Reversed-phase liquid chromatographic method for the analysis of aminoglycoside antibiotics using pre-column derivatization with phenylisocyanate.

A pre-column derivatization liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the analysis of aminoglycoside antibiotics using phenylisocyanate as a derivatization reagent. Derivatives including kanamycin, neomycin and gentamicin were formed by reaction of the analytes with phenylisocyanate in the presence of triethylamine. Phenylisocyanato groups were attached to corresponding amino groups of aminoglycoside and their molecular mass was confirmed by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS). The experimental conditions for derivatization and separation of aminoglycoside derivatives were optimized and validated. A simple liquid chromatographic method for the determination of aminoglycoside antibiotics was demonstrated.