# Determination of Picogram Levels of Roxithromycin in Pharmaceutical, Human Serum, and Urine by Flow-Injection Chemiluminescence

Authors: Jiangman Liu; Huan Yang; Yun Zhang; Min Wu; Haixiang Zhao; Zhenghua Song
Journal: ISRN Analytical Chemistry
 (2012)

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## Abstract

A sensitive chemiluminescence (CL) method, based on the inhibitory effect of roxithromycin (ROX) on the CL reaction between luminol and dissolved oxygen in a flow-injection system, was first proposed for the determination of ROX at picogram levels. The decrement of CL intensity was linearly proportional to the logarithm of ROX concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 100 pg mL−1, giving the limit of detection (LOD) of 0.03 pg mL−1 (3σ). At a flow rate of 2.0 mL min−1, a complete analytical procedure including sampling and washing could be performed within 0.5 min, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of less than 5.0% (n=5). The proposed procedure was applied successfully to the determination of ROX in pharmaceutical, human serum, and urine with the recoveries ranging from 90.0 to 110.0%.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Roxithromycin (ROX, C41H76N2O15) is a kind of antibiotic with semisynthetic 14-membered-ring macrolide antibiotic [1–3] as shown in Figure 1. ROX has been frequently adopted as an effective treatment for several different infections, including respiratory tract infections asthma, gum infections like gingivitis, and bacterial infections associated with stomach as well as intestinal ulcers [4]. It works efficiently even at small doses with less frequent administration, which is regarded as a clinical advantage, and has a wide range of applications in human and veterinary medicines [5].Figure 1
Schematic diagram of ROX structure.A variety of methods have been used for the determination of ROX (Table1), including high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) [6–8], electrochemistry (EC) [9], fluorescence (FL) [10], aqueous two-phase system extraction (ATPSE) [11], capillary electrophoresis (CE) [12], and chemiluminescence (CL) [13]. Compared with other methods, CL has attracted increasing attention in various fields owing to its high sensitivity, wide linear dynamic range, rapid measurements, and simple instrumentation [14–17].Table 1
Comparisons of different methods for determination of ROX.
MethodsLinear range (μg mL−1)LOD (μg mL−1)ReferencesHPLC0.5–10.00.2[6]0.05–20.00.05[7]5.1–100.05.1[8]EC4.2–840.4[9]FL25.0–350.04.6[10]ATPSE1.0–20.00.03[11]CE0.02–201.07.0×10-3[12]CL1.0×10-6–1.0×10-33.0×10-7[13]Proposed method1.0×10-7–1.0×10-43.0×10-8This workThe simple and green CL system of luminol-dissolved oxygen has been applied for the determination of vitamin B12 [18], sudan IV [19] and chlorogenic acid [20] by our group. However, no CL method of luminol-dissolved oxygen system has been utilized for the determination of ROX to date. In this work, it was found that CL signal from luminol-dissolved oxygen reaction could be inhibited by ROX and the decrement of the CL intensity was linearly proportional to the logarithm of ROX concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 100 pg mL−1, with the linear equation of ΔICL=6.73lnCROX+23.62 (R2=0.9925,n=5) and the LOD of 0.03 pg mL−1(3σ). At a flow rate of 2.0 mL min−1, a complete analytical process could be performed within 0.5 min, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of less than 5.0% (n=5). The proposed procedure was applied successfully in the determination of ROX in pharmaceutical, human serum, and urine samples with the recoveries ranging from 90.0 to 110.0%.


## 2. Experimental

### 2.1. Apparatus

A schematic diagram of the CL flow-injection system was shown in Figure2. A peristaltic pump of the IFFL-DD luminescence analyzer (Xi’an Remax Electronic Science-Tech. Co. Ltd., Xi’an, China) was applied to deliver all streams. PTFE tubing (1.0 mm i.d.) was used throughout the manifold for carrying the CL reagents. A six-way valve with a loop of 100.0 μL was used for sampling. The CL signals produced in flow cell were detected without wavelength discrimination, and the photomultiplier tube (PMT) output was recorded by PC with the IFFL-DD client system.Figure 2
Schematic diagram of the flow-injection system for determination of ROX.


