Detection of nevirapine in plasma using thin-layer chromatography

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Analytical Chemistry
• Public Health

Background:

• Nevirapine (NVP) is crucial for preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission in resource-poor settings.
• Accurate adherence monitoring is challenging due to misreporting, necessitating alternative detection methods.
• Existing drug quantification techniques can be expensive and time-consuming.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a rapid, inexpensive method for detecting Nevirapine (NVP) in human plasma.
• To provide a practical tool for assessing drug exposure in clinical settings.
• To improve HIV management strategies in resource-limited environments.

Main Methods:

• Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) was employed for NVP detection.
• Solid-phase extraction was used to isolate NVP from spiked plasma samples.
• The TLC method was validated using clinical samples with known NVP concentrations.

Main Results:

• NVP was detectable at concentrations as low as 60 ng/mL.
• A lower limit of detection of 100 ng/mL was established for clear visualization.
• The TLC assay provides results within hours at a significantly lower cost than standard methods.

Conclusions:

• TLC offers a sensitive, rapid, and economical qualitative method for measuring NVP in plasma.
• This technique can serve as a valuable tool for clinicians to monitor adherence in resource-poor regions.
• Improved adherence monitoring can enhance the effectiveness of HIV prevention programs, particularly for pregnant women.