Sensitive detection of antidiabetic compounds and one degradation product in wastewater samples by a new SPE-LC-MS/MS method.

As environment emerging contaminants of anthropogenic origin, antidiabetic drugs are present in the range of high ng/L to ng/mL in the influent and the effluent of the waste water treatment plant (WWTP). The metformin compound is the most used hypoglycemic agent in the world. The aim of this study was to develop a new analytic method, based on solid phase extraction followed by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometric detector (SPE-LC-MS/MS), for identification and quantification of 5 antidiabetic compounds (glibenclamide/glyburide, glimepiride, metformin, glipizide, guanyl urea, gliclazide) and one degradation product (guanyl urea). The investigated environmental samples were the influent and the effluent of four urbans WWTP's. By validating of the analytical method, it was obtained low LOQ's (0.2-4.5 ng/L), satisfactory recovery rates (53.6-116.8%), and corresponding performance parameters: inter-day precision (4.9-8.4%) and reproducibility (11.3-14.6%). The concentrations of antidiabetics were as follow in influent and effluent: metformin 76-2041ng/L and 2-206ng/L, gliclazide (14.1-42.4 ng/L, and 3.3-19.1), glipizide (7.5-11.2 ng/L and 6.5-10ng/L), guanyl urea (6.2-7.3 and 8.3-21.3 ng/L). The efficiency of elimination of the antidiabetics in WWTP's was maximum for metformin (67.6-98.5%), followed, by gliclazide (72.9-78.2%). The lowest elimination efficiency was calculated for glipizide (10.7-13.3%). The guanyl urea undergoes a formation process (74.5-84.2%) in effluent, from the metformin contained in influent.

Insight into the Dissolution Molecular Mechanism of Ternary Solid Dispersions by Combined Experiments and Molecular Simulations.

With the increase concern of solubilization for insoluble drug, ternary solid dispersion (SD) formulations developed more rapidly than binary systems. However, rational formulation design of ternary systems and their dissolution molecular mechanism were still under development. Current research aimed to develop the effective ternary formulations and investigate their molecular mechanism by integrated experimental and modeling techniques. Glipizide (GLI) was selected as the model drug and PEG was used as the solubilizing polymer, while surfactants (e.g., SDS or Tween80) were the third components. SD samples were prepared at different weight ratio by melting method. In the dissolution tests, the solubilization effect of ternary system with very small amount of surfactant (drug/PEG/surfactant 1/1/0.02) was similar with that of binary systems with high polymer ratios (drug/PEG 1/3 and 1/9). The molecular structure of ternary systems was characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), infrared absorption spectroscopy (IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Moreover, molecular dynamic (MD) simulations mimicked the preparation process of SDs, and molecular motion in solvent revealed the dissolution mechanism of SD. As the Gordon-Taylor equation described, the experimental and calculated values of Tg were compared for ternary and binary systems, which confirmed good miscibility of GLI with other components. In summary, ternary SD systems could significantly decrease the usage of polymers than binary system. Molecular mechanism of dissolution for both binary and ternary solid dispersions was revealed by combined experiments and molecular modeling techniques. Our research provides a novel pathway for the further research of ternary solid dispersion formulations.

Simultaneous Determination of Metformin, Glipizide, Repaglinide, and Glimepiride or Metformin and Pioglitazone by a Validated LC Method: Application in the Presence of Metformin Impurity (1-Cyanoguanidine).

A rapid, simple, and precise RPLC method was developed for the simultaneous determination of the widely used oral antidiabetic, metformin hydrochloride (MTF), with some commonly coadministered oral antidiabetics from different pharmacological classes-glipizide (GPZ), pioglitazone hydrochloride (PGZ), glimepiride (GLM), and repaglinide (RPG)-in bulk, laboratory-prepared mixtures and pharmaceutical formulations in the presence of metformin-reported impurity [1-cyanoguanidine (CNG)]. Chromatographic separation was achieved using isocratic elution mode with a mobile phase of acetonitrile: 0.02 M potassium dihydrogen phosphate (pH 3.17; 50-50, v/v) flowing through a CN Phenomenex column (Phenosphere Next, 250 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) at a rate of 1.5 mL/min at ambient temperature. UV detection was carried out at 220 nm. The method was validated according to International Conference on Harmonization guidelines. Linearity, accuracy, and precision were satisfactory for concentration ranges: 0.175-350 µg/mL for MTF, 0.0525-105 µg/mL for GPZ, 0.125-250 µg/mL for PGZ, and 0.05-100 µg/mL for GLM and RPG. Correlation coefficients were >0.99 for all analytes. LOQs were 0.009 µg/mL for MTF, 0.009 µg/mL for GPZ, 0.04 µg/mL for GLM, 0.124 µg/mL for PGZ, and 0.044 µg/mL for RPG. The developed method is specific, accurate, and suitable for the QC and routine analysis of the cited drugs in their pharmaceutical products.

A lithium-rich composite metal oxide used as a SALDI-MS matrix for the determination of small biomolecules.

