Determination of some cardiovascular drugs in serum and urine by capillary isotachophoresis

Capillary isotachophoresis with electrospray-ionization mass-spectrometric detection: Cationic electrolyte systems in the medium-alkaline range for selective analysis of medium strong bases

This work extends the present working range of isotachophoresis (ITP) with electrospray-ionization mass-spectrometric (ESI-MS) detection and describes for the first time a functional cationic electrolyte system for analyses at medium-alkaline pH. So far no ITP-MS application was published on the analysis of medium strong bases although there is a broad spectrum of potential analytes like biogenic amines, alkaloids or drugs, where this technique promises interesting gains in both sensitivity and specificity. The presented results include a selection of suitable sufficiently volatile ESI-compatible system components, discussion of factors affecting system properties, and recommendations for functional ITP electrolyte systems. Theoretical conclusions based on calculations and computer simulations are confirmed by experiments with a model mixture of beta-blockers. Practical applicability of the method is demonstrated on the example of analysis of sotalol in dried blood spots where direct injection of aqueous extract, ITP stacking and MS detection provide a fast, simple and sensitive technique with limits of quantitation on the sub-nM level.

Simultaneous Determination of Hydrochlorothiazide in Combination with Some Antihypertensive Drugs in The Presence of Its Main Impurities in Pure Form and Pharmaceutical Formulations

Background:

Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) is potent diuretic that is used alone or in combination with other drugs such as labetalol (Lab) (mixtures Ι) or nebivolol (Neb) (mixtures ΙΙ) to control moderate to sever hypertension.

Introduction:

This paper demonstrates the establishment of different validated spectrophotometric and chemometric methods for simultaneous estimation of these mixtures in pure form and pharmaceutical formulations in the presence of HCTZ related impurities in quality control laboratories.

Methods:

(A) Derivative method (D3) of Lab and HCTZ and its related impurities at 245.3nm and 278.5nm respectively, (D1) of Neb and HCTZ at 294.2nm and 282.2nm, respectively. (B) First derivative of ratio spectra method (DD 1) of Lab at 244.3nm, HCTZ at 261.2nm and 275.4nm, while at 294nm for Neb and 269.4nm for HCTZ. (C) Ratio difference method which depends on measuring the distinction between the amplitudes of ratio spectra at 240nm and 288.3nm for Lab and at 270.1nm and 277.4nm for HCTZ for mixture Ι while at 290.4nm and 299.2nm for Neb and at 232.2nm and 254nm for HCTZ for mixture ΙΙ. (D) Mean centering of ratio spectra (MC) and (E) partial least squares regression (PLS) and principal component regression (PCR).

Results:

These methods were applied over concentration ranges of 10-100 µg/ml, 10-75 µg/ml and 2.5- 25 µg/ml of Lab, Neb and HCTZ, respectively. Methods were validated according to ICH guidelines and statistical comparison of results of reported and proposed methods revealed no difference.

Conclusion:

The methods were successfully used for the frequent analysis of selected mixtures in quality control laboratories.

Isotachophoresis applied to biomolecular reactions

This review discusses research developments and applications of isotachophoresis (ITP) to the initiation, control, and acceleration of chemical reactions, emphasizing reactions involving biomolecular reactants such as nucleic acids, proteins, and live cells. ITP is a versatile technique which requires no specific geometric design or material, and is compatible with a wide range of microfluidic and automated platforms. Though ITP has traditionally been used as a purification and separation technique, recent years have seen its emergence as a method to automate and speed up chemical reactions. ITP has been used to demonstrate up to 14 000-fold acceleration of nucleic acid assays, and has been used to enhance lateral flow and other immunoassays, and even whole bacterial cell detection assays. We here classify these studies into two categories: homogeneous (all reactants in solution) and heterogeneous (at least one reactant immobilized on a solid surface) assay configurations. For each category, we review and describe physical modeling and scaling of ITP-aided reaction assays, and elucidate key principles in ITP assay design. We summarize experimental advances, and identify common threads and approaches which researchers have used to optimize assay performance. Lastly, we propose unaddressed challenges and opportunities that could further improve these applications of ITP.

