A novel strategy for spectrophotometric simultaneous determination of amitriptyline and nortriptyline based on derivation with a quinonoid compound in serum samples

• A novel strategy for the simultaneous determination of two tricyclic antidepressants is suggested.
• A combination of MSPE and spectrophotometric techniques is applied for this determination.
• The LODs for NT and AT were obtained to be 0.12 and 0.62 ng mL− 1, respectively.
• This method is simple, rapid and reliable for simultaneous determination of AT and NT.

A novel and efficient strategy for the simultaneous determination of two tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) drugs [amitriptyline (AT), and its main metabolite (nortriptyline; NT)] via a combination of magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE), and spectrophotometric techniques in serum is suggested. For this purpose, the imidazolium ionic liquid (Imz)-modified Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoparticles (Fe3O4@SiO2-Imz) was employed as an adsorbent for the MSPE. Preconcentration (loading–desorption) studies were performed under optimized conditions including pH, adsorbent amount, contact time, eluent volume, and desorption time. Afterward, determination of each drug was carried out by specific strategy. Acetaldehyde (AC), and 2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone (chloranil; CL) were used as chemical reagents for reaction with NT, while AT did not react with these reagents. This method is based on the condensation reaction between secondary amine group of NT and AC to afford an enamine, and subsequently reaction with CL to produce a chlorinated quinone-substituted enamine. The final product exhibited maximum absorption at 556 nm, while the AT was determined at 240 nm. The limits of detections (LODs) for NT and AT in serum sample were obtained as 0.19 and 0.90 ng mL− 1, respectively. The limits of quantifications (LOQs) were obtained to be 0.63 and 2.93 ng mL− 1 for NT and AT, respectively. A linear range was obtained to be 1 to 5 ng mL− 1. Results indicated that the suggested method is applicable for simultaneous determination of NT and AT in serum samples.

A novel and efficient strategy for the simultaneous determination of two tricyclic antidepressant drugs (amitriptyline and nortriptyline) via a combination of magnetic solid phase extraction, and spectrophotometric techniques in serum is suggested.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide