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P Langguth

Publications and source records attributed to P Langguth.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

P-glycoprotein transporters and the gastrointestinal tract: evaluation of the potential in vivo relevance of in vitro data employing talinolol as model compound.

Among the different application routes peroral administration remains the one most widely used. Hence, mechanisms affecting p.o. bioavailability are of particular interest, also in drug development. In recent years, intestinal drug secretion mediated by the multi-drug resistance gene product P-glycoprotein (Pgp) has been discovered as a possible mechanism of low and erratic bioavailability. Due to the saturability of this process, a dose-dependent apparent oral clearance may be observed which decreases upon increasing dose. However, in vivo intestinal secretion might be revealed only in the lower or subtherapeutic dose range. In permeability studies with Caco-2 cell monolayers, the MDR-reversing agent verapamil inhibits secretion of P-glycoprotein substrates and, hence, increases apical-to-basolateral permeability. The aim of the rat studies with talinolol presented here was to test the relevance of the intestinal secretion process as well as the extent of inhibition by verapamil in ex vivo, in situ, and in vivo talinolol/verapamil drug-drug interaction studies. Intestinal secretion of talinolol was detected indirectly in ex vivo studies via transport inhibition with verapamil and directly in in situ intestinal perfusions in rats following a talinolol i.v. bolus. Both i.v. and p.o. verapamil appear to affect the concentration-time profiles of talinolol. Relevant observations with respect to drug absorption are the decreased apparent oral clearance upon verapamil coadministration as well as the decreased tmax and mean absorption times at high verapamil doses. Talinolol may be regarded as a potential model compound for mechanistic studies on Pgp interactions, including permeability as well as binding studies and the involvement of transporters other than Pgp.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Structure-permeation relations of met-enkephalin peptide analogues on absorption and secretion mechanisms in Caco-2 monolayers.

Due to the low effective permeabilities of peptides at many absorption sites, their structure-permeation relations are of high interest. In this work structure-permeation relations of Met-enkephalin analogues are presented using confluent Caco-2 cells as an in vitro permeation model. Four model peptides (Met-enkephalin, [D-Ala2]Met-enkephalin, [D-Ala2]Met-enkephalinamide, and metkephamid) were tested in terms of permeability, lipophilicity, charge, and molecular size. Permeability coefficients (P(eff)) across Caco-2 cells were low, 3.3 x 10(-8) to 9.5 x 10(-8) cm s-1, and were similar to typical paracellular markers. No correlation of permeability and the log(apparent octanol/buffer partition coefficient) was observed. A 40-fold increase of the permeability of metkephamid in the presence of 10 mM EDTA suggested a significant contribution of paracellular transport. Independent support for this conclusion was obtained by visualizing the pathway of the fluorescein isocyanate isomer I 1-metkephamid by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The fluorophore-labeled peptide was observed in the intercallular space only. Metkephamid permeabilities were found to be direction-specific. Permeabilities from basolateral to apical (b-to-a) were significantly higher (ca. 4-fold) than in the opposite (a-to-b) direction. The addition of verapamil equalized the permeabilities in the a-to-b and b-to-a directions, suggesting the involvement of a P-glycoprotein-mediated secretion mechanism. Similar observations were obtained with [D-Ala2]Met-enkephalinamide, but not with Met-enkephalin and [D-Ala2]Met-enkephalin. In contrast to the other analogues, metkephamid and [D-Ala2]Met-enkephalinamide are positively charged at neutral pH, as demonstrated by their isoelectric points (pl = 8.6 for [D-Ala2]Met-enkephalinamide and metkephamid and 5.3 for [D-Ala2]Met-enkephalin and Met-enkephalin). The data is in agreement with the literature showing that most compounds secreted by the P-glycoprotein transporter carry a positive charge.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Enzymatic cleavage of thymopoietin oligopeptides by pancreatic and intestinal brush-border enzymes.

