A hidroxicloroquina (HCQ) é um importante fármaco quiral usado, principalmente, no tratamento de artrite reumatóide, lupus eritematoso sistêmico e malária e cujas propriedades farmacocinéticas e farmacodinâmicas são estereosseletivas. Em relação às propriedades farmacocinéticas, alguns estudos prévios indicam que o metabolismo estereosseletivo parece ser função da espécie estudada, o que implica na necessidade de métodos seletivos para a determinação de seus enantiômeros em materiais biológicos. Assim, propôs-se o desenvolvimento e a validação de métodos para análise dos enantiômeros do fármaco inalterado e de seus principais metabólitos em frações microssomais de homogeneizados de fígado de ratos e camundongos. Para tanto foram empregadas as técnicas de eletroforese capilar (CE) e de cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (HPLC). Inicialmente foi desenvolvido um método por HPLC, em uma etapa, para a quantificação dos enantiômeros de dois metabólitos da HCQ, desetilcloroquina (DCQ) e desetilhidroxicloroquina (DHCQ) em microssomas de fígado de ratos e camundongos. A separação foi efetuada utilizando-se a coluna Chiralpak AD-RH e hexano:isopropanol (92:8, v/v) acrescido de 0,1% de dietilamina como fase móvel. O procedimento de extração líquido-líquido foi utilizado para a preparação das amostras. A metodologia desenvolvida resultou na completa resolução dos enantiômeros da HCQ, DCQ e DHCQ e pode ser considerada adequada, visto que os parâmetros de validação mostraram valores dentro dos limites exigidos na literatura. O segundo método desenvolvido permitiu a quantificação dos enantiômeros dos três metabólitos da HCQ: DCQ, DHCQ e bisdesetilcloroquina (BDCQ) em microssomas de fígado de camundongos. A separação foi efetuada utilizando-se um tubo capilar de sílica fundida e solução do eletrólito tris(hidroximetil)aminometano 100 mmol/L, ajustada a pH 9,0 com ácido fosfórico e acrescida de 1% (m/v) de β –CD - sulfatada e 30 mmol/L de β –CD - hidroxipropilada. O procedimento de extração líquido-líquido foi eficiente para remover interferentes e os parâmetros de validação mostraram valores dentro dos limites exigidos na literatura. Os métodos desenvolvidos foram aplicados no estudo in vitro do metabolismo da HCQ em frações microssomais de fígado dos animais, verificando-se que o principal metabólito formado é o (-)-(R)-DHCQ, para ambas espécies estudadas. / Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is an important chiral drug used specially in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and malaria, with stereoselective pharmacokinetic and pharmacodinamic properties. Concerning these properties, some previous studies indicate that the stereoselective metabolism seems to be a function of the studied species, therefore selective methods are required for the determination of its enantiomers in biological matrix. Thus, the present work reports the development and validation of methods for the analysis of the enantiomers of HCQ and its main metabolites in microsomal fraction of rats and mice liver homogenates. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were used for this purpose. Initially, a one-step HPLC method was developed for the quantification of the enantiomers of two HCQ metabolites, desethylchloroquine (DCQ) and desethylhydroxychloroquine (DHCQ) in microsomal fraction of rats and mice liver homogenates. The separation was performed on a Chiralpak AD-RH column using hexane:isopropanol (92:8, v/v) plus 0.1% diethylamine as the mobile phase. Liquid-liquid extraction procedure was used for sample preparation. The developed methodology resulted in the complete resolution of HCQ, DCQ and DHCQ enantiomers and can be considered suitable because the validation parameters are in accordance with the limits established in the literature. The second developed method allowed the quantification of the enantiomers of the three HCQ metabolites, DCQ, DHCQ and bisdesethylchloroquine (BDCQ) in microsomal fraction of mice liver homogenates. The separation was performed using a fused-silica capillary tube and tris (hydroxymethyl) aminometane 100 mmol/L electrolyte solution, adjusted at pH 9.0 with phosphoric acid, containing 1% (w/v) sulfated- β -CD and 30 mmol/L hydroxypropyl- β -CD. The liquid-liquid extraction procedure was efficient to remove interferents and the validation parameters showed values within accordance to the literature. The developed methods were applied in the in vitro metabolism study of HCQ in microsomal fractions of the liver of the animals and it was verified that the main metabolite formed is (-)-(R)-DHCQ for both animal species studied.

Tinidazol, 1-[2-(ethylsulphonyl)ethyl]-2-methyl-5-nitroimidazole, é um membro da classe dos nitroimidazóis que apresenta atividade amebicida, giardicida, tricomonicida e anaeróbica. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a bioequivalência de duas marcas comerciais de comprimidos contendo 500 mg de tinidazol em voluntários sadios. O ensaio de bioequivalência entre o produto teste (Amplium® - FARMASA) e o produto referência (Pletil® - Pharmacia do Brasil Ltda) foi do tipo randomizado, cruzado e aberto. O medicamento foi administrado em dose única de 500 mg de tinidazol a 24 voluntários sadios. Amostras de sangue foram coletadas até 72 horas após a administração e analisadas através de método de cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência validado com detecção UV. As curvas médias de decaimento plasmatico obtidas para o produto teste (Amplium® - FARMASA) e para o produto referência (Pletil® - Pharmacia do Brasil Ltda) foram semelhantes, da mesma forma que os parâmetros farmacocinéticos Cmax (referência: 11,34 µg/mL; teste: 11,11 µg/mL), t<SUB.max (referência: 1,67 h; teste: 1,71 h), AUC0-t (referência: 201,92 µgxh/mL; teste: 198,15 µgxh/mL), AUC0-&#8734; (referência: 208,25 µg/mL; teste: 203,80 µgxh/mL) e t(½)el (referência = 14,05 h; teste = 13,91 h). A análise multivariada realizada através da análise de variância (ANOVA), para avaliação dos efeitos produto, grupo e período, revelou a ausência destes efeitos no estudo, indicando que o delineamento do estudo foi apropriado. Os valores do intervalo de confiança 90% para a razão de Cmax (93.9 % - 102.6 %), AUC0-t (94.9 % - 101.1 %) e AUC0-&#8734; (94.6 % -100.8 %) encontram-se entre 80 - 125 %, intervalo proposto pelo FDA e ANVISA. A comparação estatística dos parâmetros AUCo-t , AUC0-&#8734; e Cmax indicam claramente não haver diferença significativa entre os dois produtos contendo 500 mg de tinidazol. Baseado nos resultados farmacocinéticos e estatísticos deste, pode-se concluir que os dois produtos são bioequivalentes e podem ser considerados intercambiáveis na terapêutica. / Tinidazole, 1-[2-(ethylsulphonyl)ethyl]-2-methyl-5-nitroimidazole, is a member of the 5-nitroimidazole class of antimicrobial agents with amoebicidal, giardicidal, trichomonicidal and anaerobic activity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bioequivalence of two brands of tinidazole 500mg tablets in healthy human volunteers. The procedure of bioequivalence between the test product (Amplium® - FARMASA) and reference product (Pletil® - Pharmacia do Brasil Ltda) was a randomized, crossover and open study. The medication was administered in a single dose of 500 mg of tinidazole to 24 healthy volunteers. Blood samples were collected until 72 hours after administration and analised using a validated high-performance liquid chromatographic method with UV detection. The average plasmatic decay curves obtained for the test product (Amplium® - FARMASA) and reference product (Pletil® - Pharmacia do Brasil Ltda) were similar, in the same way as were the pharmacokinetic parameters Cmax (reference: 11.34 µg/mL; test: 11.11 µg/mL), tmax (reference: 1.67 h; test: 1.71 h), AUC0-t (reference: 201.92 µgxh/mL; test: 198.15 µgxh/mL), AUC0-&#8734; (reference: 208.25 µg/mL; test: 203.80 µgxh/mL) and t(½)el (reference = 14.05 hours, test = 13.91 hours). The multivariate analysis accomplished through analysis of variance (ANOVA), for assessment of product, group and period effects, revealed the absence of any of these effects in the present study, indicating that the crossover design was properly performed. j The 90% confidence intervals for the ratio of Cmax (93.9 % - 102.6 %), AUC0-t (94.9 % - 101.1 %) and AUC0-&#8734; (94.6 % - 100.8 %) values for the test and reference products are within the 80 - 125 % interval proposed by FDA and ANVISA. Statistical comparison of AUC0-t , AUC0-&#8734; and Cmax clearly indicated no significant difference between the two brands of tinidazole 500 mg tablets. Based on the pharmacokinetic and statistical results of this study, we can conclude that the two products are bioequivalent, and can be considered interchangeable in medical practice.

