Mobile phase versus stationary phase approaches to the direct injection of biological fluids in liquid chromatography

Liquid extraction and HPLC-DAD assay of hydrochlorothiazide from plasma for a bioequivalence study at the lowest therapeutic dose

The main parameters considered in optimizing the liquid extraction and quantitative assay were the yield, precision, limit of quantification, time required for extraction and concentration, and quantity of solvent. The influence on these parameters of the following factors was examined: nature of the extracting solvent, quantity of solvent, co-extraction solvent, and duration of stirring. Instead of equilibrium parameters of the involved thermodynamic system, a kinetic approach was preferred in terms of the effective partition 'constant', which is not really constant but a function of time and extraction conditions. The final selected method, considered to be rapid and simple, was applied to determine the pharmacokinetics of hydrochlorotiazide (HCT) after administration of Capozide (Bristol-Myers Squibb) tablets containing 50 mg Captopril and 25 mg HCT, to 4 healthy volunteers. The results obtained were in accordance with the pharmacokinetic parameters of HCT reported in the literature.

Simple method for determination of hydrochlorothiazide in human urine by high performance liquid chromatography utilizing narrowbore chromatography

A simple high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method utilizing narrowbore chromatography was developed for the determination of hydrochlorothiazide in human urine. A mobile phase of 0.1% aqueous acetic acid--acetonitrile (93:7, v/v) pH 3 was used with a C18 analytical column and ultraviolet detection (UV). The method demonstrated linearity from 2 to 50 micrograms ml-1 using 50 microliters of urine with a detection limit of 1 microgram ml-1. The method was utilized in a study evaluating if racial differences are present in the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects of hydrochlorothiazide.

Automated HPLC analyses of drugs of abuse via direct injection of biological fluids followed by simultaneous solid-phase extraction and derivatization with fluorescence detection

An automated system is described for the simultaneous extraction and derivatization of nucleophilic compounds from various biological media. The method includes the use of a solid-phase reagent containing a 9-fluorenylacetate activated ester. The reagent is based on a controlled pore, polystyrene divinylbenzene support prepared through a silica template procedure. An X-Y-Z robotic arm equipped with a needle is used in conjunction with a syringe pump for aspirating and dispensing samples and standards into the HPLC system. A precolumn cartridge containing the solid-phase reagent is put on-line in place of the fixed-volume injection loop. Injections of biological fluids such as urine or plasma with minimal sample treatment and handling are made directly into this reactor. The analytes are derivatized as they are extracted, allowing virtually unlimited sample volumes to be injected. The polymeric cartridge can be used for up to 100 injections without accruing unacceptable reductions in sensitivity. A detection limit of 500 p.p.t. (parts per trillion) of amphetamine in urine was achieved with this system.

Simple determination of hydrochlorothiazide in human plasma and urine by high performance liquid chromatography

The diuretic drug hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) is used mainly for treatment of mild to moderate hypertension and is usually administered with other drugs. An assay for the determination of HCT in human plasma and urine by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has been developed. Samples were purified by solvent extraction and analysed by reversed phase HPLC with ultraviolet detection, using hydroflumethiazide as the internal standard; plasma was eluted using gradient elution and urine was analysed isocratically. The method is simple to perform, is sensitive (detection limit 0.01 micrograms/mL in plasma and 0.2 micrograms/mL for urine); it showed good reproducibility (3-8%). A great number of drugs did not interfere with the assay and the method was used for pharmacokinetic studies in healthy subjects, but samples from patients can also be analysed with high selectivity.

Optimization of selectivity in micellar chromatographic procedures for the determination of drugs in urine by direct injection

Selectivity was optimized for the determination of drugs in urine by direct injection micellar chromatography through changes in specific mobile phase parameters. The rôle of mobile phase pH and the type of surfactant used for mobile phase preparation was investigated. The retention of the urine matrix was found to be minimal between pH 5.5 and 7.5. The non-ionic surfactant, polyoxyethylene 23 lauryl ether (Brij 35), was found to be the surfactant of choice for the separation of drugs from urine. Favourable retention of both the urine background and the analyte was achieved with this surfactant. Micellar mobile phases of optimal composition were used to develop chromatographic procedures for the determination of furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide and propranolol in urine. Good accuracy (98-102% of drug recovered), precision (1-4% RSD) and linearity were obtained for all methods. Limits of detection for all drugs were adequate.