Chromatographic Determination of Aminoacridine Hydrochloride, Lidocaine Hydrochloride and Lidocaine Toxic Impurity in Oral Gel.

Two sensitive and selective analytical methods were developed for simultaneous determination of aminoacridine hydrochloride and lidocaine hydrochloride in bulk powder and pharmaceutical formulation. Method A was based on HPLC separation of the cited drugs with determination of the toxic lidocaine-related impurity 2,6-dimethylaniline. The separation was achieved using reversed-phase column C18, 250 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm particle size and mobile phase consisting of 0.05 M disodium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate (pH 6.0 ± 0.2 adjusted with phosphoric acid) and acetonitrile (55 : 45, v/v). Quantitation was achieved with UV detection at 240 nm. Linear calibration curve was in the range of 1.00-10.00, 13.20-132.00 and 1.32-13.20 µg mL(-1) for aminoacridine hydrochloride, lidocaine hydrochloride and 2,6-dimethylaniline, respectively. Method B was based on TLC separation of the cited drugs followed by densitometric measurement at 365 nm on the fluorescent mode for aminoacridine hydrochloride and 220 nm on the absorption mode for lidocaine hydrochloride. The separation was carried out using ethyl acetate-methanol-acetic acid (65 : 30 : 5 by volume) as a developing system. The calibration curve was in the range of 25.00-250.00 ng spot(-1) and 0.99-9.90 µg spot(-1) for aminoacridine hydrochloride and lidocaine hydrochloride, respectively. The results obtained were statistically analyzed and compared with those obtained by applying the manufacturer's method.

Significant sensitivity improvements by matrix optimization: a MALDI-TOF mass spectrometric study of lipids from hen egg yolk.

Due to its sensitivity, the tolerance of impurities and the simplicity of performance, matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) is increasingly used to analyze lipids from biological sources. Although its detailed role is not understood so far, the applied matrix has a pronounced effect on the achievable spectrum quality and particularly how sensitive the individual lipid classes are detectable. Different matrix compounds were recently established in the lipid field including 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB), 9-aminoacridine (9-AA), para-nitroaniline (PNA), 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT), and 2-(2-aminoethylamino)-5-nitropyridine (AAN). It is the aim of this paper to compare the properties of these matrices with the newly synthesized matrix, alpha-cyano-2,4-difluorocinnamic acid (Di-FCCA). An organic extract from hen egg yolk was used as a simple and easily available test system. It will be shown that Di-FCCA is the matrix of choice to detect lipids in the positive-ion mode due to an achievable sensitivity gain of more than one order of magnitude compared to alternative matrices. In contrast, Di-FCCA is not suitable for negative-ion detection of phospholipids. Here, 9-AA is unequivocally the matrix of choice.

The intact muscle lipid composition of bulls: an investigation by MALDI-TOF MS and 31P NMR.

The analysis of beef lipids is normally based on chromatographic techniques and/or gas chromatography in combination with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Modern techniques of soft-ionization MS were so far scarcely used to investigate the intact lipids in muscle tissues of beef. The objective of the study was to investigate whether matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry and (31)P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy are useful tools to study the intact lipid composition of beef. For the MALDI-TOF MS and (31)P NMR investigations muscle samples were selected from a feeding experiment with German Simmental bulls fed different diets. Beside the triacylglycerols (TAGs), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylinositol (PI) species the MALDI-TOF mass spectra of total muscle lipids gave also intense signals of cardiolipin (CL) species. The application of different matrix compounds, 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) and 9-aminoacridine (9-AA), leads to completely different mass spectra: 9-AA is particularly useful for the detection of (polar) phospholipids, whereas apolar lipids, such as cholesterol and triacylglycerols, are exclusively detected if DHB is used. Finally, the quality of the negative ion mass spectra is much higher if 9-AA is used.