Orientador: Mary Rosa Rodrigues de Marchi / Coorientador: Marisa Veiga Capela / Banca: Eduardo Bessa Azevedo / Banca: Sandro José de Andrade / Resumo: A análise da literatura aponta para um crescente número de trabalhos em matrizes ambientais que buscam identificar e quantificar diversas substâncias poluentes. O estudo destas substâncias resulta em grandes conjuntos de dados, que necessitam ser devidamente analisados para a interpretação mais confiável possível. Por outro lado, os métodos analiticos utilizados nestas determinações envolvem diversas etapas e parâmetros que podem influenciar na confiabilidade analítica. Resultados analíticos sem confiabilidade identificada podem levar a tomada de decisões totalmente equivocadas na área ambiental. Neste contexto, é fundamental que os laboratórios disponham de meios e critérios objetivos para demonstrar que os métodos de ensaio que executam conduzem a resultados confiáveis e adequados à qualidade pretendida. Este trabalho teve como objetivo o estudo de procedimentos estatisticos e quimiométricos na determinação dos hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos (HPAs) empregando a cromatografia líquida de alta performance com detecção por fluorescência (HPLC-FLU), enfocando a otimização estatística de procedimentos para validação do método para obtenção e tratamento de sinais analíticos dos HPAs, bem como o estudo do comportamento dos analitos em diferentes matrizes ambientais. Neste sentido foram utilizadas ferramentas quimiométricas, como análise de componentes principais, analise hierárquica de agrupamentos e técnicas de planejamento experimental para analise exploratória dos dados e indicação das similaridades cromatográficas entre os HPAs e do perfil destes em matrizes ambientais. Também foram realizados testes estatísticos inferenciais e descritivos cujas ferramentas foram implementadas em planilhas de cálculo para utilização em procedimentos necessários a parâmetros de validação, como estabilidade de soluções, linearidade, limites de detecção e quantificação, recuperação e efeito matriz / Abstract: The literature review points to a growing number of studies in environmental matrices which identify and quantify various pollutants. The study of these substances results in large data sets that need to be properly considered for the interpretation to be as more reliable as possible. On the other hand, the analytical methods used in these determinations involve several steps and parameters that can influence the analytical reliability. Analytical results that do not identify reliability can lead to completely flawed decision-making in the environmental area. In this context, it is essential laboratories to have adequate and objective criteria to demonstrate that the test methods performed lead to reliable results and appropriate to the desired quality. This work aimed to study the statistical and chemometric procedures for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by liquid chromatography high performance with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLU). It focuses on the optimization of statistical procedures for validating the method for obtaining and processing signals from analytical PAH as well as the study of the behavior of different analytes in environmental matrices. In this sense were used chemometric tools, such as principal component analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis and experimental design techniques for exploratory data analysis, indicating the similarities between PAH and chromatographic profile in environmental matrices. Tests were made descriptively and use of inferential statistical tools which have been implemented in spreadsheets for use in procedures required for validation parameters, such as stability of solutions, linearity, limits of detection and quantification, recovery and matrix effect. For studies on PAHs was determined as the optimal use of 5 replicates, the use of labor standards for a maximum period of 30 days and the development of analytical curves in the matrix / Mestre

Thesis (MTech (Chemistry))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016. / Wines contain a number of phenolic compounds, belonging to non-flavonoid and flavonoid complexes. Phenolic compounds in wine are responsible for wine colour, astringency, and bitterness. Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast is normally used in winemaking but it has been proved to decrease the phenolic content in wines. Current research on the use of non-Saccharomyces yeast in winemaking has produced better quality wines than S. cerevisiae yeast therefore improving the sensory profile of wine. This study evaluated effect of Torulaspora delbrueckii yeast on the phenolic content of experimental wines derived from Chenin blanc grapes. A reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) method was used for the identification and quantitation of the phenolic compounds. The difference test method was used to determine the sensory attributes of wines. The data was subjected to analysis of variance to compare treatment differences between the wines and principal component analysis to establish possible correlation between the data sets. Furthermore, a gas chromatographic-flame ionization detection method (GC-FID) was used for the quantification of volatile compounds in the wines. In this work, wines made with T. delbrueckii strain M2/1 had high concentration of (+)-catechin, caffeic acid, ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid in all studied vintages. Wines made with VIN13 had higher concentrations of flavan-3-ols, compared to wines made with M2/1 and 654. In sensory evaluation, M2/1 wines were prominent in astringency and complexity. Yeast strain M2/1, also attributed to body and complexity of the wine. However, in this study no correlations were observed between the phenolic content and sensory attributes and vice versa. The quality of wine cannot be concluded by chemical or sensory analysis alone, but the data sets are complementary. Although the phenolic concentration of wines made with S. cerevisiae strain (VIN 13) and T. delbrueckii (M2/1) were similar in measured phenolic concentrations, they had different sensory attributes. Wines made during the 2013 vintage indicated the importance of the use of a strain with higher enzyme activity and high fermentation rate. There is minimal to no skin contact in white winemaking. Therefore, the use of a yeast strain with an increased enzyme activity can facilitate the extraction of phenolics from grape, resulting in wine with improved quality.