### 2.2. Reagents

All the reagents were of analytical grade in this work. Water purified in a Milli-Q system (Millipore, Bedford, MA, USA) was used for the preparation of solutions in the whole procedure. Luminol (Fluka, Biochemika, Switzerland) was obtained from Xi’an Medicine Purchasing and Supply Station, Xi’an, China. The stock solution of luminol (2.5 ×10−2 mol L−1) was prepared by dissolving 0.44 g luminol in 100 mL of 0.1 mol L−1 NaOH solution in a brown calibrated flask. The stock solution ROX (Shaanxi Institute for Drug Control) of 1.0 mg mL−1 was stored at 4°C. Working standard solutions were prepared daily from the above stock solution as required.


### 2.3. General Procedure

As shown in Figure2, 100 μL luminol solution and the carrier (purified water) were injected into the flow system quantitatively via the six-way valve until a stable baseline was recorded. Then quantities of known concentration of ROX solutions were injected into the flow system and mixed with luminol reagent. The mixed solution in an alkaline medium was delivered into the CL flow cell, and CL signals were produced and measured by the PMT and luminometer. The concentration of the sample was quantified by the reduction of CL intensity (ΔICL=Io-Is), where Is and Io were the CL intensity in the presence and absence of ROX, respectively.


### 2.4. Sample Preparation

#### 2.4.1. Treatment of Pharmaceutical

ROX tablets (No. 6 Pharmaceutical Factory, Harbin, China) were purchased from local market. Five pieces of tablets (labelled amount 75 mg tab−1) were weighed up and ground to fine powder. Then the power of average one tablet was weighed out accurately, dissolved by water, and filtrated. The filter residue was washed several times, and then the solution was diluted to 250 mL calibrated flask. Suitable aliquots from this solution were taken for the determination of ROX, and the concentration of ROX was in the concentration range of its determination.


#### 2.4.2. Treatment of Human Urine and Serum Sample

The urine sample was collected from healthy volunteers, and the serum sample was supplied by the Hospital of Northwest University. To prepare the spiked samples, known quantities of standard solution of ROX were spiked into 1.0 mL of urine or serum. After homogenization, the urine and the serum samples were diluted to proper multiples, respectively. Then the samples were determined by the proposed method directly after dilution.


## 2.1. Apparatus

A schematic diagram of the CL flow-injection system was shown in Figure2. A peristaltic pump of the IFFL-DD luminescence analyzer (Xi’an Remax Electronic Science-Tech. Co. Ltd., Xi’an, China) was applied to deliver all streams. PTFE tubing (1.0 mm i.d.) was used throughout the manifold for carrying the CL reagents. A six-way valve with a loop of 100.0 μL was used for sampling. The CL signals produced in flow cell were detected without wavelength discrimination, and the photomultiplier tube (PMT) output was recorded by PC with the IFFL-DD client system.Figure 2
Schematic diagram of the flow-injection system for determination of ROX.


## 2.2. Reagents

All the reagents were of analytical grade in this work. Water purified in a Milli-Q system (Millipore, Bedford, MA, USA) was used for the preparation of solutions in the whole procedure. Luminol (Fluka, Biochemika, Switzerland) was obtained from Xi’an Medicine Purchasing and Supply Station, Xi’an, China. The stock solution of luminol (2.5 ×10−2 mol L−1) was prepared by dissolving 0.44 g luminol in 100 mL of 0.1 mol L−1 NaOH solution in a brown calibrated flask. The stock solution ROX (Shaanxi Institute for Drug Control) of 1.0 mg mL−1 was stored at 4°C. Working standard solutions were prepared daily from the above stock solution as required.


## 2.3. General Procedure

As shown in Figure2, 100 μL luminol solution and the carrier (purified water) were injected into the flow system quantitatively via the six-way valve until a stable baseline was recorded. Then quantities of known concentration of ROX solutions were injected into the flow system and mixed with luminol reagent. The mixed solution in an alkaline medium was delivered into the CL flow cell, and CL signals were produced and measured by the PMT and luminometer. The concentration of the sample was quantified by the reduction of CL intensity (ΔICL=Io-Is), where Is and Io were the CL intensity in the presence and absence of ROX, respectively.