Quantitation of the tacrine analogue octahydroaminoacridine in human plasma by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A rapid and sensitive method based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has been developed for the determination of octahydroaminoacridine in human plasma using tramadol as internal standard (I.S.). Sample preparation involved pH adjustment with sodium carbonate followed by solvent extraction with dichloromethane:ethyl ether (40:60, v/v). Chromatographic separation was achieved on a Venusil MP-C18 column (5 microm, 100 mm x 4.6mm) using acetonitrile:10mM ammonium acetate:formic acid (30:70:1, v/v/v) as mobile phase. Detection utilized an API 4000 system operated in the positive ion mode with multiple reaction monitoring of the analyte at m/z 203.1-->175.1 and of the I.S. at m/z 264.1-->58.0. The method was linear in the range 0.01-10 ng/ml with a lower limit of quantitation of 0.0 1ng/ml. Intra- and inter-day precisions measured as relative standard deviation were <3.15% and <5.01%, respectively. The method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study involving oral administration of a tablet containing 4 mg octahydroaminoacridine succinate to healthy volunteers. Pharmacokinetic parameters for octahydroaminoacridine include C(max) 1.19+/-0.53 ng/ml, T(max) 0.77+/-0.17 h, AUC(0-t) 3.42+/-1.01 ng h/ml and t(1/2) 2.89+/-0.56 h.

Quantitative detection of metabolites using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry with 9-aminoacridine as the matrix.

Quantitative detection of metabolites is a highly desirable feature in metabolome analyses. Recently, the successful detection of multiple metabolites using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) in the negative ion mode employing 9-aminoacridine as the organic matrix was reported (Edwards JL, Kennedy RT. Anal. Chem. 2005; 77: 2201-2209). However, there is little information available on quantitative detection of multiple metabolites using MALDI-MS and in particular the influence changes in metabolite levels have on such detections. We investigated this aspect by spiking a synthetic metabolite cocktail (consisting of 39 metabolites including amino acids, organic acids and phospho-metabolites) with five representative metabolites at increasing concentrations, one metabolite at a time, and assessed the signals from replicate determinations. It was possible to detect quantitative changes in the spiked metabolites. Although analyte suppression was observed, it was possible to observe scenarios where the spiked metabolite had little or no influence on the quantitative detection of some metabolites. It appears that the mass spectral response of the metabolite is suppressed only when the spiked chemical species are relatively similar in chemical terms. This suggests that quantitation is possible in scenarios where changes in a specific metabolite or a class of metabolites are monitored following appropriate analyte separation strategies, and that careful interpretations must be made when using the technique for quantitative analysis in unbiased metabolomic approaches.

Metabolomic analysis of eukaryotic tissue and prokaryotes using negative mode MALDI time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Metabolites in islets of Langerhans and Escherichia coli strain DH5-alpha were analyzed using negative-mode, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). For analysis of anionic metabolites by MALDI, 9-aminoacridine as the matrix yielded a far superior signal in comparison to alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid, 2,5-dihydrobenzoic acid, 2,4,6,-trihydroxyacetophenone, and 3-hydroxypicolinic acid. Limits of detection for metabolite standards were as low as 15 nM for GDP, GTP, ADP, and ATP and as high as 1 muM for succinate in 1-muL samples. Analysis of islet extracts allowed detection of 44 metabolites, 29 of which were tentatively identified by matching molecular weight to compounds in METLIN and KEGG databases. Relative quantification was demonstrated by comparing the ratio of selected di- and triphosphorylated nucleotides for islets incubated with different concentrations of glucose. For islets at 3 mM glucose, concentration ratios of ATP/ADP, GTP/GDP, and UTP/UDP were 1.9 +/- 1.39, 1.12 +/- 0.50, and 0.79 +/- 0.35 respectively, and at 20 mM glucose stimulation, the ratios increased to 4.13 +/- 1.89, 5.62 +/-4.48, and 4.30 +/- 4.07 (n = 3). Analysis was also performed by placing individual, intact islets on a MALDI target plate with matrix and impinging the laser directly on the dried islet. Direct analysis of single islets allowed detection of 43 metabolites, 28 of which were database identifiable. A total of 43% of detected metabolites from direct islet analysis were different from those detected in islet extracts. The method was extended to prokaryotic cells by analysis of extracts from E. coli. Sixty metabolites were detected, 39 of which matched compounds in the MetaCyc database. A total of 27% of the metabolites detected from prokaryotes overlapped those found in islets. These results show that MALDI can be used for detection of metabolites in complex biological samples.

Fluorescence and surface-enhanced Raman study of 9-aminoacridine in relation to its aggregation and excimer emission in aqueous solution and on silver surface.

