Simultaneous determination of sunitinib and its two metabolites in plasma of Chinese patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

A simple and rapid liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of sunitinib and its two metabolites in plasma of Chinese patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). After simple one‐step protein precipitation with methanol–acetonitrile (1:1, v/v), all three analytes were separated on an Agilent Zorbax SB‐C₁₈ column using a gradient mobile phase consisting of water (0.1% formic acid)–acetonitrile (0.1% formic acid) at a flow rate of 0.50 mL/min. The detection was performed in multiple reaction monitoring mode, using the transitions of m/z 399.0 → 326.2, m/z 371.0 → 283.1, m/z 343.0 → 283.1 and m/z 386.3 → 122.2 for sunitinib, M1, M2 and buspirone, respectively. The method was linear over the range of 0.10–100 ng/mL for all three analytes using only 50 μL of plasma and the lower limit of quantifications for the three analytes were all 0.10 ng/mL. The intra‐day and inter‐day precisions were all less than 15% and the accuracies were within the range of ±15%; recoveries were between 85.0 and 115%. The validated method was successfully applied to an explorative pharmacokinetic study of sunitinib in Chinese patients with mRCC following multi‐dose oral administration. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simultaneous determination of etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol in human plasma by UPLC‐MS/MS and its pharmacokinetic study

A selective, sensitive and rapid ultra‐performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of etonogestrel (ENG) and ethinyl estradiol (EE) in human plasma. The analytes and their deuterated internal standards, ENG‐d7 and EE‐d4, were extracted from plasma samples by solid‐phase extraction on HyperSep™ Retain PEP cartridges. The chromatographic analysis was performed on an Acquity UPLC HSS Cyano column, 100 Å (50 × 2.1 mm, 1.8 μm), column using gradient mobile phase, acetonitrile and 2.0 mm ammonium trifluoroacetate at 0–1.7 min (65:35, v/v) and 1.8–2.7 min (95:5, v/v) with 0.250 mL/min flow rate. Analytes and IS protonated precursor → product ion transitions (ENG, m/z 325.2 → 257.2; EE, m/z 530.2 → 171.2; ENG‐d7, m/z 332.2 → 263.2; EE‐d4, m/z 534.2 → 171.2) were monitored on a Triple Quadrupole Mass spectrometer (TQMS), operating in multiple reaction monitoring and positive ionization mode. The calibration curves were established at 10.00–2500 pg/mL for ENG and 1.500–150.0 pg/mL for EE with a correlation coefficient (r²) ≥0.9996 for both. The validated method was successfully applied to support a bioequivalence study of 0.15 mg ENG and EE 0.03 mg tablet formulation, administered in 24 healthy Indian females. Method reliability was assessed by reanalysis of 94 incurred study samples.     

Simultaneous quantification of metformin and glipizide in human plasma by high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and its application to a pharmacokinetic study

A selective, sensitive and rapid high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC‐MS/MS) method was developed and validated to determine metformin and glipizide simultaneously in human plasma using phenacetin as internal standard (IS). After one‐step protein precipitation of 200 μL plasma with methanol, metformin, glipizide and IS were separated on a Kromasil Phenyl column (4.6 × 150 mm, 5 µm) at 40°C with an isocratic mobile phase consisting of methanol–10 mmol/L ammonium acetate (75:25, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.35 mL/min. Electrospray ionization source was applied and operated in the positive mode. Multiple reaction monitoring using the precursor → product ion combinations of m/z 130 → m/z 71, m/z 446 → m/z 321 and m/z 180 → m/z 110 were used to quantify metformin, glipizide and IS, respectively. The linear calibration curves were obtained over the concentration ranges 4.10–656 ng/mL for metformin and 2.55–408 ng/mL for glipizide. The relative standard deviation of intra‐day and inter‐day precision was below 10% and the relative error of accuracy was between ?7.0 and 4.6%. The presented HPLC‐MS/MS method was proved to be suitable for the pharmacokinetic study of metformin hydrochloride and glipizide tablets in healthy volunteers after oral administration. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development and validation of a sensitive LC–MS/MS assay for quantification of bruceine D in rat plasma

