Development and validation of a sensitive LC-MS/MS assay for the quantification of nizatidine in human plasma and urine and its application to pharmacokinetic study.

We developed and validated a high performance liquid chromatographic method coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry for analysis of nizatidine in human plasma and urine. The biological samples were precipitated with methanol before separation on an Agilent Eclipse Plus C18 column (100mm×46mm, 5µm) with a mixture of methanol and water (95:5, plus 5mM ammonium formate) as the mobile phase at 0.5mL/min. Detection was performed using multiple reaction monitoring modes via electrospray ionization (ESI) at m/z 332.1→155.1 (for nizatidine) and m/z 335.1→155.1 (for [(2)H3]-nizatidine, the internal standard). The linear response range was 5-2000ng/mL and 0.5-80µg/mL for human plasma and urine, with the lower limits of quantification of 5ng/mL and 0.5µg/mL, respectively. The method was validated according to the biological method validation guidelines of the Food and Drug Administration and proved acceptable. This newly developed analytical method was successfully applied in a pharmacokinetic study following single oral administration of a 150mg nizatidine capsule in to 16 healthy Chinese subjects. Maximum and endpoint concentrations in plasma and urine were quantifiable, suggesting our method is appropriate for routine pharmacokinetic analysis.

Determination of ranitidine, nizatidine, and cimetidine by a sensitive fluorescent probe.

A validated, simple, and sensitive fluorescence quenching method for the determination of ranitidine, nizatidine, and cimetidine in tablets and biological fluids is presented. This is the first single fluorescence method reported for the analysis of all three H(2) antagonists. The competitive reaction between the investigated drug and the palmatine probe for the occupancy of the cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) cavity was studied using spectrofluorometry. CB[7] was found to react with the probe to form a stable complex. The fluorescence intensity of the complex was also enhanced greatly. However, the addition of the drug dramatically quenched the fluorescence intensity of the complex. Accordingly, a new fluorescence quenching method for the determination of the studied drugs was established. The different experimental parameters affecting the fluorescence quenching intensity were studied carefully. At optimum reaction conditions, the rectilinear calibration graphs between the fluorescence quenching values (ΔF) and the medicament concentration were obtained in the concentration range of 0.04-1.9 µg mL(-1) for the investigated drugs. The limits of detection ranged from 0.013 to 0.030 µg mL(-1) at 495 nm using an excitation wavelength of 343 nm. The proposed method can be used for the determination of the three H(2) antagonists in raw materials, dosage forms and biological fluids.

Simple and universal HPLC-UV method to determine cimetidine, ranitidine, famotidine and nizatidine in urine: application to the analysis of ranitidine and its metabolites in human volunteers.

A validated, simple and universal HPLC-UV method for the determination of cimetidine, famotidine, nizatidine and ranitidine in human urine is presented. This is the first single HPLC method reported for the analysis of all four H(2) antagonists in human biological samples. This method was also utilized for the analysis of ranitidine and its metabolites in human urine. All calibration curves showed good linear regression (r(2)>0.9960) within test ranges. The method showed good precision and accuracy with overall intra- and inter-day variations of 0.2-13.6% and 0.2-12.1%, respectively. Separation of ranitidine and its metabolites using this assay provided significantly improved resolution, precision and accuracy compared to previously reported methods. The assay was successfully applied to a human volunteer study using ranitidine as the model compound.

The voltammetric behavior of nizatidine and its determination in biological fluids.

The voltammetric behavior of nizatidine (a newly introduced antiulcer drug) was studied using direct current (DCt), alternating current and differential pulse polarography (DPP). Well-defined cathodic waves were obtained over the whole pH range in Britton-Robinson buffers, in addition to 0.1 and 1 M HCl media. The main reduction wave was characterized as being irreversible and diffusion-controlled, although adsorption phenomena played a limited role in the electrode process. The current-concentration relationship was found to be rectilinear over the range 1x10(-5)-6x10(-4) and 2x10-6) -2x10(-4) M using DCt and DPP modes respectively, with a minimum detectability (S/N = 2) of 2x10(-7) M using the latter technique. The number of electrons involved in the reduction process was established, and the mechanism of electrode reaction was verified. The proposed method was successfully applied to determination of nizatidine in spiked human plasma and urine and the percentage recoveries were 96.12+/-0.40 and 97.12+/-0.17, respectively.