A diferença na atividade terapêutica, farmacocinética e / ou farmacodinâmica entre os enantiômeros de fármacos quirais impulsionou a necessidade de estudar e desenvolver métodos para determinação exata e precisa da pureza enantiomérica dos produtos farmacêuticos. Inicialmente, os enantiômeros foram separados em escala analítica. As condições analíticas foram adaptadas para a escala semi-preparativa para a obtenção enantiômeros puros. Os enantiômeros do bisoprolol foram separados através de Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Eficiência. Foi adotado o sistema direto de separação, fase normal, utilizando coluna Chiralcel OD (250 x 4,6 mm id). A fase móvel foi composta por hexano: etanol: dietilamina (80:20:0.2, v / v / v), vazão de 1mL/min e detecção em UV a 273 nm. A separação dos enantiômeros (R)-bisoprolol e (S)-bisoprolol foi obtida com sucesso em escala analítica e semi-preparativa. Considerando as características de uma separação quiral, podemos concluir que os resultados são eficazes, por ser uma separação rápida e seletiva. / The difference in therapeutic activity, pharmacokinetics, and / or pharmacodynamics between enantiomers of chiral drugs has raised the need to study and develop methods for accurate and precise determination of enantiomeric purity of pharmaceutical products. Initially, the enantiomers were separation in analytical scale. The analytical conditions were scaled up to semi-preparative level to obtain pure enantiomers. The enantiomers of bisoprolol were separated with high-performance liquid chromatography. Direct separation system was adopted in normal phase mode using Chiralcel OD column (250 x 4.6 mm id). The mobile phase was composed of hexane:ethanol:diethylamine (80:20:0.2, v/v/v), flow rate of 1mL/min and UV detection was made at 273 nm. The separation of enantiomers, (R)-bisoprolol and (S)-bisoprolol was successfully obtained in analytical and semi-preparative scale. Considering the characteristics of a chiral separation, we can conclude that the results are effective, because it is a fast and selective separation.

