Liquid Chromatography-mass Spectrometry (liquid + chromatography-mass_spectrometry)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Thio Arsenosugars Identified as Natural Constituents of Mussels by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.

CHEMINFORM, Issue 3 2005
Ernst Schmeisser
Abstract For Abstract see ChemInform Abstract in Full Text. [source]


Randomized controlled trial of dexamphetamine maintenance for the treatment of methamphetamine dependence

ADDICTION, Issue 1 2010
Marie Longo
ABSTRACT Aim To investigate the safety and efficacy of once-daily supervised oral administration of sustained-release dexamphetamine in people dependent on methamphetamine. Design Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Participants Forty-nine methamphetamine-dependent drug users from Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia (DASSA) clinics. Intervention Participants were assigned randomly to receive up to 110 mg/day sustained-release dexamphetamine (n = 23) or placebo (n = 26) for a maximum of 12 weeks, with gradual reduction of the study medication over an additional 4 weeks. Medication was taken daily under pharmacist supervision. Measurements Primary outcome measures included treatment retention, measures of methamphetamine consumption (self-report and hair analysis), degree of methamphetamine dependence and severity of methamphetamine withdrawal. Hair samples were analysed for methamphetamine using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Findings Treatment retention was significantly different between groups, with those who received dexamphetamine remaining in treatment for an average of 86.3 days compared with 48.6 days for those receiving placebo (P = 0.014). There were significant reductions in self-reported methamphetamine use between baseline and follow-up within each group (P < 0.0001), with a trend to a greater reduction among the dexamphetamine group (P = 0.086). Based on hair analysis, there was a significant decrease in methamphetamine concentration for both groups (P < 0.0001). At follow-up, degree of methamphetamine dependence was significantly lower in the dexamphetamine group (P = 0.042). Dexamphetamine maintenance was not associated with serious adverse events. Conclusions The results of this preliminary study have demonstrated that a maintenance pharmacotherapy programme of daily sustained-release amphetamine dispensing under pharmacist supervision is both feasible and safe. The increased retention in the dexamphetamine group, together with the general decreases in methamphetamine use, degree of dependence and withdrawal symptom severity, provide preliminary evidence that this may be an efficacious treatment option for methamphetamine dependence. [source]


A generic approach to the impurity profiling of drugs using standardised and independent capillary zone electrophoresis methods coupled to electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry

ELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 9 2005
Aurélie Vassort
Abstract Three standardised, capillary zone electrophoresis-electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (CZE-ESI-MS) methods were developed for the analysis of six drug candidates and their respective process-related impurities comprising a total of 22 analytes with a range of functional groups and lipophilicities. The selected backround electrolyte conditions were found to be: 60/40 v/v 10 mM ammonium formate pH 3.5/organic, 60/40 v/v 10 mM ammonium acetate pH 7.0/organic and 10 mM piperidine, pH 10.5, where the organic solvent is 50/50 v/v methanol/acetonitrile. The coaxial sheath flow consisted of either 0.1% v/v formic acid in 50/50 v/v methanol/water, or 10 mM ammonium acetate in 50/50 v/v methanol/water, depending on the mixture being analysed. Factor analysis and informational theory were used to quantify the orthogonality of the methods and predict their complementarities. The three selected CZE-ESI-MS methods allowed the identification of 21 out of 22 of all the drug candidates and their process-related impurities and provided orthogonality with four established high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) methods. These methodologies therefore form the basis of a generic approach to impurity profiling of pharmaceutical drug candidates and can be applied with little or no analytical method development, thereby offering significant resource and time savings. [source]


