Assay for the simultaneous determination of acetaminophen–caffeine–butalbital in human serum using a monolithic column

A new sensitive sensor for simultaneous differential pulse voltammetric determination of codeine and acetaminophen using a hydroquinone derivative and multiwall carbon nanotubes carbon paste electrode

A new sensitive sensor was fabricated for simultaneous determination of codeine and acetaminophen based on 4-hydroxy-2-(triphenylphosphonio)phenolate (HTP) and multiwall carbon nanotubes paste electrode at trace levels. The sensitivity of codeine determination was deeply affected by spiking multiwall carbon nanotubes and a modifier in carbon paste. Electron transfer coefficient, α, catalytic electron rate constant, k, and the exchange current density, j 0, for oxidation of codeine at the HTP-MWCNT-CPE were calculated using cyclic voltammetry. The calibration curve was linear over the range 0.2-844.7 μM with two linear segments, and the detection limit of 0.063 μM of codeine was obtained using differential pulse voltammetry. The modified electrode was separated codeine and acetaminophen signals by differential pulse voltammetry. The modified electrode was applied for the determination of codeine and acetaminophen in biological and pharmaceutical samples with satisfactory results.

Determination of glucosamine and carisoprodol in pharmaceutical formulations by LC with pre-column derivatization and UV detection

A simple and reliable precolumn derivatization liquid chromatography method with ultraviolet detection has been developed and validated for the analysis of glucosamine (GS) in various dietary supplement formulations and raw materials. Additionally, the proposed method was used for analysis of carisoprodol (CR) found in ternary mixture with paracetamol (PR) and caffeine (CF). The linearity ranges were 1-100 μg/mL for GS, 1-150 μg/mL for CR, PR and CF. Derivatization was used with 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulphonic acid sodium salt in the presence of borate buffer. Chromatographic separation of GS-naphthoquinone derivative was achieved by using a mixture of acetonitrile and water (pH 7.3 adjusted with 0.1 M NaOH) in the ratio 10:90, v/v and flow-rate of 1.0 mL/min. UV detection was carried out at 280 nm. For PR, CF, and CR-naphthoquinone derivative, the chromatographic separation was achieved by using mixture of acetonitrile and 20 mM KH(2)PO(4) (pH 3.0 adjusted with phosphoric acid) in the ratio 20:80, v/v and flow-rate of 1.0 mL/min. UV detection was carried out at 275 nm. The limits of detection were 37.2, 35.9, 30.4 and 40.0 ng/mL for GS, CR, PR and CF, respectively.

Highly specific, sensitive and rapid enzyme immunoassays for the measurement of acetaminophen in serum

Acetaminophen antibodies were purified using affinity chromatography and labelled with horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The antibody-HRP conjugate and a new acetaminophen derivative were used in the construction of two immunoassay methods facilitating the direct quantitative measurement of acetaminophen in serum: a 96-well microtitre plate and coated-tube ELISAs. A minimum detection limit of 0.2 μg mL(-1) and a dynamic range of 0.2 to 1 μg mL(-1) in serum were achieved using the 96-well microtitre plate ELISA. The tube assay was optimised for the measurement of the clinically critical acetaminophen concentration of 50 to 250 μg mL(-1) of serum. The quantitative and specific tests could be completed within less than an hour. Common drugs including aspirin showed less than 0.1% cross-reactivity.

Optimization and validation of a high performance liquid chromatography method for the simultaneous determination of vitamins A and E in human serum using monolithic column and diode-array detection

In this study a novel, simple and rapid reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) procedure for simultaneous determination of vitamins A and E (retinol and alpha-tocopherol) in blood serum has been developed and validated using monolithic column and diode-array detection (DAD). The monolithic column Chromolith Performance RP-18e (100 mm x 4.6 mm) was operated at ambient temperature. One hundred percent methanol at flow rate 2.5 ml min(-1) was used as a mobile phase. Detection of both compounds was performed with diode-array detector, retinol was monitored at 325 nm and alpha-tocopherol at 295 nm. The linear dependence between peak area and concentration ranged from 0.25 to 10.00 micromol l(-1) for retinol and 0.5-50.0 micromol l(-1) for alpha-tocopherol. The limit of detection (LOD) for retinol was 0.02 micromol l(-1) and limit of quantification (LOQ) was 0.07 micromol l(-1). The limit of detection (LOD) for alpha-tocopherol was 0.1 micromol l(-1) and limit of quantification (LOQ) was 0.3 micromol l(-1). Retinol was eluted in 0.8 min and alpha-tocopherol in 1.4 min. The simultaneous analysis of vitamin A and E can be achieved in less than 2 min. The implementation of monolithic column Chromolith Performance shortens the time of analysis of both vitamins four times in comparison with using traditional particulate column Pecosphere C18 (150 mm x 4.6 mm), 5 microm. This fact may play an important role for routine clinical analysis of biological samples.

Development and application of a high-performance liquid chromatography method using monolithic columns for the analysis of ecstasy tablets

A rapid and selective HPLC method using monolithic columns was developed for the separation and quantification of the principal amphetamines in ecstasy tablets. Three monolithic (Chromolith RP18e) columns of different lengths (25, 50 and 100 mm) were assessed. Validation studies including linearity, selectivity, precision, accuracy and limit of detection and quantification were carried out using the Chromolith SpeedROD, RP-18e, 50 mm x 4.6 mm column. Column backpressure and van Deemter plots demonstrated that monolithic columns provide higher efficiency at higher flow rates when compared to particulate columns without the loss of peak resolution. Application of the monolithic column to a large number of ecstasy tablets seized in Ireland ensured its suitability for the routine analysis of ecstasy tablets.