A análise de impurezas é uma etapa importante no controle de qualidade do insumo farmacêutico e do produto final. Provenientes da síntese do medicamento ou dos excipientes, mesmo em pequenas concentrações, as impurezas podem afetar a eficácia e a segurança. No presente trabalho foram desenvolvidos e validados dois métodos empregando cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE) para a avaliação do besifloxacino e sua impureza de síntese, um com eluição isocrática e outro com eluição gradiente. As análises por CLAE com modo de eluição isocrática foram executadas utilizando coluna Ciano, mantida a 25 °C. A fase móvel foi constituída por 0,5% de trietilamina (pH 3,0) : acetonitrila (88:12 v/v), eluída na vazão de 1,0 mL/min com detecção a 330 nm. O método com eluição gradiente foi conduzido com a mesma coluna e componentes da fase móvel modificando apenas as proporções entre fase orgânica e aquosa durante as análises. Os procedimentos foram validados de acordo com guias aceitos internacionalmente, observando-se resultados dentro dos limites aceitáveis. Os métodos apresentaram-se lineares na faixa de 140 a 260 μg/mL para o besifloxacino e de 0,3 a 2,3 μg/mL para a impureza A. Com volume de injeção de 20 μL, os limites de detecção e quantificação foram, respectivamente, 0,07 e 0,3 μg/mL. A precisão foi alcançada para todas as análises realizadas, obtendo DPR inter-dia igual a 6,47 e 6,36 para a impureza A com eluição isocrática e gradiente, respectivamente. A exatidão foi superior a 99% e a robustez apresentou resultados satisfatórios. No método isocrático obteve-se tempo de análise de 25 min e no gradiente de 15 min. O número de pratos teóricos no modo isocrático foi na ordem de 5000 enquanto no modo gradiente foi na ordem de 45000, ou seja, obteve-se maior eficiência da coluna com alteração da composição da fase móvel durante a eluição. No insumo besifloxacino e no produto farmacêutico utilizados neste trabalho, impurezas relacionadas estavam presentes, mas a impureza A não foi detectada. Os métodos propostos, considerando-se o limite de quantificação, podem ser aplicados na determinação quantitativa da impureza A na análise da matéria prima do besifloxacino, assim como na suspensão oftálmica. / Analysis of impurities is an important step in quality control of pharmaceutical ingredients and final products. From drug synthesis or excipients, even in small concentrations, impurities may affect efficacy and safety. In the present study two chromatographic methods were developed and validated for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the assessment of besifloxacin and its synthesis impurity, one with isocratic and another with gradient elution. Analyses by HPLC in isocratic elution mode were performed using Cyano column maintained at 25 °C. Mobile phase was composed of 0.5% triethylamine (pH 3.0): acetonitrile (88:12 v/v) eluted at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min with detection at 330 nm. The method with gradient elution was carried out with the same column and mobile phase components modifying only proportion between organic and aqueous phase during analysis. The procedures have been validated according to internationally accepted guidelines, obtaining results within acceptable limits. The methods presented a linear response from 140-260 μg/mL for besifloxacin and from 0.3 to 2.3 mg/mL for impurity. With the injection volume of 20 μL, the limit od detection and limit of quantitation were, respectively, 0.07 and 0.3 μg/mL. Precision was achieved for all analyses, obtaining inter-day RSD equal to 6.47 and 6.36 for impurity A with isocratic and gradient elution, respectively. The accuracy was higher than 99% and robustness exhibited satisfactory results. In the isocratic method was obtained analysis time 25 min and 15 min gradient. The number of theoretical plates in the isocratic mode was of the order of 5000 while in the gradient mode was of the order of 45000, that is, gave greater efficiency of the column by changing the mobile phase composition during elution. In raw material of besifloxacin and pharmaceutical product used in this study, related impurities were present but the impurity A was not detected. The proposed methods, considering the limit of quantitation, can be in quantitative determination of impurity A in the analysis of besifloxacin raw material, as well as in ophthalmic suspension.

A vigabatrina (VGB) é um fármaco anticonvulsivante que apresenta apenas a forma farmacêutica sólida disponível para uso. Na área hospitalar, devido à ausência de medicamentos na forma farmacêutica líquida, são preparadas derivações a partir de comprimidos e cápsulas para adequar a administração da dose prescrita. No entanto, a falta de estudos de estabilidade podem comprometer a eficácia e segurança destas derivações. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar a estabilidade química de derivações de comprimidos de vigabatrina em condições de armazenamento sob diferentes temperaturas e variações na embalagem utilizada. A análise das derivações de VGB foi realizada através de cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE). O método descrito na Farmacopeia Britânica (2016) foi covalidado quanto a especificidade, linearidade, precisão e exatidão. Amostras de derivação de VGB foram preparadas em triplicata e acondicionadas em frascos de vidro e de PET âmbar. Após, foram armazenadas sob três diferentes condições de temperatura: temperatura ambiente (15 a 30 °C), sob refrigeração (2 a 8 °C) e em estufa (40 °C). Foram coletadas amostras armazenadas nas diferentes embalagens a cada 7 dias, por um período de 35 dias para as amostras conservadas em temperatura ambiente e refrigerada. O mesmo procedimento foi realizado para as amostras conservadas em estufa, porém