A lithium-rich composite metal oxide was evaluated as a novel matrix for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). The low background interference and lithium-rich feature made it a highly efficient matrix for the analysis of small molecules with high reproducibility, sensitivity and strong salt tolerance.

Rapid extraction, identification and quantification of oral hypoglycaemic drugs in serum and hair using LC-MS/MS.

A sensitive and accurate LC-MS/MS method for the identification and quantification of 5 oral anti-diabetics (glipizide, glibenclamide, gliclazide, gliquidone and metformin) in serum and hair was developed using glibornuride as the internal standard. We have developed a rapid and robust extraction procedure by using acetonitrile for serum protein precipitation and methanol for the extraction of anti-diabetics from hair. Anti-diabetics (ADs) were separated by UPLC over a C18 column and detection was performed on a Waters Xevo TQ MS mass spectrometer in positive ionization mode using electrospray ionization. Each AD was identified by three specific ion transitions in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The method was validated according to international guidelines. For all compounds the variation coefficient (CV) was <20%, and accuracies ranged from 85 to 115% in serum and hair. The limits of detection (LODs) were <1.5 ng/mL for all ADs in serum and <3.59 pg/mg in hair. Recoveries varied from 56.41% (gliclazide) to 67.58% (glipizide) in serum and from 68% (gliclazide) to 91.2% (metformin) in hair. The method was successfully applied to quantify ADs in serum of 33 patients and in hair of 15 patients.

[Munchausen syndrome in an extreme form of factitious disorder].

Patients suffering from this disorder mimic symptoms of diseases and seek medical procedures and operations. We present a case of a patient who underwent a thorough investigation for unexplained persistent hypoglycemia. According to the algorithm approach to the non-diabetic patient, we measured insulin and c-peptide plasma levels while glucose levels were low and looked for sulphonylurea, blood and urine traces. Following the above, an endoscopic ultrasound demonstrated a small pancreatic lesion and an explorative laparotomy was performed to detect an insulinoma. This procedure was complicated by partial colectomy due to colonic gangrene. Following the patient's recovery, hypoglycemia recurred and the laboratory tests were repeated, revealing trace amounts of glipizide in her serum and urine. Studies which examined the prevalence of the phenomenon among cases of unexplained hypoglycemia, including patients who were operated for presumed insulinoma, were reviewed. No specific therapy for factitious disorder has been established. Management is based upon psychotherapy which is often not very effective. We recommend that one has to keep in mind that negative tests for sulphonylurea traces in serum and urine, do not contradict the diagnosis of factitious disorder, and it is recommended to repeat these tests several times.

Comparison of ultraviolet detection, evaporative light scattering detection and charged aerosol detection methods for liquid-chromatographic determination of anti-diabetic drugs.

Recently, charged aerosol detection (CAD), a new kind of universal detection method, has been widely employed in the HPLC system. In the present study, four kinds of anti-diabetic drug standards, glipizide, gliclazide, glibenclamide and glimepiride were determined by ultraviolet (UV) detection, evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD) and the aforementioned CAD. The results were compared with reference to linearity, accuracy, precision and limit of detection (LOD). All of the experiments were performed on a reverse phase column with water and acetonitrile as the mobile phase. Separations were achieved under the same chromatographic conditions for each detection method. As a result, CAD generated nearly uniform responses compared with UV detection and ELSD. It showed the best accuracy and LOD among 3 detectors and had similar precision with UV detection at higher concentrations while UV detection showed a better precision at lower concentrations than did CAD or ELSD. The LOD of CAD, in fact, can be up to two times higher than that of ELSD. The UV and ELSD linearity was satisfactory at R(2)>0.99, though in the case of CAD, a log-log transformation was needed. The proposed methods were also applied to the real anti-diabetic drugs and diabetes-related dietary supplements.

[The study on the preparation and spectroscopic properties of hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin/glipizide inclusion complex].

The interaction of glipizide and hydroxypropyl-pcyclodextrin was investigated in the present paper. The stability constant and molar ratio of glipizide and hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin was calculated from the phase soluility diagram. The solid state inclusion complex of hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin/glipizide prepared by neutralization method was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). It was found that the phase solubility diagram of the HP-beta-CD solution showed a typical AL-type, suggesting the formation of a soluble complex of 1 : 1 molar ratio, and the stability constant was 359 L x mol(-1) at 25 degrees C. The spectra of IR, thermograph of DSC and XRD pattern of the inclusion complex were remarkably different from the glipizide and hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin/glipizide physical mixture, and indicated that hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin/glipizide inclusion complex displayed amorphous characteristic. The experiment of solubility of inclusion complex indicated that the solubility of inclusion complex increased 25-fold.

Development of a RP-HPLC method for screening potentially counterfeit anti-diabetic drugs.

Pharmaceutical counterfeiting is becoming a serious problem in the world, especially in developing countries including China. Herein an isocratic reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was developed for screening counterfeit medicines and adulterated dietary supplement products. The developed method could be employed to separate and determine simultaneously six anti-diabetic drugs (glipizide, gliclazide, glibenclamide, glimepiride, gliquidone, repaglinide) on an isocratic solvent system using an Alltima C18 column (5 microm, 150 mmx4.6 mm) with an isocratic mobile phase of methanol-phosphate buffer (pH 3.0; 0.01 mol/L) (70:30, v/v), at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and at a wavelength of 230 nm. The proposed method was successfully applied to the analysis of medicinal and dietary supplement samples purchased from the local market in China.

