R. Gatti

Application of high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection and on-line post-column photochemical derivatization to the determination of analgesics

HPLC analyses of pharmaceutical dosage forms containing analgesics and related compounds (acetylsalicyclic acid, paracetamol, propyphenazone, caffeine and chlorpheniramine) were performed on C18 and cyano columns under reversed-phase conditions. The performance of the methods was enhanced by introducing postcolumn on-line photochemical derivatization in combination with a diode-array detection. The column effluents were subjected on-line to UV irradiation (254 nm) and the characteristic photo-induced spectral modifications were useful for the unambiguous identification of the various analgesic compounds. The proposed HPLC methods were successfully applied to the analysis of commercially available analgesic dosage forms.

HPLC analysis of imidazole antimycotic drugs in pharmaceutical formulations

Reversed-phase HPLC on different column packing materials (Hypersil C-18, Spherisorb-CN, Chromspher-B) is used to obtain selective separations of imidazole antimycotic drugs, such as ketoconazole, clotrimazole, tioconazole, bifonazole, isoconazole, econazole, miconazole and fenticonazole. The use of a post-column on-line photochemical reactor is shown to be useful for the enhancement of the sensitivity of the HPLC analysis with UV detection. The proposed HPLC methods are applied to the analysis of commercial dosage forms (creams) with solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedure, using a diol sorbent, being found to be a convenient technique for the sample preparation giving quantitative drug recovery.

Use of 4-(6-methylnaphthalen-2-yl)-4-oxobut-2-enoic acid as a reagent for the spectrophotometric and fluorimetric determination of aliphatic thiol drugs

The aroylacrylic acid 4-(6-methylnaphthalen-2-yl)-4-oxobut-2-enoic acid is proposed as a useful reagent for the spectrophotometric and fluorimetric determination of aliphatic thiol compounds. Under mild reaction conditions (pH 7.4, room temperature) the compound reacts rapidly (reaction complete in 15 min) and selectively with thiol compounds to give stable fluorescent thiol adducts. The adducts can be determined in the presence of the reagent excess by spectrophotometric (conventional and second- or third-derivative procedures) and fluorimetric (λem.= 445 nm, λex.= 300 nm) methods. All the described procedures have been successfully applied to the determination of thiol drugs such as N-acetylcysteine, mercaptopropionylglycine and captopril in commerical dosage forms.

Analysis of miconazole and econazole in pharmaceutical formulations by derivative UV spectroscopy and liquid chromatography (HPLC)

Methods based on derivative UV spectrophotometry and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) have been developed for the selective determination of miconazole and econazole in pharmaceutical dosage forms. A solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedure using a diol column gave quantitative drug extraction from formulated creams and provided purified sample solutions suitable for assay by the derivative UV spectrophotometric and HPLC methods. The proposed methods gave comparable accurate results, whereas a conventional UV spectrophotometric method was found to be seriously affected by excipients.

HPLC determination of thiol drugs in pharmaceutical formulations using ethacrynic acid as a precolumn ultraviolet derivatization reagent

SummaryA high performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the determination of aliphatic thiol drugs, such as N-acetyl-L-cysteine, captopril and mercaptopropionylglycine in pharmaceutical formulations. The procedure involves a precolumn derivatization of the thiol drug with ethacrynic acid followed by reversedphase HPLC separation and UV detection. The conditions for a rapid and selective reaction of the thiols with ethacrynic acid have been investigated. The method proved to be suitable for a reliable and selective quality control of commercial dosage forms of the examined thiol drugs.

Determination of imidazole antimycotics in creams by supercritical fluid extraction and derivative UV spectroscopy.

A supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) method was developed for the isolation of imidazole antimycotic drugs (miconazole, econazole, clotrimazole and bifonazole) from cream preparations. The SFE process involved static (1 min) and dynamic (4 min) extraction steps using pure and 10% methanol modified carbon dioxide. The SFE step was then followed by derivative UV spectrophotometric analysis. The method proved to be suitable for quality control assays of the examined antimycotics in commercial cream formulations.

