Gas chromatographic assay of glycerol mononitrates in biological samples

Affinity chromatography as a method for sample preparation in gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Analytical chemistry aims at developing analytical methods and techniques for unequivocal identification and accurate quantitation of natural and synthetic compounds in a given matrix. Analytical methods based on the mass spectrometry (MS) technology, e.g., GC/MS and LC/MS and their variants, GC/tandem MS and LC/tandem MS, are best suited both for qualitative and quantitative analyses. GC/MS methods not only serve as reference methods, e.g., in clinical chemistry, but they are now widely and routinely used for quantitative determination of numerous analytes. However, despite inherent accuracy, analytical methods based on GC/MS commonly consist of several analytical steps, including extraction and derivatization of the analyte. In general, unequivocal identification and accurate quantification of an analyte in very low concentrations in complex matrices require further chromatographic techniques, such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) for sample purification. In recent years, affinity chromatography (e.g., boronate and immunoaffinity chromatography) has been developed to a superior technique for sample preparation of numerous classes of compounds in GC/MS. In this article, the application and importance of affinity chromatography as a method for sample preparation in modern quantitative GC/MS method is described and discussed, using as examples various natural and synthetic compounds, such as arachidonic acid derivates, nitrosylated and nitrated proteins, steroids, drugs, and toxins.

Improved gas chromatographic assay for the simultaneous determination of nitroglycerin and its mono- and dinitrate metabolites

A sensitive, specific capillary gas chromatographic-electron-capture detection method for the simultaneous determination of nitroglycerin (GTN), 1,2- and 1,3-glyceryl dinitrate (1,2-GDN and 1,3-GDN, respectively) and 1- and 2-glyceryl mononitrate (1-GMN and 2-GMN, respectively) is reported. The minimum quantifiable concentration for GTN, GDNs and GMNs is 0.4 ng/ml in plasma, with extraction recoveries for GMNs greater than 76% and for GTN and the GDNs greater than 95%. Over the full range of quantifiable concentrations the inter-run assay precision and accuracy were less than 13 and 11%, respectively, for all five nitrates. Similar intra-run assay precision and accuracy values were found. The method was employed in the preliminary in vitro examination of GTN, GDN and GMN kinetics in human blood. Following addition of GTN to human blood, the ratio of 1,2-GDN to 1.3-GDN maximum concentrations (Cmax) was ca. 7:1, reflecting preferential denitration of the GTN molecule at the primary positions, while the Cmax ratio for 2-GMN to 1-GMN in this system was ca. 6:1, representing a highly selective if not specific primary denitration of the 1,2-GDN molecule. Following the intravenous administration of 1,2-GDN to five healthy male volunteers, 2-GMN/1-GMN Cmax ratios averaged 8.8:1, representing a highly selective but not specific formation of 2-GMN from the 1,2-GDN molecule. The assay will find utility in in vitro studies attempting to address the molecular pharmacology of GTN and its metabolites, and in in vivo clinical pharmacology studies attempting to address the relationship between pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of GTN and its metabolites.

Pharmacokinetics of oral glycerol-1-nitrate

The plasma kinetics and urinary excretion of glycerol-1-nitrate (G-1-N), a water soluble metabolite of glycerol trinitrate with anti-anginal potential, have been investigated in healthy human volunteers following oral doses of 10, 20 and 40 mg tablets and 20 mg as drops. In all volunteers G-1-N was rapidly absorbed. The mean concentration-time curves peaked 40 min after administration of tablets at 144 ng/ml (10 mg), 308 ng/ml (20 mg) and 573 ng/ml (40 mg). After the drops the peak of 324 ng/ml occurred at 1 h. The areas under the G-1-N concentration-time curve and the G-1-N peak heights were linear with dose. Tablets and drops can be regarded as bioequivalent with respect to area under the curve and elimination half-life. The bioavailability of the 20 mg tablet relative to the 20 mg drops was 98.6% in terms of area under the curve. The mean apparent half-life of G-1-N elimination from plasma was 2.69 +/- 0.67 h (n = 46). The mean residence time of G-1-N in the body was 4.65 h compared to 0.28 h for glycerol trinitrate after buccal administration. Female volunteers were found to have significantly lower areas under the curve than male volunteers. The difference was probably due to differences in body weight. Renal excretion does not play an important role in the elimination of oral G-1-N from the body. An overall average of 5.42% of the G-1-N dose was excreted in the urine; free drug accounted for 4.02% and conjugated drug for 1.40%.