Determination of morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide and morphine-6-glucuronide in monkey and dog plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Developing a miniaturized setup for in-tube simultaneous determination of three alkaloids using electromembrane extraction in combination with ultraviolet spectrophotometry

Herein, electromembrane extraction was combined with ultraviolet spectrophotometry using a customized manifold for preconcentration and simultaneous determination of morphine, codeine, and papaverine in water and human urine samples. Absorption spectra of the extracts were recorded inside the lumen of the hollow fiber using two fiber optics connected to a miniature spectrophotometer. Partial least squares regression was applied to resolve the overlapped spectra of the analytes. Performance of the model was validated by an independent test set. Central composite design was applied to optimize the extraction parameters. The optimized extraction conditions are as follows; supporting liquid membrane: 2-nitrophenyl octyl ether containing 15% v/v bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate, applied voltage: 80 V, donor pH: 3.0, acceptor pH: 1.0, extraction time: 20 min. Finally, the optimized extraction method was validated for determination of the mentioned alkaloids in human urine samples. The method showed good linearity (R²  > 0.995) for all of the mentioned alkaloids. The limits of detection for morphine, codeine, and papaverine in diluted human urine were found to be 0.6, 1.1, and 0.6 ng/mL, respectively with acceptable relative standard deviations. Enrichment factors of 104, 108, and 102 were achieved for morphine, codeine, and papaverine, respectively.

Metal organic framework based carbon porous as an efficient dispersive solid phase extraction adsorbent for analysis of methamphetamine from urine matrix

Carboxylated carbon porous adsorbent was derived from zeolite imidazole framework (ZIF-8) via carbonization of ZIF-8 under a nitrogen atmosphere. The synthesized carboxylated adsorbent was fully characterized by various techniques including Fourier transform spectroscopy (FTIR), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and zeta potential analysis. The carboxylated adsorbent was applied as dispersive solid phase extraction (DSPE) adsorbent for efficient extraction of methamphetamine (MET) from biological urine samples. Several extraction parameters influencing the extraction efficiency were investigated and the calibration curve was plotted under optimized conditions in urine media. The method showed a good linearity in the range of 50-2500 ng/mL. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) was 10 and 35.80 ng/mL, respectively. A satisfactory analysis of the positive real samples with the recovery of 99.83% confirms the applicability of the proposed method in different clinical and forensic laboratories.

Determination of Morphine in Human Urine by the Novel Competitive Fluorescence Immunoassay

A competitive fluorescence immunoassay for the identification and quantification of morphine has been developed on the basis of hapten-coated plate format. Hapten was prepared through covalent conjugating a morphine derivative with albumin bovine. In the immunoassay, the hapten was inoculated on a 96-well plate and then bound with monoclonal antibodies labeled with a signal indicating dye, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). Unbound FITC-antibodies were rinsed off from the plate. The fluorescein intensity decreases in the presence of morphine molecules due to the competitively binding to antibodies against hapten. The intensity is inversely correlated with the concentration of morphine. In quantitative analysis for urine samples, we obtained a linearity range of 0.2 μg/mL∼2.5 μg/mL, along with a detection limit of c.a. 1 ng/mL. The fluorescence immunoassay shows low cross-reactivity (below 10%) to 6-acetylmorphine, 3-acetylmorphine, and heroine. The developed method produced comparable results to the standard GC-MS/MS method. In conclusion, a rapid and efficient screening tool for morphine in clinical human urine has been established.

Minimum alveolar concentration: Key concepts and a review of its pharmacological reduction in dogs. Part 2

OBJECTIVE

To outline the major components of the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) and review the literature regarding pharmacological manipulation of the MAC of halothane, isoflurane, sevoflurane, enflurane, and desflurane in dogs. The pharmacological agents included are alpha-2 agonists, benzodiazepines, propofol, opioids, lidocaine, acepromazine, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs), maropitant, and NMDA antagonists. Part 2 of this review will focus on the effect of opioids, lidocaine, NSAIDs, maropitant, acepromazine, and NMDA antagonists on MAC.

DATABASES USED

PubMed, Google Scholar, CAB Abstracts. Search terms used: minimum alveolar concentration, MAC, dog, canine, inhaled anesthetic potency, isoflurane, sevoflurane, desflurane, enflurane, and halothane.

