Determination of oxiracetam in human plasma by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection.

Reversed-phase HPLC methodology utilizing pre-column derivatization and post-column reaction fluorimetric detection has been developed and applied to the determination of oxiracetam in human plasma. The method involves preliminary isolation of oxiracetam and internal standard from plasma by solid-phase extraction prior to the formation of their n-propyl carbamate derivatives. The carbamate derivatives were subsequently isolated by solid-phase extraction and subjected to a gradient liquid chromatographic separation on an octadecylsilica column prior to on-line post-column alkaline hydrolysis to produce the corresponding primary amine, which was in turn derivatized with o-phthalaldehyde and 3-mercaptopropionic acid to yield a fluorescent isoindole. The isoindole was then quantified using a fluorescence detector. The method provided an on-column detection limit of 0.5 ng of oxiracetam and was sufficiently sensitive, accurate, and precise to support pre-clinical or clinical pharmacokinetic studies.