Dispersive micro-solid-phase extraction of benzodiazepines from biological fluids based on polyaniline/magnetic nanoparticles composite.

In this study, diverse types of Fe3O4 nanocomposites modified by polyaniline, polypyrrole, and aniline-pyrrole copolymer were synthesized through chemical oxidative polymerization process for dispersive-µ-solid phase extraction (D-µ-SPE) in the presence of various dopants. The results showed that the nanocomposite modified by polyaniline with p-toluene sulfonic acid as a dopant demonstrated higher extraction efficiency for lorazepam (LRZ) and nitrazepam (NRZ). Also the synthesized magnetic sorbents were characterized. The nanocomposite sorbent in combination with high performance liquid chromatography-UV detection was applied for the extraction, preconcentration and determination of lorazepam and nitrazepam in urine and plasma samples. Different parameters influencing the extraction efficiency including: sample pH, amount of sorbent, sorption time, elution solvent and its volume, salt content, and elution time were optimized. The obtained optimal conditions were: sample pH, 6; amount of sorbent, 5 mg; sorption time, 5.0 min; elution solvent and its volume, 0.5 mM cethyltrimethyl ammonium bromide in acetonitrile, 150 µL; elution time, 2.0 min and without addition of NaCl. The calibration curves were linear in the concentration range of 1-2000 µg L(-1). The limits of detection (LODs) were achieved in the range of 0.5-1.8 µg L(-1) for NRZ and 0.2-2.0 µg L(-1) for LRZ, respectively. The percent of extraction recoveries and relative standard deviations (n=5) were in the range of 84.0-99.0, 6.1-7.8 for NRZ and 90.0-99.0, 4.1-7.0 for LRZ, respectively. Ultimately, the applicability of the method was successfully confirmed by the extraction and determination of NRZ and LRZ in human urine and plasma samples.

Boseongazepines A-C, pyrrolobenzodiazepine derivatives from a Streptomyces sp. 11A057.

Three new pyrrolobenzodiazepine derivatives, boseongazepines A-C (1-3), were isolated from a culture broth of Streptomyces sp. 11A057, together with the known compound usabamycin B (4). The structures of 1-4 were determined through the analysis of spectroscopic data including extensive 1D-, 2D-NMR, and MS techniques. Cell growth inhibition effects of these compounds were evaluated against Jurkat, K-562, HL-60, and HepG2 cell lines.

Drug facilitated sexual assault: detection and stability of benzodiazepines in spiked drinks using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Benzodiazepines are detected in a significant number of drug facilitated sexual assaults (DFSA). Whilst blood and urine from the victim are routinely analysed, due to the delay in reporting DFSA cases and the short half lives of most of these drugs in blood and urine, drug detection in such samples is problematic. Consideration of the drinks involved and analysis for drugs may start to address this. Here we have reconstructed the 'spiking' of three benzodiazepines (diazepam, flunitrazepam and temazepam) into five drinks, an alcopop (flavoured alcoholic drink), a beer, a white wine, a spirit, and a fruit based non-alcoholic drink (J2O) chosen as representative of those drinks commonly used by women in 16-24 year old age group. Using a validated GC-MS method for the simultaneous detection of these drugs in the drinks we have studied the storage stability of the benzodiazepines under two different storage conditions, uncontrolled room temperature and refrigerator (4°C) over a 25 day period. All drugs could be detected in all beverages over this time period. Diazepam was found to be stable in all of the beverages, except the J2O, under both storage conditions. Flunitrazepam and temazepam were found not to be stable but were detectable (97% loss of temazepam and 39% loss of flunitrazepam from J2O). The recommendations from this study are that there should be a policy change and that drinks thought to be involved in DFSA cases should be collected and analysed wherever possible to support other evidence types.

Supramolecular solvent-based hollow fiber liquid phase microextraction of benzodiazepines.

