Enantiomeric bioanalysis of simendan and levosimendan by chiral high-performance liquid chromatography

rac-Simendan, (+/-)-(R,S)-[[4-(1,4,5,6-tetrahydro-4-methyl-6-oxo-3-pyridazinyl)-phenyl ] hydrazono]propanedinitrile, and the levorotatory enantiomer levosimendan, are drug candidates intended for the treatment of congestive heart failure. An enantiospecific high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method suitable for determination of the ratio of the enantiomer concentrations in blood plasma samples was developed. Direct resolution of the enantiomers was achieved by using a chiral beta-cyclodextrin stationary phase in reversed phase mode. With an eluent containing 24-33% of methanol in a 0.5% (v/v) triethylammonium acetate buffer, pH 6.0, and a flow rate of 1 ml/min, a resolution (1.2-1.6) adequate for the determinations was achieved. By using UV detection, the relative concentration of the enantiomers in plasma was assessed down to 10 ng/ml. For the racemate, the results indicated a slightly enantioselective disposition and plasma protein binding in rat, dog, and man. The pure enantiomer, levosimendan, was found not to isomerize in vivo.