DETERMINATION OF OPC-17116, A NEW FLUOROQUINOLONE, IN HUMAN ALVEOLAR MACROPHAGES OTHER BIOLOGICAL MATRICES BY HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY (HPLC)

A sensitive and reproducible high performance liquid chromatography (H PLC) assay was developed for the determination of cell-associated leve ls of the new fluoroquinolone antimicrobial agent, OPC-17116 (Otsuka P harmaceutical Co. Ltd.). The assay consisted of a reverse phase C18 an alytical column with fluorescence detection at 288 nm and was used to measure levels of OPC-17116 in the constituents of bronchoalveolar lav age (epithelial lining fluid and alveolar macrophages). Thus it was po ssible to measure drug concentration at specific sites in the respirat ory tree. This is especially important because of differences that may exist between these levels and those found in serum. In addition, a g ood correlation was found between the HPLC assay and an established mi crobiological assay.