Innovative orthogonal two-dimensional reversed-phase liquid chromatography × supercritical fluid chromatography with a phenyl/tetrazole stationary phase for the preparative isolation of diarylheptanoids.

In this investigation, we successfully isolated and purified natural diarylheptanoids using an orthogonal offline two-dimensional RPLC × SFC approach, employing only the phenyl/tetrazole stationary phase. First, a styrene-divinylbenzene matrix medium pretreatment liquid chromatography system effectively processed chlorophyll-containing plant extract solution with a recovery rate of 33.8 %, obviating the need for concentration steps. Subsequently, an offline two-dimensional RPLC × SFC employing only the phenyl/tetrazole stationary phase achieved a remarkable 96.38 % orthogonality and was established and utilized in the preparative separation and purification of natural products. Finally, the constructed single stationary phase highly orthogonal RPLC × SFC system was successfully applied in the preparative separation and purification of natural diarylheptanoids from the Saxifraga tangutica target fraction and yielded four diarylheptanoids with purities exceeding 95 %.

Determination of free clindamycin, flucloxacillin or tedizolid in plasma: Pay attention to physiological conditions when using ultrafiltration.

Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic indices of anti-infective drugs should be referenced to free drug concentrations. In the present study, clindamycin, flucloxacillin and tedizolid have been determined in human plasma by HPLC-UV. The drugs were separated isocratically within 3-6 min on a C18 column using mixtures of phosphate buffer-acetonitrile of pH 7.1-7.2. Sample treatment for the determination of total drug concentrations in plasma included extraction/back-extraction (clindamycin) or protein precipitation (flucloxacillin, tedizolid). The free drug concentrations were determined after ultrafiltration. An ultrafiltration device with a membrane consisting of regenerated cellulose proved to be suitable for all drugs. Maintaining a physiological pH was crucial for clindamycin, whereas maintaining body temperature was essential for tedizolid. The methods were applied to the analysis of total and free drug concentrations in clinical samples and were sufficiently sensitive for pharmacokinetic studies and therapeutic drug monitoring.

Simultaneous quantification of candesartan and irbesartan in rabbit eye tissues by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Diabetic retinopathy is a major cause of vision loss in adults. Novel eye-drop formulations of candesartan and irbesartan are being developed for its cure or treatment. To support a preclinical trial in rabbits, it was critical to develop and validate a new LC-MS/MS method for simultaneous quantification of candesartan and irbesartan in rabbit eye tissues (cornea, aqueous humor, vitreous body and retina/choroid). Eye tissue samples were first homogenized in H2 O-diluted rabbit plasma. The candesartan and irbesartan in the supernatants together with their respective internal standards (candesartan-d4 and irbesartan-d4 ) were extracted by solid-phase extraction. The extracted samples were injected onto a C18 column for gradient separation. The MS detection was in the positive electrospray ionization mode using the multiple reaction monitoring transitions of m/z 441 → 263, 445 → 267, 429 → 207, and 433 → 211 for candesartan, candesartan-d4 , irbesartan and irbesartan-d4 , respectively. For the validated concentration ranges (2-2000 and 5-5000 ng/g for candesartan and irbesartan, respectively), the within-run and between-run accuracies (% bias) were within the range of -8.0-10.0. The percentage CV ranged from 0.6 to 7.3. There was no significant matrix interference nor matrix effect from different eye tissues and different rabbits. The validated method was successfully used in the Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) study of rabbits.

Lipid Peroxidation and Cyclooxygenase Enzyme Inhibitory Compounds from Prangos haussknechtii.

Purification of extracts from Prangos haussknechtii Bioss afforded prenylated coumarins 1 and 2, monoterpenoid 3, amino acid derivative 4, and seven known compounds. Spectroscopic methods permitted establishment of the structures and relative configuration of these compounds. The pure isolates were tested for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities using lipid peroxidation (LPO), 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), and cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and -2) enzyme inhibitory assays. Compounds 1-4 inhibited LPO with IC50 values between 43 and 114 µM and reduced MTT to formazan blue between 48 and 128 µM. In anti-inflammatory assays using cyclooxygenase enzymes, COX-1 and -2, these compounds showed inhibition, with IC50 values ranging from 34 to 56 µM.

Isolation and structure elucidation of unexpected in-process impurities during tetrazole ring formation of an investigational drug substance.