The intestinal enzymatic degradation of the immunomodulating peptides thymotrinan (TP3), thymocartin (TP4), and thymopentin (TP5), three oligopeptides derived from the naturally occurring thymus hormone thymopoietin, was investigated to evaluate their potential for peroral drug delivery. In the presence of brush-border membrane vesicles, crude pancreas extract and everted rings from duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and colon, all peptides were shown to be degraded both by pancreatic enzymes and brush-border aminopeptidases. Degradation clearances (Cldeg) of TP3, TP4, and TP5 were calculated for a quantitative comparison of peptide stability. In the presence of crude pancreas extract, there was a rapid degradation of TP5 (Cldeg 17.9 ml/min) in comparison with TP3 and TP4 (Cldeg 0.95 and 0.56 ml/min, respectively, at 0.2 mM peptide concentration) caused by the cleavage of the C-terminal tyrosine by carboxypeptidase A, whereas TP3 and TP4 underwent hydrolysis by aminopeptidase N. In the presence of brush-border membrane vesicles, the degradation clearances were 3.9, 3.1, and 2.4 ml/min at 0.2 mM concentrations of TP4, TP5, and TP3, respectively. The clearance of all peptides was lowered with increasing peptide concentrations, indicating saturable degradation processes. The degradation of the thymopoietin oligopeptides in the presence of brush-border membrane enzymes was exclusively catalyzed by aminopeptidase N. The degradation of all peptides was highly dependent on the intestinal segment, with the lowest degradation clearance observed in the colon.

Animals↗

Evidence for intestinal secretion as an additional clearance pathway of talinolol enantiomers: concentration- and dose-dependent absorption in vitro and in vivo.

PURPOSE: To evaluate carrier-mediated intestinal secretion of talinolol enantiomers in vivo and in vitro. METHODS: In clinical studies with i.v. and p.o. dosage of rac-talinolol (30 mg and 100 mg, resp.) performed in a small number of cholecystectomized patients total and partial clearances were determined on the basis of plasma, bile and urine concentrations. The dose-dependence of AUC was investigated in 12 healthy volunteers (25, 50, 100, and 400 mg rac-talinolol as single p.o. doses). Concentration-dependence of the permeability across Caco-2 cell monolayers included concentrations from 0.1 to 2.0 mM, inhibition by verapamil was tested at 0.5 mM. RESULTS: The total clearance as well as the apparent oral clearance (CL/F) were slightly higher for S-(-)- than for R-(+)-talinolol. Calculation of the partial clearances showed that also the residual clearance was higher for the S- than for the R-enantiomer. In the healthy volunteers, CL/F increased with increasing doses, while the S/R ratio decreased approaching unity for the highest dose. Also the results from Caco-2 cell permeation studies yielded a clear concentration-dependence with decreasing stereoselectivity for the higher concentration range. Permeability of both enantiomers was considerably higher for b-->a than a-->b transport, however, this difference disappeared when verapamil was added. CONCLUSIONS: Although not very expressed, the detected stereoselectivities indicate a preferential absorption of R-(+)-talinolol in a lower concentration and dose range, which is most probably due to a moderate stereoselectivity at the carrier system involved in intestinal secretion.

Administration, Oral↗

Transport and metabolic pathway of thymocartin (TP4) in excised bovine nasal mucosa.

Thymocartin (TP4, Arg-Lys-Asp-Val) is the 32-35 fragment of the naturally occurring thymic factor (thymopoietin). Here studies on the nasal transport and metabolism of TP4 were performed. Freshly excised bovine nasal mucosa was taken as a model membrane. For permeation studies typical donor-receiver experiments (side-by-side) and finite-dose experiments with small volumes of highly concentrated solutions were carried out. The metabolic pathway of TP4 in nasal mucosa was found to occur according to a typical aminopeptidase cleavage pattern, stepwise forming Lys-Asp-Val and Asp-Val. TP4 metabolism experiments under reflection kinetics showed a saturation profile above 0.5 mumol mL-1. A non-linear kinetic model consisting of three steps in sequence was sufficient to describe the kinetics: for the first step saturable Michaelis-Meat kinetics, and for the second and the third step first-order kinetics were assured. The model was capable of simultaneously fitting the data for the full range of initial concentrations from 0.1 up to 1.0 mumol mL-1. Saturation kinetics was also found to be the prominent feature of the permeation experiments performed. In the lower concentration range (< 0.4 mumol mL-1), transport of TP4 across nasal mucosa was controlled by metabolism, in the higher concentration range (> 0.85 mumol mL-1) diffusion control became more important. We conclude that enhancement of absorption can be achieved when nasal aminopeptidases are saturated, e.g. at high TP4 concentrations.

Absorption↗

Cinnamate uptake by rat small intestine: transport kinetics and transepithelial transfer.

