Selective extraction of zolpidem from plasma using molecularly imprinted polymer followed by high performance liquid chromatography

This study aimed to develop a method for determination of zolpidem as a widely used hypotonic in human plasma using a common analysis method/detector. A novel molecularly imprinted polymer-solid phase extraction (MIP-SPE) method was used for extraction of zolpidem and concentrating it in the sample to be analyzed. A number of MIPs were prepared and MIP with highest extraction efficiency was characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and zeta potential analyzer. Extraction time and pH of zolpidem aqueous solution were optimized and capacity of MIP for adsorbing zolpidem was determined. A HPLC-fluorescence detector method was validated and used for analysis of zolpidem samples extracted from plasma. The method was linear in the range of 10-100 ng/ml (R-2 = 0.9992) with RSD values in the range of 0.45-2.86% and LOD and LOQ of 0.34 and 1.04 ng/ml, respectively. Extraction and analysis of zolpidem from spiked human plasma samples determined zolpidem with more than 90% recovery. Finally, developed method was used to construct the plasma concentration profile of zolpidem for a volunteer person after taking single oral dose of zolpidem.

Automated summary

This study developed a method for determination of zolpidem in human plasma using molecularly imprinted polymer-solid phase extraction. The validated HPLC-fluorescence detector method showed a linear range and good recovery rate for zolpidem analysis. The developed method successfully constructed the plasma concentration profile of zolpidem after oral administration in a volunteer.