An automated method for the determination of a new potential antiepileptic agent (CGP 33101) in human plasma using high performance liquid chromatography

An automated analytical method utilizing laboratory robotics has been developed and validated for quantifying concentrations of a new antiepileptic drug candidate (CGP 33101) in human plasma. The robotic system aliquots the biological sample, adds the internal standard (CGP 23901) and pH 12 buffer, extracts the compounds from the basified matrix into an organic phase (methyl‐t‐butyl ether:dichloromethane, 2:1) and concentrates the extracts for reversed‐phase, high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis. The robotic system is directly interfaced with the HPLC system. Separation is achieved on a Hypersil 3 μm C18 column (4.6 × 50 mm) with ultraviolet detection of the analytes at 230 nm. Specificity was demonstrated by the lack of interfering peaks at the retention times for both the drug and internal standard. Recovery and reproducibility assessments indicated good accuracy (overall mean relative recovery of 102.7%) and precision (coefficient of variation of 4.4 to 7.7%) for CGP 33101 over the concentration range of 50–4000 ng/mL. The limit of quantification (LOQ) is 50 ng/mL. The method has been successfully applied to a clinical study in which normal volunteers received single oral doses of 400‐‐1200 mg of this new drug candidate.