Fast pre-column derivatization of aminoglycosides with 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and its application to pharmaceutical analysis

Tobramycin (TBM) is an aminoglycoside antibiotic mostly used for infections caused by gram-positive although it can be indicated for some gram-negative organisms. Due to the absence of chromophore groups in TBM and its basicity, several different analytical approaches have been described in the literature for its quantification using HPLC that address specific aspects of its physical–chemical properties. Some methods are based on derivatization with chromophores and fluorescence molecules. Others apply techniques for detection such as mass spectrometry, electrochemical pulse detector, amperometric pulse detection, refractive index and evaporative light scattering. There are also approaches to the separation that include capillary and micellar electrophoresis. The applicability of different types of detectors in the quantification of TBM, along with its degradation products, are discussed to present advantages and disadvantages as well as the use of ion pairs and different stationary phases.