Reversed-phase High-performance Liquid Chromatographic Separation Research Articles

Application of optically pure amines as chiral auxiliaries to develop trichloro‐s‐triazine‐based new chiral derivatizing reagents for reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatographic enantioseparation of dl‐selenomethionine

(R)-(+)-naphthylethyl amine and (S)-(+)-1-benzyl-3-aminopyrrolidine were incorporated as chiral auxiliaries, by nucleophilic substitution of chlorine atoms, in cyanuric chloride (CC) or its 6-butoxy derivative. There were obtained four new chiral derivatizing reagents (CDRs) as two dichloro and two monochloro triazine reagents. The CDRs so obtained were characterized and their optical purity was ascertained. Diastereomers of dl-selenomethionine were synthesized under microwave irradiation for 60 or 90 s (at 80% power of 800 W). Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of diastereomers was carried out on a C18 column using mixtures of acetonitrile with aqueous trifluoroacetic acid as mobile phase. The detection was made at 230 nm using a photodiode array detector. The separation behaviors in terms of retention times and resolutions were compared. The separation method was validated for limit of detection, linearity, accuracy, precision, and recovery.

Analysis of Nine Food Additives in Red Wine by Ion-Suppression Reversed-Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Using Trifluoroacetic Acid and Ammonium Acetate as Ion-Suppressors

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was developed for the simultaneous determination of nine food additives, i.e., acesulfame, saccharin, caffeine, aspartame, benzoic acid, sorbic acid, stevioside, dehydroacetic acid and neotame in red wine. The effects of ion-suppressors, i.e., trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and ammonium acetate (AmAc) on retention behavior of nine food additives in RP-HPLC separation were discussed in detail. The relationships between retention factors of solutes and volume percent of ion-suppressors in the mobile-phase systems of acetonitrile-TFA aqueous solution and acetonitrile-TFA-AmAc aqueous solution were quantitatively established, respectively. The results showed that the ion suppressors had not only an ion suppression effect, but also an organic modification effect on the acidic analytes. The baseline separation of nine food additives was completed by a gradient elution with acetonitrile-TFA(0.01%, v/v)-AmAc(2.5 mmol L(-1)) aqueous solution as the mobile phase. The recoveries were between 80.2 - 99.5% for all analytes with RSDs in the range of 1.5 - 8.9%. The linearities were in the range of 0.2 - 100.0 mg L(-1) with determination coefficients (r(2)) higher than 0.9991 for all analytes. The limits of quantification (LOQs) were between 0.53 - 0.99 mg L(-1). The applicability of the proposed method to detect and quantify food additives has been demonstrated in the analysis of 30 real samples.

Validated HPLC and HPTLC Methods for Simultaneous Determination of Colchicine and Khellin in Pharmaceutical Formulations

The present work describes validated high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) methods for the simultaneous determination of colchicine and khellin. The isocratic reversed-phase HPLC separation was performed on a 5 µm C18 column (Luna, Phenomenex, Torrance, CA). Good resolution between colchicine and khellin was achieved using a mixture of acetonitrile-10 mM NaH(2)PO(4) (pH 3.0, 35:65 v/v) as a mobile phase. Quantitation was achieved with ultraviolet detection at 245 nm based on peak area. The HPTLC separation was conducted on Merck HPTLC aluminum sheets of silica gel 60 F254 as stationary phase using methylene chloride-methanol (95:5 v/v) as a mobile phase. Quantification was also achieved using densitometric measurements at 245 nm. Both methods revealed reasonable validation parameters concerning selectivity, linearity, accuracy, precision and limits of detection and quantitation.

Development and Validation of a Stability-Indicating HPLC Assay Method for Simultaneous Determination of Spironolactone and Furosemide in Tablet Formulation

