude of velocity profile is reduced by increasing Grashof parameter. The bolus circulations disappeared from trapping phenomena for larger strength of magnetic and porosity medium. The magnitude of temperature profile and mass concentration are increasing by enhancing the Brownian motion parameter. This study can be productive in manufacturing non-uniform and divergent shapes of micro-lab-chip devices for thermal engineering, industrial, and medical technologies.

Free convective flow of Hamilton-Crosser model gold-water nanofluid through a channel with permeable moving walls

BACKGROUND

The present manuscript analyses the influence of buoyant forces of a conducting time-dependent nanofluid flow through porous moving walls. The medium is also filled with porous materials. In addition to that, uniform heat source and absorption parameters are considered that affect the nanofluid model.

INTRODUCTION

The model is based on the thermophysical properties of Hamilton-Crosser's nanofluid model, in which a gold nanoparticle is submerged into the base fluid water. Before simulation is obtained by a numerical method, suitable transformation is used to convert nonlinear coupled PDEs to ODEs.

METHOD

Runge-Kutta fourth-order scheme is applied successfully for the first-order ODEs in conjunction with the shooting technique.

RESULT

Computations for the coefficients of rate constants are presented through graphs, along with the behavior of several physical parameters augmented the flow phenomena.

CONCLUSION

The present investigation may be compatible with the applications of biotechnology. It is seen that, inclusion of volume concentration the fluid velocity enhances near the middle layer of the channel and retards near the permeable walls. Also, augmented values of the Reynolds number and both cooling and heating of the wall increases the rate of shear stress.

Cilia-assisted flow of viscoelastic fluid in a divergent channel under porosity effects

Cilia-driven laminar flow of an incompressible viscoelastic fluid in a divergent channel has been conducted numerically using the BVP4C technique. The non-Newtonian Jeffrey rheological model is utilized to characterize the fluid. The flow equations are formulated in a curvilinear coordinate system, and the porosity effects are simulated with a body force term in the Navier-Stokes equation. The flow equations are transformed into a wave frame from a fixed frame of reference using a linear mathematical relationship. A biological approximation of creeping phenomena and the long-wavelength assumption is used in the flow analysis. The flow analysis is carried out by using a complex (wavy) propulsion of cilia beating. The two-dimensional flow is controlled by physical parameters-Darcy's number, curvature parameter, viscoelastic parameter, phase difference, cilia length, and divergent parameter. They also examined the ciliated pumping and bolus trapping in their flow analysis. The boundary layer phenomena in the velocity profile are noticed under more significant porosity and time relaxation effects. The bolus circulations are reduced for a larger porosity medium and larger numeric values of the time relaxation parameter.

Entropy Analysis on the Blood Flow through Anisotropically Tapered Arteries Filled with Magnetic Zinc-Oxide (ZnO) Nanoparticles

The present analysis deals with the entropy analysis of the blood flow through an anisotropically tapered arteries under the suspension of magnetic Zinc-oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs). The Jeffrey fluid model is contemplated as blood that is electrically conducting and incompressible. The lubrication approach is used for the mathematical modeling. The second law of thermodynamics is used to examine the entropy generation. The exact solutions are obtained against velocity and temperature profile with the use of computational software. The results for Entropy, Velocity, Bejan number, temperature profile, and impedance profile are discussed by plotting the graphs. ZnO-NPs have promising applications in biomedical engineering due to its low toxicity, economically reliable, and excellent biocompatibility. ZnO-NPs also emerged in medicine i.e., antibacterial and anticancer activity, and also beneficial in antidiabetic treatment. The monitoring of the blood temperature in the case of the tapered artery has supreme importance in controlling the temperature of blood in the living environment. The presence of a magnetic field is advantageous to manage and control the blood motion at different temperatures. The present outcomes are enriched to give valuable information for the research scientists in the field biomedical science, who are looking to examine the blood flow with stenosis conditions and also beneficial in treating multiple diseases.

New Insight into AuNP Applications in Tumour Treatment and Cosmetics through Wavy Annuli at the Nanoscale

The purpose of this study is to probe the peristaltic propulsion of a non-Newtonian fluid model with suspended gold nanoparticles. The base fluid is considered to simulate blood using the Carreau fluid model. We model a small annulus as a tube with a peristaltic wave containing a clot propagating towards the tube wall. An external variable magnetic field is also considered in the governing flow. An approximation for long wavelengths and small Reynolds numbers is employed to formulate the governing flow problem. The resulting nonlinear equations are solved using a perturbation scheme. Series solutions are obtained for the velocity profile, temperature profile, pressure rise and streamlines. The results indicate an enhancement in the temperature profile that can be utilized in eradicating tumour cells.

