Direct analysis of indomethacin in rat plasma using a column-switching high-performance liquid chromatographic system

We have established a robust, fully automated analytical method for the determination of indomethacin in rat plasma using a column-switching high-performance chromatographic system. The system consists of a precolumn and an analytical column connected in series via a switching valve. When a 50-μl portion of rat plasma containing a therapeutic level of indomethacin was applied directly to the system, the drug was automatically enriched in the precolumn (TSK BSA-ODS) by on-line solid-phase extraction. After elution of the plasma proteins, the analyte was automatically transferred to the analytical column (Zorbax Eclipse ×DBC18) where chromatography was performed using isocratic elution and UV absorption detection at a wavelength of 254 nm. The separation mobile phase consisted of methanol–0.1% phosphoric acid (70:30, v/v) at a flow-rate of 1 ml/min. The calibration line for indomethacin showed good linearity in the range 50–10 000 ng/ml (r>0.999) with the detection quantification of 50 ng/ml (RSD=2.6%). Accuracy ranged from −0.62 to 3.22%, and the within- and between-day precision of the assay was better than 6% across the calibration range. The analytical sensitivity and accuracy of this assay is suitable for characterization of the pharmacokinetics of topical administration of imdomethacin to rats. The method has been successfully used to provide pharmacokinetic data in a large number of diverse pharmaceutical studies.