Fluorescence spectroscopy and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) have been applied to study the aggregation and excimer emission of 9-aminoacridine (9AA) and 9-aminoacridine hydrochloride (9AA-HCl) in aqueous solution and on silver colloids. The effect of the drug concentration, pH, and chloride concentration on these processes has been investigated. The excimer emission of 9AA is connected to the dimerization of this drug in solution: the formation of 9AA dimers is greatly favored when the drug is under the amino form at neutral and acidic pH, while at alkaline pH the imino 9AA form tends to form large-size aggregates which cannot be excited to render excimer emission. 9AA is adsorbed on the silver surface under two different forms: strongly and weakly attached 9AA, each one corresponding to the different drug tautomers: imino and amino. The interaction of 9AA with silver induces a charge transfer from the adsorbate to the metal leading to a remarkable fluorescence quenching, a basicity decrease of the adsorbed drug and a considerable weakening of the dimer-excimer emission. Furthermore, an attribution of the main Raman features appearing in the SERS spectra has been proposed, providing marker bands for the imino and amino 9AA tautomers, and a mechanism for the molecular dimerization is also suggested.

The role of fibrin fibrils in the dissociation of a cell surface protease-inhibitor complex and evidence for the recapture of the inhibitor protein.

Colonic epithelial cells possess a cell surface protease referred to as guanidinobenzoatase (GB). Active GB can be located by the fluorescent active site directed competitive inhibitor 9-amino acridine (9AA) followed by fluorescence microscopy. The cell surface GB can be transferred to fibrin fibrils, which have a higher affinity for GB than the cell surface. The cytoplasm of colonic epithelial cells contains a protein which inhibits membrane bound GB, forming a latent form of GB or GB-inhibitor complex. This complex can also be dislodged from the epithelial cell surface due to the high affinity of fibrin for GB, with the consequent dissociation of the enzyme-inhibitor complex and solubilisation of the inhibitor. This use of fibrin has led to the demonstration of the transfer of a selective inhibitor protein from one cell surface (the donor) to a second cell surface (the target).

Glutamate uptake into synaptic vesicles of bovine cerebral cortex and electrochemical potential difference of proton across the membrane.

Measurements have been made of the ATP-dependent membrane potential (delta psi) and pH gradient (delta pH) across the membranes of the synaptic vesicles purified from bovine cerebral cortex, using the voltage-sensitive dye bis[3-propyl-5-oxoisoxazol-4-yl]pentamethine oxanol and the delta pH-sensitive fluorescent dye 9-aminoacridine respectively. A pre-existing small delta pH (inside acidic) was detected in the synaptic vesicles, but no additional significant contribution by MgATP to delta pH was observed. In contrast, delta psi (inside positive) increased substantially upon addition of MgATP. This ATP-dependent delta psi was reduced by thiocyanate anion (SCN-), a delta psi dissipator, or carbonyl cyanide p-(trifluoromethoxy)phenylhydrazone (FCCP), a protonmotive-force dissipator. Correspondingly, a substantially larger glutamate uptake occurred in the presence of MgATP, which was inhibited by SCN- and FCCP. A nonhydrolysable analogue of ATP, adenosine 5'-[beta gamma-methylene]triphosphate, did not substitute for ATP in either delta psi generation or glutamate uptake. The results support the hypothesis that a H+-pumping ATPase generates a protonmotive force in the synaptic vesicles at the expense of ATP hydrolysis, and the protonmotive force thus formed provides a driving force for the vesicular glutamate uptake. The delta psi generation by ATP hydrolysis was not affected by orthovanadate, ouabain or oligomycin, but was inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide, quercetin, trimethyltin, 7-chloro-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole and 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid. These results indicate that the H+-pumping ATPase in the synaptic vesicle is similar to that in the chromaffin granule, platelet granule and lysosome.

Spectrophotometric determination of aminacrine hydrochloride in creams, jellies, and suppositories: interlaboratory study.

A previously reported visible spectrophotometric method for the analysis of aminacrine hydrochloride in creams, jellies, and suppositories was studied collaboratively by 8 laboratories. Aminacrine hydrochloride was extracted into acidic ethanol and its visible spectrum recorded. The amount present was calculated by determining the net absorbance between the absorbance maximum at about 402 nm and one-half the sum of the absorbance of the minima at about 389 and 412 nm. Each collaborator received 4 creams (0.2%), 1 jel (0.2%), 1 molded suppository (6 mg/3.198 g), and 2 gelatin-encapsulated suppository samples (12 mg/6.661 g and 14 mg/6.863 g). The cream samples included blind duplicates prepared to contain 0.212% aminacrine hydrochloride, 15% sulfanilamide, and 2% allantoin. Mean recovery for the authentic cream was 104.7% with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 9.22%. The commercial products contained these respective amounts (CVs): creams, 100.0% (2.48%) and 101.5% (2.16%); jel, 118.0% (9.58%); molded suppository, 102.7% (1.88%); and gelatin encapsulated suppositories, 93.1% (1.0%) and 94.3% (1.60%). Standard aminacrine hydrochloride provided for the study was 99.6% pure by nonaqueous titration. Thin layer chromatographic identification of aminacrine hydrochloride was also tested collaboratively. The method was not adopted by AOAC.