The objective of the current study was to develop and validate a simple, precise and accurate isocratic stability-indicating reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) assay method for the determination of spironolactone and furosemide in solid pharmaceutical dosage forms. Isocratic RP-HPLC separation was achieved on an SGE 150 × 4.6 mm SS Wakosil II 5C8RS 5-μm column using a mobile phase of acetonitrile-ammonium acetate buffer (50:50, v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The detection was carried out at 254 nm using a photodiode array detector. The drug was subject to oxidation, hydrolysis, photolysis and heat to apply stress conditions. The method was validated for specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy, robustness and solution stability. The method was found to be linear in the drug concentration range of 40-160 µg/mL with correlation coefficients of 0.9977 and 0.9953 for spironolactone and furosemide, respectively. The precision (relative standard deviation; RSD) among a six-sample preparation was 0.87% and 1.1% for spironolactone and furosemide, respectively. Repeatability and intermediate precision (RSD) among a six-sample preparation were 0.46% and 0.20% for spironolactone and furosemide, respectively. The accuracy (recovery) was between 98.05 and 100.17% and 99.07 and 100.58% for spironolactone and furosemide, respectively. Degradation products produced as a result of stress studies did not interfere with the detection of spironolactone and furosemide; therefore, the assay can be considered to be stability-indicating.

Metal–Organic Frameworks for Analytical Chemistry: From Sample Collection to Chromatographic Separation

In modern analytical chemistry researchers pursue novel materials to meet analytical challenges such as improvements in sensitivity, selectivity, and detection limit. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are an emerging class of microporous materials, and their unusual properties such as high surface area, good thermal stability, uniform structured nanoscale cavities, and the availability of in-pore functionality and outer-surface modification are attractive for diverse analytical applications. This Account summarizes our research on the analytical applications of MOFs ranging from sampling to chromatographic separation. MOFs have been either directly used or engineered to meet the demands of various analytical applications. Bulk MOFs with microsized crystals are convenient sorbents for direct application to in-field sampling and solid-phase extraction. Quartz tubes packed with MOF-5 have shown excellent stability, adsorption efficiency, and reproducibility for in-field sampling and trapping of atmospheric formaldehyde. The 2D copper(II) isonicotinate packed microcolumn has demonstrated large enhancement factors and good shape- and size-selectivity when applied to on-line solid-phase extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water samples. We have explored the molecular sieving effect of MOFs for the efficient enrichment of peptides with simultaneous exclusion of proteins from biological fluids. These results show promise for the future of MOFs in peptidomics research. Moreover, nanosized MOFs and engineered thin films of MOFs are promising materials as novel coatings for solid-phase microextraction. We have developed an in situ hydrothermal growth approach to fabricate thin films of MOF-199 on etched stainless steel wire for solid-phase microextraction of volatile benzene homologues with large enhancement factors and wide linearity. Their high thermal stability and easy-to-engineer nanocrystals make MOFs attractive as new stationary phases to fabricate MOF-coated capillaries for high-resolution gas chromatography (GC). We have explored a dynamic coating approach to fabricate a MOF-coated capillary for the GC separation of important raw chemicals and persistent organic pollutants with high resolution and excellent selectivity. We have combined a MOF-coated fiber for solid-phase microextraction with a MOF-coated capillary for GC separation, which provides an effective MOF-based tandem molecular sieve platform for selective microextraction and high-resolution GC separation of target analytes in complex samples. Microsized MOFs with good solvent stability are attractive stationary phases for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). These materials have shown high resolution and good selectivity and reproducibility in both the normal-phase HPLC separation of fullerenes and substituted aromatics on MIL-101 packed columns and position isomers on a MIL-53(Al) packed column and the reversed-phase HPLC separation of a wide range of analytes from nonpolar to polar and acidic to basic solutes. Despite the above achievements, further exploration of MOFs in analytical chemistry is needed. Especially, analytical application-oriented engineering of MOFs is imperative for specific applications.

Metal–organic frameworks for reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

Metal-organic framework MIL-53(Al) is explored for reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of a wide range of analytes from non-polar to polar, and acidic to basic solutes with high resolution, good selectivity, stability and reproducibility.

