Determination of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in plasma and urine by micellar liquid chromatography coupled to fluorescence detection.

Citalopram, paroxetine and fluoxetine are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRIs) currently used in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. We present an analytical method using micellar liquid chromatography to quantify these three drugs in pharmaceutical formulations, plasma and urine. The resolution was performed using a mobile phase of 0.075 M SDS - 6% (v/v) butanol buffered at pH 7 running through a C18 column under isocratic mode at 1 mL/min at 25°C. The analytes were eluted in less than 20 min. The fluorescence detection was programmed at the maximum excitation (236, 295 and 230 nm) and emission (310, 350 and 305 nm) wavelengths for citalopram, paroxetine and fluoxetine, respectively. The experimental procedure was expedited to 1/5 dilution of the sample in the micellar mobile phase and filtration, thus avoiding clean-up and extraction steps. An aliquot of 20 µL was injected after 80 min of preparation, to obtain maximum sensitivity. The method was validated according to the guidelines of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in terms of calibration range (20-500 ng/mL; r(2)>0.999), sensitivity, accuracy (91.3-103.2%), precision (<9.3%), and robustness (<6.1%). The suitability of the method was successfully evaluated by analyzing plasma and urine samples from patients treated with SSRIs and checking the content of the active principle in tablets. Thus, the method can be applied to pharmacokinetics studies and in forensic cases, as well as in quality control of commercial pharmaceutical formulations.

Determination of paroxetine in blood and urine using micellar liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.

Paroxetine is a potent selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor used for the treatment of depression and related mood disorders. A micellar liquid chromatographic method was developed for the determination of paroxetine in serum and urine. Detection of paroxetine was carried out using a C18 column and a mobile phase of 0.15 M sodium dodecyl sulfate, 6% 1-pentanol at pH 3 (buffer salt 0.01 M NaH2PO4) running under isocratic mode at 1.0 mL/min and electrochemical detection at 0.8 V. The analyte was eluted without interferences in <15 min. The proposed methodology was validated under the guidelines of the International Conference on Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use in matrix in terms of specificity, linearity (r(2) > 0.9999; 0.5-5 µg/mL range), accuracy (88-97.5%, recovery), repeatability (RSD < 0.54%), intermediate precision (RSD < 0.54%), limit of detection and quantification (0.001 and 0.005 µg/mL, respectively) and robustness (RSD < 3.63%). Developed method was successfully applied to real blood and urine samples as well as in spiked serum and urine samples. The developed method was specific, rapid, precise, reliable, accurate, inexpensive and then suitable for routine analysis of paroxetine in monitorized samples.

Determination of adulteration of malachite green in green pea and some prepared foodstuffs by micellar liquid chromatography.

A simple, fast, and robust micellar LC method was developed for the separation and identification of the nonpermitted color malachite green in green pea and some ready-to-eat foodstuffs. Malachite green (4-[(4-dimethylaminophenyl) phenyl-methyl]-N,N-dimethylaniline) is a hazardous dye that is used to treat fungal and protozoan infections in fish and is a common adulterant (coloring agent) in green pea and other green vegetables because of its green color. In the present work, malachite green was determined in various foodstuffs using a direct injection technique on an RP C18 column with isocratic elution. The optimum mobile phase consisted of 0.15 M sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), 6% pentanol buffered at pH 5. Detection was carried out at 620 nm. Malachite green was eluted in 9.2 min without any interference caused by endogenous compounds. Linearities (r > 0.9999), intraday and interday precision (RSD less than 1.00%) in micellar media, and robustness were studied for method validation. LOD and LOQ were 0.10 and 0.25 ppm, respectively. The simplicity of the developed method makes it useful for routine analysis in the area of food QC.