During the formation of a tetrazole ring on an investigational drug, two in-process impurities were detected and analyzed by LC-MS, which suggested that both impurities were drug-related with the same mass-to-charge ratio. To understand and control their formation, both impurities were isolated from the mother liquor of the reaction using a multi-step isolation procedure to obtain a sufficient amount for high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and NMR structural analysis. HRMS suggested a protonated mass of 577.32 Da for both impurities; however, MS fragmentation patterns provided limited information on their structures. NMR analysis indicated the presence on an additional NH functional group in both isolates with similar spatial and bond correlations to one of the dimethylcarbamoyl moieties and the corresponding aromatic ring. A phenyldimethylcarbamoylamino moiety was supported by the NMR and HRMS data and could be explained based on the 'Schmidt-like' reaction mechanism, which was an unexpected reaction pathway. Because the reaction conditions were fixed because of safety concerns, the crystallization protocol was redesigned to reduce the levels of these impurities significantly. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Does the brassinosteroid signal pathway in photomorphogenesis overlap with the gravitropic response caused by auxin?

Brassinosteroid (BR) and auxin co-regulate plant growth in a process termed cross-talking. Based on the assumption that their signal transductions are partially shared, inhibitory chemicals for both signal transductions were screened from a commercially available library. A chemical designated as NJ15 (ethyl 2-[5-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrazole-2-yl]acetate) diminished the growth promotion of both adzuki bean epicotyls and Arabidopsis seedlings, by the application of either BR or auxin. To understand its target site(s), bioassays with a high dependence on the signal transduction of either BR (BR-signaling) or auxin (AX-signaling) were performed. NJ15 inhibited the photomorphogenesis of Arabidopsis seedlings grown in the dark, which mainly depends on BR-signaling, while NJ15 also inhibited their gravitropic responses mainly depending on AX-signaling. On the study for the structure-activity relationships of NJ15 analogs, they showed strong correlations on the inhibitory profiles between BR- and AX-signalings. These correlations imply that NJ15 targets the downstream pathway after the integration of BR- and AX-signals.

Use of FDA approved therapeutics with hNTCP metabolic inhibitory properties to impair the HDV lifecycle.

Worldwide there are approximately 240million individuals chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV), including 15-20million coinfected with the hepatitis delta virus (HDV). Treatments available today are not fully efficient and often associated to important side effects and development of drug resistance. Targeting the HBV/HDV entry step using preS1-specific lipopeptides appears as a promising strategy to block viral entry for both HBV and HDV (Gripon et al., 2005; Petersen et al., 2008). Recently, the human Sodium Taurocholate Cotransporting Polypeptide (hNTCP) has been identified as a functional, preS1-specific receptor for HBV and HDV. This groundbreaking discovery has opened a very promising avenue for the treatment of chronic HBV and HDV infections. Here we investigated the ability of FDA approved therapeutics with documented inhibitory effect on hNTCP cellular function to impair viral entry using a HDV in vitro infection model based on a hNTCP-expressing Huh7 cell line. We demonstrate the potential of three FDA approved molecules, irbesartan, ezetimibe, and ritonavir, to alter HDV infection in vitro.

Occurrence and fate of the angiotensin II receptor antagonist transformation product valsartan acid in the water cycle--a comparative study with selected ß-blockers and the persistent anthropogenic wastewater indicators carbamazepine and acesulfame.

The substantial transformation of the angiotensin II receptor antagonist valsartan to the transformation product 2'-(2H-tetrazol-5-yl)-[1,1'-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid (referred to as valsartan acid) during the activated sludge process was demonstrated in the literature and confirmed in the here presented study. However, there was a severe lack of knowledge regarding the occurrence and fate of this compound in surface water and its behavior during drinking water treatment. In this work a comparative study on the occurrence and persistency of valsartan acid, three frequently used ß-blockers (metoprolol, atenolol, and sotalol), atenolol acid (one significant transformation product of atenolol and metoprolol), and the two widely distributed persistent anthropogenic wastewater indicators carbamazepine and acesulfame in raw sewage, treated wastewater, surface water, groundwater, and tap water is presented. Median concentrations of valsartan acid in the analyzed matrices were 101, 1,310, 69, <1.0, and 65 ng L(-1), respectively. Treated effluents from wastewater treatment plants were confirmed as significant source. Regarding concentration levels of pharmaceutical residues in surface waters valsartan acid was found just as relevant as the analyzed ß-blockers and the anticonvulsant carbamazepine. Regarding its persistency in surface waters it was comparable to carbamazepine and acesulfame. Furthermore, removal of valsartan acid during bank filtration was poor, which demonstrated the relevance of this compound for drinking water suppliers. Regarding drinking water treatment (Muelheim Process) the compound was resistant to ozonation but effectively eliminated (≥90%) by subsequent activated carbon filtration. However, without applying activated carbon filtration the compound may enter the drinking water distribution system as it was demonstrated for Berlin tap water.