An Optimized Method for the Measurement of Acetaldehyde by High‐Performance Liquid Chromatography

Acetaldehyde is produced during ethanol metabolism predominantly in the liver by alcohol dehydrogenase and rapidly eliminated by oxidation to acetate via aldehyde dehydrogenase. Assessment of circulating acetaldehyde levels in biological matrices is performed by headspace gas chromatography and reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). We have developed an optimized method for the measurement of acetaldehyde by RP-HPLC in hepatoma cell culture medium, blood, and plasma. After sample deproteinization, acetaldehyde was derivatized with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH). The reaction was optimized for pH, amount of derivatization reagent, time, and temperature. Extraction methods of the acetaldehyde-hydrazone (AcH-DNP) stable derivative and product stability studies were carried out. Acetaldehyde was identified by its retention time in comparison with AcH-DNP standard, using a new chromatography gradient program, and quantitated based on external reference standards and standard addition calibration curves in the presence and absence of ethanol. Derivatization of acetaldehyde was performed at pH 4.0 with an 80-fold molar excess of DNPH. The reaction was completed in 40 minutes at ambient temperature, and the product was stable for 2 days. A clear separation of AcH-DNP from DNPH was obtained with a new 11-minute chromatography program. Acetaldehyde detection was linear up to 80 μM. The recovery of acetaldehyde was >88% in culture media and >78% in plasma. We quantitatively determined the ethanol-derived acetaldehyde in hepatoma cells, rat blood and plasma with a detection limit around 3 μM. The accuracy of the method was <9% for intraday and <15% for interday measurements, in small volume (70 μl) plasma sampling. An optimized method for the quantitative determination of acetaldehyde in biological systems was developed using derivatization with DNPH, followed by a short RP-HPLC separation of AcH-DNP. The method has an extended linear range, is reproducible and applicable to small-volume sampling of culture media and biological fluids.

Comprehensive analysis of the major lipid classes in sebum by rapid resolution high-performance liquid chromatography and electrospray mass spectrometry

Sebum is a complex lipid mixture that is synthesized in sebaceous glands and excreted on the skin surface. The purpose of this study was the comprehensive detection of the intact lipids that compose sebum. These lipids exist as a broad range of chemical structures and concentrations. Sebum was collected with SebuTape(TM) from the foreheads of healthy donors, and then separated by HPLC on a C8 stationary phase with sub 2 µm particle size. This HPLC method provided high resolution and excellent reproducibility of retention times (RT). Compound mining was performed with time of flight (TOF) and triple quadrupole (QqQ) mass spectrometers (MS), which allowed for the classification of lipids according to their elemental composition, degree of unsaturation, and MS/MS fragmentation. The combination of the two MS systems detected 95 and 29 families of triacylglycerols (TAG) and diacylglycerols (DAG), respectively. Assignment was carried out regardless of positional isomerism. Among the wax esters (WE), 28 species were found to contain the 16:1 fatty acyl moiety. This method was suitable for the simultaneous detection of squalene and its oxygenated derivative. A total of 9 cholesterol esters (CE) were identified and more than 48 free fatty acids (FFA) were detected in normal sebum. The relative abundance of each individual lipid within its own chemical class was determined for 12 healthy donors. In summary, this method provided the first characterization of the features and distribution of intact components of the sebum lipidome.

Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of diastereomers of ( R, S)-mexiletine prepared by microwave irradiation with four new chiral derivatizing reagents based on trichloro- s-triazine having amino acids as chiral auxiliaries and 10 others having amino acid amides

A new series of chiral derivatizing reagents (CDRs) consisting of four dichloro- s-triazine reagents was synthesized by nucleophilic substitution of one chlorine atom in trichloro- s-triazine with amino acids, namely l-Leu, d-Phg, l-Val and l-Ala as chiral auxiliaries. Two other sets of CDRs consisting of four dichloro- s-triazine (DCT) and six monochloro- s-triazine (MCT) reagents were also prepared by nucleophilic substitution of chlorine atom(s) with different amino acid amides as chiral auxiliaries in trichloro- s-triazine and its 6-methoxy derivative, respectively. These 14 CDRs were used for the synthesis of diastereomers of ( R, S)-mexiletine under microwave irradiation ( i.e. 60 s and 90 s at 85% power (of 800 W) using DCT and MCT reagents, respectively), which were resolved by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography using C18 column and gradient eluting mixtures of methanol with aqueous trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) with UV detection at 230 nm. The resolution ( R s), difference between retention times of resolved diastereomers (Δ t) and retention factors ( k) obtained for the three sets of diastereomers were compared among themselves and among the three groups. Explanations have been offered for longer retention times and better resolution of diastereomers prepared with DCT reagents in comparison of their MCT counterparts and, for the influence of hydrophobicity of the side chain R of the amino acid in the CDRs on retention times and resolution. The newly synthesized CDRs were observed to be superior as compared to their amide counterparts in terms of providing better resolution and cost effectiveness. The method was validated for limit of detection, linearity, accuracy and precision.