Due to their ubiquitous occurrence in the plant kingdom, plant phenolics, including monomeric cinnamic acids, are ingested by man and animals in variable amounts with their natural diets. Recently, Na(+)-dependent saturable transport of cinnamic acid across the brush-border membrane of rat jejunum has been described. It was the aim of the present study to characterize this mechanism in more detail. We therefore determined the transport kinetics of mucosal uptake of radioactively labelled cinnamic acid under various conditions using a short-term mucosal uptake technique. In addition, the transfer of cinnamic acid across the jejunal wall was investigated using everted intestinal sacs. Investigations of the kinetics of cinnamic acid uptake by the mid-jejunal mucosa revealed the involvement of two transport components, a diffusive Na(+)-independent mechanism and a saturable Na(+)-dependent mechanism. The results obtained with everted sacs provided further evidence of the existence of an active Na+ gradient-driven transport of cinnamic acid across the intestinal epithelium. In the presence of Na+, a significant accumulation of cinnamate occurred inside the serosal compartment and this was strongly inhibited by serosal ouabain. A decrease in the extracellular pH stimulated mucosal cinnamate uptake by increasing the apparent affinity (1/km). This may be attributable to the involvement of a transmembrane H+ gradient in Na(+)-dependent cinnamate transport because the protonophore FCCP caused a significant reduction of cinnamate uptake only in the presence of Na+. The kinetics of cinnamate transport in the absence or presence of a surplus of either unlabelled cinnamate or unlabelled butyrate indicates a reduction in the apparent affinity of the Na(+)-dependent mechanism involved in cinnamate uptake. These results may be explained by a modification of the mechanism by the intracellular pH. Additionally, competitive inhibition of cinnamate uptake by substances structurally related to cinnamic acid may also be involved.

Animals↗

Celiprolol double-peak occurrence and gastric motility: nonlinear mixed effects modeling of bioavailability data obtained in dogs.

Investigation of the underlying mechanism leading to inter- and intrasubject variations in the plasma concentration-time profiles of drugs (1) can considerably benefit rational drug therapy. The significant effect of gastric emptying on the rate and extent of celiprolol absorption and its role with respect to double-peak formation was demonstrated in the present study. In four dogs racemic celiprolol was dosed perorally in a crossover design during four different phases of the fasted-state gastric cycle and gastric motility was recorded simultaneously using a manometric measurement system. Intravenous doses were also given to obtain disposition and bioavailability parameters. The blood samples were assayed by a stereoselective HPLC method (2). The time to onset of the active phase of the gastric cycle showed an excellent correlation with the time to celiprolol peak concentration. Furthermore, bioavailability was increased when celiprolol was administered during the active phase. Double peaks were observed when the first active phase was relatively short, suggesting that a portion of the drug remained in the stomach until the next active phase. Population pharmacokinetic modeling of the data with a two-compartment open model with two lag times incorporating the motility data confirmed the effect of time to gastric emptying on the variability of the oral pharmacokinetics of celiprolol. The fasted-state motility phases determine the rate and extent of celiprolol absorption and influence the occurrence of double peaks. Peak plasma levels of celiprolol exhibit less variability if lag times, and therefore gastric emptying times, are taken into consideration.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

Gastrointestinal absorption of peptide drug: quantitative evaluation of the degradation and the permeation of metkephamid in rat small intestine.

The intestinal absorption of metkephamid (MKA), an analog of natural [Met]enkephalin, was investigated by means of vascular perfusion of the rat small intestine. Most of the MKA administered to the jejunal loop was degraded in the lumen by enzymatic hydrolysis, whereas only 0.3 to 1.2% of it was absorbed into the vascular flow. This means that enzymatic degradation is a major barrier against the intestinal absorption of MKA. The absorption of MKA was divided into two steps, degradation and permeation, and is expressed as clearance from the intestine. The degradation clearance (CLd) of MKA was 60- to 200-fold higher than the permeation clearance (CLp), indicating the rapid hydrolysis of MKA before absorption. The absorbed fraction of MKA increased with increasing luminal MKA concentration, mainly due to an increase in CLp rather than a decrease in CLd. MKA was degraded not only before absorption but also during permeation across the intestinal epithelium. Three kinds of enzyme inhibitors were co-administered with MKA into the intestinal loop. Puromycin, an aminopeptidase M inhibitor, markedly enhanced MKA absorption by both decreasing CLd and increasing CLp, indicating the predominant role of this enzyme in MKA degradation. Bestatin, another aminopeptidase M inhibitor, also effectively suppressed the degradation of MKA before absorption, whereas it only slightly increased CLp. It was further found that bestatin was less effective in inhibiting MKA hydrolysis during permeation. Thiorphan, an enkephalinase inhibitor, had no effect on MKA absorption.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Variable gastric emptying and discontinuities in drug absorption profiles: dependence of rates and extent of cimetidine absorption on motility phase and pH.

