HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHIC DETERMINATION OF DRUGS AND METABOLITES IN HUMAN SERUM AND URINE USING DIRECT-INJECTION AND A UNIQUEMOLECULAR-SIEVE

Silicalite is a molecular sieve that contains an intricate system of c hannels approximately 6 Angstrom in diameter. These channels an hydrop hobic and have been shown to retain relatively small hydrophobic and h ydrophilic molecules from aqueous and biological samples. Silicalite i s shown to be a restricted-access medium that permits the injection of biological fluids directly onto a HPLC column packed with Silicalite, eliminating the need for sample preparation. The sample macromolecule s elute with high recovery mostly at the extraparticulate void. Simult aneously, Silicalite allows various drugs and metabolites to enter the channels and be retained. Recoveries >90% were generally obtained for a wide variety of drugs and their metabolites from human serum and ur ine. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.