Liquid chromatographic bioanalytical determination of ropivacaine, bupivacaine and major metabolites

Integration of Solid-Phase Extraction and Reversed-Phase Chromatography in Single Protein-Coated Columns for Direct Injection of Bupivacaine in Human Serum

A rapid, reliable and precise integrated solid-phase extraction (SPE) and reversed-phase liquid chromatography method was developed and validated to determine bupivacaine in human serum using single protein-coated analytical columns. The protein-coated columns were packed with four different sorbents: TSK-ODS, LiChrosorb RP-8, LiChrosorb RP-2 and μ-Bondapak CN-bonded silica. The method involved direct injection of serum sample onto the columns for trapping of the analyte, clean-up from weakly retained serum endogenous components, as well as the final separation. The protein-coated columns operated in two different chromatographic modes. Serum proteins were extracted and cleaned up by SPE, whereas the final separation of bupivacaine was based on reversed-phase chromatography. The protein-coated TSK-ODS column resulted in more accurate peak integration and more reproducible results. A linear relationship between the concentrations of drug and peak areas was confirmed in the range of 100-2000 ng/mL. Detection and quantification limits were 24.85 and 85.36 ng/mL, respectively. The average recovery for bupivacaine ranged from 96.48% to 98.81%. The present methodology was successfully applied, with a high degree of confidence, to analyze clinical samples obtained from patient receiving 0.5% bupivacaine therapy.

Pharmacokinetics of ropivacaine in patients with chronic renal failure

BACKGROUND

As ropivacaine and its metabolites are excreted by the kidneys, we studied their disposition in subjects with renal dysfunction.

METHODS

Twenty patients with moderate or severe renal insufficiency and 10 healthy volunteers received ropivacaine 1 mg kg(-1) i.v. over 30 min. The concentrations of ropivacaine and its main metabolites, pipecoloxylidide (PPX) and 3-hydroxy-ropivacaine, were measured in plasma and urine for 16-48 h. The relationship between pharmacokinetic parameters and creatinine clearance (CL(CR)) was assessed. A model for estimating non-renal clearance of a metabolite of ropivacaine is described.

RESULTS

Renal dysfunction had little or no influence on the pharmacokinetics of ropivacaine. The median plasma concentrations of unbound ropivacaine were similar in uraemic and non-uraemic subjects. Renal clearance of PPX correlated significantly with CL(CR) (R(2)=0.81). Lack of correlation between total PPX exposure, expressed as area under the total plasma concentration-time curve from zero to infinity, and CL(CR) suggests that the clearance of PPX also includes non-renal elimination. However, in two uraemic patients, there was increased exposure to PPX resulting from low non-renal elimination.

CONCLUSIONS

The pharmacokinetics of ropivacaine is not affected by renal failure. Although the renal clearance of PPX correlates with CL(CR), non-renal elimination seems to compensate for reduced renal clearance in most patients. PPX may accumulate in plasma during long-term postoperative infusions, in particular in patients with co-existing low non-renal elimination. Systemic toxicity is still unlikely because PPX is markedly less toxic than ropivacaine.

Surface modified polypropylene pipette tips packed with a monolithic plug of adsorbent for high-throughput sample preparation

UV-initiated poly(butyl methacrylate-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) porous polymer monoliths were prepared in situ in polypropylene-based pipette tips for high-throughput sample preparation. Prior to the in situ polymerization, the surface of the PP tips was modified. In this work, two different surface modification approaches were tested for this purpose. First the photoinitiator benzophenone was used to generate radicals at the surface of PP by hydrogen abstraction. In the second modification approach, a thin layer of a polymer was directly grafted to the surface. The effect of surface modification was measured by contact angle measurements of a drop of water at the surface. As a result of the surface modification, scan electron microscopy images indicate a covalent attachment of the monolith to the wall of the pipette tip. Pipette tips modified with 5% BP in methanol and packed with a plug of monolith were further evaluated for high-throughput sample preparation. Using a liquid handling system, the extraction performance of packed pipette tips was tested for the analysis of ropivacaine in plasma samples. The recovery and reproducibility results were in accordance with internationally accepted criteria for qualitative and quantitative analysis of the test substance, ropivacaine.