The influence of various fasting-state gastrointestinal parameters on variability in absorption of cimetidine was studied using simulation and cimetidine administration as a duodenal infusion and as an oral tablet in fistulated mongrel dogs. In the simulation studies, the frequency of double-peak occurrence in plasma profiles was estimated employing average gastric emptying rates as well as interdigestive-migrating-motor-complex (IMMC) phase lengths that were systematically altered. Emptying rates and phase lengths were modeled as periodic step functions. Simulations indicated that double peaks occur when gastric emptying of the drug begins in early phase I or late phase II/III, which represent the periods of very low, medium, and high gastrointestinal motility, respectively. The incidence is increased for longer phase-I duration and higher elimination rate constants. For a compound with a 2 h elimination or disposition half-life, two concentration maxima (double peaks) were found in 12% of the simulated concentration-time profiles. The double peak frequency in simulated curves was considerably higher for t1/2 < 30 min. When cimetidine was administered to dogs as a duodenal infusion in the active and quiescent motility phases, discontinuous profiles were observed, although the variability of the various parameters was reduced when compared. Pharmacokinetic models were set up that were characterized by multi-segmental input (one- to 3-lag-time models were used) for the profiles resulting from oral and duodenal administration. The lag time for the first process characterized the onset of absorption. A significant difference between phases was detected for infusions at pH 8, where the initial lag time was longer in the quiescent phase. The mean input time (MIT) was calculated as the integral input parameter. There was a tendency for the MIT to be higher for pH 6 infusions than for pH 4 and pH 8. Bioavailability analysis indicated that cimetidine was more rapidly and completely absorbed at pH 8 than at pH 6. Bioavailability was also slightly higher at pH 4 than at pH 6. We concluded that gastric emptying increased the variability of the cimetidine concentration-against-time profiles and that it plays a role with respect to double-peak occurrence, although it is only one of several causative factors.

Administration, Oral↗

Predictions of in vivo plasma concentrations from in vitro release kinetics: application to doxepin parenteral (i.m.) suspensions in lipophilic vehicles in dogs.

A flow through dissolution system was applied to obtain biorelevant dissolution rates from controlled release systems for parenteral administration using the antidepressant doxepin as a model compound. Plasma concentrations were simulated using the disposition function of doxepin obtained from administration of an aqueous doxepin solution (AponalR) to beagle dogs. Input functions were obtained from in vitro dissolution experiments with three parenteral controlled release suspensions of doxepin hydrochloride (DHCl), doxepin pamoate (DP-1), and microspheres of doxepin hydrochloride in poly D,L-lactid-co-glycolid (MC-1) in isopropyl myristate. The predicted plasma concentrations were compared with experimentally obtained concentrations in vivo. Good correlations (r > 0.88) between observed and predicted data were obtained for all formulations investigated. Similarly, in vivo release kinetics calculated by the Loo-Riegelman method were compard with release kinetics measured in vitro and showed good correlations (r > 0.89). It is anticipated that the in vitro dissolution system permits assessment of the clinical relevance of observed variations in dissolution rates e.g. between batches of one formulation.

Absorption↗

Oral absorption of peptides: the effect of absorption site and enzyme inhibition on the systemic availability of metkephamid.

In this study the intestinal degradation and absorption of a synthetic pentapeptide, metkephamid, were investigated in the rat by determination of its wall permeabilities in the small and large intestine and the extent and mechanism of its intestinal degradation. The peptide was metabolized in the gut wall through contact with membrane-bound enzymes in the brush border membrane. The extent of metabolic inactivation depended on the intestinal segment investigated and decreased in the axial direction. No metabolism was found in the colon. The dimensionless wall permeabilities (Pw*), determined by single-pass perfusion, were also site dependent. Pw* was highest in the ileum [1.91 +/- 0.24, (SE); n = 4], followed by the jejunum (1.64 +/- 0.34; n = 4) and the colon (0.67 +/- 0.38; n = 4). Based on the permeability data alone and under the assumption of no presystemic metabolism, complete bioavailability would be predicted for metkephamid. However, following oral administration, the mean absolute bioavailability was only 0.22 +/- 0.065% (n = 3), indicating the overall dominance of degradation in the absorption process. Thus future strategies in oral peptide delivery should focus on increasing the stability of the peptide in the intestine by modifying the peptide structure and/or delivering the compound to an intestinal segment showing little or no enzymatic degradation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Colonic absorption and bioavailability of the pentapeptide metkephamid in the rat.