A selective HPLC method for the determination of indapamide in human whole blood: application to a bioequivalence study in Chinese volunteers.

Indapamide was extracted from human whole blood with diethyl ether and was determined by a HPLC-UV method using an Inertsil ODS-3 column and an isocratic mobile phase consisting of 55% buffer solution (2 g KH(2)PO(4), 3 ml H(3)PO(4) and 3.5 ml triethylamine in 1l of H(2)O), 40% acetonitrile and 5% methanol for 12.5 min, and then a gradient flush from 100% isocratic to a mixture of 20% isocratic mobile phase and 80% methanol for 3 min. Indapamide and glipizide (internal standard) were eluted from the column at about 10.5 and 12.8 min, respectively. The method had within day precision values in the range +/- 1.2 to +/- 9.7% (n = 5) and between day precision in the range +/- 3.3 to +/- 9.7%. The method was linear over the range of 10-400 ng/ml of indapamide in blood (R = 0.999). The LOQ (s/n = 10) of the method was 10 ng/ml. The method was applied in a study of the pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence of generic indapamide capsules (2.5 mg) in comparison with reference indapamide tablets (2.5mg), in 20 healthy male Chinese volunteers. The mean values of major pharmacokinetic parameters of C(max), AUC(0-48), AUC(0-infinity), T(max), and t(1/2) of indapamide in healthy male Chinese volunteers after po a single 5 mg dose for the test product were 331.0 +/- 39.2 ng/ml, 6,193.7+/-873.5 ng h/ml, 7311.8+/-1,232.3 ng h/ml, 3.2+/-0.9h, and 17.3+/-2.8 h, respectively. There was no significant differences between the two formulations.

Performance liquid chromatographic analysis of glipizide: application to in vitro and in vivo studies.

This paper describes the validation of a sensitive, accurate, and reproducible method for the determination of a release profile of glipizide from controlled-release dosage forms. In this method, an in vitro dissolution profile of commercial controlled-release dosage forms is determined using a reversed-phase C(18) column, mobile phase (acetonitrile-buffer, 0.05 M KH(2)PO(4) adjusted to pH 3.5 with orthophosphoric acid), and UV detection at a wavelength of 275 nm. The method is validated for linearity, accuracy, precision, and detection and quantitation limits. The same method can be exploited to determine the plasma concentration of glipizide. The peak area versus plasma concentration is linear over the range of 12.5-1000 ng/mL and the detection limit was 5 ng/mL in plasma. The average accuracy was 99.90% with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of not more than 3%. Repeatability and reproducibility were found to be good with an RSD of less than 3%.

ION-pair liquid chromatography technique for the estimation of metformin in its multicomponent dosage forms.

A simple, precise and accurate high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed for the simultaneous estimation of metformin with gliclazide and glipizide present in multicomponent dosage forms. The method was carried out on Inertsil C(18) column. A mobile phase composed of acetonitrile-water containing camphor sulphonic acid (adjusted to pH 7 using 0.1 N sodium hydroxide; 75 mM) at a flow rate of 1 ml min(-1) was used for the separation. Detection was carried out at 225 nm. Tolbutamide was used as internal standard. Validation of the developed HPLC method was carried out.

A bioequivalence study of two brands of glipizide tablets.

In this open, randomized, two way crossover, bioequivalence study, two 5 mg tablet preparations of glipizide (Glipizyd tabl. 5 mg, Tarchominskie Zaklady Farmaceutyczne POLFA S.A., and Glibenese tabl. 5 mg, Pfizer), were compared in 24 healthy male volunteers. Pharmacokinetic variables (mean maximum plasma concentration, mean time to reach maximum plasma concentration, and the mean area under the plasma concentration-time curve) were not statistically significantly different for the two formulations. It can be concluded that the two tablet preparations of glipizide are likely to be bioequivalent.

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of glipizide in human plasma and urine.

A sensitive and selective high-performance liquid chromatographic method for determination of intact glipizide in human plasma or urine has been developed. The plasma and urine samples were acid-buffered, before tolbutamide was added as internal standard. The samples were extracted with benzene, and the organic layer was evaporated to dryness. The residue was dissolved in equilibrated mobile phase (acetonitrile-0.01 M phosphate buffer pH 3.5, 35:65), and an aliquot of 20 microliters was chromatographed on a Spherisorb ODS reversed-phase column. Quantitation was achieved by monitoring the ultraviolet absorbance at 275 nm. The response was linear (0-1000 ng/ml) and the detection limit was 5-10 ng/ml in plasma or urine. The within-assay variation was less than or equal to 10%. No interferences from metabolites or endogenous constituents were observed. The utility of the assay was demonstrated by determining glipizide in samples from a diabetic subject receiving a therapeutic dose of 5 mg of the drug.