Efficacy and plasma levels of ropivacaine for children: controlled regional analgesia following lower limb surgery

BACKGROUND

Continuous regional analgesia (CRA) is considered a safe and efficacious technique for postoperative pain relief in children after lower limb surgery. We recently evaluated the feasibility of patient-controlled regional analgesia (PCRA) in a similar acute pain situation and we concluded that PCRA might be advantageous over CRA in terms of lower costs, risk of systemic toxicity while producing similarly adequate analgesia. We therefore prospectively compared both techniques in the paediatric population.

METHODS

In total, 30 children undergoing lower limb orthopaedic surgery were randomized to receive PCRA or CRA with ropivacaine 0.2%. Visual analogue scale scores, rescue analgesia, overall satisfaction, motor blockade and plasma ropivacaine concentrations were recorded for 48 h.

RESULTS

Adequate analgesia was achieved with both techniques. No significant difference was noted for rescue analgesia, overall satisfaction and motor blockade. In contrast, children in the PCRA group received significantly less local anaesthetics than those in the CRA group. In addition, total plasma concentrations of ropivacaine were significantly reduced in the PCRA group as compared with the CRA group during the 48 h postoperative period.

CONCLUSIONS

Both techniques are efficacious and satisfactory. However, PCRA with ropivacaine 0.2% can provide adequate postoperative analgesia for paediatric orthopaedic procedures with smaller doses of ropivacaine than CRA.

Quantification of ropivacaine and its major metabolites in human urine samples utilizing microextraction in a packed syringe automated with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (MEPS-LC-MS/MS)

The determination of ropivacaine and its major metabolites in urine was performed using microextraction in a packed syringe as an on-line sample preparation method with LC and MS/MS. The sampling sorbent utilized was polystyrene polymer. [2H7]ropivacaine was used as the internal standard. The lower LOQ was 5.0 nmol/L. The calibration curves were obtained within the concentration range 5-2000 nmol/ L in urine. The regression correlation coefficients for urine samples were > or = 0.999 for all runs. The between-batch accuracy and precision values were determined from six replicates of quality control (QC) samples at three different concentrations in human urine. The mean accuracy values for the QC samples, reported as the percentage difference from the nominal value, were in the range of 99-115%. The precisions, given as the RSDs, were in the range 1.9-11%. The present method is miniaturized and fully automated and can be used for pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies.

Reversed phase ion-pair high performance liquid chromatographic gradient separation of related impurities in 2,4-disulfonic acid benzaldehyde di-sodium salt

A reversed phase ion-pair gradient liquid chromatographic method has been developed and validated for purity determination of the hydrophilic compound 2,4-disulfonic acid benzaldehyde di-sodium salt (2,4-DSAD) containing both hydrophilic and more lipophilic related impurities. Mixtures of acetonitrile-phosphate buffer containing tetrahexylammonium hydrogen sulfate as the ion-pairing reagent were used as the mobile phase. A linear gradient, which generated simultaneous change in the concentration of organic modifier, buffer concentration and the concentration of ion-pairing reagent, was applied. The method allows detection of impurities at low levels (0.01% w/w). Excellent repeatability for both retention time (RSD< or =0.3%, n = 6) and detector response (RSD = 0.03%, n = 6 for the main peak and RSD = 6%, n = 6, for an impurity at 0.01 area% level) was obtained. The method was shown to be robust for routine analysis and has been successfully transferred to the quality control laboratory.

Application of a column selection system and DryLab software for high-performance liquid chromatography method development

This paper describes a strategy for the development of chromatographic methods for drug candidates based upon the use of simple MS compatible mobile phases and optimization of the chromatographic selectivity through variations of the stationary phase and mobile phase pH. The strategy employs an automated column selection system and a series of HPLC columns, varying in hydrophobicity and silanol activity, in combination with DryLab software to develop chromatographic methods for the separation of mixtures of bupivacaine and its metabolites; acidic, basic, and neutral compounds; and atenolol, nitrendipine, and their degradation products.