Calibration of the response of 9-amino acridine fluorescence to transmembrane pH differences in bacterial chromatophores.

The spectral characteristics of absorption and fluorescence emission of 9-amino acridine are not altered by the interaction with bacterial chromatophores, except for the attenuation of both the absorption and emission following the formation of a protonic gradient. The lifetime of fluorescence of the dye is significantly affected in the presence of membranes, and even more following illumination. The shortening of the lifetime induced by light is reversible and prevented by nigericin and K+. The onset kinetics of the fluorescence quenching following the generation of an artificial transmembrane pH difference is temperature dependent, with an activation energy of 17 +/- 3 kcal/mol. The effect of pH on the rate constants is consistent with a model assuming that the diffusion of the unprotonated species is the limiting step in the quenching phenomenon. The response of 9-amino acridine to artificially imposed delta pH's has been utilized as a calibration method for the measurements of the light-induced protonic gradient. The apparent inner volume of chromatophores, evaluated from the extraplation of the response at delta pH = 0, was found to be much larger (15- to 40-fold) than the true osmotic volume, indicating that most of the dye is bound to the membrane when accumulated into the inner lumen.

Disposition of 9-aminoacridine in rats dosed orally or intravenously and in monkeys dosed topically.

Following administration of [14C]-labeled 9-aminoacridine ([14C]9AA) hydrochloride either orally or intravenously to rats, the excretion of radioactivity was similar, with 20-26% of the dose appearing in the urine and 57-68% in the feces. The pattern of tissue distribution was also similar for the two routes. This information suggests that absorption of the oral doses was extensive and that, for both routes of administration, biliary excretion accounted for most of the radioactivity in the feces. Biliary excretion of radioactivity derived from [14C]9AA was confirmed in an experiment involving rats with inserted biliary cannulas. For these rats, 49.5% of the dose administered appeared in the bile in 4 h. The major urinary and biliary metabolite of [14C]9AA of rats was identified as an O-beta-glucuronide of hydroxylated 9AA. Absorption of 9AA through the skin could not be conclusively demonstrated. For monkeys dosed topically with [14C]9AA, only small amounts of radioactivity (a total of less than 0.8% of the dose) appeared in the urine and various tissues in 24 h.

Evaluation of fluorometric determination-thin layer chromatographic identification of aminacrine hydrochloride in drug preparations.

Utilizing the fluorescent property of aminacrine hydrochloride and a filter fluorometer, a fluorometric method for aminacrine hydrochloride in drug combinations was developed, collaboratively studied, and adopted as official first action in the 11th edition of Official Methods of Analysis. Identity was confirmed by thin layer chromatography (TLC). Additional analytical work was undertaken with a grating fluorometer to support a change in the method status to official final action. The grating instrument recorded the aminacrine hydrochloride spectrum as opposed to the total fluorescence emission measured by the filter instrument. The spectrum of aminacrine hydrochloride showed that the molecule was exhibiting self-absorption of the emitted radiation even at concentrations of 10(-6)M and that the ratio of the 2 peaks in the emission spectrum varied with concentration. Additional analyses of an authentic cream preparation that also contained sulfanilamide gave an average recovery of 86.0% for aminacrine hydrochloride in 10 replicate portions. Because of these observations, the current Associate Referee's recommendation to delete the fluorometric procedure from the 13th edition of Official Methods of Analysis was adopted. A recommended deletion of the TLC identification test was also adopted.

Spectrophotometric determination of aminacrine hydrochloride in creams, jellies, and suppositories.

A visible spectrophotometric method has been developed for the quantitation of aminacrine hydrochloride in creams, jellies, and suppositories. Aminacrine hydrochloride was extracted into acidic ethanol and its visible spectrum was recorded. The amount present was calculated by determining the net absorbance between the absorbance maximum at about 402 nm and one-half the sum of the absorbances of the minima at about 389 and 412 nm. Aminacrine and a trace contaminant, 9(10H)-acridone, were independently identified by different thin layer chromatographic systems.