Interaction between blood and solid particles propagating through a capillary with slip effects

This article describes the interaction between solid particles and blood propagating through a capillary. A slip condition is considered on the walls of the capillary. The rheological features of the blood are discussed by considering as a two-phase Newtonian fluid model, i.e., the suspension of cells in plasma. A perturbation method is successfully applied to obtain the series solution of the governing coupled differential equations. The series solution for both fluid and particle phase are presented up to second order approximation. The expressions for the velocity and pressure distributions under slip effects are determined within a tube. Furthermore, the current results are beneficial to understand the rheological features of blood which will be helpful to interpret and analyze more complex blood flow models.

Interaction of aluminum oxide nanoparticles with flow of polyvinyl alcohol solutions base nanofluids over a wedge

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is an important industrial chemical, which is used in numerous chemical engineering applications. It is important to study and predict the flow behavior of PVA solutions and the role of nanoparticles in heat transfer applications to be used in chemical processes on industrial scale. Therefore, the present study deals with the PVA solution-based non-Newtonian Al2O3-nanofluid flow along with heat transfer over wedge. The power-law model is used for this non-Newtonian nanofluid which exhibited shear-thinning behavior. The influences of PVA and nanoparticles concentrations on the characteristics of velocity and temperature profiles are examined graphically. The impacts of these parameters on wall shear stress and convective heat transfer coefficient are also studied through tabular form. During the numerical computations, the impacts of these parameters on flow index and consistency index along with other physical properties of nanofluid are also considered. In this study, we found an improvement in heat transfer and temperature profile of fluid by distribution of Al2O3 nanoparticles. It is also noticed that resistance between adjacent layers of moving fluid is enhanced due to these nanoparticles which leads to decline in velocity profile and increases in shear stress at wall.

Heat transfer analysis on peristaltically induced motion of particle-fluid suspension with variable viscosity: Clot blood model

In this article, heat transfer analysis on clot blood model of the particle-fluid suspension through a non-uniform annulus has been investigated. The blood propagating along the whole length of the annulus was induced by peristaltic motion. The effects of variable viscosity and slip condition are also taken into account. The governing flow problem is modeled using lubrication approach by taking the assumption of long wavelength and creeping flow regime. The resulting equation for fluid phase and particle phase is solved analytically and closed form solutions are obtained. The physical impact of all the emerging parameters is discussed mathematically and graphically. Particularly, we considered the effects of particle volume fraction, slip parameter, the maximum height of clot, viscosity parameter, average volume flow rate, Prandtl number, Eckert number and fluid parameter on temperature profile, pressure rise and friction forces for outer and inner tube. Numerical computations have been used to determine the behavior of pressure rise and friction along the whole length of the annulus. The present study is also presented for an endoscope as a special case of our study. It is observed that greater influence of clot tends to rise the pressure rise significantly. It is also found that temperature profile increases due to the enhancement in Prandtl number, Eckert number, and fluid parameter. The present study reveals that friction forces for outer tube have higher magnitude as compared to the friction forces for an inner tube. In fact, the results for present study can also be reduced to the Newtonian fluid by taking ζ → ∞.

Simultaneous effects of coagulation and variable magnetic field on peristaltically induced motion of Jeffrey nanofluid containing gyrotactic microorganism

In this article, simultaneous effects of coagulation (blood clot) and variable magnetic field on peristaltically induced motion of non-Newtonian Jeffrey nanofluid containing gyrotactic microorganism through an annulus have been studied. The effects of an endoscope also taken into consideration in our study as a special case. The governing flow problem is simplified by taking the approximation of long wavelength and creeping flow regime. The resulting highly coupled differential equations are solved analytically with the help of perturbation method and series solution have been presented up to second order approximation. The impact of all the sundry parameters is discussed for velocity profile, temperature profile, nanoparticle concentration profile, motile microorganism density profile, pressure rise and friction forces. Moreover, numerical integration is also used to evaluate the expressions for pressure rise and friction forces for outer tube and inner tube. It is found that velocity of a fluid diminishes near the walls due to the increment in the height of clot. However, the influence of magnetic field depicts opposite behavior near the walls.

Effects of thermal radiation and electromagnetohydrodynamics on viscous nanofluid through a Riga plate

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze theoretically the effects of thermal radiation with electrohydrodynamics through a Riga plate. An incompressible and irrotational fluid with constant density is taken into account. The governing flow problem is modeled with the help of linear momentum, thermal energy equation and nanoparticle concentration equation.

Design/methodology/approach

Numerical integration is used with the help of the shooting technique to examine the novel features of the velocity profile, temperature profile and nanoparticle concentration profile. The impact of all the emerging parameters is sketched with the help of graphs. The numerical values of local Nusselt number and Sherwood number are also presented.

Findings

The no-slip condition is considered for the present study. The effects of electromagnetohydrodynamics enhance the velocity profile while thermal radiation effects tend to raise the temperature profile. The present study depicts many interesting behaviors that warrant further study on Riga plates with different non-Newtonian fluid models. A comparison is also presented with the existing published results which confirms the validity of the presented methodology.

Originality/value

The results of this paper are new and original.

