HPLC determination of dexamethasone in human plasma and its application to an in vitro release study from endovascular stents.

A simple, accurate and precise HPLC assay was developed and validated for determination of dexamethasone in human plasma. Triamcinolone acetonide was used as internal standard (I.S.) and plasma samples were extracted using liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate. Chromatography was performed on a C-18 column with acetonitrile-triple distilled water (28:72% v/v, pH adjusted to 2.3 with phosphoric acid) at a flow rate of 1.2 mL/min and detection wavelength 254 nm. The assay was linear at a concentration range of 0.25-6 microg/mL with recoveries >77%. Precision and accuracy were within the acceptable limits. The method was used to determine dexamethasone release from different material coated endoluminal vascular stents in in vitro human plasma experiments. The results were useful in identifying a good coating material for the stents.