,, ,-Unsaturated sulfophenylcarboxylates as degradation intermediates of linear alkylbenzenesulfonates: Evidence for ,-oxygenation followed by ,-oxidations by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 1 2002
Peter Eichhorn
Abstract Liquid chromatography with an electrospray interface to a mass spectrometer (LC-ES-MS) and LC-ES coupled to a tandem MS (LC-ES-MS/MS) were used to detect and identify intermediates excreted transiently during the aerobic degradation of linear alkylbenzenesulfonates (LAS) in fixed-bed bioreactors (FBBR). The inoculum for the FBBR was the microflora of the River Rhine, Germany. Two major phenomena were observed on the addition of 100 mg/L LAS to the system, sorption and then biodegradation. Disappearance due to sorption was followed in an inhibited FBBR. Biodegradation of LAS started on day 7 and was accompanied by the transient excretion of intermediates, which were later largely degraded. We detected not only the sulfophenylcarboxylates (SPCs) observed previously but also the ,, ,-unsaturated SPCs (SPC-2H), which have not been reported before. Experiments with the (4-sulfophenyl)dodecanes (C12-LAS), which had minor contaminants of C11-LAS, showed C12-, C10-, C8-, C6-, and C4-SPCs when LAS was degraded as well as traces of C9-, C7-, and C5-SPCs. Signals from the SPC-2H species were usually some 10% of those from the corresponding SPCs. Samples from these experiments were also examined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), but no desulfonated intermediates were detected. We interpret the data to mean that the only attack on LAS was by ,-oxygenation; there was no visible initial desulfonation. The products of ,-oxygenation were oxidized to the corresponding SPC and subject to ,-oxidation, as evidenced not only by the pattern of C-2 units in the excreted SPCs but also in the corresponding series of SPC-2H, representing the intermediates in ,-oxidation. [source]


Identification of androstenedione in a river containing paper mill effluent,

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 6 2001
Ronald Jenkins
Abstract Effluent from a paper mill discharging into the Fenholloway River, Taylor County, Florida, USA, contains chemicals that masculinize females of the resident population of eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki), as evidenced in females by elongated anal fins, which is normally a male-specific trait. To identify androgenic components in the effluent, water collected from the Fenholloway River and a control tributary was fractionated using solid-phase extraction and reverse-phase high-performanceliquid chromatography. Two Fenholloway River fractions induced androgen receptor-dependent transcriptional activity in transient transfection cell culture assays. Of these, androstenedione was confirmed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry with multiple reaction monitoring. [source]


Influence of general anaesthesia on the pharmacokinetics of intravenous fentanyl and its primary metabolite in horses

EQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 1 2007
S. M. THOMASY
Summary Reasons for performing study: In order to evaluate its potential as an adjunct to inhalant anaesthesia in horses, the pharmacokinetics of fentanyl must first be determined. Objectives: To describe the pharmacokinetics of fentanyl and its metabolite, N-[1-(2-phenethyl-4-piperidinyl)maloanilinic acid (PMA), after i.v. administration of a single dose to horses that were awake in Treatment 1 and anaesthetised with isoflurane in Treatment 2. Methods: A balanced crossover design was used (n = 4/group). During Treatment 1, horses received a single dose of fentanyl (4 ,g/kg bwt, i.v.) and during Treatment 2, they were anaesthetised with isoflurane and maintained at 1.2 × minimum alveolar anaesthetic concentration. After a 30 min equilibration period, a single dose of fentanyl (4 ,g/kg bwt, i.v.) was administered to each horse. Plasma fentanyl and PMA concentrations were measured at various time points using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results: Anaesthesia with isoflurane significantly decreased mean fentanyl clearance (P < 0.05). The fentanyl elimination half-life, in awake and anaesthetised horses, was 1 h and volume of distribution at steady state was 0.37 and 0.26 l/kg bwt, respectively. Anaesthesia with isoflurane also significantly decreased PMA apparent clearance and volume of distribution. The elimination half-life of PMA was 2 and 1.5 h in awake and anaesthetised horses, respectively. Conclusions and potential relevance: Pharmacokinetics of fentanyl and PMA in horses were substantially altered in horses anaesthetised with isoflurane. These pharmacokinetic parameters provide information necessary for determination of suitable fentanyl loading and infusion doses in awake and isoflurane-anaesthetised horses. [source]


Methotrexate induced differentiation in colon cancer cells is primarily due to purine deprivation

JOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 1 2006
R. Singh
Abstract The folate antagonist methotrexate (MTX) inhibits synthesis of tetrahydrofolate (THF), pyrimidines and purines, and induces differentiation in several cell types. At 1 µM, MTX reduced proliferation and induced differentiation in HT29 colon cancer cells; the latter effect was augmented (P,<,0.001) by thymidine (100 µM) but was reversed (P,<,0.001) by the purines, hypoxanthine (Hx; 100 µM) and adenosine (100 µM). In contrast 5-fluoro-uracil (5-FU), a specific thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibitor, had no effect on differentiation, suggesting that MTX-induced differentiation is not due to a reduction in thymidine but to the inhibition of purine biosynthesis. Inhibition of cyclic AMP (cAMP) by RpcAMP (25 µM) further enhanced (P,<,0.001) MTX induced differentiation, whereas the cAMP activator forskolin (10 µM) reversed (P,<,0.001) MTX induced differentiation. These observations implicate a central role of adenosine and cAMP in MTX induced differentiation. By combining Western blot analysis with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)and HPLC analyses we also reveal both the expression and activity of key enzymes (i.e. methionine synthase (MS), s-adenosylhomocysteinase, cystathionine ,-synthase and ornithine decarboxylase) regulating methyl cycle, transsulfuration and polyamine pathways in HT29 colon cancer cells. At 1 µM, MTX induced differentiation was associated with a marked reduction in the intracellular concentrations of adenosine and, consequently, S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), S-adenosylhomocysteine, polyamines and glutathione (GSH). Importantly, the marked reduction in methionine that accompanied MS inhibition following MTX treatment was non-limiting with respect to SAM synthesis. Collectively, these findings indicate that the effects of MTX on cellular differentiation and single carbon metabolism are primarily due to the intracellular depletion of purines. J. Cell. Biochem. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


SUPERCRITICAL FLUID EXTRACTION AND DETERMINATION OF LUTEIN IN HETEROTROPHICALLY CULTIVATED CHLORELLA PYRENOIDOSA

JOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESS ENGINEERING, Issue 2 2007
ZHENGYUN WU
ABSTRACT Chlorella is a promising alternative resource of lutein, as it can be cultivated heterotrophically and efficiently in a fermentor. In this study, high density of Chlorella pyrenoidosa was achieved by fed-batch cultivations. Lutein in Chlorella was extracted by supercritical fluid and was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The extraction degree of lutein reached 87.0% after 4-h extraction under the optimized conditions of 50C, 25 MPa and modified CO2 with 50% ethanol. High purity of lutein could be obtained by supercritical fluid extraction with appropriate operation parameters. The whole process developed in this study may be useful for the commercial production of lutein. [source]


EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT MACERATION TIMES AND PECTOLYTIC ENZYME ADDITION ON THE ANTHOCYANIN COMPOSITION OF VITIS VINIFERA CV. KALECIK KARASI WINES

JOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION, Issue 3 2009
HASIM KELEBEK
ABSTRACT Kalecik karasi is an important red grape cultivar for winemaking in Turkey. The effect of three different maceration times (3, 6 and 12 days) and addition of pectolytic enzyme (2 and 4 g/hL) on the anthocyanin and chemical composition of Kalecik karasi wines were studied. High performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry coupled with diode array detection was used for analysis. Fourteen anthocyanin compounds were detected in wines. Major anthocyanins in all wines are malvidin-3-glucoside and its acylated esters. The results showed that increasing maceration time, especially with addition of enzymes, gives significant increases in anthocyanin contents. Moreover, the wines treated with enzymes had higher values in total phenolics, tannins, and color intensity than the control wines. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Anthocyanins are the most important polyphenols in red grapes and red wines with potential health benefits. Therefore, the first analysis of the anthocyanins contents of wine obtained from important turkish cv. Kalecik karasi using liquid-chromatography-mass spectrometry and the influence of different maceration times and addition of pectolytic enzyme on these important phenolic compounds are of interest for scientific literature, the wine industry as well as for the wine consumer. [source]