Simultaneous determination of amiloride and hydrochlorothiazide in human plasma by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry with positive/negative ion-switching electrospray ionisation

A new method for simultaneous determination of amiloride and hydrochlorothiazide by liquid chromatography/electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) operated in positive and negative ionization switching mode was developed and validated. Protein precipitation with acetonitrile was selected for sample preparation. The analytes were separated on a Phenomenex Curosil-PFP (250x4.6 mm, 5 microm) column by a gradient elution with a mobile phase consisting of 0.15% formic acid solution containing 0.23% ammonium acetate and methanol pumped at a flow rate of 1.0 mL.min(-1). Rizatriptan was used as the internal standard (IS) for quantification. The determination was carried out on a Waters Quattro-micro triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer operated in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode using the following transitions monitored simultaneously: positive m/z 230-->171 for amiloride, m/z 270-->158 for rizatriptan, and negative m/z 296-->205 for hydrochlorothiazide. The lower limits of quantification (LLOQs) were 0.1 and 1.0 ng.mL(-1) for amiloride and hydrochlorothiazide, respectively, which were lower than other published methods by using ultraviolet (UV), fluorimetric or mass spectrometric detection. The intra- and inter-day precision and accuracy were studied at three different concentration levels and were always better than 15% (n=5). This simple and robust LC/MS/MS method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of compound amiloride and hydrochlorothiazide tablets in healthy male Chinese volunteers.

Using on-line solid phase extraction for determination of amiloride in human urine by sequential injection technique

This presented paper deals with a new methodology for the direct determination of amiloride in human urine. The methodology described is based on the sequential injection analysis technique (SIA) coupled with solid phase extraction (SPE) microcolumn. SPE microcolumn was used for selective retention of amiloride, while the urine matrix components were eluted with water carrier flow to the waste. Due to the acid-basic and polarity properties of amiloride molecule and principles of ion-exchange chromatography, it was possible to retain amiloride on the ion-exchange sorbent (SPE BAKER WCX-carboxy group). Eluting solution was 0.01 M HNO3+0.1 M KCl, flow rate 20 microl s(-1). The fluorescence detection of amiloride was performed at lambda(em) 385 nm (secondary filter). Recovery was found in the range 96.8-99.4% for 10 times diluted urine, linearity of determination in the range 0.5-100 microg ml(-1) (r=0.998), and 3sigma limit of detection (LOD) was 0.05 microg ml(-1). The whole procedure comprising raw sample pre-treatment, analyte detection and column reconditioning took 8 min. The proposed SIA-SPE method has been applied for direct determination of amiloride in human urine.

Sequential injection extraction based on restricted access material for determination of furosemide in serum

Restricted access material (RAM) column containing 25 microm C18 alkyl-diol support was integrated into the sequential injection analysis (SIA) manifold and the SIA-RAM system was tested for direct determination of furosemide in serum. LiChrospher ADS column based on restricted access material is proposed to direct injection of biofluids. The integration of RAM material into SIA enabled creation of a comprehensive on-line sample clean-up technique combined with fluorescence quantitation of analyte. Centrifuged and diluted serum sample was aspirated into the system and loaded onto the column using acetonitrile-water (2:98), pH 2.7. The analyte was retained on the column while proteins contained in the sample were removed to the waste without precipitation and clogging the column. Interfering substances complicating the detection were washed out by acetonitrile-water (15:85), pH 2.7 in the next step. The extracted analyte was eluted by means of acetonitrile-water (25:75), pH 2.3 to the fluorescence detector (emission filter 385 nm). The whole procedure comprising sample pre-treatment, analyte detection and column reconditioning took 20 min. The recoveries of furosemide from serum lay between 101.4 and 103.4% for three concentrations of analyte.

Validated Kinetic Spectrophotometric Method for the Determination of Metoprolol Tartrate in Pharmaceutical Formulations

A kinetic spectrophotometric method has been described for the determination of metoprolol tartrate in pharmaceutical formulations. The method is based on reaction of the drug with alkaline potassium permanganate at 25+/-1 degrees C. The reaction is followed spectrophotometrically by measuring the change in absorbance at 610 nm as a function of time. The initial rate and fixed time (at 15.0 min) methods are utilized for constructing the calibration graphs to determine the concentration of the drug. Both the calibration graphs are linear in the concentration range of 1.46 x 10(-6)-8.76 x 10(-6) M (10.0-60.0 microg per 10 ml). The calibration data resulted in the linear regression equations of log (rate)=3.634+0.999 log C and A=6.300 x 10(-4)+6.491 x 10(-2) C for initial-rate and fixed time methods, respectively. The limits of quantitation for initial rate and fixed time methods are 0.04 and 0.10 microg ml(-1), respectively. The activation parameters such as E(a), DeltaH(double dagger), DeltaS(double dagger) and DeltaG(double dagger) are also evaluated for the reaction and found to be 90.73 kJ mol(-1), 88.20 kJ mol(-1), 84.54 J K(-1) mol(-1) and 63.01 kJ mol(-1), respectively. The results are validated statistically and through recovery studies. The method has been successfully applied to the determination of metoprolol tartrate in pharmaceutical formulations. Statistical comparison of the results with the reference method shows excellent agreement and indicates no significant difference in accuracy and precision.

