R.M. Jiménez

Fast screening method for the determination of angiotensin II receptor antagonists in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection

A selective, accurate and precise high-performance liquid chromatographic assay coupled to fluorescence detection was developed for the detection of some angiotensin II receptor antagonists (ARA II): Losartan, Irbesartan, Valsartan, Candesartan cilexetil and its metabolite Candesartan MI. The analytes and the internal standard (bumetanide, a high-ceiling diuretic) were extracted from plasma under acidic conditions by means of solid-phase extraction using C8 cartridges. This procedure allowed recoveries close to 80% for all these drugs excluding Candesartan cilexetil (70%) which presented adsorption processes on glass and plastic walls. The analytes and potential interferences were separated on a reversed-phase column, muBondapak C18, at room temperature. A gradient elution mode was used to carry out the separation, the optimal mobile phase being composed of acetonitrile-5 mM acetate buffer, pH 4, at variable flow-rates (from 1.0 to 1.2 ml/min). Fluorescence detector was set at an excitation wavelength of 250 nm and an emission wavelength of 375 nm. Intra- and inter-day relative standard deviations for all the compounds were lower than 8% except for Losartan (12%) and the method assesses a quite good accuracy (percentage of relative error approximately 6% in most of the cases). The limit of quantitation for these compounds was 3 ng/ml for Candesartan cilexetil and M1, 16 ng/ml for Losartan and 50 ng/ml for Irbesartan and Valsartan, which allows their determination at expected plasma concentration levels. This assay method has been successfully applied to plasma samples obtained from hypertensive patients under clinical studies after oral administration of a therapeutic dose of some of these ARA II compounds.

pKa determination of angiotensin II receptor antagonists (ARA II) by spectrofluorimetry

The acid-base equilibrium constants of a new family of antihypertensive drugs, the angiotensin II receptor antagonists (ARA II), Losartan, Irbesartan, Valsartan, Candesartan cilexetil, its metabolite Candesartan M1 and Telmisartan were determined by spectrofluorimetry. Relative fluorescent intensity (I(F,rel))-pH data were treated by graphical (derivatives and curve-fitting) and numerical methods (LETAGROP SPEFO). The resultant pK(a) values at an ionic strength of 0.5 M were (3.15+/-0.07) for Losartan, (4.70+/-0.06) for Irbesartan, (4.90+/-0.09) for Valsartan, (6.0+/-0.1) for Candesartan cilexetil, (3.9+/-0.1) for Candesartan M1, and (4.45+/-0.09) for Telmisartan.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN METHODOLOGIES TO OPTIMISE THE SPECTROFLUORIMETRIC DETERMINATION OF LOSARTAN AND VALSARTAN IN HUMAN URINE

A spectrofluorimetric method has been developed for the determination of two angiotensin II receptor antagonists (ARA II): Losartan and Valsartan. A fractional factorial design and a central composite design were used. The key factors considered in the optimization process were pH, temperature and emission slit width. Maximum fluorescent intensity was established as response for each experiment. The response surfaces confirmed the robustness of the method. A clean-up procedure was used for urine samples that consisted of a solid-phase extraction using C8 cartridges. The total analysis time was lower than 30 min. This method proved to be accurate (RE, 8%), precise (intra- and inter-day coefficients of variation were lower than 8% and sensitive enough (LOQ c.a. 0.5 mug ml(-1)) to be applied to the determination of Losartan and Valsartan in urine samples.

Experimental design approach for the optimisation of a HPLC-fluorimetric method for the quantitation of the angiotensin II receptor antagonist telmisartan in urine