A sensitive LC–MS/MS method for the determination of bruceine D in rat plasma was developed. The analyte and IS were separated on a Luna C₁₈ column (2.1 × 50 mm, 1.7 μm) using a mobile phase of acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid in water (40:60, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.25 mL/min. The selected reaction monitoring mode was chosen to monitor the precursor‐to‐product ion transitions of m/z 409.2 → 373.2 for bruceine D and m/z 469.2 → 229.3 for IS using a negative ESI mode. The method was validated over a concentration range of 0.5–2000 ng/mL for bruceine D. Total chromatography time for each run was 3.5 min. The method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of bruceine D in rats. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development and application of a LC–MS/MS assay for the simultaneous quantification of edaravone and taurine in beagle plasma

An LC–MS/MS method was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantification of edaravone and taurine in beagle plasma. The plasma sample was deproteinized using acetonitrile containing formic acid. Chromatographic separations were achieved on an Agilent Zorbax SB‐Aq (100 × 2.1 mm, 3.5 μm) column, with a gradient of water (containing 0.03% formic acid) and methanol as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. The analyte detection was carried out in multiple reaction monitoring mode and the optimized precursor‐to‐product transitions of m/z [M+H]⁺ 175.1 → 133.0 (edaravone), m/z [M+H]⁺ 189.1 → 147.0 (3‐methyl‐1‐p‐tolyl‐5‐pyrazolone, internal standard, IS), m/z [M–H]^? 124.1→80.0 (taurine), and m/z [M–H]^? 172.0 → 80.0 (sulfanilic acid, IS) were employed to quantify edaravone, taurine, and their corresponding ISs, respectively. The LOD and the lower LOQ were 0.01 and 0.05 μg/mL for edaravone and 0.66 and 2 μg/mL for taurine, respectively. The calibration curves of these two analytes demonstrated good linearity (r ＞ 0.99). All the validation data including the specificity, precision, recovery, and stability conformed to the acceptable requirements. This validated method has successfully been applied in the pharmacokinetic study of edaravone and taurine mixture in beagle dogs.     

Simultaneous determination of evodiamine and its four metabolites in rat plasma by LC–MS/MS and its application to a pharmacokinetic study

A simple and sensitive liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method was validated for simultaneous quantification of evodiamine and its metabolites 10‐hydroxyevodiamine (M1), 18‐hydroxyevodiamine (M2), 10‐hydroxyevodiamine‐glucuronide (M3) and 18‐hydroxy‐ evodiamine‐glucuronide (M4) in rat plasma for the first time. The analytes were extracted with acetonitrile and separated on a C₁₈ column within 3 min. The detection was achieved in positive selected reaction monitoring mode with precursor‐to‐product transitions at m/z 304.1 → 161.1 for evodiamine, m/z 320.1 → 134.1 for M1, m/z 320.1 → 150.1 for M2, m/z 496.2 → 134.1 for M3, m/z 496.2 → 171.1 for M4 and m/z 349.2 → 305.1 for camptothecin (internal standard). The linearity was evident over the tested concentration ranges with correlation coefficients >0.9991. The lower limits of quantification for evodiamine, M1, M2, M3 and M4 were 0.1, 0.1, 0.1, 0.25 and 0.25 ng mL⁻¹, respectively. Extraction recoveries and matrix effects of the analytes were within the ranges of 84.51–97.21 and 90.13–103.30%, respectively. The accuracy (relative error) ranged from −8.14 to 7.23% while the intra‐ and inter‐day precisions (relative standard deviation) were < 9.31%. The validated assay was successfully applied for the pharmacokinetic study of evodiamine, M1, M2, M3 and M4 in rat. The current study will be helpful in understanding the in vivo disposition of evodiamine.     

Validated LC–MS/MS method for the quantification of sciadopitysin in rat plasma and its application to pharmacokinetic and bioavailability studies in vivo

A sensitive and rapid LC–MS/MS method was developed and validated for quantitation of sciadopitysin in rat plasma using amentoflavone as an internal standard. Sample processing was accomplished after deproteinization with 150 μL aliquot of acetonitrile. Chromatographic separation was achieved using an Agela C₁₈ column with an isocratic mobile phase comprising 2 mm ammonium acetate–acetonitrile (35:65, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min. Detection was performed by selection reaction monitoring on a triple‐quadrupole mass spectrometer following the transitions m/z 579 → 547 and 537 → 375 for sciadopitysin and internal standard, respectively, in the negative ionization mode. The calibration curve was linear from 2.90 to 1160 ng/mL for sciadopitysin. Intra‐ and inter‐day precisions were in the ranges 4.1–11.4 and 5.7–9.1% for sciadopitysin. Sciadopitysin was stable under different stability conditions. The validated assay was applied to pharmacokinetic and bioavailability studies in rats.     

