Non-derivatization approach to high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection for aminoglycoside antibiotics based on a ligand displacement reaction

A Status Update on Pharmaceutical Analytical Methods of Aminoglycoside Antibiotic: Amikacin

Amikacin (AMK) is one of the commonly used aminoglycoside antibiotics, introduced for clinical use in patients suffering from bacterial infections especially life-threatening gram-negative infections. Due to lack of chromophore in the molecule, the detection of AMK during analysis is a challenge. Thus, pre and post-column derivatization techniques are generally used for AMK estimation. This review focuses on different analytical methods used for detection and quantification of AMK in pure or fixed dose combination pharmaceutical formulations and biological samples. Various reported methods described in the literature include high-performance liquid chromatography techniques, pulsed electrochemical detection techniques, Chemiluminescence techniques, Capillary electrophoresis and immunological methods. High-performance-liquid-chromatography based methods with UV/Vis spectrophotometric, fluorescence and mass spectrometric detection are the most prevailing methods employed for the analysis of AMK. This review could be of significant importance in the area of future AMK analytical method development studies.

Reagent-free determination of amikacin content in amikacin sulfate injections by FTIR derivative spectroscopy in a continuous flow system

The quantitative estimation of amikacin (AMK) in AMK sulfate injection samples is reported using FTIR-derivative spectrometric method in a continuous flow system. Fourier transform of mid-IR spectra were recorded without any sample pretreatment. A good linear calibration (r>0.999, %RSD<2.0) in the range of 7.7–77.0 mg/mL was found. The results showed a good correlation with the manufacturer's and overall they all fell within acceptable limits of most pharmacopoeial monographs on AMK sulfate.

Utility of Experimental Design in Pre-Column Derivatization for the Analysis of Tobramycin by HPLC-Fluorescence Detection: Application to Ophthalmic Solution and Human Plasma

A novel, selective, and sensitive reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method coupled with fluorescence detection has been developed for the determination of tobramycin (TOB) in pure form, in ophthalmic solution and in spiked human plasma. Since TOB lacks UV absorbing chromophores and native fluorescence, pre-column derivatization of TOB was carried out using fluorescamine reagent (0.01%, 1.5 mL) and borate buffer (pH 8.5, 2 mL). Experimental design was applied for optimization of the derivatization step. The resulting highly fluorescent stable derivative was chromatographed on C₁₈ column and eluted using methanol:water (60:40, v/v) at a flow rate of 1 mL min⁻¹. A fluorescence detector (λ_ex 390 and λ_em 480 nm) was used. The method was linear over the concentration range 20–200 ng mL⁻¹. The structure of the fluorescent product was proposed, the method was then validated and applied for the determination of TOB in human plasma. The results were statistically compared with the reference method, revealing no significant difference.

Improved reversed-phase liquid chromatographic method combined with pulsed electrochemical detection for the analysis of amikacin

A two-step gradient liquid chromatographic method combined with pulsed electrochemical detection is described for the determination of amikacin and its impurities. The mobile phase is composed of an aqueous solution containing 1.8 g/l sodium 1-octanesulphonate, 14 ml/l tetrahydrofuran, 50 ml/l of phosphate buffer pH 3.0 and sodium sulphate, which was 20 g/l in mobile phase A and 28 g/l in mobile phase B. 0.5 M sodium hydroxide was added post-column to enhance the detection. An investigation of different reversed-phase columns indicated that the Discovery (C18, 5 microm, 250 mm x 4.6 mm i.d.) column was the most suitable. Compared to previously published investigations, the proposed method showed higher sensitivity and efficiency, allowing the separation of the main component amikacin from 16 impurities, 7 of which were of unknown identity. A central composite experimental design was used to assess the robustness. The method showed good repeatability and linearity in the assay range. The method was further applied to analyze some commercial samples.