Electrochemical behavior and determination of amiloride drug in bulk form and pharmaceutical formulation at mercury electrodes

The polarographic behavior of amiloride hydrochloride has been studied in Britton-Robinson buffers of pH 1.9-11. In acidic medium at Ph< or =2, the dc-polarograms exhibited a single 4-electron cathodic irreversible wave, while at pH values >2, a second two-electron irreversible cathodic wave appeared at a more negative potential. The single or first wave may be attributed to the cleavage of the double bond of the -CH=NH of the imidino amide group with the release of NH(3). While the second wave may be due to the saturation of the C=O of the carboxamide moiety. A polarographic procedure of suffocate sensitivity for the determination of bulk amiloride drug in Britton-Robinson buffer at pH 2 is described. The calibration graph was obtained over the concentration range 2.5 x 10(-5) to 2.5 x 10(-4) M amiloride. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ) of the procedure were 1 x 10(-5) and 3.3 x 10(-4) M bulk amiloride, respectively. Moreover, a differential-pulse adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetric procedure has been described to assay of the drug at lower concentration levels. The optimal conditions were: E(acc) = -0.9V, t(acc)=30 s, scan rate=20mV, pulse-height=90 mV and Britton-Robinson buffer of pH 8. The calibration graph was obtained over the concentration range 2 x 10(-8) to 1 x 10(-6) M for bulk amiloride. Both procedures were successfully applied to the determination of amiloride in tablets without the necessity for sample pretreatment or any time-consuming extraction or evaporation steps prior to the drug analysis.

Behavior and quantification studies of amiloride drug using cyclic and square-wave adsorptive stripping voltammetry at a mercury electrode

The cyclic voltammograms of amiloride at the hanging mercury drop electrode showed a single well-defined four-electron irreversible cathodic peak in Britton-Robinson (B-R) buffer of pH 2. At higher pH values (pH > or =3), two irreversible cathodic peaks corresponding to the transfer of four (first peak) and two (second peak) electrons, were obtained The peak potentials were shifted to more negative values on the increase of pH of the medium, implying the involvement of protons in the electrode reaction and that the proton-transfer reaction precedes the proper electrode process. The 4-electron single peak (pH 2) or the first peak (pH > or = 3) may be attributed to the cleavage of the -CH=NH double bond of the N-imidino amide group with the release of NH(3) molecule. While the second peak may be due to the saturation of the C?O double bond of the carboxamide moiety. Based on the interfacial adsorptive character of the drug onto the mercury electrode surface, a simple, sensitive and low cost square-wave adsorptive cathodic stripping (SWAdCS) voltammetric procedure was optimized for analysis of the drug. The optimal operational conditions of the proposed procedure were: accumulation potential E(acc)= -0.7 V, accumulation time t(acc)= 60-65s, scan increment= 10 mV, pulse-amplitude = 50-60 mV, frequency =120 Hz using a B-R buffer of pH 8 as a supporting electrolyte. The linear concentration range was found to be 2 x 10(-9) to 2 x 10(-7) M amiloride with limits of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ) of 1.9 x 10(-10) and 6.3 x 10(-10) M, respectively. The procedure was successfully applied for determination of amiloride in pharmaceutical formulation and spiked in human serum. The LOD and LOQ of amiloride spiked in human serum were 5.7 x 10(-10) and 1.9 x 10(-9) M amiloride, respectively. The procedure did not require sample pretreatment or any time-consuming extraction or evaporation steps, other than deproteinization and then centrifugal separation of protein from serum sample prior to analysis of the drug.

