2011 Volume 27 Issue 1 Pages 55-59
A novel method for the determination of propranolol hydrochlorid (PRO) in human urine was developed using capillary electrophoresis coupled with electrochemiluminescence detection (CE-ECL). The parameters that affected the separation and detection were optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the linear range for PRO was from 0.003 to 2 μg/mL (r2 = 0.9993), and the detection limit was 1.3 ng/mL (S/N = 3). The method was successfully applied to the study of the pharmacokinetics of PRO in human urine. The relative standard deviations of ECL intensity and migration time were 2.6 and 2.1%, respectively (1.0 μg/mL PRO, n = 6). The recovery was between 96.71 and 97.30%. The peak excretion rate in urine was observed during the 0.5 – 1 h after oral administration of a 10-mg PRO tablet and the urinary excretion ratio of PRO was 13.6% within 12 h. The method was simple, rapid, economical and sensitive, and may improve the detection of PRO as a doping agent in sports.