Death of a 10-Month-Old Boy After Exposure to Ethylmorphine

JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, Issue 2 2010
Arne Helland M.D.
Abstract:, Ethylmorphine, an opiate that is partially metabolized to morphine, is a common ingredient in antitussive preparations. We present a case where a 10-month-old boy was administered ethylmorphine in the evening and found dead in bed the following morning. Postmortem toxicological analyses of heart blood by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed the presence of ethylmorphine and morphine at concentrations of 0.17 ,M (0.054 mg/L) and 0.090 ,M (0.026 mg/L), respectively. CYP2D6 genotyping showed that the deceased had an extensive metabolizer genotype, signifying a "normal" capacity for metabolizing ethylmorphine to morphine. The autopsy report concluded that death was caused by a combination of opiate-induced sedation and weakening of respiratory drive, a respiratory infection, and a sleeping position that could have impeded breathing. This is the first case report where the death of an infant has been linked to ethylmorphine ingestion. [source]


Studies on the metabolism of the ,9-tetrahydrocannabinol precursor ,9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid A (,9-THCA-A) in rat using LC-MS/MS, LC-QTOF MS and GC-MS techniques

JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY (INCORP BIOLOGICAL MASS SPECTROMETRY), Issue 10 2009
Julia Jung
Abstract In Cannabis sativa, ,9-Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid-A (,9-THCA-A) is the non-psychoactive precursor of ,9-tetrahydrocannabinol (,9-THC). In fresh plant material, about 90% of the total ,9-THC is available as ,9-THCA-A. When heated (smoked or baked), ,9-THCA-A is only partially converted to ,9-THC and therefore, ,9-THCA-A can be detected in serum and urine of cannabis consumers. The aim of the presented study was to identify the metabolites of ,9-THCA-A and to examine particularly whether oral intake of ,9-THCA-A leads to in vivo formation of ,9-THC in a rat model. After oral application of pure ,9-THCA-A to rats (15 mg/kg body mass), urine samples were collected and metabolites were isolated and identified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and high resolution LC-MS using time of flight-mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) for accurate mass measurement. For detection of ,9-THC and its metabolites, urine extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The identified metabolites show that ,9-THCA-A undergoes a hydroxylation in position 11 to 11-hydroxy-,9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid-A (11-OH-,9-THCA-A), which is further oxidized via the intermediate aldehyde 11-oxo-,9-THCA-A to 11-nor-9-carboxy-,9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid-A (,9-THCA-A-COOH). Glucuronides of the parent compound and both main metabolites were identified in the rat urine as well. Furthermore, ,9-THCA-A undergoes hydroxylation in position 8 to 8-alpha- and 8-beta-hydroxy-,9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid-A, respectively, (8,-Hydroxy-,9-THCA-A and 8,-Hydroxy-,9-THCA-A, respectively) followed by dehydration. Both monohydroxylated metabolites were further oxidized to their bishydroxylated forms. Several glucuronidation conjugates of these metabolites were identified. In vivo conversion of ,9-THCA-A to ,9-THC was not observed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Investigating the presence of pesticide transformation products in water by using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry with different mass analyzers,

JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY (INCORP BIOLOGICAL MASS SPECTROMETRY), Issue 2 2008
Félix Hernández
Abstract Many pesticide transformation products (TPs) can reach environmental waters as a consequence of their normally having a higher polarity than their parent pesticides. This makes the development of analytical methodology for reliable identification and subsequent quantification at the sub-microgram per liter levels necessary, as required under current legislation. In this paper we report the photodegradation of several pesticides frequently detected in environmental waters from the Spanish Mediterranean region using the high-resolution and exact-mass capabilities of hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (QTOF MS) hyphenated to liquid chromatography (LC). Once the main photodegradation/hydrolysis products formed in aqueous media were identified, analytical methodology for their simultaneous quantification and reliable identification in real water samples was developed using on-line solid-phase extraction (SPE)-LC-tandem MS with a triple-quadrupole (QqQ) analyzer. The methodology was validated in both ground and surface water samples spiked at the limit of quantification (LOQ) and 10 × LOQ levels, i.e. 50 and 500 ng/l, obtaining satisfactory recoveries and precision for all compounds. Subsequent analysis of ground and surface water samples resulted in the detection of a number of TPs higher than parent pesticides. Additionally, several soil-interstitial water samples collected from the unsaturated zone were analyzed to explore the degradation/transformation of some pesticides in the field using experimental plots equipped with lisimeters. Several TPs were found in these samples, with most of them having also been detected in ground and surface water from the same area. This paper illustrates the extraordinary potential of LC-MS(/MS) with QTOF and QqQ analyzers for qualitative/structural and quantitative analysis, respectively, offering analytical chemists one of the most powerful tools available at present to investigate the presence of pesticide TPs in water. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Enrichment of peptides from plasma for peptidome analysis using multiwalled carbon nanotubes

JOURNAL OF SEPARATION SCIENCE, JSS, Issue 6 2007
Xin Li
Abstract Human plasma contains a complex matrix of proteolytically derived peptides (plasma peptidome) that may provide a correlate of biological events occurring in the entire organism. Analyzing these peptides from a small amount of serum/plasma is difficult due to the complexity of the sample and the low levels of these peptides. Here, we describe a novel peptidome analysis approach using multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as an alternative adsorbent to capture endogenous peptides from human plasma. Harvested peptides were analyzed by using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry as a means of detecting and assessing the adsorbed molecules. The improved sensitivity and resolution obtained by using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry allowed detection of 2521 peptide features (m/z 300,1800 range) in about 50 ,L of plasma. 374 unique peptides were identified with high confidence by two-dimensional liquid chromatography system coupled to a nano-spray ionization linear ion trap-mass spectrometer. High recovery of BSA digest peptides enriched with MWCNTs, in both standard buffer and high abundance protein solution, was observed. Comparative studies showed that MWCNTs were superior to C18 and C8 for the capture of the smaller peptides. This approach could hold promise of routine plasma peptidome analysis. [source]


Metabolism of isometamidium in hepatocytes isolated from control and inducer-treated rats

JOURNAL OF VETERINARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 6 2006
I. BOIBESSOT
Little is known about the metabolism and mechanism of action of the trypanocide, isometamidium (ISM), the major drug used for prophylaxis of trypanosomiasis. We have investigated its metabolism and distribution in isolated rat hepatocytes using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Two putative metabolites were formed, which were proposed to be a mono-acetyl derivative and an oxidized metabolite (SII). This is the first demonstration of the hepatic metabolism of ISM, as previous in vivo studies were hampered by dose-limiting toxicity and insensitive analytical methods. The intrinsic fluorescence of the drug enabled its intracellular uptake to be followed by CLSM. It is taken up rapidly into the nucleolus, nuclear membrane and endoplasmic reticulum within 5 min, and retained in the nucleus for at least 24 h. Persistent binding of ISM to cellular macromolecules may contribute to its prophylactic effect in vivo. Pretreatment of rats with 3-methylcholanthrene, phenobarbitone (PB) or the widely used pyrethroid pesticide, deltamethrin, resulted in an increase in metabolism of ISM to the proposed SII after 1 h incubation with hepatocytes. 3-methylcholanthrene was the most potent inducer, causing a maximal 19.5-fold induction of SII formation after exposure of hepatocytes to ISM for 1 h compared with formation by control hepatocytes. In comparison, at the 1 h timepoint deltamethrin pre-treatment caused a 10.2-fold induction, and PB only 8.2 fold. [source]