A new, efficient, and environmental friendly hollow fiber liquid phase microextraction (HF-LPME) method based on supramolecular solvents was developed for extraction of five benzodiazepine drugs. The supramolecular solvent was produced from coacervation of decanoic acid aqueous vesicles in the presence of tetrabutylammonium (Bu4N(+)). In this work, benzodiazepines were extracted from aqueous samples into a supramolecular solvent impregnated in the wall pores and also filled inside the porous polypropylene hollow fiber membrane. The driving forces for the extraction were hydrophobic, hydrogen bonding, and π-cation interactions between the analytes and the vesicular aggregates. High-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection (HPLC-DAD) was applied for separation and determination of the drugs. Several parameters affecting the extraction efficiency including pH, hollow fiber length, ionic strength, stirring rate, and extraction time were investigated and optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the preconcentration factors were obtained in the range of 112-198. Linearity of the method was determined to be in the range of 1.0-200.0 µg L(-1) for diazepam and 2.0-200.0 µg L(-1) for other analytes with coefficient of determination (R(2)) ranging from 0.9954 to 0.9993. The limits of detection for the target benzodiazepines were in the range of 0.5-0.7 µg L(-1). The method was successfully applied for extraction and determination of the drugs in water, fruit juice, plasma and urine samples and relative recoveries of the compounds studied were in the range of 90.0-98.8%.

Bio-sample preparation and gas chromatographic determination of benzodiazepines--a review.

Benzodiazepines have become commonly prescribed medicines worldwide in the therapy of anxiety, sleep disorders and convulsive attacks because they are relatively safe, with mild side effects. The availability of rapid, sensitive and selective analytical methods is essential for the determination of these drugs in clinical and forensic cases. Benzodiazepines are usually present at trace levels (µg/mL or ng/mL) in a complex biological matrix, and the potentially interfering compounds need to be removed before analysis. Therefore, a sample preparation technique is often mandatory, both to extract the drugs of interest from the matrices and to increase their concentration. An extended and comprehensive review is presented herein, focusing on bio-sample preparation (pretreatment, extraction and derivatization) and gas chromatographic methods applied for the quantification of 1,4-benzodiazepines.

Oxoprothracarcin, a novel pyrrolo[1,4]benzodiazepine antibiotic from marine Streptomyces sp. M10946.

A novel pyrrolo[1,4]benzodiazepine antibiotic, designated oxoprothracarcin (3), was isolated from the marine strain Streptomyces sp. M10946 along with three known secondary metabolites, cyclo(D)-Pro-(D)-Val (1), cyclo(D)-Pro-(D)-Leu (2), and limazepine A (4). The chemical structures of these substances were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses, including 1D- and 2D-NMR and ESI-MS. Antitumor and antibacterial assays indicated that compounds 1-4 weakly inhibit the growth of MDA-MB-231 and A549 cells. The isolation of compound 3 with a high yield (36 mg/10 L) indicated that this marine S. sp. M10946 may provide new lead compounds for structural modification and drug screening.

Limazepines A-F, pyrrolo[1,4]benzodiazepine Antibiotics from an Indonesian Micrococcus sp.

In our screening of Indonesian microorganisms for novel bioactive natural products we have isolated seven new compounds, designated as limazepines A, B1 and B2 (isolated as an isomeric mixture), C, D, E, and F, from the culture broth of Micrococcus sp. strain ICBB 8177. In addition, the known natural products prothracarcin and 7-O-succinylmacrolactin A, as well as two previously reported synthetic compounds, 2-amino-3-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzoic acid methyl ester and 4-ethylpyrrole-2-carboxaldehyde, were obtained from the extract. Chemical structures were determined by spectroscopic methods and by comparison with the NMR data of structurally related compounds. The limazepines belong to the growing group of the pyrrolo[1,4]benzodiazepine antitumor antibiotics isolated from various soil bacteria. Limazepines B1/B2 mixture, C, and E were active against the Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus and the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli. Limazepine D was also active against S. aureus, but was not active against E. coli. Interestingly, only the limazepines B1/B2 mixture and D were active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Determination of 14 benzodiazepines and hydroxy metabolites, zaleplon and zolpidem as tert-butyldimethylsilyl derivatives compared with other common silylating reagents in whole blood by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