Simultaneous determination of three local anesthetic drugs from the pipecoloxylidide group in human serum by high-performance liquid chromatography

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method has been developed for the simultaneous analysis of the local anesthetic amide drugs, bupivacaine, mepivacaine and ropivacaine, belonging to the pipecoloxylidide group using a C(18) reversed-phase column (150 x 4.6 mm I.D.) filled with 5-microm particles and attached to a UV detector. The mobile phase was composed of acetonitrile-methanol-30 mM NaH(2)PO(4) (pH 5.6) (100:100:300, v/v/v) and the flow rate was 1ml/min. The absorbance of the eluate was monitored at 210 nm. The retention times of the three compounds were: 4.6 min (mepivacaine), 9.7min (ropivacaine) and 16.4 min (bupivacaine). With this sample preparation method, good and consistent recoveries of the three compounds were obtained: 88-91% for mepivacaine, 87-89% for ropivacaine and 88-91% for bupivacaine. The limit of quantification for three compounds in human serum was 2 ng/ml for mepivacaine, 5 ng/ml for bupivacaine and ropivacaine. This method may be useful in clinical and forensic applications for the determination or identification of the local anesthetic drugs: bupivacaine, mepivacaine or ropivacaine.

Molecularly imprinted polymers grafted to flow through poly(trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate) monoliths for capillary-based solid-phase extraction

Monolithic molecularly imprinted polymers (mMIPs) have been synthesized in a novel way using a trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate core material photo-polymerized in situ in a 100 microm I.D. UV-transparent capillary and further photo-grafted to create specific cavities in the grafted layer. This polymerization technique allows the imprints to be directly created on the surface of the material using a minimum amount of template. Three different anaesthetics of similar structures (bupivacaine, mepivacaine and S-ropivacaine) were used as model target molecules to synthesize sample enrichment media. Hence, various mMIPs have been prepared and evaluated on a micro-system against each analyte in order to test the retention properties and cross-selectivities of the materials. The retention factors were determined and compared with the non-imprinted reference column (mNIP), yielding high imprinting factors together with good selectivity factors between the three analytes. A study with a pure enantiomeric target was carried out to assess the degree of stereo-specific imprinting for injection of racemic mixtures. Finally, one column was imprinted with an equimolar mixture of all three anaesthetics to provide further comprehension of the retention mechanism and accredit the possibility of using the material as a sample enrichment entity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), nitrogen absorption/desorption (BET) and mercury intrusion porosimetry were used to characterize the monolith and the mMIPs properties. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has been used to assess the similarities between the mMIP and mNIP.

Determination of ropivacaine in human plasma using highly selective molecular imprint-based solid phase extraction and fast LC–MS analysis

A method for determining ropivacaine in human plasma using highly selective molecular imprint-based solid phase extraction and LC-MS analysis was developed. The imprinted extraction material was prepared using a structural analogue of ropivacaine as the template. The efficient sample cleanup achieved allowed single MS mode operation and analytical separation under isocratic conditions with a total separation time of less than two minutes. The absence of ion suppression was confirmed for both the m/z of ropivacaine and the m/z of the internal standard. The solid phase extraction protocol was optimised for elution of ropivacaine in a small volume of aqueous-rich solvent suitable for injection into a reversed phase LC-MS system. The final method measured trace levels of ropivacaine in human plasma with a limit of quantification of 2.5 nmol/L and interassay accuracy and precision of 101.7-104.4% and 2.1-7.2%, respectively.

Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Plasma Ropivacaine for Assessing Pharmacokinetics of the Viscous Preparation

We developed assay method for determination of plasma ropivacaine by using reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) equipped with ordinary octadecylsilyl silica-gel (ODS) column. Plasma samples spiked with internal standard (bupivacaine) were treated by ethylacetate to extract ropivacaine and internal standard. The ropivacaine and internal standard separated on ODS column were detected by an ultra violet (UV) detector set at 215 nm. The mobile phase solvent consisted of acetonitrile, methanol and 0.05 M phosphate buffer adjusted to pH 4.0 (10 : 30 : 60, v/v) was pumped at a flow rate of 0.8 ml/min. The calibration curve of ropivacaine was linear at the concentration of 25-1,000 ng/ml (r=0.9998). The recoveries of ropivacaine from plasma were greater than 87.9% with the coefficient of variations (CVs) less than 6.1%. The CVs for intra- and inter-day assay of ropivacaine were 2.0-12.0% and 1.7-14.8%, respectively. This HPLC method was applied to determining plasma ropivacaine in two healthy subjects after receiving 0.5% ropivacaine viscous preparation, which was prepared in our hospital. Our preliminary pharmacokinetic data showed that ropivacaine viscous could be used safely based on the plasma ropivacaine concentrations (C(max): 89-125 ng/ml) for pain relief in oral mucosa.

