Chromatographic resolution, characterisation and quantification of VX enantiomers in hemolysed swine blood samples

The present study was initiated to develop a sensitive and highly selective method for the analysis of the enantiomers of the nerve agent VX (O-ethyl S-[2(diisopropylamino)ethyl] methylphosphonothioate) in blood samples for toxicokinetic and therapeutic research. To achieve this goal, analytical and semi-preparative enantioseparation of VX were carried out with gas and liquid chromatography. The GC chiral stationary phase was HYDRODEX-β-TBDAc (beta cyclodextrin), on which VX was baseline-resolved. On the chiral HPLC phase CHIRALCEL OD-H the enantiomers of VX were isolated with enantiomeric excess >99.99%. They were characterised by specific optical rotation (±25.8 deg ml dm−1 g−1 at 20 °C and 589 nm) and by determination of cholinesterase inhibition rate constants. For the quantitative chiral detection of VX the enantioresolution was realized on the HPLC chiral phase CHIRAL AGP. A specific procedure was developed to isolate VX from swine blood samples thereby stabilising its enantiomers. The limit of detection was 200 fg per enantiomer on column. The absolute recovery of the overall sample preparation procedure was 75%. After an intravenous and percutaneous administration of a supralethal dose of VX in anesthetised swine (+)-VX and (−)-VX could be quantified up to 720 min.