CONCLUSIONS

Opioids, lidocaine, NSAIDs, maropitant, acepromazine, and NMDA antagonists have been shown to reduce the MAC of inhaled anesthetics in dogs and allow for clinically important decreases in inhalant anesthetic use. Thus, the use of these agents potentially decrease the adverse cardiovascular and pulmonary effects associated with the use of high concentrations of inhaled anesthetics.

Simultaneous colorimetric determination of morphine and ibuprofen based on the aggregation of gold nanoparticles using partial least square

In this work a new method is presented for simultaneous colorimetric determination of morphine(MOR) and ibuprofen(IBU) based on the aggregation of citrate-capped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Citrate-capped gold nanoparticles were aggregated in the presence of morphine and ibuprofen. The difference in kinetics of AuNPs aggregation in the presence of morphine / ibuprofen was used for simultaneous analysis of morphine and ibuprofen. The formation and size of synthesized Au NPs and the aggregated forms were monitored by infra-Red (IR) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) respectively.. By adding morphine or ibuprofen the absorbance was decreased at 520 nm and increased at 620 nm. The difference in kinetic profiles of aggregation was applied for simultaneous analysis of MOR and IBU using partial least square regression as an efficient multivariate calibration method. The number of PLS latent variables was optimized by leave-one-out cross-validation method using predicted residual error sum of square. The proposed model exhibited a high capability in simultaneous prediction of MOR and IBU concentrations in real samples. Our results showed linear ranges of 1.33-33.29 µg/mL (R2=0.9904) and 0.28-6.9 µg/mL (R2=0.9902) for MOR and IBU respectively with low detection limits of 0.15 and 0.03 µg/mL(S/N=5).

Combination of counter current salting-out homogenous liquid-liquid extraction and dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction as a novel microextraction of drugs in urine samples

The counter current salting-out homogenous liquid-liquid extraction (CCSHLLE) joined with the dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction based on solidification of floating organic drop (DLLME-SFO) has been developed as a high preconcentration technique for the determination of different drugs in urine samples. Amphetamines were employed as model compounds to assess the extraction procedure and were determined by high performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV). In this method, initially, NaCl as a separation reagent is filled into a small column and a mixture of urine and acetonitrile is passed through the column. By passing the mixture, NaCl is dissolved and the fine droplets of acetonitrile are formed due to salting-out effect. The produced droplets go up through the remained mixture and collect as a separated layer. Then, the collected acetonitrile is removed with a syringe and mixed with 30.0μL 1-undecanol (extraction solvent). In the second step, the 5.00mLK2CO3 solution (2% w/v) is rapidly injected into the above mixture placed in a test tube for further DLLME-SFO. Under the optimum conditions, calibration curves are linear in the range of 1-3000μgL(-1) and limit of detections (LODs) are in the range of 0.5-2μgL(-1). The extraction recoveries and enrichment factors ranged from 78 to 84% and 157 to 168, respectively. Repeatability (intra-day) and reproducibility (inter-day) of method based on seven replicate measurements of 100μgL(-1) of amphetamines were in the range of 3.5-4.5% and 4-5%, respectively. The method was successfully applied for the determination of amphetamines in the actual urine samples. The relative recoveries of urine samples spiked with amphetamine and methamphetamine are 90-108%.

Magnetic nano graphene oxide as solid phase extraction adsorbent coupled with liquid chromatography to determine pseudoephedrine in urine samples

This paper reports on a method based on magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE) for the determination of pseudoephedrine. Magnetic nanographene oxide (MNGO) was applied as a new adsorbent for the extraction of pseudoephedrine from urine samples. Synthesis of MNGO was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The main factors influencing extraction efficiency, including the amounts of sample volume, amount of adsorbent, type and amount of extraction organic solvent, time of extraction and desorption, pH, ionic strength of extraction medium, and agitation rate, were investigated and optimized. Under optimized extraction conditions, a good linearity was observed in the range of 100-2000ng/mL with a correlation coefficient of 0.9908 (r(2)). Limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were 25 and 82.7ng/mL, respectively. Inter-day and intra-day precision and accuracy were 6.01 and 0.34 (%), and 8.70 and 0.29 (%), respectively. The method was applied for the determination of pseudoephedrine in urine samples of volunteers receiving pseudoephedrine with the recovery of 96.42. It was concluded that the proposed method can be applied in diagnostic clinics.

