Vol 71, No 3 (2016)

A review of the current status of electrophoretic methods of the separation and determination of antibiotics and antibacterial agents in pharmaceutical and clinical analysis is presented.

It is demonstrated that predictions can be obtained in spectrophotometric flow-injection analysis (FIA) based on an experimental parameter, that is, the degree of reaction, which takes into account the hydrodynamic and chemical characteristics of the spectrophotometric reaction used. The search algorithm is based on constructing a model of a chemical-analytical process using a learning artificial neural network that enables the prediction of the degree of reaction for some reagents not studied yet. The trained neural network is used for the a priori evaluation and comparison of a number of reagents for the determination of aluminum by FIA.

We report on a simple and sensitive method for the determination of tetracycline based on its reducing action on AgNO₃ in alkaline medium containing ammonia and sodium hydroxide at 65°C. As a result of this reaction, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are formed. The AgNPs are stabilized in solution by adding poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) as a capping agent. The formed AgNPs were identified by surface plasmon resonance absorption spectrum and transmission electron microscopy image. The plasmon absorption peak at 411 nm is proportional to the concentration of tetracycline. The calibration graph is linear in the concentration range of 0.05–5.0 mg/L with a detection limit of 0.013 mg/L. This method was applied to the determination of tetracycline in pharmaceutical products.

Cabergoline (CAB) is an ergot alkaloid derivative with dopamine agonist activity. In this work for the first time the electrocatalytic oxidation of CAB was carried out with nickel nanoparticles-modified carbon paste electrode using cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, chronocoulometry and amperometry methods. At first, nickel nanoparticles were synthesized by non-aqueous polyol method and these nanoparticles were mixed with graphite powder to form modified carbon paste electrode. The resulting modified electrode was characterized by scanning electron microscope images. In the presence of 0.1 M NaOH a good redox behavior of the Ni(III)/Ni(II) couple at the surface of the electrode can be observed. CAB was successfully oxidized at the surface of the modified electrode. The electrocatalytic oxidation peak current of this drug was linearly dependent on its concentration. The proposed sensor exhibited a high sensitivity and was successfully applied for the determination of CAB in real samples.

An electrophoretically mediated microanalysis (EMMA) method for screening neuraminidase inhibitors in depolymerized glycosaminoglycan and natural extracts is described. In the present method, enzyme and substrate were individually introduced into the capillary as distinct plugs, and then mixed for a short time. Afterwards the voltage was reapplied to separate the product from the unreacted substrate and the natural extract. The measured peak area of the product at 214 nm represents the enzyme activity. The electrophoretic conditions for the enzyme reaction and separation of substrate and product were optimized in this study. Under the optimal conditions, the Michaelis–Menten constant and the inhibitive mechanism of zanamivir were studied, which agreed with the literature data. Furthermore, the inhibitory ratios of enzymatic activity of depolymerized glycosaminoglycan and traditional Chinese drugs were determined. The EMMA method has superiority over traditional assay methods, in not only minimizing the false-positive results but also in simplifying the experimental procedure. Therefore, it could be employed to screen inhibitors from natural sources.

We selected the conditions of hydrophilic interaction chromatography for separating anthocyanins and betacyanins using a diol stationary phase and mobile phases of acetonitrile–0.5 vol % phosphoric acid–water. Regularities of the separation of betacyanins and cyanidine derivatives of various structures are studied by analyzing their relative retentions. It is shown that the approach is efficient for the preliminary classification of anthocyanins by the type of glycosylation.

We have determined γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (lindane) and its metabolites in urine, serum and feces samples from rats using HPLC-UV-Vis and confirmation of mass with matrix assisted laser desorption/ ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) analysis. Samples were collected from rats treated orally with lindane (17.6 mg/kg; 1/5 of LD₅₀) or vehicle for 2 weeks. Lindane and metabolites were extracted from samples with hexane and analyzed. The HPLC–MALDI-TOF is highly sensitive to the point of detecting very low level (5 ppm) of lindane and metabolites. The HPLC-UV-Vis analysis confirmed the presence of lindane in urine (386–1652 ppm), serum (207–371 ppm) and feces (5–74 ppm). Control samples had no peak corresponding to lindane. MALDI-TOF analysis of urine and serum samples showed a major peak at 293 m/z, whereas feces showed a minor peak at 292–293 m/z, which were consistent with the peak obtained for standard lindane (293 m/z). Our data indicates that HPLC-UV-Vis–MALDI-TOF combo method is sensitive for detecting and quantifying lindane and its metabolites in serum, urine and feces. Our results further showed that minor quantities of lindane and metabolites were excreted through feces confirming that the main pathway for excretion of lindane and metabolites is through urine.