Identification of a New Natural Vasorelaxatant Compound, (+)-Osbeckic Acid, from Rutin-free Tartary Buckwheat Extract

The candidates responsible for vasorelaxation action of rutin-free tartary buckwheat extract (TBSP) were examined in this study. As a result of reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separations, five prominent peaks in the acidic fraction of TBSP were obtained at 260 nm. Among the five collected peaks, we successfully identified four compounds by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS) measurements: (+)-osbeckic acid as a dimer ([M - H](-) m/z: 371.2 > 184.9 > 140.9), 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furoic acid, protocatechuic acid, and p-hydroxybenzoic acid. A vascular contractive measurement in 1.0 μM phenylephrine-contracted Sprague-Dawley rat thoracic aorta rings revealed that (+)-osbeckic acid dimer evoked a potent vasorelaxant effect with an EC50 value of 887 μM compared to other isolates (EC50: 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furoic acid, 3610 μM; protocatechuic acid, 2160 μM; p-hydroxybenzoic acid, no inhibition). Dimeric (+)-osbeckic acid was stable in solutions and at high temperatures, while its degraded peak on the HPLC chromatogram was observed when it was dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide.

Microwave-assisted synthesis and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of diastereomers of ( R,S)-baclofen using ten chiral derivatizing reagents designed from trichloro- s-triazine

Four dichloro- s-triazine (DCT) and five monochloro-s-triazine (MCT) chiral derivatizing reagents (CDRs) were synthesized by incorporating amino acid amide moieties as chiral auxiliaries in trichloro- s-triazine and its 6-methoxy derivative, respectively. Another MCT reagent was synthesized by substitution of two chlorine atoms with two different amino acid amides in trichloro- s-triazine. These reagents were used for synthesis of diastereomers of ( R,S)-baclofen under microwave irradiation ( i.e. 60 s at 85% power using DCT reagents and 90 s at 85% power using MCT reagents). The diastereomers were separated on a reversed-phase C18 column using mixtures of methanol with aqueous trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) with UV detection at 230 nm. The separation behavior in terms of retention times and resolutions obtained for the two sets of diastereomers prepared with DCT and MCT reagents were compared among themselves and among the two groups. Longer retention times and better resolutions were observed with DCT reagents as compared to MCT reagents. The calibration curves were linear for both ( R)- and ( S)-baclofen in the concentration range 50-500 μg/ml. The average regression was 0.999 for both ( R)- and ( S)-baclofen. The RSD for ( R)-baclofen was 0.40-0.86% for intra-day precision and 0.60-1.40% for inter-day precision and these values for ( S)-baclofen were 0.52-0.75% and 0.64-1.32%, respectively. The recovery was 97.2-98.9% for ( R)- and 97.0-98.9% for ( S)-baclofen. The limit of detection was 1.63ng/ml and 1.52ng/ml for ( R)- and ( S)-baclofen, respectively.

Evolving neural network optimization of cholesteryl ester separation by reversed-phase HPLC

Cholesteryl esters have antimicrobial activity and likely contribute to the innate immunity system. Improved separation techniques are needed to characterize these compounds. In this study, optimization of the reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography separation of six analyte standards (four cholesteryl esters plus cholesterol and tri-palmitin) was accomplished by modeling with an artificial neural network–genetic algorithm (ANN-GA) approach. A fractional factorial design was employed to examine the significance of four experimental factors: organic component in the mobile phase (ethanol and methanol), column temperature, and flow rate. Three separation parameters were then merged into geometric means using Derringer’s desirability function and used as input sources for model training and testing. The use of genetic operators proved valuable for the determination of an effective neural network structure. Implementation of the optimized method resulted in complete separation of all six analytes, including the resolution of two previously co-eluting peaks. Model validation was performed with experimental responses in good agreement with model-predicted responses. Improved separation was also realized in a complex biological fluid, human milk. Thus, the first known use of ANN-GA modeling for improving the chromatographic separation of cholesteryl esters in biological fluids is presented and will likely prove valuable for future investigators involved in studying complex biological samples. FigureANN-derived response surface plot for two interacting factors and overall response Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00216-010-3778-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Determination of Reduced Cysteine in Oenological Cell Wall Fractions of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Compounds containing cysteine residues, such as glutathione, can affect the redox potential of must and wine by reduction of o-quinones and hydrogen peroxide. The oenological yeast cell wall fractions contain cysteine residues in their protein structure, and they could affect both oxidative and odor properties of wine. An analytical approach based on the derivatization of cysteinyl residues with p-benzoquinone followed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography separation was developed to quantify glutathione and free and protein cysteine in 16 Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains and 12 commercial samples of yeast mannoproteins, hulls, and lysates. The chemical modifications induced by the Maillard reaction following the industrial preparation of such fractions were evaluated as well. Lysates showed the highest protein cysteine content and high contents of glutathione and free cysteine. Mannoproteins showed an intense Maillard reaction (furosine >60 mg/100 g protein), and most of the samples were able to bind thiol compounds with a potentially detrimental effect toward the thiol-related odors in wine.