## 2.4. Sample Preparation

### 2.4.1. Treatment of Pharmaceutical

ROX tablets (No. 6 Pharmaceutical Factory, Harbin, China) were purchased from local market. Five pieces of tablets (labelled amount 75 mg tab−1) were weighed up and ground to fine powder. Then the power of average one tablet was weighed out accurately, dissolved by water, and filtrated. The filter residue was washed several times, and then the solution was diluted to 250 mL calibrated flask. Suitable aliquots from this solution were taken for the determination of ROX, and the concentration of ROX was in the concentration range of its determination.


### 2.4.2. Treatment of Human Urine and Serum Sample

The urine sample was collected from healthy volunteers, and the serum sample was supplied by the Hospital of Northwest University. To prepare the spiked samples, known quantities of standard solution of ROX were spiked into 1.0 mL of urine or serum. After homogenization, the urine and the serum samples were diluted to proper multiples, respectively. Then the samples were determined by the proposed method directly after dilution.


## 2.4.1. Treatment of Pharmaceutical

ROX tablets (No. 6 Pharmaceutical Factory, Harbin, China) were purchased from local market. Five pieces of tablets (labelled amount 75 mg tab−1) were weighed up and ground to fine powder. Then the power of average one tablet was weighed out accurately, dissolved by water, and filtrated. The filter residue was washed several times, and then the solution was diluted to 250 mL calibrated flask. Suitable aliquots from this solution were taken for the determination of ROX, and the concentration of ROX was in the concentration range of its determination.


## 2.4.2. Treatment of Human Urine and Serum Sample

The urine sample was collected from healthy volunteers, and the serum sample was supplied by the Hospital of Northwest University. To prepare the spiked samples, known quantities of standard solution of ROX were spiked into 1.0 mL of urine or serum. After homogenization, the urine and the serum samples were diluted to proper multiples, respectively. Then the samples were determined by the proposed method directly after dilution.


## 3. Results and Discussion

### 3.1. CL Intensity-Time Profile

The relative CL intensity-time profile was shown in Figure3. The luminol-dissolved oxygen CL reaction reached the maximum of CL intensity (Tmax) at 7.0 s and then vanished within 26 s; while in the presence of ROX (5 pg mL−1), the maximum of CL intensity remarkably decreased from 150 to 115 by 23.3%.Figure 3
The CL intensity-time profile.


### 3.2. Effect of Luminol and Sodium Hydroxide Concentration

Owing to the nature of luminol CL reaction, which is more favorable in alkaline medium, sodium hydroxide was added to improve the sensitivity of the system. The effect of the concentration of luminol and sodium hydroxide was investigated over the ranges from 1 × 10−8 to 1 × 10−4 mol L−1and 0.01 to 0.5 mol L−1, respectively. With increasing luminol concentration, the CL signal increased steadily until 2.5 × 10−5 mol L−1 and then stabilised. Therefore, the concentration of 2.5 × 10−5 mol L−1 luminol was chosen for the optimum condition. The result indicated the CL signal could reach a maximum value in the NaOH concentration of 0.025 mol L−1. Therefore, 0.025 mol L−1 sodium hydroxide was performed in all subsequent experiments.


### 3.3. Effect of Flow Rate and the Length of Mixing Tubing

The CL intensity was related to the flow rate. A lower flow rate caused broadening of the peak and slowly sampling rates.  A higher flow rate could increase the signal-to-ratio (S/N) and lead to an unstable baseline. Then a flow rate of 2.0 mL min−1 was selected as an appropriate condition considering both the good precision and lower solution consumption. The effect of the length of mixing tubing on CL intensity was also tested in pursuit of producing maximum CL intensity in the flow cell. It was observed that 10.0 cm of mixing tubing afforded the best results with good sensitivity and reproducibility. Accordingly, 10.0 cm of mixing tubing was considered as an optimum length.


### 3.4. Performance of Proposed Method for ROX Determination

Under the optimum conditions described, the linearity of the results was examined by measuring a series of standard solutions. The decreased CL intensity was found to be proportional to ROX concentration, and the response to the concentration was linear over the range from 0.1 to 100 pg mL−1, and the LOD was 0.03 pg mL−1(3σ). The linear equation was ΔICL=6.73lnCROX+23.62(R2=0.9925,n=5,RSDs<5.0%).


