Pharmacokinetics of the Individual Major Components of Polymyxin B and Colistin in Rats

The pharmacokinetics of polymyxin B 1, polymyxin B 2, colistin A, and colistin B were investigated in a rat model following intravenous administration (0.8 mg/kg) of each individual component. Plasma and urine concentrations were determined by LC-MS/MS, and plasma protein binding was measured by ultracentrifugation. Total and unbound pharmacokinetic parameters for each component were calculated using noncompartmental analysis. All of the polymyxin components had a similar clearance, volume of distribution, elimination half-life, and urinary recovery. The area under the concentration–time curve for polymyxins B 1 and B 2 was greater than those of colistins A and B. Colistin A (56.6 ± 9.25%) and colistin B (41.7 ± 12.4%) displayed lower plasma protein binding in rat plasma compared to polymyxin B 1 (82.3 ± 4.30%) and polymyxin B 2 (68.4 ± 3.50%). These differences in plasma protein binding potentially equate to significant differences in unbound pharmacokinetics, highlighting the need for more stringent standardization of the composition of commercial products currently available for clinical use.