Analysis of Metformin in Human Plasma using HPLC

Metformin hydrochloride is the most common oral hypoglycaemic agent. Metformin concentration in blood needs to be measured regularly in diabetic patients to prevent metformin toxicity and to determine the adherence to the medication. Dried blood spots cards (DBS) technique has been used to obtain specimens for analysis of metformin. The method was a simple HPLC procedure for the quantitative determination of metformin in human plasma has been developed. The procedure involves a C-18 stationary phase using a 34% acetonitrile and 66% aqueous phase. The aqueous phase contained 10 mM potassium phosphate (KH2PO4) and 10 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), the pH was 5.3, a UV detector (set at 234 nm). The metformin was successfully extracted from dried blood spot by inexpensive simple one step liquid extraction with 100% methanol for 2 minutes. Only 10 μL of blood was required. The average recovery of metformin from DBS was 95%.

Aya and Monther are pharmacists. They have worked as a Researcher and a Lecturer in different Pharmacy Colleges. Monther is a dean of Pharmacy College in Iraq. Their field is Medicinal Chemistry. Their current research interests are centred on the synthesis of new COX-2 inhibitors.