Simultaneous determination of phenytoin, carbamazepine, and 10,11-carbamazepine epoxide in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection

The Bioanalytical Chemistry Department at the Madison facility of Covance Laboratories, has developed and validated a simple and sensitive method for the simultaneous determination of phenytoin (PHT), carbamazepine (CBZ) and 10,11-carbamazepine epoxide (CBZ-E) in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with 10,11 dihydrocarbamazepine as the internal standard. Acetonitrile was added to plasma samples containing PHT, CBZ and CBZ-E to precipitate the plasma proteins. After centrifugation, the acetonitrile supernatant was transferred to a clean tube and evaporated under N2. The dried sample extract was reconstituted in 0.4 ml of mobile phase and injected for analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography. Separation was achieved on a Spherisorb ODS2 analytical column with a mobile phase of 18:18:70 acetonitrile:methanol:potassium phosphate buffer. Detection was at 210 nm using an ultraviolet detector. The mean retention times of CBZ-E, PHT and CBZ were 5.8, 9.9 and 11.8 min, respectively. Peak height ratios were fit to a least squares linear regression algorithm with a 1/(concentration)2 weighting. The method produces acceptable linearity, precision and accuracy to a minimum concentration of 0.050 micrograms ml-1 in human plasma. It is also simple and convenient, with no observable matrix interferences.

Pharmacokinetics of the enantiomers of verapamil after intravenous and oral administration of racemic verapamil in a rat model

Verapamil is a chiral calcium channel blocking drug which is useful clinically as the racemate in treating hypertension and arrhythmia. The published pharmacokinetic data for verapamil enantiomers in the rat model are limited. Utilizing a stereospecific high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay, the enantiomeric disposition of verapamil is reported after intravenous (1.0 mg kg-1) and oral (10 mg kg-1) administration of racemic verapamil to the rat model. After intravenous administration the systemic clearance of R-verapamil was significantly greater than that of S-verapamil; 34.9 +/- 7 against 23.7 +/- 3.7 mL min-1 kg-1 (mean +/- SD), respectively. After oral administration, the clearance of R-verapamil was significantly greater than that of S-verapamil, 889 +/- 294 against 351 +/- 109 mL min-1 kg-1, respectively. The apparent oral bioavailability of S-verapamil was greater than that of R-verapamil, 0.074 +/- 0.031 against 0.041 +/- 0.011, respectively. These data suggest that the disposition of verapamil in the rat is stereoselective; verapamil undergoes extensive stereoselective first-pass clearance after oral administration and the direction of stereoselectivity in plasma is opposite to that observed in the human.

Pharmacokinetics of verapamil and norverapamil enantiomers after administration of immediate and controlled-release formulations to humans:evidence suggesting input-rate determined stereoselectivity

Verapamil is a racemic calcium channel-blocking drug that undergoes extensive hepatic first-pass metabolism to an active metabolite, norverapamil. The enantiomers of verapamil and norverapamil have differing negative inotropic, chronotropic, and dromotropic activities and differing effects on vascular smooth muscles; the S-enantiomers having greater activity. It is hypothesized that the R/S concentration ratio of verapamil enantiomers may be input-rate dependent. The pharmacokinetics of verapamil and norverapamil enantiomers were studied in 11 young, healthy male and female volunteers after oral administration of 80 mg immediate-release (IR) verapamil every 8 hours, and a 240 mg dose once daily of controlled-release (CR) formulation on two separate occasions. Both dosage regimens were continued for 1 week with a minimum 1-week period between the two drug treatments. After the last dose of each regimen, plasma samples were collected over the period corresponding to the dosing interval. Enantiomer concentrations were determined using a microwave-facilitated precolumn derivatization with high performance liquid chromatographic quantification. Stereospecific assay revealed that: (1) stereoselective R- and S-enantiomer disposition occurred regardless of formulation administered; (2) a trend of R:S concentration ratios of verapamil differed between the two formulations; and (3) fluctuations between Cmax and Cmin values of the two formulations were statistically different over respective dosing intervals (greater fluctuation after CR administration). Using nonstereospecific data analyses, however, the pharmacokinetic parameters for verapamil and norverapamil were similar for both formulations over a 24-hour period. We suggest that kinetic differences can be attributed to differences in release rates of drug from the tablet matrices. The relative bioavailabilities of verapamil and norverapamil from the two products may, therefore, be subject to input rate-dependent processes.

Stereospecific high-performance liquid chromatographic assay of metoprolol

A valid, sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic technique is reported for the separation of the two enantiomers of metoprolol in human plasma. The procedure involves pre-column derivatization with the homochiral reagent S-(+)-1-(1-naphthyl)ethyl isocyanate. Once formed, the diastereomers are separated using normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Fluorescence detection (220 nm excitation; no emission filter) was utilized, resulting in baseline resolution (Rs greater than 1.5). The peaks corresponding to metoprolol enantiomers were free from interference throughout the examined range of 5-500 ng/ml; accuracy and precision were within approximately 10%. Analysis of a plasma sample collected from a healthy volunteer demonstrated that the assay is applicable to clinical studies.