A high performance liquid chromatographic method with fluorimetric detection has been developed for the quantitation of the angiotensin II receptor antagonist (ARA II) 4-((2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(1-methylbenzimidazol-2-yl)-benzimidazol-1-yl)methyl)biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (telmisartan) in urine, using a Novapak C18 column 3.9 x 150 mm, 4 microm. The mobile phase consisted of a mixture acetonitrile-phosphate buffer (pH 6.0, 5 mM) (45:55, v/v) pumped at a flow rate of 0.5 ml min(-1). Effluent was monitored at excitation and emission wavelengths of 305 and 365 nm, respectively. Separation was carried out at room temperature. Chromatographic variables were optimised by means of experimental design. A clean-up step was used for urine samples consisting of a solid-phase extraction procedure with C8 cartridges and methanol as eluent. This method proved to be accurate (RE from -12 to 6%), precise (intra- and inter-day coefficients of variation (CV) were lower than 8%) and sensitive enough (limit of quantitation (LOQ), ca. 1 microg l(-1)) to be applied to the determination of the active drug in urine samples obtained from hypertensive patients. Concentration levels of telmisartan at different time intervals (from 0 up to 36 h after oral intake) were monitored.

LC-MS/MS method for the determination of several drugs used in combined cardiovascular therapy in human plasma

A simple, fast and validated method is reported for the simultaneous analysis, in human plasma, of several drugs usually combined in cardiovascular therapy (atenolol, bisoprolol, hydrochlorothiazide, chlorthalidone, salicylic acid, enalapril and its active metabolite enalaprilat, valsartan and fluvastatin) using high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with electrospray ionization (ESI), working in multiple reaction monitoring mode (MRM). Separation of analytes and internal standard (pravastatin) was performed on a Luna C18(2) (150mm×4.6mm, 3μm) column using a gradient elution mode with a run time of 15min. The mobile phase consisted of a mixture of acetonitrile and water containing 0.01% formic acid and 10mM ammonium formate at pH 4.1. Sample treatment consisted of a simple protein precipitation with acetonitrile, enabling a fast analysis. The method showed good linearity, precision (RSD% values between 0.7% and 12.7%) and accuracy (relative error values between 0.9% and 14.0%). Recoveries were within 68-106% range and the ion-suppression was not higher than 22% for any analyte. The method was successfully applied to plasma samples obtained from patients under combined cardiovascular treatment.

High-performance liquid chromatography with amperometric detection applied to the screening of 1,4-dihydropyridines in human plasma.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method with electrochemical detection has been developed for the determination of six 1,4-dihydropyridines: nifedipine, nimodipine, nisoldipine, nicardipine, felodipine and lacidipine. The chromatographic separation was performed using a Supelcosil LC-ABZ+Plus C18 column. A mobile phase of methanol-water (70:30), containing 2 mM CH3COOH-CH3COONa at a flow-rate of 1 ml/min and a pH of 5.0, was used. The temperature was optimized at 30+/-0.2 degrees C. The amperometric detector, equipped with a glassy carbon electrode, was operated at 1000 mV versus Ag/AgCl in the direct current mode. The method was applied to the determination of these compounds at ng/ml concentrations, obtaining intra-day reproducibilities of lower than 5.0% in terms of relative standard deviations and detection limits ranging from 16 to 44 ng/ml. The method was applied to the screening of 1,4-dihydropyridines in spiked plasma samples, with a total elution time of lower than 18 min, obtaining the best recoveries for nimodipine and felodipine (91 and 88%, respectively). These recoveries together with the low detection limits achieved allow its application to the analysis of these drugs in human plasma.

Determination of the pKa values of β-blockers by automated potentiometric titrations

The acid-base equilibrium constants of the beta-blockers atenolol, oxprenolol, timolol and labetalol were determined by automated potentiometric titrations. The pKa values were obtained in water-rich or water methanol medium (20% MeOH) to obviate the solubility problems associated with the compounds. The initial estimates of pKa values were obtained from Grans method and then, were refined by the NYTIT and ZETA versions of the LETAGROP computer program. The resultant values were 9.4 (I = 0.1 M KCl, 20% methanol) for atenolol, 9.6 (I = 0.1 M KCl) for oxprenolol, 9.4 (I = 0.1 M KCl, 20% methanol) for timolol and 7.4 and 9.4 (I = 0.1 M KCl) for labetalol. The potentiometric method was found to be accurate and easily applicable. The operational criteria for applying the methodology are indicated.

MultiSimplex and experimental design as chemometric tools to optimize a SPE-HPLC-UV method for the determination of eprosartan in human plasma samples.