por um período de 28 dias Também foi analisado o pH das amostras em cada tempo de coleta. As derivações de VGB foram analisadas por CLAE e apresentaram variação dentro dos limites preconizados pela Farmacopeia Britânica 2016, até 21 dias para frascos de vidro e de PET âmbar para as temperaturas ambiente e refrigerada. As amostras de VGB conservadas em estufa, apresentaram redução acima de 10% após 7 dias de estudo. A menor variação de pH ocorreu em frasco de vidro âmbar armazenado sob refrigeração. O resultado deste estudo serve de referência no preparo de derivações de VGB para uso hospitalar, pois apresentou intervalo de tempo confiável e condições de armazenamento adequadas para sua utilização. Desta forma, os pacientes pediátricos que utilizam doses fracionadas ou pacientes em uso de sondas nasogástricas terão as derivações adequadamente preparadas, reduzindo o risco de erros de diluição e contaminação microbiológica, melhorando a eficácia e segurança terapêutica. / Vigabatrin (VGB) is an anticonvulsant drug that has only solid dosage form available for use. In hospital, due to lack of medicines in liquid dosage form, extemporaneous preparations are prepared from tablets and capsules to adapt the administration of the prescribed dose. However, the lack of stability studies may compromise the efficacy and safety of these preparations. The aim of this study was to analyze the chemical stability of VGB extemporaneous preparation from tablets at storage conditions in different temperatures and variations of packaging used. The analysis of VGB extemporaneous preparations were performed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The method described in British Pharmacopoeia (2016) was co-validated for specificity, linearity, precision and accuracy. VGB extemporaneous preparations were prepared in triplicate and placed in amber glass and PET bottles, which were stored under three different conditions: at room temperature (15 to 30 °C), under refrigeration (2 to 8 °C), and oven (40 °C). Samples of preparations stored at room temperature and refrigeration were collected every 7 days along 35 days. The same was done for solutions kept at 40 °C, but for a period of 28 days. It was also analyzed the preparations pH for each sampling time VGB extemporaneous preparations were analyzed by HPLC and demonstrated variations within the limits of British Pharmacopoeia (2016) up to 21 days in amber glass and PET bottles at room and refrigerated temperatures. VGB content for preparations kept in oven decreased above 10% after 7 days of study. The lowest pH change occurred in amber glass bottle stored under refrigeration. Results of this study can be applied as a reference for VGB extemporaneous preparation in hospital, once it was demonstrated the reliability of storage time interval and proper conditions for the use. Thus, pediatric patients with fractionated doses or patients using nasogastric probe will have adequately prepared extemporaneous preparations, reducing the risk of dilution errors and microbiological contamination.

The dynamic S-palmitoylation regulates many intracellular events, including protein trafficking, anchoring, targeting, and protein-protein interactions. Direct detection of S-palmitoylation by conventional liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) methods is challenging because of the tendency of palmitoyl loss during sample preparation and gas phase fragmentation. Additionally, the high hydrophobicity of the palmitoyl group can prevent proper elution of palmitoyl peptides from the commonly used C18 column. Here, we developed a comprehensive strategy tailored for S-palmitoyl detection using three palmitoyl peptide standards. We found that S-palmitoylation was largely preserved in neutral Tris buffer with tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine as the reducing agent and that various fragmentation methods provided complementary information for palmitoyl localization. Moreover, S-palmitoyl peptides were efficiently analyzed using a C4 column and the derivatization of free cysteine with a hydrophobic tag allowed relative quantification of palmitoyl peptides and their unmodified counterparts. We further discovered potential complications to S-palmitoylation analysis caused by the use of ProteaseMAXTM, an MS-compatible detergent. The hydrophobic degradation products of ProteaseMAXTM reacted with the free cysteine thiols, generating artifacts that mimic S-acylation and hydroxyfarnesylation. Another MS-compatible detergent, RapiGestTM, did not produce such artifacts, and showed the ability to stabilize S-palmitoylation by preventing thioester hydrolysis and dithiothreitol-induced thioester cleavage. Moreover, we found that the palmitoyl peptide GCpalmLGNAK could undergo intermolecular palmitoyl migration from the cysteine to the peptide N-terminus or the lysine side chain during sample preparation, and this could lead to false discovery of N-palmitoylation. RapiGestTM inhibited such migration, and is thus recommended for S-palmitoyl sample preparation. We then applied the established method to analyze the regulator of G-protein signaling 4 (RGS4) which had been reported to undergo S-palmitoylation by radioactive labeling. It had also been reported that the S-palmitoylation state of RGS4 affects its GTPase activity. With LC-MS/MS analysis, we found that the addition of palmitate to the cell culture medium in metabolic labeling experiments could boost the level of S-palmitoylation, leading to false discovery of new S-palmitoylation site(s). We also noted discrepancies between the S-palmitoylation sites identified by radioactive labeling and by LC-MS/MS analysis. Further studies are needed to evaluate the reliability of S-palmitoyl detection by these two methods.