Characterization of two new potential impurities of Valsartan obtained under photodegradation stress condition.

A photostability study of Valsartan (VAL) is reported. Exposure of the drug to UV-vis radiation (λ > 320 nm) yielded two previously unknown compounds, which were detected by HPLC. Preparative amounts of the new potential degradation products (DP-1 and DP-2) were obtained by submitting VAL bulk drug to extensive photodegradation. The impurities were isolated by preparative normal phase column chromatography. Analytical information from the infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectral data of the degradation products revealed their structures as N-[2'-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-biphenyl-4-ylmethyl]-N-isobutylpentanamide (DP-1) and N-(diazirino[1,3-f]phenanthridin-4-ylmethyl)-N-isobutylpentanamide (DP-2). DP-1 arose from decarboxylation of VAL, while DP-2 results from further loss of nitrogen from the tetrazole motif of DP-1, with concomitant cyclization to yield a tetracyclic diazacyclopropene derivative.

Stability indicating LC method for simultaneous determination of irbesartan and hydrochlorothiazide in pharmaceutical preparations.

A simple and precise stability-indicating liquid chromatography method is developed and validated for the quantitative simultaneous estimation of irbesartan (IRB) and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) in combined pharmaceutical dosage form. A chromatographic separation of the two drugs was achieved with an Ace5 C(18) 25-cm analytical column using buffer-acetonitrile (70:30 v/v). The buffer used in mobile phase contains 50 mM ammonium acetate pH adjusted 5.5 with acetic acid. The instrumental settings are flow rate of 1.5 mL/min, column temperature at 30 degrees C, and detector wavelength of 235 nm using a photodiode array detector. IRB, HCTZ, and their combination drug products were exposed to thermal, photolytic, hydrolytic, and oxidative stress conditions, and the stressed samples were analyzed by the proposed method. Peak homogeneity data of IRB and HCTZ is obtained using photodiode array detector. In the stressed sample chromatograms, it demonstrated the specificity of the assay method for their estimation in presence of degradation products. The described method shows excellent linearity over a range of 10-200 microg/mL for IRB and 5-100 microg/mL for HCTZ. Methylparaben was used as internal standard. The correlation coefficient for IRB and HCTZ are 0.998 and 0.999. The mean recovery values for IRB and HCTZ ranged from 100.45% to 101.25%. The limit of detection for IRB and HCTZ were 0.019 and 0.023 microg/mL, respectively, and the limit of quantification were 0.053 and 0.070 microg/mL, respectively. The proposed method was suitable for quantitative determination and stability study of IRB and HCTZ in pharmaceutical preparations and also can be used in the quality control of bulk manufacturing and pharmaceutical dosage forms.

Strategy for identification and characterization of small quantities of drug degradation products using LC and LC-MS: application to valsartan, a model drug.

The present study demonstrates the applicability of a strategy involving use of liquid chromatography (LC) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) techniques for the identification and characterization of minute quantities of degradation products, without their isolation from the reaction matrix in pure form. Valsartan was used as a model drug. It was subjected to forced degradation studies under the International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) prescribed conditions of hydrolysis (acid, base and neutral), photolysis, oxidation and thermal stress. The drug showed lability under acid/neutral hydrolytic and photolytic conditions, while it was stable to base hydrolytic, oxidative and thermal stress. Three small degradation products were formed, which were separated on a C-18 column using a gradient method. The same were characterized with the help of their fragmentation pattern and accurate masses obtained upon LC-MS/TOF analyses and online H/D exchange studies. The structures were supported by appropriate mechanistic explanation. The strategy involving use of LC and LC-MS for the identification and characterization of minute quantities of degradation products was applied on a model drug, valsartan. Three degradation products were successfully characterised without their isolation from the reaction matrix in pure form. The structures were supported by appropriate mechanistic explanation.