A chemometric approach was applied for the optimization of the extraction and separation of the antihypertensive drug eprosartan from human plasma samples. MultiSimplex program was used to optimize the HPLC-UV method due to the number of experimental and response variables to be studied. The measured responses were the corrected area, the separation of eprosartan chromatographic peak from plasma interferences peaks and the retention time of the analyte. The use of an Atlantis dC18, 100mmx3.9mm i.d. chromatographic column with a 0.026% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in the organic phase and 0.031% TFA in the aqueous phase, an initial composition of 80% aqueous phase in the mobile phase, a stepness of acetonitrile of 3% during the gradient elution mode with a flow rate of 1.25mL/min and a column temperature of 35+/-0.2 degrees C allowed the separation of eprosartan and irbesartan used as internal standard from plasma endogenous compounds. In the solid phase extraction procedure, experimental design was used in order to achieve a maximum recovery percentage. Firstly, the significant variables were chosen by way of fractional factorial design; then, a central composite design was run to obtain the more adequate values of the significant variables. Thus, the extraction procedure for spiked human plasma samples was carried out using C8 cartridges, phosphate buffer pH 2 as conditioning agent, a drying step of 10min, a washing step with methanol-phosphate buffer (20:80, v/v) and methanol as eluent liquid. The SPE-HPLC-UV developed method allowed the separation and quantitation of eprosartan from human plasma samples with an adequate resolution and a total analysis time of 1h.

Development of a solid phase extraction procedure for HPLC-DAD determination of several angiotensin II receptor antagonists in human urine using mixture design.

The optimisation of a solid phase extraction procedure involves several variables whose influence has been widely studied. However, in most cases, only process variables are taken into account. In this work, the influence of those process variables together with the fact of using mixtures of solvents during the elution step of the solid phase extraction of four angiotensin II receptor antagonist drugs has been studied. Since the influence on the extraction efficiency of several process variables were simultaneously tested, a D-optimal design was constructed. The composition of the elution solvent (a mixture of methanol, acetonitrile, ethanol and acetone at different proportions from 0 to 100% each solvent), the percentage and pH of the buffer solution added to the urine samples at the beginning of the extraction procedure; the percentage of the organic component and the volume of the washing solution, the drying time and the volume of the elution solvent were the studied variables. The chromatographic separation was carried out by gradient elution mode with 0.026% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in the organic phase and 0.031% TFA in the aqueous phase using an Atlantis dC18, 100mmx3.9mm I.D. chromatographic column at a flow rate of 1mL/min and a column temperature of 35+/-0.2 degrees C. For detection a diode array detector set at 232nm was used. The extraction procedure for spiked human urine samples was developed using C8 cartridges, phosphate buffer pH 6.8 as conditioning agent, a drying step of 10min, a washing step with methanol-phosphate buffer (20:80, v/v) and methanol as eluent. Recovery percentages obtained: 84% for eprosartan, 74% for telmisartan, 74% for irbesartan and 89% for valsartan allow the determination of these drugs concentration levels in urine.

Quantitative determination of the β-blocker labetalol in pharmaceuticals and human urine by high-performance liquid chromatography with amperometric detection

A rapid and simple high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with amperometric detection has been developed for the quantitation of labetalol in urine. The chromatography was performed at 30 degrees C using a reversed-phase column with a base deactivated silica stationary support and an alkylamide bonded phase (Supelcosil ABZ+Plus). A 5 mM acetate buffer (pH 4.5)-acetonitrile (70:30, v/v) mixture was employed as the mobile phase, pumped at a flow-rate of 1 ml/min. Sample preparation was carried out using a simple solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedure, and recoveries higher than 85% were achieved. The method was found to be accurate, precise (R.S.D lower than 8%), and sensitive enough (experimental quantitation limit of 20 ng/ml, detection limit 10 ng/ml) to be applied to doping analysis and pharmacokinetic studies in human urine. The method was applied to the determination of labetalol in pharmaceutical formulations and urine samples obtained from a healthy volunteer after the ingestion of a therapeutic dose of the drug, and the results obtained were in agreement with the pharmacokinetic data.