Selective and simultaneous determination of NSAIDs in equine plasma by HPLC with molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction.

The research article discusses the development of a new method for simultaneously determining the presence of specific nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in horse plasma, which is significant for veterinary anti-doping checks. This is achieved through a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method paired with selective extraction using molecularly imprinted polymers.

Major Findings

• The study developed a novel high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method which is coupled with selective extraction using molecularly imprinted polymers. This unique combination allows for the simultaneous identification of five different nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the plasma of horses.
• The NSAIDs that the method can detect include phenylbutazone, flunixin, oxyphenbutazone, ketoprofen, and naproxen. Molecularly imprinted polymers solid-phase extraction was systematically used for the analytes. The recovery for this process for all the NSAIDs tested was found to be greater than 94%.
• The method showed good precision with intra-day values less than 15.0% and inter-day values less than 20%.
• The minimum amount of the drug in the plasma that the method could detect (method quantification limit) was 0.01 μg/ml.

Significance of the Research

• Given the precision, high recovery rate and low detection limit of the developed method, it can be seen as a useful tool for anti-doping checks in the field of horse racing and other equine sports. Regulating bodies could utilise this method to protect the integrity of the sports and ensure the well-being of the horses.
• This new HPLC technique combined with molecularly imprinted polymer extraction could also be applied in studies related to the pharmacokinetics of these NSAIDs. As such, the findings not only have immediate applications in sports but also hold promise for further research and development in veterinary drug analysis.
• Given the effectiveness of the method in equine plasma samples, further research may look to apply the method to other species or different biological samples. This could expand the scope of the method’s application beyond equine anti-doping checks.