Enantiomeric LC separation of valsartan on amylose based stationary phase.

A simple, rapid and robust LC method was developed and validated for the enantiomeric separation of valsartan in bulk drug and formulation. The enantiomers of valsartan were resolved on a Chiralpak AD-H (amylose based stationary phase) column using a mobile phase consisting of n-hexane: 2-propanol: trifluoroacetic acid (85:15:0.2, v/v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The resolution between the enantiomers was found to be not less than 3.2. The presence of trifluoroacetic acid in the mobile phase played an important role in enhancing chromatographic efficiency and resolution between the enantiomers. The calibration curve for the (R)-enantiomer showed excellent linearity over the concentration range of 600 ng/mL (LOQ) to 6000 ng/mL. The limit of detection and limit of quantification for the (R)-enantiomer were 200 and 600 ng/mL, respectively. The percentage recovery of the (R)-enantiomer ranged between 98.7 to 100.05 % in bulk drug samples of valsartan. The proposed method was found to be suitable and accurate for quantitative determination of (R)-enantiomer in bulk drug substance.

New water-soluble azido- and derived tetrazolato-platinum(II) complexes with PTA. Easy metal-mediated synthesis and isolation of 5-substituted tetrazoles.

The water-soluble four- and five-coordinate diazido-platinum(II) complexes cis-[Pt(N3)2(PTA)2] (1) (PTA = 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane), cis-[Pt(N3)2(Me-PTA)2]I2 (2) (Me-PTA = N-methyl-1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane cation) and [Pt(N3)2(PTA)3] (3) were obtained by reactions of cis-[Pt(N3)2(PPh3)2] with PTA or [Me-PTA]I in dichloromethane. [2 + 3] cycloadditions of with organonitriles NCR gave the bis(tetrazolato) complexes trans-[Pt(N4CR)2(PTA)2] (R = Ph (4), 4-ClC6H4 (5) or 3-NC5H4 (6)), the reactions being greatly accelerated by microwave irradiation. 5-R-1H-Tetrazoles N4CR (R = Ph, 4-ClC6H4 and 3-NC5H4) were easily liberated from the tetrazolato complexes and isolated in high yields, in a single-pot process, upon reaction with aqueous diluted HCl, with concomitant formation of the water soluble cis-[Pt(Cl)2(PTA-H)2] complex 7. Alternatively, in a less convenient method, the tetrazoles could be liberated on reaction of 4-6 with propionitrile which also leads to the dicyano trans-[Pt(CN)2(PTA)2] complex 8. The compounds were characterized by IR, 1H, 13C and 31P[1H] NMR spectroscopies, FAB+-MS or ESI-MS, elemental analyses and (for and 4) also by X-ray diffraction.

Separation and quantitation of several angiotensin II receptor antagonist drugs in human urine by a SPE-HPLC-DAD method.

In this work, an SPE-HPLC method coupled to photodiode array detection was validated in human urine matrix, in order to monitor four antihypertensive angiotensin II receptor antagonist drugs in patients under cardiovascular treatment. For that purpose, experimental design was used. Quantitation was accomplished by the internal standard method. The obtained LOQs were 95, 113, 125, and 85 ng/mL for eprosartan, telmisartan, irbesartan, and valsartan, respectively. The intraday and interday precision and accuracy at four concentration levels in the working range (LOQ-15 microg/mL) were always lower than 11% RSD and 8% relative error. The urine samples proved to be stable during 4 h at room temperature, after three thaw-freeze cycles, and for 2 months at -20 degrees C. No interferences from other endogenous compounds or co-administered drugs were found. The method has been successfully applied to monitor the renal elimination of eprosartan and valsartan during 24 h.

Hydrolysis and transesterification reactions of candesartan cilexetil observed during the solid phase extraction procedure.

Candesartan cilexetil is an angiotensin receptor antagonist widely used in the treatment of high blood pressure. This prodrug is metabolised into candesartan, which blocks the receptors AT1 for angiotensin II decreasing the blood pressure levels. During the development of a solid phase extraction procedure for the chromatographic determination of eight antihypertensive compounds, lack of linearity and reproducibility was observed only for candesartan cilexetil. Due to this fact, a stability study for this prodrug was performed. It showed that the lack of linearity and reproducibility was based on hydrolysis and transesterification processes which occurred during the drying step after elution with methanol into glass tubes. These phenomena could be reproduced artificially under basic conditions, which demonstrated the presence of basic residues in glass tubes. The study of this potential hydrolysis and transesterification reactions is very important to assure that labile drugs containing ester groups remain unaffected.