The concept of delivering systemically active peptide drugs to the colon in order to improve their oral absorption requires reasonable peptide permeability of the large intestinal wall and stability against the activity of the colonic microflora. In addition, the role of hepatic extraction needs to be addressed. In this study the absorption of the pentapeptide metkephamid following single pass perfusion of rat ascending colon was investigated by monitoring its disappearance from the large intestine and simultaneous appearance in the portal vein, the hepatic vein and the aorta. In addition its stability against colonic microflora was tested in vitro using pig caecal contents. Metkephamid was absorbed from the large intestine and appeared in the blood circulation; peptide concentrations in the portal vein increased over-proportionally with increasing perfusate concentrations (0.1-4.6 mmol/L) from 0.19 microgram/mL +/- 0.12 (SD, n = 7) to 31.6 micrograms/mL + 20.65 (SD, n = 4), respectively, and thus suggesting a saturable transport or metabolism. Concentrations in the hepatic vein were significantly lower than in the portal vein, hepatic extraction ratios were 0.35 +/- 0.14, 0.61 +/- 0.18 and 0.62 +/- 0.28 (SD, n = 4) for 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 mM metkephamid perfusate concentrations, respectively. In the anaerobic colon metabolism model the degradation half-life of the peptide was 14.9 hours, thus, indicating relative stability in the bacterial environment of the colon. The results of the present study encourage further investigations on colonic delivery of peptide drugs.

Animals↗

Metabolism and transport of the pentapeptide metkephamid by brush-border membrane vesicles of rat intestine.

Intestinal metabolism and transport of the pentapeptide metkephamid (Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-Phe-N-Me-Met-NH2) were studied using isolated brush-border membranes from the rat. Analysis of the metabolic fragments of enzymatic hydrolysis revealed that cleavage of the N-terminal peptide bond leads to the formation of tyrosine and a tetrapeptide D-Ala-Gly-Phe-N-Me-Met-NH2. The inactivation was due to aminopeptidase N activity and could be inhibited by peptidase inhibitors puromycin, bacitracin and certain dipeptides. Transport studies demonstrated uptake of the intact pentapeptide into the intravesicular space of the vesicles. The transport was a first-order process; no participation of known intestinal peptide carrier systems in the transport of metkephamid could be shown. Modelling of simultaneous metabolism and transport kinetics suggests strategies to improve the fraction absorbed of a peptide by either decreasing its affinity to the metabolizing enzymes (increase Km) or decreasing the concentration of the metabolizing enzymes e.g. by delivering the peptide to an absorption site with reduced enzymatic activity (decrease Vmax) or increasing its absorption velocity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The pharmacokinetics of tranylcypromine enantiomers in healthy subjects after oral administration of racemic drug and the single enantiomers.

The pharmacokinetics of the two enantiomers of tranylcypromine were evaluated in six healthy subjects after oral dosage of the racemate (20 mg of the sulphate) and the single enantiomers (10 mg of the sulphate) using an enantiospecific assay. Significant differences in AUC, Cmax, lambda(z), and CLR of the two enantiomers were observed both on administration of the racemate and of the individual enantiomers. The plasma concentrations and urinary excretion rates of (-)-tranylcypromine exceeded those of (+)-tranylcypromine. AUCs of the (-)-enantiomer [arithmetical means 197 ng ml(-1) h after the racemate, 130 ng ml(-1) h after the enantiomer] were greater than those of the (+)-enantiomer [26 ng ml(-1) h after the racemate, 28 ng ml(-1) h after the enantiomer] (P = 0.0001). No in vivo racemisation was detected. The power of the study was insufficient to establish any enantiomer-enantiomer interaction except for a possible interaction at the level of renal clearance (P = 0.013 for both enantiomers).

Administration, Oral↗

Conventional versus novel conditions for the in vitro dissolution testing of parenteral slow release formulations: application to doxepin parenteral dosage forms.

