LC determination of a sulphur mustard decontaminant CC-2 in rat serum

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed for the analysis of N,N'-Dichlorobis (2,4,6-trichlorophenyl) urea (CC-2), a potent sulphur mustard decontaminant, in rat serum. The HPLC analysis, applicable to 0.5 ml volumes of serum, involved double extraction of serum samples with diethyl ether at alkaline pH followed by separation on a RP-18 column and the use of UV detector at 230 nm. The method was sensitive with a limit of quantitation of 10 ng ml(-1) in rat serum and the recovery was always >90%. Excellent linear relationships (r>0.99) were obtained between the measured and added concentration ratios of the serum concentrations over a range of 10-200 ng ml(-1). The precision and accuracy were acceptable as indicated by relative standard deviation ranging from 2.47 to 17.49%, bias values ranging from -4.35 to 13.21%. Moreover, CC-2 was found stable in rat serum even after 3 months of storage at -60 degrees C and being subjected to three freeze-thaw cycles. The assay was found to be sensitive, specific, accurate, precise, and reliable for use in pharmacokinetic studies.