Determination of sunitinib and its active metabolite,N‐desethyl sunitinib in mouse plasma and tissues by UPLC‐MS/MS: assay development and application to pharmacokinetic and tissue distribution studies

A simple, sensitive and specific method using ultraperformance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC‐MS/MS) was developed to determine sunitinib and N‐desethyl sunitinib in mouse plasma and tissues. The analytes were separated by an isocratic mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and buffer solution (water with 0.1% formic acid and 5 m m ammonium acetate; 40: 60, v/v) running at a flow rate of 0.35 mL/min for 2 min. Quantification was performed using a mass spectrometer by multiple reaction monitoring in positive electrospray ionization mode. The transition was monitored at m/z 399 → 283, m/z 371 → 283 and m/z 327 → 270 for sunitinib, N‐desethyl sunitinib and internal standard, respectively. Calibration curves were linear over concentration ranges of 2–500, 0.5–50 and 1–250 ng/mL for plasma, heart and other biosamples. The method was successfully applied to animal experiments. The pharmacokinetic study indicated that sunitinib was eliminated quickly in mice with a half‐life of 1.2 h; tissue distribution data showed more sunitinib and its metabolite in liver, spleen and lung, which provided reference for further study. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simultaneous determination of evobrutinib and its metabolite evobrutinib‐diol in dog plasma by liquid chromatography combined with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography hyphenated with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric method (LC–ESI–MS/MS) was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of evobrutinib and evobrutinib‐diol in dog plasma. The plasma sample was processed using acetonitrile and chromatographic separation was carried out on a Waters Acquity BEH C₁₈ column (50 × 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm). The mobile phase was composed of 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile, with an optimized gradient elution at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min. Detection was accomplished in selective reaction monitoring mode via electrospray ionization interface operated in positive ion mode. The precursor‐to‐product transitions for quantification were m/z 430.2 → 98.1 for evobrutinib, m/z 464.2 → 98.1 for evobrutinib‐diol and m/z 441.2 → 138.1 for ibrutinib (internal standard). The developed assay was linear over the tested concentration ranges with correlation coefficient >0.995. The LLOQ was 0.1 ng/mL for both analytes. The inter‐ and intra‐day precisions were <9.65% and the accuracy ranged from ?3.94 to 6.37%. The extraction recovery was >85.41% and no significant matrix effect was observed. The developed assay was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of evobrutinib and evobrutinib‐diol in dogs after oral administration of evobrutinib at a single dose of 5 mg/kg.     

Direct measurement of active thiol metabolite levels of clopidogrel in human plasma using tris(2‐carboxyethyl)phosphine as a reducing agent by LC–MS/MS

A simple, robust, and rapid LC–MS/MS method has been developed and validated for the simultaneous quantitation of clopidogrel and its active metabolite (AM) in human plasma. Tris(2‐carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP) was used as a reducing agent to detect the AM as a disulfide‐bonded complex with plasma proteins. Mixtures of TCEP and human plasma were deproteinized with acetonitrile containing 10 ng/mL of clopidogrel‐d₄ as an internal standard (IS). The mixtures were separated on a C₁₈ RP column with an isocratic mobile phase consisting of 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile and water (90:10, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. Detection and quantification were performed using ESI‐MS. The detector was operated in selected reaction‐monitoring mode at m/z 322.0→211.9 for clopidogrel, m/z 356.1→155.2 for the AM, and m/z 326.0→216.0 for the IS. The linear dynamic range for clopidogrel and its AM were 0.05–20 and 0.5–200 ng/mL, respectively, with correlation coefficients (r) greater than 0.9976. Precision, both intra‐ and interday, was less than 8.26% with an accuracy of 87.6–106%. The validated method was successfully applied to simultaneously analyze clinical samples for clopidogrel and its AM.     