Rapid analysis of native neomycin components on a portable capillary electrophoresis system with potential gradient detection

A simple method based on capillary electrophoresis with potential gradient detection was developed to separate and detect neomycin components within 4 min without a derivatization step. Satisfactory separation and good repeatability were obtained using a separation buffer composed of 1 mM ammonium citrate (pH 3.5). The linearity of the method ranged from 10 to 1000 ppm with a limit of detection for neomycin B of about 7 ppm. After a simple dilution and filtering pretreatment step, neomycin components in three real samples were successfully analyzed without any major interference. Due to its simplicity and reliability, this method could provide an excellent alternative to the assays currently listed in U.S. and European Pharmacopoeia. The experiments were performed on a portable capillary electrophoresis system and, hence, the method can be readily applied to field analysis and point-of-care testing. Figure Photo of portable CE-P2-PGD system.

Determination of amikacin in body fluid by high-performance liquid-chromatography with chemiluminescence detection

A simple and sensitive method was developed for the quantification of amikacin in human plasma and urine samples. The method involves centrifugation of body fluid plasma after dilution with an ethanol/sodium carbonate mixture, and then an aliquot of the supernatant is directly injected into the chromatograph. After separation on a reversed-phase C18 column (runtime 20 min), aminoglycoside is detected on the basis of its complex formation reaction with Cu(II), the catalyst of the luminol/hydrogen peroxide chemiluminescence system. Using a volume of 500 microl biological sample, linearity is established over the concentration range 0.15-2.0 microg/ml and the limit of detection (LOD) is ca. 50 microg/l in plasma or urine. The intra-day and inter-day precision (measured by relative standard deviation, R.S.D.%) are always less than 9%, and relative recoveries are found to be over 92%.

Cp*Rh-Based Indicator-Displacement Assays for the Identification of Amino Sugars and Aminoglycosides

Indicator-displacement assays based on the organometallic complex [{Cp*RhCl2}2] (Cp*=pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) and the dye gallocyanine were used to sense amino sugars and aminoglycosides in buffered aqueous solution by conducting UV-visible spectroscopy. The data of three assays at pH 7.0, 8.0, and 9.0 were sufficient to distinguish between the amino sugars galactosamine, glucosamine, mannosamine and the aminoglycosides kanamycin A, kanamycin B, amikacin, apramycin, paromomycin, and streptomycin. Furthermore, the assays were used to characterize mixtures of aminoglycosides and obtain quantitative information about the respective analytes.

Rapid and sensitive determination of aminoglycoside antibiotics in water samples using a strong cation-exchange chromatography non-derivatisation method with chemiluminescence detection

A simple and sensitive chemiluminescence (CL) detection approach was developed for the direct analysis of aminoglycoside antibiotics in water samples following strong cation-exchange chromatographic (SCX-HPLC) separation. This detection system, which eliminates the need for sample derivatisation, is based on the inhibitory effect of aminoglycosides on the CL reaction between luminol and hydrogen peroxide catalysed by copper(II). As the operational and chemical variables that affect the CL signal were optimised, ionic strength and the Triton X-100 micelles turned out to be the keys to obtain maximum CL efficiency. Aminoglycosides were successfully separated in 10 min on a SCX column using a mobile phase consisting of an aqueous solution containing 5.0 x 10(-3)mol/l sodium acetate and 0.65 mol/l sodium chloride at pH 6.1. Sample volumes of 50 ml were preconcentrated by passage through a weakly acidic IRC-50 exchange column. Limits of detection from 0.7 to 10 microg/l and relative standard deviations from 2.7 to 5.4% were thus obtained. The proposed method surpasses other chromatographic alternatives in terms of the limit of detection, sample requirements for analysis and cost.

Development and validation of a novel LC non-derivatization method for the determination of amikacin in pharmaceuticals based on evaporative light scattering detection

