Applications of a simultaneous atomic emission mass spectral gas chromatography detector in drug analysis

For gas chromatographic eluents a microwave induced plasma (MIP) emission detector has two important features for a wide range of nonmetals. These features are (1) elemental selectivity and (2) the ability to determine elemental composition. These capabilities, used individually or in combination, can provide important information which is largely complementary to mass spectral data. Simultaneous determination of the MIP emission and mass spectral data for individual chromatographic peaks can be very useful in resolving a variety of problems encountered in pharmaceutical analysis. Several of these possible applications are illustrated with specific examples.

[The pharmacokinetics of light-protective agents by photoacoustic spectroscopy]

We report on in vivo investigations by photoacoustic spectroscopy on the liberation and horny-layer penetration of UV-absorbing drugs from topically applied vehicle films. This spectroscopic technique can be used to determine the absorption of light in the skin with a depth resolution adequate for the 12-microns-thick horny layer and to gain information on temporal variations in the concentration profile of drug penetrating into the horny layer. Experimental results are presented for the UV-absorbing drugs Uvinul T 150 and P 25 applied to the skin in different vehicles. The results are discussed with reference to model calculations demonstrating the influence of different rate-determining steps on temporal variations in concentration profiles.

Measurement of copper in biological samples by flame or electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Guidelines presented here allow for copper analysis of biological materials by methods that are very sensitive, that require little sample preparation, that have few chemical or spectral interferences, that are inexpensive, and that require only usual care in contamination control. The commercial instruments for FAAS and ETAAS from Perkin-Elmer, from Varian, and from Instrumentation Laboratories Inc. (Allied Analytical Systems) all work well in either the flame or the flameless mode. Background correction techniques are not essential for copper analysis if care is taken with the sample preparation to minimize the background signals. Different types of burners will work adequately if one makes certain that the viscosity of the sample and the control products are similar to the calibration standards. Further, dilution of samples is preferred over increasing the viscosity of the calibration standards by the addition of a protein containing solution or a substance such as glycerol. A 1:10 dilution of blood plasma or serum with dilute nitric acid or water is all that is necessary for copper analysis by the FFAS methods. Cation and anion effects should be tested by bracketing the concentrations of the ions found in the sample with known amounts of ions in the sample solutions. Increasing the concentrations of the ions thought to interfere while keeping the copper concentration constant is another way to test for ion interferences.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Influence of preanalytical factors on the atomic absorption spectrometry determination of trace elements in biological samples

In the analysis of the concentration of trace elements in biological material there are many possible preanalytical sources of error. Precision and accuracy of trace element analyses are not so much determined by the analytical procedure--atomic absorption spectrometry--as by individual biological factors, contamination and loss of elements during sampling and sample preparation, influences resulting from the calibration procedure, or from the analytical equipment itself. Genetical factors like sex or race, ecological factors like age or pregnancy and short term factors like food intake, parenteral feeding or drug therapy can influence the final results. Different blood sampling methods with different duration and strength of compression may lead to hemolysis resulting in falsely elevated values of trace elements. Needles, syringes and tubes contribute to contamination by leaching trace elements from their walls or lead to loss of material by adsorption to the surface of the walls. As there is still no primary standard in order to guarantee precision and accuracy the calibration procedures have to be compared individually depending on the different matrices of the sample.

A multichannel microspectrophotometer for visual pigment investigations

The microspectrophotometer described replaces the photomultiplier of conventional scanning systems with a multichannel detector. By eliminating scanning-related artifacts, particularly those associated with mechanical vibrations, this system makes possible ship-based microspectrophotometric studies of visual pigments of marine organisms too fragile for live transport to shore-based laboratories. The performance of the multichannel microspectrophotometer is compared with that of conventional scanning systems and absorbance spectra taken at sea on isolated rhabdoms from Euphausia pacifica are presented. Difference spectra gave a lambda max for rhodopsin of 483 nm and a lambda max for metarhodopsin of 489 nm.

Determination of thallium in urine with Zeeman effect graphite furnace atomic absorption

Thallium is determined in urine with a simple dilution as the only sample pretreatment. Zeeman effect background correction provides adequate accommodation for non-atomic absorption such that sufficient diluted urine can be introduced into the furnace to achieve a detection limit of 0.5 ng/mL. Precision and accuracy were evaluated with Environmental Protection Agency water samples and in vitro spiked urine pools; precision of 15% at the 6 ng/mL level was observed. Diluted urine was used in calibration, with only 4 to 5% difference in slope observed within run among randomly selected urine specimens.

Routine measurement of calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc, and iron in urine and serum by inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy

We describe an inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer that has been adapted to perform routine, simultaneous, direct analyses of calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc, and iron in serum or urine without sample digestion or pretreatment. The system, constructed with inexpensive, readily available components, can analyze 1-mL or smaller samples. Results correlate nearly perfectly with those derived by standard atomic absorption techniques (r = 0.98 to 0.997). Using certified serum and urine samples from various sources, we demonstrate that the instrument yields accurate results with a precision better than certified values. The instrument is sensitive to one order of magnitude less than the lower limit of the normal range in serum or urine for all elements tested, and responds linearly to concentrations two orders of magnitude higher than the upper limit of the normal range. With the system described here, these five elements can be assayed with the same or less technical effort than needed for a single element by atomic absorption.

Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometry of nickel in tissue homogenates

A method for analysis of Ni concentrations in tissues is described, which involves (a) tissue dissection with metal-free obsidian knives, (b) tissue homogenization in polyethylene bags by use of a "Stomacher" blender, (c) oxidative digestion with mixed nitric, sulfuric, and perchloric acids, and (d) quantitation of Ni by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometry with Zeeman background correction. The detection limit for Ni in tissues is 10 ng per g, dry weight; the coefficient of variation ranges from 7 to 15 percent, depending on the tissue Ni concentration; the recovery of Ni added in concentration of 20 ng per g, dry weight, to kidney homogenates averages 101 +/- 8 percent (mean +/- SD). In control rats, Ni concentrations are highest in lung (102 +/- 39 ng per g, dry weight) and lowest in spleen (35 +/- 16 ng per g, dry wt.). In descending order of Ni concentrations, the tissues of control rats rank as follows: lung greater than heart greater than bone greater than kidney greater than brain greater than testis greater than fat greater than liver greater than spleen. In rats killed 24 h after sc injection of NiCl2 (0.125 mmol per kg, body weight) Ni concentrations are highest in kidney (17.7 +/- 2.5 micrograms per g, dry weight) and lowest in brain (0.38 +/- 0.14 micrograms per g, dry weight). In descending order of Ni concentrations, the tissues of NiCl2-treated rats rank as follows: kidney much greater than lung greater than spleen greater than testis greater than heart greater than fat greater than liver greater than bone greater than brain.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Matrix modifiers in graphite furnace atomic absorption analysis of trace lithium in biological fluids

The use of KH2PO4/NH4NO3 as matrix modifier eliminates severe interference effects on the atomic absorption analysis of lithium in biological fluids. This enables determination of trace lithium in microliter size samples with absolute sensitivity (0.0044 absorbance) of 2 pg. There is no requirement for standard additions experiments to correct for interferences in specific matrices such as serum and saliva. The biological half-life of trace lithium was 16.9 +/- 2.8 h. Saliva lithium is a good estimate of serum level; the two are highly correlated (r = 0.97) and saliva level is about three times serum.

K, Ca, Mg, and Zn in platelets, as determined by atomic absorption spectrometry with use of a sealed decomposition bomb and discrete nebulization

In this new method for precise and accurate determination of K, Ca, Mg, and Zn in platelets, small amounts of platelets, prepared by differential centrifugation and cell washing, are decomposed in a homemade mini-vessel, a sealed Teflon bomb. The metal ions in the decomposed sample are measured by atomic absorption spectrometry with discrete nebulization. Overall, CVs ranged from 0.8 to 4.8%. We investigated sex-related differences (none were found) and intra-individual variations.

Evaluation of the ASTRA o-cresolphthalein complexone calcium method

An automated calcium method based on o-cresolphthalein complexone chemistry and designed to be used in conjunction with the Beckman ASTRA systems (Beckman Instruments, Inc., Brea, CA) was evaluated. Day-to-day reproducibility studies yielded coefficients of variation ranging from 1.2 to 3.1%. Linearity was 5.0-15.5 mg/dL, and recovery of calcium averaged 98%. Bilirubin, creatinine, hemoglobin, and turbidity did not cause significant interference while there was a positive interference due to magnesium. The throughput is 70 samples per hour, and a single stat result can be obtained in 9 minutes from the standby mode. Very little sample (12 microL) or reagent (150 microL) is required. There was excellent correlation between the ASTRA calcium method and atomic absorption spectrophotometry (Y = 1.047x - 0.39, r = 0.9941). Analytic performance was judged acceptable according to Westgard's medical usefulness criteria of the observed total analytic errors being less than the limit of allowable error.

Trace analysis of lead in blood, aluminium and manganese in serum and chromium in urine by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

A graphite furnace atomizer with automatic sampler is used to measure low levels of trace metals in biological samples by atomic absorption spectrometry. With blood and serum, the sample treatment consists of diluting (1:1) with aqueous Triton X-100 solution, centrifuging in the case of blood, and dispensing the liquid directly into a pyrolytic coated graphite tube. Sample volumes for blood and serum range from 5 to 10 microL. Stabilized urine (25 microL) is analyzed directly. The possibility of contamination is minimized by this simple procedure. The methods described minimize sample handling and involve reagents which are virtually free of contamination of the analytes. Background correction is necessary except for the determination of aluminium in serum, and precisions range from 0.7% to 4.3% RSD. The standard additions technique is used to establish the calibration and the required volume of sample and aqueous addition is automatically dispensed directly into the graphite tube.