The determination of N- nitrosamines in food

QUALITY ASSURANCE & SAFETY OF CROPS & FOOD, Issue 1 2010
Colin Crews
Abstract Introduction N -nitrosamines are formed in food as a result of natural chemical interactions, but mainly through food processing activity. Most are potent carcinogens and their determination is therefore of considerable importance. They exist in various chemical forms and have been measured by colorimetric and spectroscopic methods following gas or liquid chromatography or as a total N -nitroso group by measurement of chemically released nitric oxide. Objectives To provide an overview of the available methods for the analysis of N -nitrosamines in food that includes recently developments. Methods The literature was reviewed from the discovery of the N -nitrosamine problem and the introduction on the N -nitroso-specific detector. Results The evaluation shows that analytical detection methods for volatile N -nitrosamines in food have changed little since the introduction on the N -nitroso-specific detector and that research into the occurrence and formation of both non-volatile N -nitrosamines and the apparent total N -nitroso content (ATNC) have declined. Methods for measuring the apparent total N -nitroso content have not been improved significantly in recent years. Conclusion Modern sample extraction techniques and mass spectrometric methods for the volatile N -nitrosamines have been applied more extensively to water analysis and offer a good opportunity to improve the determination of these carcinogens in food and make the analysis more widely available. Developments in liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry should provide an avenue for renewed interest in non-volatile N -nitrosamines, and could help with the identification of novel compounds whose presence is suggested by the high apparent total N -nitroso content of some foods. [source]


Reactive azo dye reduction by Shewanella strain J18 143

BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOENGINEERING, Issue 4 2006
Carolyn I. Pearce
Abstract A bacterial isolate designated strain J18 143, originally isolated from soil contaminated with textile wastewater, was shown to reduce intensely coloured solutions of the reactive azo dye, Remazol Black B to colourless solutions. Phylogenetic placement based on 16S rRNA gene sequence homology identified the bacterium as a Shewanella species. Based on results from analyses of the end products of dye decoloration of Remazol Black B and the simpler molecule, Acid Orange 7, using capillary electrophoresis, UV,visible spectrophotometry and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, we suggest that colour removal by this organism was a result of microbially mediated reduction of the chromophore in the dye molecules. Anaerobic dye reduction by Shewanella strain J18 143 was 30 times more efficient than the reduction carried out by aerated cultures. Whole cells used a range of electron donors for dye reduction, including acetate, formate, lactate, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), with formate being the optimal electron donor. The impact of a range of process variables was assessed (including nitrate, pH, temperature, substrate concentration, presence of an extracellular mediator) and results suggest that whole cells of Shewanella J18 143 offer several advantages over other biocatalysts with the potential to treat azo dyes. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source]


Paclitaxel and cisplatin as intravesical agents against non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer

BJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 11 2008
Boris A. Hadaschik
OBJECTIVES To investigate the effects of cisplatin and paclitaxel against human bladder cancer cells in vitro, and to obtain both pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data after intravesical administration in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS Six bladder cancer cell lines (J82, KU7, RT4, SW780, T24, UMUC3) were treated with various combined doses of both drugs and cell proliferation was evaluated 3 days later. In vivo, solutions of cisplatin and micellar paclitaxel were instilled transurethrally in female mice and pharmacokinetic data were acquired using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and atomic absorption methods. To obtain efficacy data, mice with orthotopic KU7-luc tumours were administered cisplatin and/or micellar paclitaxel intravesically, and the tumour burden quantified using bioluminescence imaging. RESULTS In vitro, both cisplatin and paclitaxel potently decreased the proliferation of all cell lines tested, and in combination had an additive but not a synergistic effect. After intravesical instillation, mouse serum concentrations of cisplatin and paclitaxel were in the low microgram/millilitre range and bladder tissue concentrations achieved were 82 and 241 µg/g, respectively. Similar drug levels were reached using combined therapy. In vivo, all chemotherapeutic agents significantly inhibited bladder tumour growth, with the best results for combined therapy and micellar paclitaxel alone. However, there was toxicity in the combined treatment arm. CONCLUSIONS Both cisplatin and paclitaxel were absorbed at effective amounts into bladder tissues. As intravesical agents, paclitaxel had slightly stronger anticancer potency than cisplatin. Due to increased adverse events, caution should be exercised when combining both cisplatin and paclitaxel intravesically. [source]