New trend in sample preparation: on-line microextraction in packed syringe for liquid and gas chromatography applications. I. Determination of local anaesthetics in human plasma samples using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A new technique for sample preparation on-line with LC and GC-MS assays was developed. Microextraction in a packed syringe (MEPS) is a new miniaturised, solid-phase extraction technique that can be connected on-line to GC or LC without any modifications. In MEPS approximately 1mg of the solid packing material is inserted into a syringe (100-250 microl) as a plug. Sample preparation takes place on the packed bed. The bed can be coated to provide selective and suitable sampling conditions. The new method is very promising. It is very easy to use, fully automated, of low cost and rapid in comparison with previously used methods. This paper presents the development and validation of a method for microextraction in packed syringe MEPS on-line with GC-MS. Local anaesthetics in plasma samples were used as model substances. The method was validated and the standard curves were evaluated by the means of quadratic regression and weighted by inverse of the concentration: 1/x for the calibration range 5-2000 nM. The applied polymer could be used more than 100 times before the syringe was discarded. The extraction recovery was between 60 and 90%. The results showed close correlation coefficients (R>0.99) for all analytes in the calibration range studied. The accuracy of MEPS-GC-MS was between 99 and 115% and the inter-day precision (n=3 days), expressed as the relative standard deviation (R.S.D.%), was 3-10%.

Determination of bupivacaine and metabolites in rat urine using capillary electrophoresis with mass spectrometric detection

A method using capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (CE-MS) was developed for the structural elucidation of bupivacaine and metabolites in rat urine. Prior to CE-MS analysis, solid-phase extraction (SPE) was used for sample cleanup and preconcentration purposes. Exact mass and tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) experiments were performed to obtain structural information about the unknown metabolites. Two instruments with different mass analyzers were used for mass spectrometric detection. A quadrupole time-of-flight (Q-TOF) and a magnetic sector hybrid instrument were coupled to CE and used for the analysis of urine extracts. Hydroxybupivacaine as well as five other isomerically different metabolites were detected including methoxylated bupivacaine.

Rectal ropivacaine is absorbed proportionally to the dose, with low intraindividual variability

AIMS

This study investigated the absorption characteristics and the tolerability of rectally administered ropivacaine, a local anaesthetic, intended as a new local therapy for ulcerative colitis.

METHODS

Thirty-two healthy volunteers participated in a randomized, placebo-controlled study. In study phase 1 (n = 16, double-blind, crossover) single rectal doses of ropivacaine corresponding to 50, 100 and 200 mg base were given as 20-ml gel enemas. Eight of these subjects also received an i.v. infusion corresponding to 20 mg (2H3)ropivacaine base given with the last rectal dose. In study phase 2 (n = 16, single-blind, crossover) the same rectal doses were given but formulated in 20, 40 and 80 ml gel, respectively. Peripheral venous plasma samples and urine were collected over 12 h after dosing and analysed for ropivacaine base by gas chromatography and (2H3)ropivacaine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Ropivacaine and metabolites were analysed in urine by reversed phase liquid chromatography.

RESULTS

AUC was proportional to the dose with a point estimate [95% confidence interval (CI)] for the increase, after doubling the dose, of 1.91 (1.66-2.20) and 1.95 (1.78-2.13) in study phases 1 and 2, respectively. The increase in Cmax was also proportional to the dose with corresponding results of 1.76 (1.52-2.04) and 1.84 (1.70-1.99). The volume of the rectal formulation had no influence on either the extent or the time course of absorption. The mean (s.d.) absolute bioavailability (%F) was 56 (18)%. AUC and Cmax showed a two- to three-fold lower intra- than interindividual variability. Zero-order kinetics dominated the first 4 h of the absorption phase. Thereafter first-order kinetics were observed. The terminal half-lives were similar between the rectal doses and were longer than that after the i.v. administration, indicating an absorption-dependent half-life. The main urinary metabolite was 3-hydroxyropivacaine corresponding to about 23% of the dose. The subjects had no difficulties in retaining the doses and rectal administration of ropivacaine was well tolerated, both locally and systemically.

