Gerson Antônio Pianetti

Determination of alkylphosphonic acids by capillary zone electrophoresis using indirect UV detection

Abstract Capillary zone electrophoresis with indirect UV detection was used for the determination of a series of alkylphosphonic acids. For this purpose, a few UV-absorbing background electrolytes were tested and phenylphosphonic acid, which has a mobility close to that of the analysed compounds, was shown to be the most suitable. The influence of several parameters such as concentration of the UV-absorbing background electrolyte and concentration of borate on both sensitivity and efficiency was investigated. An increase in the borate concentration produced an improvement of the signal-to-noise ratio. Conversely, the sensitivity decreased with increasing concentration of the phenylphosphonic acid. The reproducibility of the method was very satisfactory and limits of detection were less than 0.21 pmol injected.

Simultaneous determination of artemether and lumefantrine in fixed dose combination tablets by HPLC with UV detection

This paper describes the development and validation of a HPLC-UV method (210 nm) for the simultaneous quantitation of artemether and lumefantrine in fixed dose combination tablets. The method showed to be linear (r(2)>0.99), precise (R.S.D.<2.0%), accurate (recovery of 101.07% for artemether and 101.58% for lumefantrine), specific and robust. Four batches of artemether-lumefantrine tablets were assayed by the validated method. The artemether contents in the tablets varied from 98.61% to 103.35%, while lumefantrine contents were 97.92-100.48%.

Application of ion chromatography with indirect spectrophotometric detection to the sensitive determination of alkylphosphonic acids and fosfomycin

Abstract Indirect spectrophotometric detection was investigated for application in the anion-exchange chromatography of alkylphosphonic acids and fosfomycin. Four chromophoric eluent anions were studied: phthalate, bezoate, phenylphosphonate and p -toluenesulphonate. Phthalate showed the best displacing power and the larger dynamic reserve whereas benzoate exhibited the highest absorptivity and transfer ratio. The optimal experimental conditions were found to be 0.4 mM phthalate (pH 8.5) as mobile phase, a flow-rate of 1 ml min −1 and a detection wavelength of 272 nm. Selectivity (between 1.02 and 1.85, depending on the pair of vicinal compounds), linearity over a 5–100 μg ml −1 concentration range ( r = 0.999), precision (R.S.D. 0.6–5.3%) and sensitivity (0.4–1.0 μg, ml −1 according to the phosphonic acid) were determined. The minimum detectable concentrations were improved by an average factor of 50 in comparison with direct non-suppressed conductimetric detection. The application of the technique to the determination of fosfomycin in plasma samples is described.

Dynamic interaction between fluconazole and amphotericin B against Cryptococcus gattii

ABSTRACT Cryptococcus gattii is the main pathogen of cryptococcosis in healthy patients and is treated mainly with fluconazole and amphotericin B. The combination of these drugs has been questioned because the mechanisms of action could lead to a theoretical antagonistic interaction. We evaluated distinct parameters involved in the in vitro combination of fluconazole and amphotericin B against Cryptococcus gattii. Fourteen strains of C. gattii were used for the determination of MIC, fractional inhibitory concentration, time-kill curve, and postantifungal effect (PAFE). Ergosterol quantification was performed to evaluate the influence of ergosterol content on the interaction between these antifungals. Interaction between the drugs varied from synergistic to antagonistic depending on the strain and concentration tested. Increasing fluconazole levels were correlated with an antagonistic interaction. A total of 48 h was necessary for reducing the fungal viability in the presence of fluconazole, while 12 h were required for amphotericin B. When these antifungals were tested in combination, fluconazole impaired the amphotericin B activity. The ergosterol content decreased with the increase of fluconazole levels and it was correlated with the lower activity of amphotericin B. The PAFE found varied from 1 to 4 h for fluconazole and from 1 to 3 h for amphotericin B. The interaction of fluconazole and amphotericin B was concentration-dependent and special attention should be directed when these drugs are used in combination against C. gattii.

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for the simultaneous quantitation of artemether and lumefantrine in human plasma: application for a pharmacokinetic study.

A liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS) method for the simultaneous quantitation of artemether and lumefantrine in human plasma was developed and validated. Artesunate was used as an internal standard (IS). The analytes were extracted by a protein precipitation procedure and separated on a reversed-phase Zorbax SB-Ciano column with a mobile phase composed of methanol and 10mM aqueous ammonium acetate containing 0.2% (v/v) acetic acid and 0.1% (v/v) formic acid. Multiple reaction monitoring was performed using the transitions m/z 316 → m/z 267, m/z 530 → m/z 348 and m/z 402 → m/z 267 to quantify artemether, lumefantrine and artesunate, respectively. Calibration curves were constructed over the range of 10-1000 ng/mL for artemether and 10-18,000 ng/mL for lumefantrine. The lower limit of quantitation was 10 ng/mL for both drugs. The mean R.S.D. values for the intra-run precision were 2.6% and 3.0% and for the inter-run precision were 3.6% and 4.6% for artemether and lumefantrine, respectively. The mean accuracy values were 102.0% and 101.2% for artemether and lumefantrine, respectively. No matrix effect was detected in the samples. The validated method was successfully applied to determine the plasma concentrations of artemether and lumefantrine in healthy volunteers, in a one-dose pharmacokinetic study, over the course of 11 days.