### 3.5. Interference Studies

Interference of foreign substances was tested by analyzing a standard solution of ROX to which increasing amounts of interfering species were added. Presuming interference at 5% level, tolerable ratios of interferents with respect to 10 pg mL−1ROX were over 1000 times for NO3-,Ac-,I-,SO42-,PO43-,BrO3-, borate, oxalate, tartrate, urea, and uric acid; 50 times for NH4+,Mg2+,Ca2+,Ba2+, methanol, and ethanol; 5 times for Fe3+ and Fe2+. Compounds abundant in human urine and serum such as salt, lipid and proteins caused no obvious interference for the determination of ROX.


## 3.1. CL Intensity-Time Profile

The relative CL intensity-time profile was shown in Figure3. The luminol-dissolved oxygen CL reaction reached the maximum of CL intensity (Tmax) at 7.0 s and then vanished within 26 s; while in the presence of ROX (5 pg mL−1), the maximum of CL intensity remarkably decreased from 150 to 115 by 23.3%.Figure 3
The CL intensity-time profile.


## 3.2. Effect of Luminol and Sodium Hydroxide Concentration

Owing to the nature of luminol CL reaction, which is more favorable in alkaline medium, sodium hydroxide was added to improve the sensitivity of the system. The effect of the concentration of luminol and sodium hydroxide was investigated over the ranges from 1 × 10−8 to 1 × 10−4 mol L−1and 0.01 to 0.5 mol L−1, respectively. With increasing luminol concentration, the CL signal increased steadily until 2.5 × 10−5 mol L−1 and then stabilised. Therefore, the concentration of 2.5 × 10−5 mol L−1 luminol was chosen for the optimum condition. The result indicated the CL signal could reach a maximum value in the NaOH concentration of 0.025 mol L−1. Therefore, 0.025 mol L−1 sodium hydroxide was performed in all subsequent experiments.


## 3.3. Effect of Flow Rate and the Length of Mixing Tubing

The CL intensity was related to the flow rate. A lower flow rate caused broadening of the peak and slowly sampling rates.  A higher flow rate could increase the signal-to-ratio (S/N) and lead to an unstable baseline. Then a flow rate of 2.0 mL min−1 was selected as an appropriate condition considering both the good precision and lower solution consumption. The effect of the length of mixing tubing on CL intensity was also tested in pursuit of producing maximum CL intensity in the flow cell. It was observed that 10.0 cm of mixing tubing afforded the best results with good sensitivity and reproducibility. Accordingly, 10.0 cm of mixing tubing was considered as an optimum length.


## 3.4. Performance of Proposed Method for ROX Determination

Under the optimum conditions described, the linearity of the results was examined by measuring a series of standard solutions. The decreased CL intensity was found to be proportional to ROX concentration, and the response to the concentration was linear over the range from 0.1 to 100 pg mL−1, and the LOD was 0.03 pg mL−1(3σ). The linear equation was ΔICL=6.73lnCROX+23.62(R2=0.9925,n=5,RSDs<5.0%).


## 3.5. Interference Studies

Interference of foreign substances was tested by analyzing a standard solution of ROX to which increasing amounts of interfering species were added. Presuming interference at 5% level, tolerable ratios of interferents with respect to 10 pg mL−1ROX were over 1000 times for NO3-,Ac-,I-,SO42-,PO43-,BrO3-, borate, oxalate, tartrate, urea, and uric acid; 50 times for NH4+,Mg2+,Ca2+,Ba2+, methanol, and ethanol; 5 times for Fe3+ and Fe2+. Compounds abundant in human urine and serum such as salt, lipid and proteins caused no obvious interference for the determination of ROX.