Spectrofluorimetric and spectrophotometric analysis of two analgesic drugs in pharmaceutical formulations and biological fluids

Simple, reliable, sensitive, and accurate spectrofluorimetric and spectrophotometric methods were proposed for the determination of two selected analgesic drugs, namely tramadol and morphine, in pharmaceuticals and biological fluids. The proposed methods were based on the oxidation of the studied drugs by Cerium (Ce)IV in an acidic medium. The spectrofluorimetric method is based on measuring the relative fluorescence intensity of Ce(III) arising from Ce(IV) at 350 nm with an excitation wavelength at 250 nm. The spectrophotometric method involves on addition of a known excess of Ce(IV) to the studied drugs in an acid medium, followed by the determination of residual Ce(IV) by reacting with a fixed amount of methyl orange and measuring the absorbance at 510 nm. Different variables affecting the reaction conditions, such as the concentrations of Ce(IV), type and concentration of the acid medium, reaction time, temperature, and the diluting solvents, were carefully studied and optimized.

High-throughput assay for simultaneous quantification of the plasma concentrations of morphine, fentanyl, midazolam and their major metabolites using automated SPE coupled to LC-MS/MS

A rapid LC-MS/MS assay method for simultaneous quantification of morphine, fentanyl, midazolam and their major metabolites: morphine-3-β-D-glucuronide (M3G), morphine-6-β-D-glucuronide (M6G), norfentanyl, 1'-hydroxymidazolam (1-OH-MDZ) and 4-hydroxymidazolam (4-OH-MDZ) in samples of human plasma has been developed and validated. Robotic on-line solid phase extraction (SPE) instrumentation was used to elute the eight analytes of interest from polymeric SPE cartridges to which had been added aliquots (150 μL) of human plasma and aliquots (150 μL) of a mixture of two internal standards, viz. morphine-d3 (200 ng/mL) and 1'-hydroxymidazolam-d5 (50 ng/mL) in 50 mM ammonium acetate buffer (pH 9.25). Cartridges were washed using 10% methanol in ammonium acetate buffer, pH 9.25 (1 mL, 2 mL/min) before elution with mobile phase comprising 0.1% formic acid in water (A) and acetonitrile (B) with a flow rate of 0.6 mL/min using an 11.5 min run time. The analytes were separated on a C18 X-Terra® analytical column. The linear concentration ranges were 0.5-100 ng/mL for fentanyl, norfentanyl and midazolam; 1-200 ng/mL for 4-hydroxymidazolam, 2.5-500 ng/mL for 1'-hydroxymidazolam and 3.5-700 ng/mL for morphine, M3G, and M6G. The method showed acceptable within-run and between-run precision (relative standard deviation (RSD) and accuracy <20%) for quality control (QC) samples spiked at concentrations of 80% and 50% of the ULOQ, 3 times higher than the LLOQ, and also at the LLOQ. Furthermore, analytes were stable in samples (after mixing with internal standard) for at least 48 h in the autosampler (except for 4-hydroxymidazolam which decreased by 22% after 24 h), 5 h at room temperature and after three cycles of freeze and thaw. No autosampler carry-over was observed and the absolute recovery (the area ratio of analyte in plasma relative to that in ammonium acetate buffer 50 mM, pH 9.25) was in the range 40% (midazolam) to 110% (morphine). The assay was applied successfully to the measurement of the analytes of interest in plasma samples from patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

Determination of morphine at gold nanoparticles/Nafion® carbon paste modified sensor electrode

A novel and effective electrochemical sensor for the determination of morphine (MO) in 0.04 mol L(-1) universal buffer solution (pH 7.4) is introduced using gold nanoparticles electrodeposited on a Nafion modified carbon paste electrode. The effect of various experimental parameters including pH, scan rate and accumulation time on the voltammetric response of MO was investigated. At the optimum conditions, the concentration of MO was determined using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) in a linear range of 2.0 × 10(-7) to 2.6 × 10(-4) mol L(-1) with a correlation coefficient of 0.999, and a detection limit of 13.3 × 10(-10) mol L(-1), respectively. The effect of common interferences on the current response of morphine namely ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA) is studied. The modified electrode can be used for the determination of MO spiked into urine samples, and excellent recovery results were obtained.

