Determination of busulfan in plasma by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector and derivatization with sodium diethyldithiocarbamate

DETERMINATION OF BUSULFAN IN PLASMA BY HIGH PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY WITH DIODE ARRAY DETECTOR AND DERIVATIZATION WITH SODIUM DIETHYLDITHIOCARBAMATE. A high performance liquid chromatographic-diode array detection method for the determination of busulfan in plasma was developed and validated. Sample preparation consisted of protein precipitation followed by derivatization with sodium diethyldithiocarbamate and liquid-liquid extraction with methyl-tert-butyl ether. Chromatograms were monitored at 277 nm. Separation was carried out on a Lichrospher RP 18 column (5 mu m, 250 x 4 mm). The mobile phase consisted of water and acetonitrile (20:80, v/v). The method presented adequate specificity, linearity, precision and accuracy and allowed reliable determination of busulfan in clinical plasma samples, being applied to three patients submitted to bone marrow transplantation.