## 4. Applications

### 4.1. Determination of ROX in Pharmaceutical

The determination of ROX in tablets was carried out by the procedure described in the experimental portion, and the results were summarized in Table2, with recoveries ranging from 97.0 to 110.0% and RSDs of less than 5.0%.Table 2
Results of determination for ROX in pharmaceutical (labelled amount 75 mg tab−1).
Sample no.Added (pg mL−1)Found (pg mL−1)RSD (%)Recovery (%)ROX (mg tab−1)107.12.7110.072.53.010.43.0207.22.497.171.07.014.02.5307.23.2103.373.59.016.52.4


### 4.2. Determination of ROX in Spiked Human Serum and Urine

The proposed method was used in the determination of ROX in spiked human serum. In order to evaluate the validity of the proposed method, recovery studies were performed on each of the samples by adding a certain amount standard solution of ROX into 1.0 mL of serum sample. After homogenization, the spiked serum sample was diluted to appropriate multiples. The results were shown in Table3 with recoveries ranging from 94.0 to 102.0%.Table 3
Results of determination for ROX in spiked human serum.
Sample no.Added (pg mL−1)Found (pg mL−1)RSD (%)Recovery (%)ROX content (μg mL−1) Sample/spiked1021.32.996.521.0/20.020.040.65.02023.72.794.722.9/24.030.052.13.33029.44.9102.029.7/30.030.060.02.3The urine sample was collected from volunteers. The known quantities of standard solution of ROX were added into 1.0 mL of urine sample. After sufficient homogenization, the spiked urine sample was diluted to appropriate multiples. The determination of ROX in spiked human urine was also performed by the proposed method, and the results were shown in Table4 with recoveries ranging from 90.0 to 102.0%.Table 4
Results of determination for ROX in spiked human urine.
Sample no.Added (pg mL−1)Found (pg mL−1)RSD (%)Recovery (%)ROX content  (μg mL−1) Sample/spiked104.31.896.74.2/4.53.07.22.5209.82.990.09.6/10.03.012.52.23035.82.3102.036.0/36.220.056.21.94020.82.198.020.7/21.010.030.63.0


## 4.1. Determination of ROX in Pharmaceutical

The determination of ROX in tablets was carried out by the procedure described in the experimental portion, and the results were summarized in Table2, with recoveries ranging from 97.0 to 110.0% and RSDs of less than 5.0%.Table 2
Results of determination for ROX in pharmaceutical (labelled amount 75 mg tab−1).
Sample no.Added (pg mL−1)Found (pg mL−1)RSD (%)Recovery (%)ROX (mg tab−1)107.12.7110.072.53.010.43.0207.22.497.171.07.014.02.5307.23.2103.373.59.016.52.4


## 4.2. Determination of ROX in Spiked Human Serum and Urine

The proposed method was used in the determination of ROX in spiked human serum. In order to evaluate the validity of the proposed method, recovery studies were performed on each of the samples by adding a certain amount standard solution of ROX into 1.0 mL of serum sample. After homogenization, the spiked serum sample was diluted to appropriate multiples. The results were shown in Table3 with recoveries ranging from 94.0 to 102.0%.Table 3
Results of determination for ROX in spiked human serum.
Sample no.Added (pg mL−1)Found (pg mL−1)RSD (%)Recovery (%)ROX content (μg mL−1) Sample/spiked1021.32.996.521.0/20.020.040.65.02023.72.794.722.9/24.030.052.13.33029.44.9102.029.7/30.030.060.02.3The urine sample was collected from volunteers. The known quantities of standard solution of ROX were added into 1.0 mL of urine sample. After sufficient homogenization, the spiked urine sample was diluted to appropriate multiples. The determination of ROX in spiked human urine was also performed by the proposed method, and the results were shown in Table4 with recoveries ranging from 90.0 to 102.0%.Table 4
Results of determination for ROX in spiked human urine.
Sample no.Added (pg mL−1)Found (pg mL−1)RSD (%)Recovery (%)ROX content  (μg mL−1) Sample/spiked104.31.896.74.2/4.53.07.22.5209.82.990.09.6/10.03.012.52.23035.82.3102.036.0/36.220.056.21.94020.82.198.020.7/21.010.030.63.0


## 5. Conclusions

Based on the inhibitory effect of ROX on the luminol-dissolved oxygen reaction, a simple and rapid CL method for the determination of ROX at picogram levels was first proposed. The presented method offers the advantages of low LOD, instrumental simplicity, rapidity, widely linear range, and high sensitivity. Satisfactory performance of the assay of ROX in pharmaceutical preparations and biofluids has demonstrated that the method is practical and suitable not only for the quality control analysis but also for the analysis of complex biological samples and represents an interesting alternative in pharmacological and clinical research.



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*Source: 101092-2011-12-12.xml*