Parenteral slow release formulations of doxepin in lipid vehicles were prepared in the form of suspensions of doxepin hydrochloride, doxepin pamoate and of poly D,L-lactid and poly D,L-lactid-co-glycolide microspheres containing doxepin hydrochloride. The drug particles or the drug containing microspheres were suspended in the vehicles isopropylmyristate or Miglyol. The dissolution rate of the different doxepin formulations was investigated in two flow through cells, a membrane and a non-membrane system, using either plain buffer or human plasma containing buffer as dissolution media, in order to study the influence of dissolution conditions on dissolution rates. An attempt was made to obtain biorelevant dissolution data. In the membrane system a linear relationship between time and percent drug dissolved during the period of investigation was found. Drug release was very slow and incomplete, especially when buffer was used as dissolution medium. Dissolution data from the nonmembrane system were fitted to monoexponential and biexponential models, respectively. Significant differences were found using different modes of formulation positioning and using the two dissolution media. The most rapid release rates were found when the formulations were spread on glass carriers and plasma was used as dissolution medium. It is suggested that this dissolution procedure has physiological relevance.

Buffers↗

Enantiospecific high-performance liquid chromatographic assay with fluorescence detection for the monoamine oxidase inhibitor tranylcypromine and its applicability in pharmacokinetic studies.

In order to be able to measure low concentrations of tranylcypromine enantiomers in biological material, chiral fluorescent derivatization and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were employed. The internal standard S-(+)-amphetamine and borate-sodium hydroxide buffer pH 11 were added to plasma or urine sample aliquots. o-Phthaldialdehyde was used for precolumn derivatization in combination with the chiral mercaptan N-acetylcysteine. HPLC resolution of the diastereoisomeric derivatives was possible on an octadecylsilane column. The mobile phase consisted of sodium phosphate buffer solution pH 6.5, methanol and tetrahydrofuran. The fluorescence of the eluate was monitored at 344/442 nm. The intra-day coefficients of variation were below 10%, the limit of determination was 0.5 ng/ml. The assay was found to be applicable for routine analyses in a preliminary pharmacokinetic study, in which an oral dose of 20 mg racemic tranylcypromine sulfate was administered to three healthy volunteers. The plasma concentrations were generally low, and those of S-(-)-tranylcypromine significantly exceeded those of the R-(+)-enantiomer. Average maximum concentrations were 57.5 and 6.3 ng/ml for S- and R-tranylcypromine, respectively. While S-tranylcypromine was well detectable within the whole study period (8 h), R-tranylcypromine concentrations fell below the detection limit after 4 h in two out of the three studied volunteers.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Fluorescence assay for small peptides and amino acids: high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of selected substrates using activated S-flunoxaprofen as a chiral derivatizing agent.

The applicability of the fluorescent S-flunoxaprofen, activated to the corresponding acyl chloride, as a chiral derivatizing agent for amino acids and small peptides was evaluated. The amino acid or peptide solution was evaporated to dryness. The carboxylic moieties were esterified with 3 M hydrochloric acid in 2-propanol. The solvent and hydrochloric acid were evaporated, and the residue was dissolved in aqueous sodium heptanesulphonate and extracted with benzene-butanol (85:15, v/v). The organic phase was evaporated and S-flunoxaprofen chloride reagent solution (in dichloromethane) added, together with 20 mg of anhydrous sodium carbonate. After 60 min at 40 degrees C the solvent was evaporated and the residue reconstituted in mobile phase (n-hexane-dichloromethane-ethanol). Resolution of the diastereomeric derivatives was accomplished on a Zorbax Sil high-performance liquid chromatography column. The eluate was monitored either fluorimetrically at 305/355 nm or by measuring the UV absorption at 305 nm. The procedure leads to highly fluorescent derivatives of amino acids or small peptides, which are resolvable on silica gel stationary phases.

Amino Acids↗

Measurement of carvedilol enantiomers in human plasma and urine using S-naproxen chloride for chiral derivatization.

The enantiospecific procedure for assaying carvedilol includes the extraction of the drug from plasma or urine with diisopropylether after alkalization of the sample with pH 9.8 buffer. After evaporation of the org. solvent a chiral derivatization is performed using S-(+)-naproxen chloride. The HPLC separation of the diastereomeric amides is possible on a silica gel stationary phase with a mixture of n-hexane, dichloromethane, and ethanol as mobile phase. Detection of the products is performed by fluorescence measurement at 285/355 nm. Preliminary pharmacokinetic studies after i.v. infusion of racemic compound to healthy volunteers showed that the concentrations of the R-(+)-enantiomer exceeded those of the S-(-)-enantiomer. Overall, both carvedilol enantiomers exhibited a high clearance with preference for the S-enantiomer. The difference was even more expressed after p.o. dosage indicating a stereoselective first-pass effect with higher extraction of the levorotatory enantiomer, which is more potent with respect to beta-adrenoceptor antagonistic activity.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