Rapid analysis of furosemide in human urine by capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence and electrospray ionization-ion trap mass spectrometric detection

Furosemide, a drug that promotes urine excretion, is used in the pharmacotherapy of various diseases and is considered as a doping agent in sports. Using alkaline electrolytes, analysis of furosemide by dodecyl sulfate based micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC) and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with laser-induced fluorescence detection (LIF, analyte excitation with the 325 nm line of a HeCd laser) is described. Data produced by injection of plain or diluted patient urines are confirmed with those obtained via analysis of urinary solid-phase extracts. CZE-LIF and MECC-LIF are thereby shown to permit unambiguous recognition of furosemide in urines collected after ingestion of therapeutic doses of this drug. This is in contrast to solute detection via UV absorbance for which the extraction of furosemide is required. MECC based electropherograms are somewhat more complex compared to those obtained by CZE-LIF, this suggesting that the latter approach is more suitable for rapid screening of urines with direct sample injection and LIF detection. Alternatively, capillary electrophoresis with negative electrospray ionization-ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry (CE-MS2) is shown to permit the direct confirmation of furosemide in human urine. This approach is based upon the monitoring of the m/z 329.3-->4m/z 285.2 precursor-product ion transition. CZE-LIF and CE-MS2 with injection of plain or diluted urine represent simple, rapid and attractive urinary screening and confirmation assays for furosemide in patient urines.

Coupling continuous separation techniques to capillary electrophoresis

One of the weak points of capillary electrophoresis is the need to implement rigorously sample pretreatment because its great impact on the quality of the qualitative and quantitative results provided. One of the approaches to solve this problem is through the symbiosis of automatic continuous flow systems (CFSs) and capillary electrophoresis (CE). In this review a systematic approach to CFS-CE coupling is presented and discussed. The design of the corresponding interface depends on three factors, namely: (a) the characteristics of the CFS involved which can be non-chromatographic and chromatographic; (b) the type of CE equipment: laboratory-made or commercially available; and (c) the type of connection which can be in-line (on-capillary), on-line or mixed off/on-line. These are the basic criteria to qualify the hyphenation of CFS (solid-phase extraction, dialysis, gas diffusion, evaporation, direct leaching) with CE described so far and applied to determine a variety of analytes in many different types of samples. A critical discussion allows one to demonstrate that this symbiosis is an important topic in research and development, besides separation and detection, to consolidate CE as a routine analytical tool.

Coupling of biological sample handling and capillary electrophoresis

The analysis of biological samples (e.g., blood, urine, saliva, tissue homogenates) by capillary electrophoresis (CE) requires efficient sample preparation (i.e., concentration and clean-up) procedures to remove interfering solutes (endogenous/exogenous and/or low-/high-molecular-mass), (in)organic salts and particulate matter. The sample preparation modules can be coupled with CE either off-line (manual), at-line (robotic interface), on-line (coupling via a transfer line) or in-line (complete integration between sample preparation and separation system). Sample preparation systems reported in the literature are based on chromatographic, electrophoretic or membrane-based procedures. The combination of automated sample preparation and CE is especially useful if complex samples have to be analyzed and helps to improve both selectivity and sensitivity. In this review, the different modes of solid-phase (micro-) extraction will be discussed and an overview of the potential of chromatographic, electrophoretic (e.g., isotachophoresis, sample stacking) and membrane-based procedures will be given.

Capillary electrophoresis as a versatile tool for the bioanalysis of drugs--a review

This review article presents an overview of current research on the use of capillary electrophoretic techniques for the analysis of drugs in biological matrices. The principles of capillary electrophoresis and its various separation and detection modes are briefly discussed. Sample pretreatment methods which have been used for clean-up and concentration are discussed. Finally, an extensive overview of bioanalytical applications is presented. The bioanalyses of more than 200 drugs have been summarised, including the applied sample pretreatment methods and the achieved detection limits.

Analysis of apolipoproteins and lipoproteins by capillary electrophoresis

Capillary electrophoresis provides a valuable analytical tool for the analysis of apolipoproteins and lipoproteins. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) capillary gel electrophoresis can resolve human and animal apolipoprotein (apo) A-I, apo A-II, apo E and apo A-IV in isolated high density lipoproteins (HDLs) and is capable of analysing HDL apo A-I and apo A-II content with a coefficient of variation (CV) of less than 5%. Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) using coated capillaries with Tricine-urea buffer can also be used for the analysis of HDL apolipoproteins and is also capable of resolving apo A-I isoforms, pro-apo A-I, mature apo A-I and deamidated apo A-I. Furthermore it can separate human A-I from endogenous rabbit A-I in transgenic rabbits expressing the human apo A-I gene. Capillary isoelectric focusing can also separate apo A-I isoforms. Analysis of charge-modified low density lipoprotein (LDL) (ox-LDL) produced by in vitro lipid peroxidation can be performed by CZE and the technique can be used to monitor simultaneous changes in the electrophoretic mobility and absorption spectra of LDL.