HPLC–Fluorescence Determination of Individual Free and Conjugated Bile Acids in Human Serum

A method for the quantitative analysis of unconjugated and conjugated bile acids (BA) in serum of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) before and after therapy with antibiotic or ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is described. After separation of the free, glycine and taurine conjugated (F, G and T conjugated) fractions by solid-phase extraction, the isolated T conjugates were hydrolysed enzymatically using cholyglycine hydrolase. The BA fractions were derivatized using 2-bromoacetyl-6-methoxynaphthalene (Br-AMN) and detected fluorimetrically (lambda exc = 300 nm, lambda em = 460 nm). The derivatization reaction was performed under mild conditions (10 min at 40 degrees C) in an aqueous medium in the presence of tetrakis (decyl) ammonium bromide (TDeABr). The HPLC separation was achieved using an ODS column and with a mobile phase gradient mixture of A-B, where A is water and B is acetonitrile:methanol (60:40 v/v) for elution at a flow-rate of 1.2 mL/min. The reproducibility, recovery and separation of individual BA under gradient elution conditions were satisfactory, allowing a sensitive detection of each BA in serum samples with a detection limit of about 1-2 pmol.

HPLC study of the impurities present in different ursodeoxycholic acid preparations: Comparative evaluation of four detectors

The use of HPLC with different detectors has been investigated for the analysis of bile acid impurities present in four different commercially available ursodeoxycholic acid preparations. The bile acids were efficiently separated by C18 reversed-phase HPLC using methanol-water (3:2, v/v) as the mobile phase. The detectors used for bile acid detection were: UV at 200 nm refractive index (RI) and an evaporative light scattering mass detector (ELSD II). A prederivatization method with the formation of a fluorescent naphthacyl ester has also been used. GC-MS analysis of Me-TMS bile acid derivatives was included as a reference method. The four ursodeoxycholic acid samples were 98-99% pure. The main impurities present in the samples were chenodeoxycholic acid and to a lesser extent lithocholic acid. Only one sample was found to be almost 100% pure using all the detectors. Significant agreement of the data was found between RI, ELSD II detectors and the fluorescent method; the UV detector was unsuitable for use in this method. The analytical performances of the four detectors for bile acid analysis are reported and discussed. When the four-detector data were compared with the GC-MS method, reasonable agreement resulted. Discordant results were found in the quantitation of trace impurities like lithocholic acid and/or other minor bile acids present in amounts less than 0.1%.

2-Bromoacetyl-6-methoxynaphthalene : a useful fluorescent labelling reagent for HPLC analysis of carboxylic acids

SummaryThe use of 2-bromoacetyl-6-methoxynaphthalene as a fluorogenic labelling reagent in pre-column derivatization for the HPLC separation of biologically active carboxylic acids (fatty acids and bile acids) has been investigated. The compound reacts (30 min. at 70°C) with carboxylic acids to give fluorescent esters that can be separated by reversedphase HPLC and detected at λ ex. 300 nm, λ em. 460 nm. The experimental conditions for the derivatization and chromatographic separation are discussed. Applications to the determination of valproic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid in pharmaceutical formulations are described.

Determination of retinoids in galenicals by column liquid chromatography with fluorescence and diode-array detection

Simple and rapid reversed-phase gradient column liquid chromatography (LC) with fluorescence detection at different wavelengths was developed for the simultaneous analysis of all-trans, 13-cis, 9-cis retinoic acids, vitamin A palmitate and beta-carotene in galenicals. The assay results agreed with those obtained by an LC method with diode-array UV detection. A post-column on-line photochemical reactor (irradiation at 254 and 366 nm) was inserted between the LC column and the fluorescence detector to enhance the performance of the method. Two fluorescence spectra (photoreactor on and off) were obtained for each analyte which proved useful for the unambiguous identification of the various analytes.