Comparison of extracted proteins of human stomach tumor and normal tissues with liquid chromatography-multistage mass spectrometry

Screening of tumor markers by proteomic technology is the research focus and key of early diagnosis of stomach cancer study. Aiming at the complexity of the extracted proteins from biological tissue, reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) was employed as one of the most efficient chromatographic methods. Based on the difference of hydrophobicity, RP-HPLC separation was performed to reduce the complexity of stomach cancer tissue and normal tissue samples, separately. By comparing the chromatograms, different components were collected. The fractions with the retention times from 45 min to 47 min were digested and identified by liquid chromatography-multistage mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Nine common proteins were found in both tumor tissue and normal tissue. Six specific proteins were screened in normal tissue and seventeen specific proteins were found in tumor tissue under the same conditions. Two proteins with higher abundance in tumor tissue were selected for further investigation. These proteins provide more information for future drug target and drug pathway research by the analysis of biological information.

Quantification of ceramide species in biological samples by liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

We present an optimized and validated liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC–ESI–MS/MS) method for the simultaneous measurement of concentrations of different ceramide species in biological samples. The method of analysis of tissue samples is based on Bligh and Dyer extraction, reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography separation, and multiple reaction monitoring of ceramides. Preparation of plasma samples also requires isolation of sphingolipids by silica gel column chromatography prior to LC–ESI–MS/MS analysis. The limits of quantification were in a range of 0.01–0.50 ng/ml for distinct ceramides. The method was reliable for inter- and intraassay precision, accuracy, and linearity. Recoveries of ceramide subspecies from human plasma, rat liver, and muscle tissue were 78 to 91%, 70 to 99%, and 71 to 95%, respectively. The separation and quantification of several endogenous long-chain and very-long-chain ceramides using two nonphysiological odd chain ceramide (C17 and C25) internal standards was achieved within a single 21-min chromatographic run. The technique was applied to quantify distinct ceramide species in different rat tissues (muscle, liver, and heart) and in human plasma. Using this analytical technique, we demonstrated that a clinical exercise training intervention reduces the levels of ceramides in plasma of obese adults. This technique could be extended for quantification of other ceramides and sphingolipids with no significant modification.

Application of (S)-N-(4-Nitrophenoxycarbonyl) phenylalanine methoxyethyl ester as a chiral derivatizing reagent for reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of diastereomers of amino alcohols, non-protein amino acids, and PenA

Indirect enantioresolution of 15 primary and secondary amino group containing compounds (amino alcohols, non-protein amino acids, PenA) was done using the reagent (S)-N-(4-Nitrophenoxycarbonyl) phenylalanine methoxyethyl ester [(S)-NIFE] by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The diastereomeric derivatives were analyzed under reversed-phase conditions using linear gradient. The detection was at 205 nm and sharp peaks were obtained. The reagent used is comparatively economic than the other derivatizing reagents. Method validation was also done.

