Reza Mehvar

Bioequivalence of chiral drugs. Stereospecific versus non-stereospecific methods.

SummaryGuidelines for bioequivalence of non-racemic pharmaceuticals are abundant in the literature. However, few guidelines exist for the bioequivalence of racemic drugs which consist of 2 or more stereoisomers. The aim of this article is to address the question of whether the bioequivalence of racemic drugs should be based on the measurement of the individual enantiomers or that of the total drug.Several pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic cases are examined to test the validity of extrapolating the bioequivalence of racemic drugs to that of their individual enantiomers after administration of the racemate; simulation and experimental data are presented to support these cases.It is shown that for drugs which exhibit non-linear pharmacokinetics, the results of bioequivalence studies based on the total drug may differ from those based on the individual enantiomers. Similar discrepancies can be shown for a racemic drug with linear pharmacokinetics whose enantiomers substantially differ from each other in their pharmacokinetic parameters. Therefore, it is suggested that stereospecific assays be used for these drugs. Additionally, it is recommended that for racemic drugs which undergo chiral inversion, and for most products with modified release characteristics, the bioequivalence be assessed using stereospecific assays. Conversely, for racemic drugs with linear pharmacokinetics and minimal to modest stereoselectivity in their kinetic parameters, and for those with non-stereoselective pharmacodynamics, the use of stereospecific analytical methods are not warranted.Finally, the limited, controversial literature in favour of or against the use of stereospecific assays in bioequivalence of chiral drugs are reviewed and a preliminary guideline is proposed.

ENANTIOSELECTIVE DISTRIBUTION OF VERAPAMIL AND NORVERAPAMIL INTO HUMAN AND RAT ERYTHROCYTES: THE ROLE OF PLASMA PROTEIN BINDING

In this in vitro study, the distribution of the enantiomers of verapamil (VER) and its active metabolite, norverapamil (NOR), into the red blood cells (RBCs) of humans and rats was investigated using a chiral liquid chromatographic assay. When plasma was replaced with buffer, the distribution of VER and NOR enantiomers into both human and rat RBCs was substantial (RBC:blood concentration ratios, 1.39-1.79), non-stereoselective, concentration (125-1000 ng mL-1) linear, and species independent. However, in the presence of plasma, the RBC distribution of VER and NOR was stereoselective, with opposite stereoselectivity for human (S > R) and rat (R > S) blood. Additionally, the presence of plasma caused a reduction in the extent of RBC distribution for both VER and NOR enantiomers and in some cases resulted in nonlinearity in the RBC distribution of the enantiomers. Plasma protein binding studies revealed opposite stereoselectivity in the free fractions in human (S > R) and rat (R > S) plasma for both VER and NOR. These data suggest that the stereoselective protein binding is responsible for the apparent stereoselectivity in the RBC distribution of VER and NOR. The data are also in agreement with the opposite stereoselectivity in the plasma concentrations of VER observed in vivo in rats and humans.

Simultaneous analysis of dextran-methylprednisolone succinate, methylprednisolone succinate, and methylprednisolone by size-exclusion chromatography.

An analytical HPLC method is reported for simultaneous measurement of low (1.0-100 microg ml(-1)) concentrations of dextran-methylprednisolone succinate (DEX-MPS) and its degradation products methylprednisolone hemisuccinate (MPS) and methylprednisolone (MP). The analytes were detected at 250 nm after resolution using a size exclusion column with a mobile phase of KH2PO4 (10 mM): acetonitrile (3:1) and a flow rate of 1 ml min(-1). The resolution of MP and MPS peaks was substantially affected by the pH of the mobile phase; while MP and MPS co-eluted at pH 3.4, they were baseline-resolved at pH > or = 5. Linear relationships (r > or = 0.997) were found between the detector response and the concentrations of the analytes (1.0-100 microg ml(-1) for MP and MPS and 2.5-100 microg ml(-1) for DEX-MPS). Intra- and inter-run error (< 13%) and precision (CV of < or = 6%) data indicated that the assay could accurately and precisely quantitate all three components in the examined concentration range. The application of the assay to determination of degree of substitution, purity, and stability of DEX-MPS was also demonstrated.

Preparation and Release of Ibuprofen from Polyacrylamide Gels

The conditions of preparation of polyacrylamide (polyAC) gels, the incorporation of ibuprofen (IB), and the kinetics of IB release under various conditions have been evaluated. Transparent, opaque, or elastic gels were prepared depending on the concentration of acrylamide (AC) and the cross-linking agent, N,N-methylenebisacrylamide (BIS). Release studies in media below pH 5.0 resulted in opaque gels. The kinetics of IB release was a function of the AC, BIS, and the pH of the medium, but the optimum composition, in terms of gel integrity and release characteristics, was 7% AC cross-linked with BIS at a 50:1 ratio. Modulation of the release rate was possible with the incorporation of 10% of certain polymers. The amount of IB that could be incorporated per gram of transparent gel was a function of the amount of polymer initiator N,N,N,N-tetramethylene diamine (TEMED) used per gram of gel. More than 200 mg of IB could be incorporated per gram of transparent gel by using 100 microliters of TEMED. The release of IB obeyed matrix/swelling-controlled kinetics and 70-80% of the IB was released from gels containing 10 to 40 mg IB per gram of gel in 5 hr at pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C.