A novel method for the direct determination of the aminoglycoside antibiotic amikacin and its precursor component kanamycin was developed and validated, based on reversed phase LC with evaporative light scattering detector (ELSD). ELSD response to amikacin was found to be enhanced by: (a) use of ion-pairing acidic reagents of increased molecular mass, (b) increase of mobile phase volatility and (c) decrease of peak width and asymmetry (obtained by controlling the mobile phase acidity and/or ratio of organic solvent to water). Utilizing a Thermo Hypersil BetaBasic C(18) column, the selected optimized mobile phase was water-methanol (60:40, v/v), containing 3.0 mll(-1) nonafluoropentanoic acid (18.2mM) (isocratic elution with flow rate of 1.0 mlmin(-1)). ELSD experimental parameters were: nitrogen pressure 3.5 bar, evaporation temperature 50 degrees C, and gain 11. Amikacin was eluted at 8.6 min and kanamycin at 10.4 min with a resolution of 1.5. Logarithmic calibration curves were obtained from 7 to 77 microgml(-1) (r>0.9995) for amikacin and 8 to 105 microgml(-1) (r>0.998) for kanamycin, with a LOD equal to 2.2 and 2.5 microgml(-1), respectively. In amikacin sulfate pharmaceutical raw materials, the simultaneous determination of sulfate (t(R)=2.3 min, LOD=1.8 microgml(-1), range 5-40 microgml(-1), %R.S.D.=1.1, r>0.9997), kanamycin and amikacin was feasible. No significant difference was found between the results of the developed LC-ELSD method and those of reference methods, while the mean recovery of kanamycin from spiked samples (0.5%, w/w) was 97.3% (%R.S.D.<or=2.0, n=6). Further, the developed method was applied for the determination of amikacin in pharmaceutical formulations (injection solutions) without any interference from the matrix (recovery from spiked samples ranged from 95.6 to 103.8%).

Adsorptive stripping voltammetric technique for the rapid determination of tobramycin on the hanging mercury electrode

A linear sweep adsorptive stripping voltammetric method (AdS-LSV) for the determination of tobramycin (TOB) has been proposed for the first time. The method is based on the formation of the voltammetrically active iso-butyraldehyde derivative of TOB and the electrochemical behavior of TOB iso-butyraldehyde derivative has been studied. TOB iso-butyraldehyde derivative exhibits a sensitive cathodic peak at -1.40 V (versus SCE) in a medium of B-R buffer (pH 9.8) with a scan rate of 90 mVs(-1) after a preconcentration period of 120 s at -1.10 V (versus SCE). The linear concentration range of application was 6.87 x 10(-9) - 3.44 x 10(-7) mol L(-1) of TOB, with a relative standard deviation of 4.4% (for a level of 1.0 x 10(-7) mol L(-1)) and a detection limit of 3.44 x 10(-9) mol L(-1). The method was applied to the direct determination of TOB in injectable formulations and spiked urine and serum samples.

Indirect fluorescence detection of amino sugars with the use of copper complexes of tryptophan and its analogues following high-performance liquid chromatographic separation

A simple, indirect fluorescence detection method has been developed for detecting specific mono-amino sugars (D-glucosamine, D-galactosamine, D-mannosamine) following chromatographic separation. The eluting amino sugars release L-tryptophan (L-Trp) from a copper-tryptophan complex which is introduced postcolumn. Analyte detection is based on measuring the increase in L-Trp fluorescence, which is quenched when complexed with copper. Two tryptophan analogues, 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan (5-HTP) and DL-5-methoxytryptophan (5-MTP), were also evaluated as postcolumn reagents. 5-MTP was found to be a suitable alternative to L-Trp for the detection of these mono-amino sugars. Detection limits for D-glucosamine, D-galactosamine, and D-mannosamine are in the range of 0.15-0.30 nmol injected.

Development and validation of a novel HPLC/ELSD method for the direct determination of tobramycin in pharmaceuticals, plasma, and urine

A novel method for the direct determination of the aminoglycoside tobramycin was developed and validated based on reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) with evaporative light scattering detector (ELSD). Using a Waters ODS-2 C18 Spherisorb column with an evaporation temperature of 45 degrees C and nitrogen pressure of 3.5 bar, the selected mobile phase consisted of water/acetonitrile 55:45 containing 1.5 mL L(-1) HFBA (11.6 mM) in an isocratic mode at a rate of 1.0 mL min(-1). Tobramycin's retention time was 4.3 min with an asymmetry factor of 1.7. A logarithmic calibration curve was obtained from 1 to 38 microg mL(-1) (r > 0.9998). LOD was 0.3 microg mL(-1); within-day %RSD was 1.0 (n = 3, 4.7 microg mL(-1)) and between-day %RSD was 1.1 (3 days within a week). The developed method was applied to the determination of tobramycin in a pharmaceutical crude substance and formulations (eye drops and ointments). Dilution experiments revealed the absence of interference from excipients (no constant and proportional errors); recovery from spiked samples was 99-103% with %RSD < 2.2 (n = 3x3). The developed HPLC/ELSD method was also found to be applicable in the determination of tobramycin in human plasma (0.6-12.5 microg mL(-1)) and urine (1.5-12.5 microg mL(-1)) after solid-phase extraction using carboxylate cartridges followed by solvent evaporation (x2 preconcentration). A mean recovery of 86% for plasma and 91% for urine was obtained.