Determination of fumonisins in maize by HPLC with ultraviolet detection of o-phthaldialdehyde derivatives

Fumonisins are mycotoxins that are produced by various Fusarium species and occur naturally in maize and maize-based foods. Fumonisins are carcinogenic, causing liver cancer in rats, and are associated with oesophageal cancer and neural tube defects in humans. Analytical methods for individual fumonisin analogues in maize rely on reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) separation after suitable extraction and clean-up. As fumonisins lack a useful chromophore or fluorophore, HPLC detection is achieved by suitable derivatization and sensitive, specific fluorescence detection. A widely used and validated method involves extract clean-up on strong anion exchange solid phase extraction cartridges and pre-column derivatization with o-phthaldialdehyde (OPA). However, many laboratories requiring infrequent fumonisin analysis are only equipped with HPLC with ultraviolet (UV) detection. A HPLC system equipped with both UV and fluorescence detectors connected in series was used to determine the extent to which UV offers an alternative to fluorescence detection in the above analytical method. Comparison of the detection systems using fumonisin standards indicated that fluorescence is about 20-times more sensitive than UV. Analysis of maize samples with differing fumonisin contamination levels indicated that, at fumonisin B1 levels above 1,000µg/kg, the two detection systems were comparable and gave repeatabilities equal or less than 10% on six replicate analyses. Although a sensitive fumonisin analysis requires fluorescence detection, UV may offer an alternative in certain circumstances.

Analysis of major urinary aminothiols by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection

Summary High-performance liquid chromatography has been used for measurement of the concentrations of total cysteine and cysteinylglycine in human urine. The method involved conversion of disulfides to their reduced counterparts by use of tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine hydrochloride, derivatization with 1-benzyl-2-chloropyridinium bromide, and ion-pairing reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic separation with ultraviolet detection at 315 nm. The linearity of the method was validated in the ranges 50–300 and 5–50 µmol L−1 urine for cysteine and cysteinylglycine, respectively; regression coefficients were better than 0.999. The detection and quantitation limits were 0.2 and 0.5 µmol L−1, respectively, for both analytes. Intra-assay and inter-assay imprecision were below 6.0%, and accuracy was 98.95–100.80%. The method was applied to urine samples donated by apparently healthy volunteers.

A simple RP‐HPLC method for quantification of columbianadin in rat plasma and its application to pharmacokinetic study

A rapid and sensitive reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) method was developed to investigate pharmacokinetics of columbianadin, one of the main bioactive constituents in the roots of Angelica pubescens f. biserrata, in rat plasma after intravenous administration to rats at two doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg. The method involves a plasma clean-up step using liquid-liquid extraction by diethyl ether, followed by RP-HPLC separation and detection. Separation of columbianadin was performed on an analytical Diamonsil ODS C(18) column, with a mobile phase of MeOH-H(2)O (85 : 15, v/v) at a flow-rate of 1.0 mL/min, and UV detection was set at 325 nm. The retention time of columbianadin and scoparone (internal standard) was 6.7 and 3.5 min, respectively. The calibration curve was linear over the range of 0.2-20.0 microg/mL (r(2) = 0.9986) in rat plasma. The lower limits of detection and quantification were 0.05 and 0.1 microg/mL, respectively. The extraction recovery from plasma was in the range of 81.61-89.93%. The intra- and inter-day precisions (relative standard deviation) were between 1.01 and 9.33%, with accuracies ranging from 89.76 to 109.22%. The results indicated that the method established was suitable for the determination and pharmacokinetic study of columbianadin in rat plasma.

Developing and optimizing a validated isocratic reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography separation of nimodipine and impurities in tablets using experimental design methodology

In the present study an isocratic reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography was investigated for the separation of nimodipine and impurities (A, B and C) using statistical experimental design. Initially, a full factorial design was used in order to screen five independent factors: type of the organic modifier – methanol or acetonitrile – and concentration, column temperature, mobile phase flow rate and pH. Except pH, the rest examined factors were identified as significant, using ANOVA analysis. The optimum conditions of separation (optimum values of significant factors) determined with the aid of central composite design were: (1) mobile phase: acetonitrile/H2O (67.5/32.5, v/v), (2) column temperature 40°C and (3) mobile phase flow rate 0.9ml/min. The proposed method showed good prediction ability (observed–predicted correlation). The analysis was found to be linear, specific, precise, sensitive and accurate. The method was also studied for robustness and intermediate precision using experimental design methodology. Three commercially available nimodipine tablets were analyzed showing good % recovery and %RSD. No traceable amounts of impurities were found in all products.