Propolis is an approved food additive containing flavonoids as a major active constituent. Variability has been found in the composition of propolis in distinctive regions and it was noticed that there are limitations in the analysis of propolis. In this study, the identification of ten flavonoids and residual antibiotics in propolis was investigated by using several liquid chromatography techniques, including reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), microemulsion LC (MELC) and ultra-performance LC (UPLC). The ten flavonoids that were selected for this research include rutin, myricetin, quercetin, apigenin, kaempferol, pinocembrin, CAPE, chrysin, galangin and acacetin while chlortetracycline, oxytetracycline and doxycycline were selected to examine the residual antibiotics in propolis. For the analysis of the selected flavonoids, routine RP-HPLC method was found to be the best method, while MELC technique was found more efficient for the analysis of the selected antibiotics. Solid phase extraction with HLB sorbent was utilised in the analysis of antibiotics for clean-up of propolis. In method development studies for flavonoids and antibiotics, one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) approach was followed. The final optimised method for the analysis of flavonoids as well as the method. for the analysis of antibiotics was validated using the ICH guidelines, and various aspects, such as the linearity, selectivity, accuracy, recovery, robustness and stability parameters, were examined. Development of efficient conventional method for the extraction of flavonoids from propolis was studied extensively in the present research work using different extraction techniques such as maceration, hot extraction, ultrasound assisted extraction. Among all extraction experiments, ethanolic extraction using ultrasound extraction method was the best efficient approach. This thesis shows that, in general, the performance of O/W MELC is superior to that of conventional HPLC for the determination of residual antibiotics in propolis. UPLC was not suitable for the analysis of flavonoids and antibiotics. The conventional LC was the only technique to separate the ten flavonoids but MELC was able to separate nine of the flavonoids with faster analysis time. This work also showed that MELC uses cheaper solvents. This considerable saving in both cost and time will potentially improve efficiency within quality control.

A diferença na atividade terapêutica, farmacocinética e / ou farmacodinâmica entre os enantiômeros de fármacos quirais impulsionou a necessidade de estudar e desenvolver métodos para determinação exata e precisa da pureza enantiomérica dos produtos farmacêuticos. Inicialmente, os enantiômeros foram separados em escala analítica. As condições analíticas foram adaptadas para a escala semi-preparativa para a obtenção enantiômeros puros. Os enantiômeros do bisoprolol foram separados através de Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Eficiência. Foi adotado o sistema direto de separação, fase normal, utilizando coluna Chiralcel OD (250 x 4,6 mm id). A fase móvel foi composta por hexano: etanol: dietilamina (80:20:0.2, v / v / v), vazão de 1mL/min e detecção em UV a 273 nm. A separação dos enantiômeros (R)-bisoprolol e (S)-bisoprolol foi obtida com sucesso em escala analítica e semi-preparativa. Considerando as características de uma separação quiral, podemos concluir que os resultados são eficazes, por ser uma separação rápida e seletiva. / The difference in therapeutic activity, pharmacokinetics, and / or pharmacodynamics between enantiomers of chiral drugs has raised the need to study and develop methods for accurate and precise determination of enantiomeric purity of pharmaceutical products. Initially, the enantiomers were separation in analytical scale. The analytical conditions were scaled up to semi-preparative level to obtain pure enantiomers. The enantiomers of bisoprolol were separated with high-performance liquid chromatography. Direct separation system was adopted in normal phase mode using Chiralcel OD column (250 x 4.6 mm id). The mobile phase was composed of hexane:ethanol:diethylamine (80:20:0.2, v/v/v), flow rate of 1mL/min and UV detection was made at 273 nm. The separation of enantiomers, (R)-bisoprolol and (S)-bisoprolol was successfully obtained in analytical and semi-preparative scale. Considering the characteristics of a chiral separation, we can conclude that the results are effective, because it is a fast and selective separation.