Enhancement of evaporative light scattering detection in high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of neomycin based on highly volatile mobile phase, high-molecular-mass ion-pairing reagents and controlled peak shape

In the frame of the development of a novel HPLC-ELSD (evaporative light scattering detection) method for the determination of the aminoglycoside antibiotic neomycin sulfate, the influence of mobile phase composition and peak broadening on ELSD response was evaluated. ELSD response was enhanced by: (a) increase of mobile phase volatility (solvents examined: water, acetonitrile, methanol and acetone), (b) increase of molecular mass of ion-pairing species [acidic reagents tested: formic, acetic, trifluoroacetic, trichloroacetic and heptafluorobutyric acid (HFBA)], and (c) decrease of peak width and asymmetry obtained by controlling the concentration of the ion-pairing acidic reagent (HFBA). Utilizing a Waters ODS-2 C18 Spherisorb column, evaporation temperature of 45 degrees C and nitrogen pressure of 3.5 bar, the optimized mobile phase was water-acetone (50:50), containing 11.6 mM HFBA, in an isocratic mode at a rate of 1.0 ml/min. Neomycin was eluted at 4.9 min, with asymmetry factor 1.3. Logarithmic calibration curve was obtained from 2 to 50 microg/ml (r > 0.9997). Limit of detection (LOD) was 0.6 microg/ml and R.S.D. = 1.7% (n = 3, 3.3 microg/ml). In raw materials, the simultaneous determination of sulfate (LOD = 3 microg/ml, R.S.D. = 1.7%, r> 0.9998) and of minor impurities was feasible. The developed method was also applied for the determination of neomycin in pharmaceutical formulations (powder, aerosol and cream) without any interference from excipients (recovery from spiked samples ranged from 99 to 102%) and a %R.S.D. of <2.1 (n = 3). The HPLC-ELSD method was also found applicable in the determination of neomycin in animal feeds (LOQ=0.2%) without any interference from the feed matrices.

Selective kinetic determination of amikacin in serum using long-wavelength fluorimetry

A simple and rapid method for the determination of the antibiotic amikacin, involving the use of a long-wavelength fluorophor, namely indocyanine green, (ICG) is presented. The dye is oxidised by cerium(IV) in acidic medium, resulting in a sharp decrease of the fluorescence, but this fluorescence quenching is inhibited in the presence of amikacin, which can be ascribed to the formation of an ion pair between the fluorophor and the analyte. The initial rate of the system is monitored at lambda(ex): 765 nm and lambda(em): 812 nm as excitation and emission wavelengths, respectively, using the stopped-flow mixing technique, which makes the method applicable to automatic routine analysis. Each measurement is obtained in only 2-3s. The method presents a detection limit of 0.02 microg m1(-1) in standard solutions, which corresponds to 2.5 microg ml(-1) in serum samples. The precision is in the range 4.8-6%. The good selectivity of the method allows amikacin to be determined in the presence of other antibiotics, including other aminoglycoside antibiotics, in serum. The recoveries obtained from the analysis of different samples were in the range 89.4-104.7%.

An isocratic separation of underivatized gentamicin components, 1H NMR assignment and protonation pattern

A simple method for the separation of the major components of commercial gentamicin sulfate (C-1, C-1a, C-2, C-2a) by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on an analytical and a semipreparative scale was developed. The method utilized ion-pair reversed-phase chromatography, isocratic elution with an aqueous solution containing 9% trifluoroacetic acid and 2.5% acetonitrile as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 2 and 9 mL/min for analytical and semipreparative columns, respectively. Detection was carried out at 213 nm without derivatization. The protonation pattern of the separated gentamicins was determined by potentiometry and 15N and 1H NMR. The full proton NMR assignment for gentamicin C-1 was obtained through the use of 1H 1D and 2D 1H-1H COSY measurements.