A validated stability indicating high performance reverse phase liquid chromatographic method for the determination of cilostazol in bulk drug substance.

A simple, rapid and accurate reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) method was developed for the quantitative determination of cilostazol. The developed method is also applicable for the related substance determination in bulk drugs. The chromatographic separation was achieved on reversed-phase C-18 column. Eluents were monitored on photo-diode array detector at a wavelength of 210 nm using a mixture (50:50) of water and acetonitrile. Solution concentrations were quantified by external calibration. In the developed HPLC method, resolution between cilostazol and its potential impurities, namely Imp-A, Imp-B, and Imp-C were found greater than two. The drug was subjected to stress condition of hydrolysis, oxidation, photolysis and thermal degradation. Considerable degradation was found to occur in alkaline medium stress condition. The developed RP-HPLC method was validated with respect to linearity, accuracy, precision, stability of analytical solutions, and robustness.

Biosynthetic pathway to the cancer chemopreventive secoisolariciresinol diglucoside-hydroxymethyl glutaryl ester-linked lignan oligomers in flax (Linum usitatissimum) seed.

Application of stable and radioisotope precursor/tracer experiments resulted in the identification of various phenylpropanoid, monolignol, and lignan metabolites involved in the biosynthesis of the cancer chemopreventive secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG; 1)-containing ester-linked "polymer(s)" in flax (Linum usitatissimum) seed. Individual analysis of size-segregated flax seed capsules at five early stages of their development provided a metabolic profile of intermediates leading to "biopolymer" biosynthesis. The use of (1)H and (13)C NMR and HRMS analyses resulted in the identification of 6a-HMG (hydroxymethyl glutaryl) SDG (17) and 6a,6a'-di-HMG SDG (18) as the two major components of the ester-linked "biopolymer(s)". Based on metabolic tracer analyses and relative radioisotopic incorporations throughout each of these five stages of seed development, a biochemical pathway is proposed from phenylalanine to SDG (1), with subsequent mono- and di-substitutions of SDG (1) with HMG CoA. These metabolites then serve as precursors for formation of the SDG-HMG ester-linked oligomers. Results from this study will facilitate future isolation and characterization of the proteins and enzymes involved in biosynthesis of the SDG-HMG ester-linked oligomers in flax seed.

HPLC enantiomeric resolution of novel aromatase inhibitors on cellulose- and amylose-based chiral stationary phases under reversed phase mode.

The chiral resolution of seven aromatase inhibitors (four triazole derivatives (Ia, Ib, Ic, and Id) and three tetrazole derivatives (IIa, IIb, and IIc)) was achieved on Chiralcel OJ-R [cellulose tris (4-methyl benzoate)], Chiralcel OD-RH [cellulose tris (3,5-dimethylphenyl carbamate)], and Chiralpak AD-RH [amylose tris (3,5-dimethylphenyl carbamate)] chiral stationary phases. The mobile phases used were A: 2-PrOH-MeCN (90:10, v/v); B: 2-PrOH-MeCN (50:50, v/v); C: MeCN-H(2)O (50:50, v/v); D: MeCN-H(2)O (80:20, v/v); and E: MeCN-H(2)O (95:05, v/v). The flow rate was 0.5 mL/min for all the mobile phases. The resolution capability of these chiral stationary phases were in the order Chiralpak AD-RH > Chiralcel OD-RH > Chiralcel OJ-R. The values of alpha and Rs of the resolved enantiomers of the aromatase inhibitors varied from 1.02-5.63 and 1. 12-6.72, respectively.

Determination of the enantiomer of a cholesterol-lowering drug by cyclodextrin-modified micellar electrokinetic chromatography.

The development, optimization and application of a chiral CE (capillary electrophoresis) method for the determination of the enantiomer content of a new cholesterol-lowering drug (BMS-180431-09) is discussed. The chiral CE technique, cyclodextrin-modified micellar electrokinetic chromatography (CD-MEKC), was employed with hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin as the chiral selector in the run buffer. The detection limit of the unwanted enantiomer was about 0.06% w/w. The effect of various parameters on the separation, validation data and examples of the application of the chiral CE method are included.