Co-administration of dextromethorphan and morphine: reduction of post-operative pain and lack of influence on morphine metabolism

We investigated co-analgesic effect of dextromethorphan in adolescent post-operative patients with idiopathic scoliosis. In a double-blind study, 60 patients with ASA physical status I-II were randomised into two groups. Group dextromethorphan (n = 30; age: 15.9 +/- 2.4 years) was given oral dextromethorphan 30 or 45 mg 1 hr before surgery and 8, 20 and 32 hr after operation. Group placebo (n = 30; age: 16.5 +/- 2.7 years) received placebo at identical times. Post-operative analgesic requirements were assessed using nurse-controlled analgesia system. Pain was assessed using numeric rating scale before first administration of morphine and at 2, 3, 4, 6, 24 and 48 hr after operation. Blood samples were taken 20 min. after the first use of morphine (within 1 hr after operation). The total use of analgesics during surgery was lower in the dextromethorphan group. The dose of morphine providing relief immediately after surgery, as well as total analgesic requirements in the first and second day after surgery did not differ between groups. Subjectively evaluated pain intensity score (numeric rating scale) was lower for the dextromethorphan patients in the first 4 hr, but not later after surgery. Plasma levels of morphine, morphine-6-glucuronide and morphine-3-glucuronide did not differ between groups. Dextromethorphan did not influence morphine glucuronidation, in terms of promotion of formation of any morphine glucuronides. In conclusion, in young patients subjected to spine surgery, addition of dextromethorphan to morphine reduced pain only in early post-operative period. In such patients, co-analgesic action of dextromethorphan was not associated with significant changes in plasma levels of morphine metabolites.

Recent applications of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in natural products bioanalysis

Natural flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins and sesquiterpenoids have been extensively investigated because of their biological and physiological significances, as well as their promising clinical uses. It is necessary to monitor them or their metabolites in biological fluids for both pre-clinical studies and routine clinical uses. The successful hyphenation of LC and MS, which was thought as "the bird wants to marry with fish", has been conducted widely in biological samples analysis. This present paper reviewed the feasibility of LC-MS techniques in the identification and quantification of natural products (flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins and sesquiterpenoids) in biological fluids, dealing with sample preparation, LC techniques, suitability of different MS techniques. Perspective of LC-MS was also discussed to show the potential of this technology. The citations cover the period 2002-2006. We conclude that LC-MS is an extremely powerful tool for the analysis of natural products in biological samples.

Simple method for determination of triazolam in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

Triazolam was analyzed from human plasma samples by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) with an MSpak GF polymer column (50 mm x 4.6 mm i.d., particle size 6 microm), which enabled direct injection of crude biological samples. Separation of triazolam, and lorazepam as the internal standard (IS) was carried out using 10mM ammonium acetate (pH 3.56)-0.1% formic acid and an acetonitrile gradient elution. Both compounds formed base peaks due to [M + H]+ ions by HPLC/ESI-MS, and product ions were produced from each [M + H]+ ion as seen by HPLC-MS/MS. Quantification of triazolam and the IS in plasma samples was made by selective reaction monitoring using each base peak of product ions of HPLC-MS/MS. The recovery range of triazolam spiked into plasma was 86.4-92.7%. The regression equation for triazolam showed excellent linearity in the range of 0.25-20 ng/mL, and the detection limit was 0.1 ng/mL. Intra- and inter-day precisions for triazolam in plasma samples were not greater than 12.4%. Accuracy for the drug was in the range of 88.0-101.4%. Data obtained after oral administration of triazolam in male and female subjects are also presented.

High-performance liquid chromatographic assay for morphine in small plasma samples: Application to pharmacokinetic studies in rats

In order to perform a reliable pharmacokinetic study of morphine during subchronic treatment in rats, an easy, rapid, sensitive and selective analytical method was proposed and validated. The analyte and internal standard (naloxone) were extracted from plasma samples (100 microL) by a single solid-phase extraction method prior to reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) along with electrochemical detection (ED). Standard calibration graphs were linear within a range of 3.5-1,000 ng/mL (r=0.999). The intra-day coefficients of variation (CV) were in the range of 5.8-8.5% at eight concentration levels (7-1,000 ng/mL) and the inter-day coefficient of variation ranged from 7.4 to 8.8%. The intra-day assay accuracy was in the range of -5-10% and the inter-day assay accuracy ranged from 3.0 to 9.3% of relative error (RE). The limit of quantification was 3.5 ng/mL using a plasma sample of 100 microL (15.8% of CV and 12.8% of RE). Plasma samples were stable for 2 months at -20 degrees C. This method was found to be suitable for pharmacokinetic studies in rats, after subcutaneous administration of morphine (5.6 mg/kg per day) in subchronic treatment for 6 and 12 days.