Determination of fenoprofen in serum by capillary isotachophoresis

A isotachophoretic method with conductivity detection was developed and validated to directly determine fenoprofen in human serum. The leading electrolyte contained hydrochloric acid (10 mmol/l), 6-aminocaproic acid (pH 4.8) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (0.1%). The terminating electrolyte was 4-morpholineethanesulfonic acid (5 mmol/l). The calibration curve was linear over the concentration range 0.02-0.40 mmol/l. Within-day standard deviation ranged from 0.001 to 0.004 and between-day standard deviation ranged from 0.001 to 0.004. The limit of determination was 0.02 mmol/l. The assay was employed to determine serum concentration of fenoprofen in patients.

Determination of illicit and/or abused drugs and compounds of forensic interest in biosamples by capillary electrophoretic/electrokinetic methods

The application of capillary electrophoresis (CE) methods in forensic toxicology for the determination of illicit and/or misused drugs in biological samples is reviewed in the present paper. Sample pretreatments and direct injection modes used in CE for analysis of drugs in biological fluids are briefly described. Besides, applications of separation methods based on capillary zone electrophoresis or micellar electrokinetic chromatography with UV absorbance detection to (i) analysis of drugs of abuse, (ii) analysis of other drugs and toxicants of potential forensic interest and (iii) for metabolism studies are reviewed. Also, alternative CE methods are briefly discussed, including capillary isotachophoresis and separation on mixed polymer networks. High sensitivity detection methods used for forensic drug analysis in biological samples are then presented, particularly those based on laser induced fluorescence. A glimpse of the first examples of application of CE-mass spectrometry in forensic toxicology is finally given.

Therapeutic drug monitoring by capillary electrophoresis

Because of the ease of analysis and the high resolution, drug analysis is becoming the best example for the application of capillary electrophoresis. Therapeutic drug monitoring is a specialized area of drug analysis performed in clinical laboratories for patient care. CE offers high resolution and speed with the low operating costs needed in patient care. However, CE has a few limitations, mainly poor detection limits and precision. Simple methods of stacking, which enhance drug detection to overcome the poor sensitivity of CE are stressed. Serum has a unique matrix with a high content of proteins and salts which can have adverse effects on separation by CE. For successful analysis, special maneuvers are employed to decrease these matrix effects. Studies that have addressed the improvement of the precision of CE are summarized. CE offers the possibility of bringing chiral separations into the routine arena.

Recent application and developments of capillary isotachophoresis

Capillary isotachophoresis is a powerful electromigration separation method with a pronounced capability to concentrate trace components in diluted samples. At present, capillary isotachophoresis is utilized predominantly as the first step in on-line combination with capillary zone electrophoresis. This article is a continuation of previous reviews and summarizes the results published during 1993-1996.

Capillary electrophoresis in clinical chemistry

Since its introduction, capillary electrophoresis has diversified, spreading out into different specialized fields covering solutions for almost any analytical questions arising in research laboratories. In the context of clinical chemistry, results must be provided at low costs and in a clinically relevant time frame; however, the attributes which have made capillary electrophoresis such a successful tool in basic research are identical to those attracting clinical laboratories: speed (more efficient, less labor-intensive), low costs (minimal buffer consumption), small sample volume (reduced blood collection volume from patient), increased selectivity (determination of multiple solutes in one run), and versatility (detection of analytes over the wide range of molecular masses and chemical composition). Nevertheless, it should be mentioned that there are still some drawbacks at this stage to be solved in the near future, such as lack of sensitivity for many clinical applications or the constraint to measure in a sequential mode. The aim of this survey is to familiarize clinical chemists, as well as chemists, with a short introduction to capillary electrophoresis, followed by chapters reviewing prominent fields of applications and the latest developments in clinical chemistry.

Analysis of small molecules for clinical diagnosis by capillary electrophoresis

The application of capillary electrophoresis (CE) for the analysis of small molecules in clinical research is growing steadily. Initial studies have dealt with separations of standards or compounds in clean matrices. However, later studies dealt with analysis of those compounds in serum, urine or tissues. Great progress has been accomplished in three areas of clinical interest: organic acids, amino acids and drug analysis. The analysis of these compounds by capillary electrophoresis has several distinct advantages: high resolution, simplicity, versatility and especially low operating costs. In many cases, the sample can be injected directly without complex pretreatment. Most of the described methods have been validated for their precision, linearity and accuracy. In forensic toxicology, the CE has been used for drug identification and as a complementary analytical method.