Fosfomycin determination in serum by capillary zone electrophoresis with indirect ultraviolet detection

Capillary zone electrophoresis with indirect ultraviolet detection was used for the determination of fosfomycin in serum. Running buffer consisted of a mixture of 200 mM sodium borate with 10 mM phenylphosphonic acid used as ultraviolet absorbing background electrolyte. Relationships between the pH of the buffer and the efficiency of the separation (migration times and selectivities) or the sensitivity of detection were investigated. The method was then validated over a 10-100 micrograms ml-1 concentration range to be applied to further therapeutic drug monitoring. The choice of ethylphosphonic acid as internal standard is discussed. The specificity and the linearity of the technique are demonstrated. The inter-day precision was satisfactory with a relative standard deviation of less than 2%. Accuracy was calculated with a standard error near 0.5 and 18% for 100 and 10 micrograms ml-1, respectively.

Development and validation of a high‐performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantitation of levodopa and carbidopa in human plasma

A sensitive and fast high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantitation of levodopa and carbidopa in human plasma was developed and validated. A simple protein precipitation step with perchloric acid was used for the cleanup of plasma, and methyldopa was added as an internal standard. The analyses were carried out using an ACE C(18) column (50 × 4.6 mm i.d.; 5 µm particle size) and a mobile phase consisting of 0.2% formic acid and acetonitrile (90:10). The triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray source in positive mode was set up in the selective reaction monitoring mode to detect the ion transitions m/z 198.1 → m/z 107.0, m/z 227.2 → m/z 181.0, and m/z 212.1 → m/z 139.2 for levodopa, carbidopa, and methyldopa, respectively. The method was validated and proved to be linear, accurate, and precise over the range 50-5000 ng/mL for levodopa and 3-600 ng/mL for carbidopa. The proposed method was successfully applied in a pharmacokinetic study with a levodopa/carbidopa tablet formulation in healthy volunteers.

Robustness evaluation of the chromatographic method for the quantitation of lumefantrine using youden's test

Youdens test is a reliable method to evaluate the robustness of analytical methods, by means of an experiment design which involves seven analytical parameters combined in eight tests. In the present study, we assessed the robustness of a chromatographic method to quantify lumefantrine in raw material samples, using Youdens test. Hence, it was possible to determine the effect of each analytical parameter in the final analysis results. Youdens test showed to be a simple and feasible procedure to evaluate the robustness of chromatographic methods.

Implementation of basic quality control tests for malaria medicines in Amazon Basin countries: results for the 2005–2010 period

BackgroundEnsuring the quality of malaria medicines is crucial in working toward malaria control and eventual elimination. Unlike other validated tests that can assess all critical quality attributes, which is the standard for determining the quality of medicines, basic tests are significantly less expensive, faster, and require less skilled labour; yet, these tests provide reproducible data and information on several critical quality attributes, such as identity, purity, content, and disintegration. Visual and physical inspection also provides valuable information about the manufacturing and the labelling of medicines, and in many cases this inspection is sufficient to detect counterfeit medicines. The Promoting the Quality of Medicines (PQM) programme has provided technical assistance to Amazon Malaria Initiative (AMI) countries to implement the use of basic tests as a key screening mechanism to assess the quality of malaria medicines available to patients in decentralized regions.MethodsTrained personnel from the National Malaria Control Programmes (NMCPs), often in collaboration with country’s Official Medicine Control Laboratory (OMCL), developed country- specific protocols that encompassed sampling methods, sample analysis, and data reporting. Sampling sites were selected based on malaria burden, accessibility, and geographical location. Convenience sampling was performed and countries were recommended to store the sampled medicines under conditions that did not compromise their quality. Basic analytical tests, such as disintegration and thin layer chromatography (TLC), were performed utilizing a portable mini-laboratory.ResultsResults were originally presented at regional meetings in a non-standardized format that lacked relevant medicines information. However, since 2008 information has been submitted utilizing a template specifically developed by PQM for that purpose. From 2005 to 2010, the quality of 1,663 malaria medicines from seven AMI countries was evaluated, mostly collected from the public sector, 1,445/1,663 (86.9%). Results indicate that 193/1,663 (11.6%) were found not to meet quality specifications. Most failures were reported during visual and physical inspection, 142/1663 (8.5%), and most of these were due to expired medicines, 118/142 (83.1%). Samples failing TLC accounted for 27/1,663 (1.6%) and those failing disintegration accounted for 24/1,663 (1.4%). Medicines quality failures decreased significantly during the last two years.ConclusionsBasic tests revealed that the quality of medicines in the public sector improved over the years, since the implementation of this type of quality monitoring programme in 2005. However, the lack of consistent confirmatory tests in the quality control (QC) laboratory, utilizing methods that can also evaluate additional quality attributes, could still mask quality issues. In the future, AMI countries should improve coordination with their health authorities and their QC lab consistently, to provide a more complete picture of malaria medicines quality and support the implementation of corrective actions. Facilities in the private and informal sectors also should be included when these sectors constitute an important source of medicines used by malaria patients.

Montmorillonite clay-based polyurethane nanocomposite as local triamcinolone acetonide delivery system

Biodegradable polyurethane was synthesized by preparing aqueous polyurethane dispersion having poly(caprolactone) and poly(ethylene glycol) as soft segments. Montmorillonite particles were delaminated within the waterborne polyurethane to produce a nanocomposite. The triamcinolone acetonide (TA), an important corticoid drug, was dispersed into the nanocomposite followed by a drying step to produce an implantable drug delivery system. Infrared (FTIR) results demonstrated that the original chemical structure of the TA was preserved after incorporation into the nanocomposite. Wide angle (WAXS) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) results suggested that TA and clay do not dramatically change the morphology phase of the polymer although they can interact with each other. The presence of montmorillonite particles in the nanocomposite reduced the rate of TA release as compared to the pure polyurethane and enhanced the mechanical properties of the polymer. The overall results indicate that montmorillonite clay-based polyurethane nanocomposite could be potentially applied as local TA delivery system.