Development and validation of a radioreceptor assay for the determination of morphine and its active metabolites in serum

This article describes the development and validation of a radioreceptor assay for the determination of morphine and morphine-6-beta-glucuronide (M6G) in serum. The assay is based on competitive inhibition of the mu-opioid-selective radiolabeled ligand [3H]-DAMGO by opioid ligands (e.g. M6G) for binding to the striatal opioid receptor. The assay has been validated according to the Washington Conference Report on Analytical Method Validation. The radioreceptor assay can be performed in serum without prior pre-treatment of the sample. Direct addition of the sample results in no significant loss in maximal binding sites, and therefore, no loss in sensitivity. The assay proves to be selective for a multitude of opioid agonists and antagonists (e.g. morphine IC50 = 4.1 nM and M6G IC50 = 12.8 nM). Moreover, morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G) displays a low affinity (IC50 = 1100 nM) for the mu-opioid receptor and according to the literature demonstrates no analgesic activity. This makes discrimination, in relation to the analgesic effect, of the two metabolites of morphine possible. The assay is fast (assay time <4h, analysis 5 min/sample), easy and the sensitivity (limit of detection (LOD) = 1.6 nM M6G-equivalents) is such that very potent agonists, like morphine and M6G, can be measured at the desired serum levels. The assay is accurate (<18%), but precision is limited if measured over several days (>35%). The assay is most accurate and precise if measured over a range from 3.5 to 40 nM M6G-equivalents. Based on the limited inter-assay precision, we propose to use this receptor assay mainly as a screening tool for neonates treated with morphine.

On-line desalting and determination of morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide and morphine-6-glucuronide in microdialysis and plasma samples using column switching and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

A sensitive and reproducible method for the determination of morphine and the metabolites morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G) and morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G) was developed. The method was validated for perfusion fluid used in microdialysis as well as for sheep and human plasma. A C18 guard column was used to desalt the samples before analytical separation on a ZIC HILIC (hydrophilic interaction chromatography) column and detection with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). The mobile phases were 0.05% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) for desalting and acetonitrile/5 mM ammonium acetate (70:30) for separation. Microdialysis samples (5 microL) were directly injected onto the system. The lower limits of quantification (LLOQ) for morphine, M3G and M6G were 0.50, 0.22 and 0.55 ng/mL, respectively, and the method was linear from LLOQ to 200 ng/mL. For plasma, a volume of 100 microL was precipitated with acetonitrile containing internal standards (deuterated morphine and metabolites). The supernatant was evaporated and reconstituted in 0.05% TFA before the desalting process. The LLOQs for sheep plasma were 2.0 and 3.1 ng/mL and the ranges were 2.0-2000 and 3.1-3100 ng/mL for morphine and M3G, respectively. For human plasma, the LLOQs were 0.78, 1.49 and 0.53 ng/mL and the ranges were 0.78-500, 1.49-1000 and 0.53-500 ng/mL for morphine, M3G and M6G, respectively.

Current literature in mass spectrometry

In order to keep subscribers up‐to‐date with the latest developments in their field, John Wiley & Sons are providing a current awareness service in each issue of the journal. The bibliography contains newly published material in the field of mass spectrometry. Each bibliography is divided into 11 sections: 1 Books, Reviews & Symposia; 2 Instrumental Techniques & Methods; 3 Gas Phase Ion Chemistry; 4 Biology/Biochemistry: Amino Acids, Peptides & Proteins; Carbohydrates; Lipids; Nucleic Acids; 5 Pharmacology/Toxicology; 6 Natural Products; 7 Analysis of Organic Compounds; 8 Analysis of Inorganics/Organometallics; 9 Surface Analysis; 10 Environmental Analysis; 11 Elemental Analysis. Within each section, articles are listed in alphabetical order with respect to author (5 Weeks journals ‐ Search completed at 8th. Sept. 2004)