CONCLUSIONS

Plasma drug concentrations were proportional to the dose after rectally administered doses corresponding to 50-200 mg ropivacaine base in a gel formulation. The drug was well-tolerated. Mean bioavailability was about 60% and not influenced by variations in the enema volume. Initial absorption seemed to follow zero-order kinetics and then first-order kinetics after about 4 h. Cmax and AUC showed considerably less intra- compared with inter-individual variability, resulting in more consistent plasma concentrations within subjects.

Simultaneous determination of unbound ropivacaine in rat blood and brain using microdialysis

To investigate the pharmacokinetics of ropivacaine in rat blood and brain, a sensitive HPLC method and microdialysis were developed for the simultaneous determination of unbound ropivacaine in rat blood and brain. Adult, male Sprague-Dawley rats (290-350 g) were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital (50 mg/kg, i.p.). Two microdialysis probes were inserted, one into the jugular vein toward right atrium, and one into the brain striatum of rats. Ropivacaine (5 mg/kg, i.v.) was then administered via the femoral vein. Blood and brain dialysates were collected and eluted with a mobile phase containing methanol-acetonitrite-20 mM monosodium phosphoric acid (pH 5.5) (10:40:50, v/v/v) in a liquid chromatographic system. Separation of ropivacaine was achieved by a CN column (Phenomenex Luna, 250x4.6 mm, particle size 5 microm; Torrance, CA, USA) within 10 min. The UV detector wavelength was set at 205 nm and the detection limit of ropivacaine was 20 ng/ml. The intra- and inter-day accuracy and precision of the analyses were less than 10% in the ranges of 0.02-5 microg/ml. The pharmacokinetic data were calculated from the individual animal measurements of dialysate concentration versus time. This method exhibits no endogenous interference and its sensitivity is sufficient for the determination of biological samples. The present results confirm that microdialysis sampling followed by LC separation with UV detection represents a viable approach for the measurement of free ropivacaine in rat brain and plasma.

Direct injection of human plasma samples after ultrafiltration into programmed temperature vaporiser-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with packed liner

The direct injection of plasma samples after ultrafiltration into a gas chromatograph using a packed injector liner was investigated. Ropivacaine, a local anaesthetic of the amide type and one of its metabolites (PPX) were used as model compounds in this evaluation. Phosphoric acid was added to the plasma to minimize the protein binding. After ultrafiltration, 50 microl of the sample was directly injected into the chromatographic system. No interfering peaks or damage to the GC or MS system were observed using ultrafiltration as a sample-preparation method. The validation of the method demonstrated good linearity and selectivity. The limits of quantification were 1.1 nM (301 pg/ml) and 1.4 nM (325 pg/ml) for ropivacaine and PPX, respectively. The liner had to be changed after 20 injections.

Ropivacaine pharmacokinetics after caudal block in 1-8 year old children

We studied the pharmacokinetics after caudal block of ropivacaine (2 mg ml-1, 1 ml kg-1) performed in 20 children aged 1-8 yr undergoing subumbilical surgery, in this open, non-comparative, multicentre study. Venous blood samples were collected up to 12-36 h. The mean (SD) peak plasma concentration, 0.47 (0.16) mg litre-1, was achieved after 12-249 min. The free fraction was 5% and the highest individual peak plasma concentration of free ropivacaine was 0.04 mg litre-1. Clearance was 7.4 (1.9) ml min-1 kg-1 and the terminal half-life 3.2 (0.8) h. Thus, the free plasma concentrations of ropivacaine were well below those associated with toxic symptoms in adults and the capacity to eliminate ropivacaine seems to be well developed in this age group. In this open study of 20 patients, ropivacaine was well tolerated and provided satisfactory postoperative pain relief without observable motor block.

Automated liquid membrane extraction for high-performance liquid chromatography of Ropivacaine metabolites in urine

An automatic method for the determination of metabolites of Ropivacaine in urine was set up. It utilizes supported liquid membrane extraction for sample clean-up and enrichment, followed by ion-pair chromatography determination using UV detection. The extraction was very selective with no observed interfering compounds from the urine matrix, permitting simple isocratic chromatographic analysis. The detection limits for spiked urine samples were 2-18 nM for the different compounds. The repeatability was 1-3% (RSD) with an internal standard that was also extracted, and about twice without this standard. A throughput of 3.3 samples per hour was achieved and the liquid membrane was stable for more than a week.