Sensitive fluorimetric determination of gentamicin sulfate in biological matrices using solid-phase extraction, pre-column derivatization with 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method is described for the determination of gentamicin in bacterial culture medium or plasma with increased sensitivity and improved separation of the C1 component. Gentamicin was extracted from the biological matrix with high efficiency using carboxypropyl (CBA)-bonded silica. Derivatization with 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate (FMOC-Cl) followed by C18 reversed-phase chromatography allowed the fluorimetric detection of gentamicins C1, C1a and C2. A fourth component, considered to be gentamicin C2a, was partially resolved from the C2 peak. Optimal conditions for the extraction and derivatization of gentamicin are described. The detection limit was below 50 micrograms/l, the assay was linear to 5 mg/l and showed good reproducibility. It is concluded that pre-column derivatization with FMOC-Cl substantially improves the analysis of gentamicin compared with present methods based on reaction with o-phthaldialdehyde.