A simpler and faster capillary electrophoresis method for determination of mianserin enantiomers in human serum.

A stereospecific sample stacking capillary zone electrophoresis method is described for determination of S(+) and R(-) enantiomers of mianserin (1,2,3,4,10,14b-hexahydro-2-methyldibenzo[c,f]pyrazino[1,2-a]azepine) in human serum. The enantiomers of mianserin were extracted from human serum in one step extraction procedure using the mixture n-heptane:ethyl acetate (80:20, v/v). After separation of layers and freezing at -28 degrees C the organic layer was decanted and evaporated under a stream of nitrogen. The sample was dissolved in the mixture: water:methanol:acetonitrile (2:1:1, v/v/v). Separation was conducted in an aqueous solution of phosphoric acid (0.075M) adjusted to pH = 3.0 with concentrated triethylamine, and 2 mmole/L of 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin. The analytes were measured by ultraviolet detection at 214 nm after separation on a Fused-Silica eCAP capillary. Clozapine was used as an internal standard. Recovery of the enantiomers from serum ranged from 82.94 to 90.37%. Total time of analysis was 49 minutes, whereas the other methods needed up to 100 minutes.