The most common commercially available silylating reagents, N-methyl-N-(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (MSTFA), N,O-bis-(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide+1% trimethylchlorosilane (BSTFA+1% TMCS) and N-methyl-N-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (MTBSTFA) were evaluated to achieve optimal derivatization conditions for analyzing various benzodiazepines based on gas chromatography-electron impact ionization-mass spectrometry (GC-EI-MS). Sensitivity, repeatability, retention times and stability of the derivatives, as well as specificity of mass fragmentation, were studied in detail. Also other parameters affecting the derivatization chemistry of benzodiazepines are discussed. tert-Butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS) derivatives proved to be more stable, reproducible and sensitive than corresponding trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives for the GC-EI-MS analysis of benzodiazepines. Based on the TBDMS derivatives, a rapid, reliable, sensitive and quantitative GC-MS method was developed for the determination of 14 benzodiazepines and two hydroxy metabolites, as well as two non-benzodiazepine hypnotic agents, zolpidem and zaleplon, using 50 microl of whole blood. The method was completely validated in terms of accuracy, intra- and interday precision, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantitation (LOQ), linearity, selectivity and extraction efficiency; these were all within the required limits, except for the accuracy of nitrazepam at a medium concentration level.

Automated on-line solid-phase extraction-gas chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorus detection: determination of benzodiazepines in human plasma.

An automated sample preparation module, the ASPEC (automated sample preparation with extraction columns) was interfaced with a capillary gas chromatograph (GC) by means of a loop-type interface. The system was optimized for the determination of four benzodiazepines in plasma. Extraction from the untreated plasma was carried out on disposable C18 cartridges and involved several washing steps. The analytes were desorbed with 2 ml of ethyl acetate and a 110-microliter aliquot of the eluate was injected into the gas chromatograph via the loop-type interface using fully concurrent solvent evaporation conditions. Detection of the benzodiazepines was carried out with a nitrogen-phosphorus detector (NPD). The ASPEC-GC-NPD was fully automated and could run unattended overnight. With a sample volume of 1 ml the procedure showed good linearity and repeatability in the range 5-50 ng/ml using a sample volume of 1 ml. The limits of detection in plasma were 0.5-2 ng/ml.

Analysis of urinary benzodiazepines using solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A solid-phase extraction and GC-MS confirmation method was developed for certain urinary diazolo- and triazolobenzodiazepines, including the metabolites of lorazepam, clonazepam, alprazolam, and triazolam. The latter two do not form benzophenones, and the others are not readily confirmed by conventional thin-layer chromatography or GC-MS techniques. Samples were hydrolyzed with glucuronidase at 37 degrees C, adjusted to pH 4.5, extracted with Bond Elut Certify columns, dried, and derivatized using BSTFA with 1% TMCS. Sample preparation time averaged 4 hours. A GC-MS selected-ion-monitoring acquisition method targeting retention time, molecular ion abundances, and qualifier ion ratios was used to determine positive results. The recovery of 7-NH2-clonazepam was 95%, and recoveries of alpha-hydroxyalprazolam, alpha-hydroxytriazolam, and lorazepam were greater than 66%. Linearity was demonstrated from 0.1 to 1.0 microgram/mL for each drug. Within-run CVs were less than 11%, and between-run CVs were less than 16%. Using this technique, we have been able to confirm suspected cases of abuse that had not been confirmed by previous techniques.

Chicamycin, a new antitumor antibiotic. I. Production, isolation and properties.

Chicamycin is a new antitumor antibiotic produced by a strain of Streptomyces albus, No. J576 -99. The antibiotic is extractable into organic solvents from the fermentation broth and is obtained in two active forms, chicamycins A and B, depending upon the isolation procedure used. Chicamycin A is not a natural antibiotic but the methanol adduct of naturally produced chicamycin B. Both forms of the antibiotic have weak antibacterial activity against some Gram-positive and acid-fast bacteria. They inhibit the growth of experimental tumors such as P388 mouse leukemia.

Prothracarcin, a novel antitumor antibiotic.

A novel antibiotic, prothracarcin was isolated from the culture broth of Streptomyces umbrosus subsp. raffinophilus DO-62. The antibiotic has the molecular formula of C14H14N2O and belongs to the pyrrolo [1,4]benzodiazepine antibiotics. Its structure has been elucidated by mass and NMR spectra. It is active against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and experimental murine tumor sarcoma 180 and leukemia P388.