Enantioselective Kinetics of Verapamil and Norverapamil in Isolated Perfused Rat Livers

The kinetics of the individual enantiomers of verapamil (VER) and its metabolite, norverapamil (NOR), were studied in isolated perfused rat livers (IPRLs) after administration of racemic drug or the preformed metabolite. After constant infusion of 20 µg/min of racemic VER to single-pass IPRLs, the hepatic availabilities (F) of the enantiomers were low (S-VER, 0.069 ± 0.030; R-VER: 0.046 ± 0.025) and stereoselective (S:R ratio, 1.6 ± 0.2). After administration of similar doses, the F values of the preformed NOR enantiomers (S-NOR: 0.24 ± 0.04; R-NOR, 0.10 ± 0.02) were higher than those of the VER enantiomers. However, the stereoselectivity in F of NOR (S:R ratio, 2.2 ± 0.1), was in the same direction of that of VER. Further, the fractions of R enantiomers unbound to bovine serum albumin in the perfusate were higher than those of their antipodes for both VER (R:S ratio, 1.9 ± 0.1) and NOR (R:S ratio, 2.6 ± 0.2). Therefore, for unbound moieties, modest stereoselectivity in the metabolism of VER in favor of the S-isomer and no stereoselectivity in the metabolism of NOR were observed. Overall, our data suggest that the stereoselective protein binding is a primary determinant of stereoselectivity in the hepatic availability of VER and NOR in IPRLs.

Stereospecific liquid chromatographic analysis of racemic adrenergic drugs utilizing precolumn derivatization with (—)-menthyl chloroformate

In this paper, application of (-)-menthyl chloroformate to HPLC analysis of enantiomers of certain β-adrenoceptor agents is reported: 1-isopropylamino-3-phenoxypropan-2-ol hydrochloride (IPP), atenolol, metoprolol, propranolol, toliprolol, sotalol, metaproterenol

Liquid chromatographic analysis of the enantiomeric impurities in various (+)-pseudoephedrine samples

An HPLC method has been developed for the separation of four stereoisomers of ephedrine using precolumn derivatization with S( + )-l-(l-naphthyl)-ethyl isocyanate. The formed derivatives are subsequently separated on a normal-phase column and are detected at a UV wavelength of 220 nm. This method was used to quantitate the differences in the enantiomeric impurity of various samples of ( + )-pseudoephedrine. The reported method can differentiate between samples of ( + )-pseudoephedrine which differ in their enantiomeric impurity by as little as 0.02%. Possible racemization of ( + )-pseudoephedrine in aqueous solutions was also studied. Samples of ( + )-pseudoephedrine from various suppliers and, indeed, different lots from the same supplier, differed significantly in their degree of enantiomeric impurity.

Liquid chromatographic analysis of propafenone enantiomers in human plasma

A convenient and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method for analysis of the enantiomers of propafenone (PPF) in human plasma was developed. Racemic propafenone and (-)-ephedrine (internal standard) were first extracted from plasma samples into a mixture of hexane-2-propanol-heptafluorobutanol (95:5:1.25, v/v). After evaporation of the organic layer, the samples were derivatized with R(-)-naphthylethyl isocyanate. The derivatization reached its maximum within 30 s at room temperature with an efficiency of 93.9 +/- 2.8% (mean +/- S.D.). The formed diastereomers were subsequently separated on a silica column with a mobile phase of hexane-2-propanol-isobutanol (96:2:2, v/v) at a flow-rate of 1.5 ml/min. The ultraviolet detection wavelength was set at 220 nm. Using 1 ml plasma, the detection limit was 6.25 ng/ml for the propafenone enantiomers. The assay was successfully employed to measure propafenone enantiomers in plasma samples of a healthy subject after oral administration of a single 150-mg dose of the racemate.

Relationship of Apparent Systemic Clearance to Individual Organ Clearances: Effect of Pulmonary Clearance and Site of Drug Administration and Measurement

The relationships between apparent total-body clearance (CL) and individual organ clearances were mathematically defined with respect to the site of drug administration and measurement. The derived equations can be applied to drugs undergoing different pathways of elimination, including pulmonary clearance. A physiological pharmacokinetic model was used to test the validity of the equations. The apparent systemic clearance values obtained through the equations, using the individual organ clearance values, were identical to those calculated utilizing the model-generated data, indicating the validity of the equations. Furthermore, it was shown that the conventional estimation of CL of drugs subject to pulmonary clearance is highly dependent upon the site of drug administration and measurement. The relationships were further utilized to explain the reported CL values which are higher than the cardiac output. The equations developed here may be used to predict the contribution of different organs, such as the lungs, to the apparent systemic clearance of drugs.

Disposition of fluorescein-labelled dextran (150 kD) in isolated perfused livers from control and diabetic rats.

Isolated perfused livers were used to study the hepatic disposition of fluorescein-labelled dextran with a MW of 150 kD (FD-150), in control and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. A 100-microliter volume of FD-150 solution (10%, w/v) was injected as a rapid bolus dose into the inlet catheter of the isolated livers, and samples were collected from the outlet catheter in 2-sec intervals for 80 sec. Statistical moment theory was used to calculate the distribution and elimination parameters of the tracer based on the concentrations of FD-150 in the outflow. The values (mean +/- SD) of mean transit time, volume of distribution, and extraction ratio of FD-150 in the isolated livers from control rats were 16.3 +/- 2.00 sec, 0.298 +/- 0.054 ml/g liver, and 0.24, respectively. Similar values were obtained in diabetic livers, suggesting that streptozotocin-induced diabetes does not affect the hepatic disposition of FD-150.