Validated LC-MS/MS assay for the quantitative determination of nalbuphine in human plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic study

A solid‐phase extraction–liquid chromatographic–tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of nalbuphine concentrations in human plasma has been developed. Samples (1 mL) were extracted using a Strata™‐X solid phase extraction cartridges. Chromatographic separation of nalbuphine and naloxone (internal standard) was achieved on a Phenomenex Kinetex PFP (2.6 μm, 100 A, 100 × 2.1 mm) column using a mobile phase consisting of 0.1% formic acid, 15 mM ammonium acetate in deionized water and acetonitrile (60:40, v/v). The flow rate was 0.3 mL/min and the total run time was 2 min. Detection of the analytes was achieved using positive ion electrospray ionization via multiple reactions monitoring mode. The mass transitions were m/z 358 → 340 for nalbuphine and m/z 328 → 310 for naloxone. The assay was linear over the concentration range 0.50–500.00 ng/mL, with correlation coefficients ≥0.995. The lower limit of quantitation was set at 0.5 ng/mL plasma based on an average signal‐to‐noise ratio of 44.79. The intra‐ and inter‐day precision was less than 8.07% in terms of relative standard deviation and accuracy ranged from 94.97 to 106.29% at all quality control levels. The method was applied successfully to determine nalbuphine concentrations in human plasma samples obtained from subjects receiving intravenous administration of nalbuphine. The method is rapid, sensitive, selective and directly applicable to human pharmacokinetic studies involving nalbuphine. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development of an LC‐MS/MS method for quantification of kadsurenone in rat plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic study

A sensitive and rapid LC‐MS/MS method was developed and validated for the determination of kadsurenone in rat plasma using lysionotin as the internal standard (IS). The analytes were extracted from rat plasma with acetonitrile and separated on a SB‐C₁₈ column (50 × 2.1 mm, i.d.; 1.8 µm) at 30 °C. Elution was achieved with a mobile phase consisting of methanol–water–formic acid (65:35:0.1, v/v/v) at a flow rate of 0.30 mL/min. Detection and quantification for analytes were performed by mass spectrometry in the multiple reaction monitoring mode with positive electrospray ionization m/z at 357.1 → 178.1 for kadsurenone, and m/z 345.1 → 315.1 for IS. Calibration curves were linear over a concentration range of 4.88–1464 ng/mL with a lower limit of quantification of 4.88 ng/mL. The intra‐ and inter‐day accuracies and precisions were <8.9%. The LC‐MS/MS assay was successfully applied for oral pharmacokinetic evaluation of kadsurenone using the rat as an animal model. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A validated LC–MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of thalidomide and its two metabolites in human plasma: Application to a pharmacokinetic assay

An accurate and sensitive LC–MS/MS method for determining thalidomide, 5‐hydroxy thalidomide and 5′‐hydroxy thalidomide in human plasma was developed and validated using umbelliferone as an internal standard. The analytes were extracted from plasma (100 μL) by liquid–liquid extraction with ethyl acetate and then separated on a BETASIL C₁₈ column (4.6 × 150 mm, 5 μm) with mobile phase composed of methanol–water containing 0.1% formic acid (70:30, v/v) in isocratic mode at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. The detection was performed using an API triple quadrupole mass spectrometer in atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mode. The precursor‐to‐product ion transitions m/z 259.1 → 186.1 for thalidomide, m/z 273.2 → 161.3 for 5‐hydroxy thalidomide, m/z 273.2 → 146.1 for 5′‐hydroxy thalidomide and m/z 163.1 → 107.1 for umbelliferone (internal standard, IS) were used for quantification. The calibration curves were obtained in the concentrations of 10.0–2000.0 ng/mL for thalidomide, 0.2–50.0 ng/mL for 5‐hydroxy thalidomide and 1.0–200.0 ng/mL for 5′‐hydroxy thalidomide. The method was validated with respect to linear, within‐ and between‐batch precision and accuracy, extraction recovery, matrix effect and stability. Then it was successfully applied to estimate the concentration of thalidomide, 5‐hydroxy thalidomide and 5′‐hydroxy thalidomide in plasma samples collected from Crohn's disease patients after a single oral administration of thalidomide 100 mg.     

Development and validation of a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of febuxostat in human plasma

A rapid and sensitive analytical method based on liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry detection with positive ion electrospray ionization was developed for the determination of febuxostat in human plasma using d₇‐febuxostat as the internal standard (IS). A simple protein precipitation was performed using acetonitrile. The analyte and IS were subjected to chromatographic analysis on a Capcell PAK C₁₈ column (4.6 × 100 mm, 5 µm) using acetonitrile–5 mm ammonium acetate–formic acid (85:15:0.015, v/v/v) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.6 mL/min. An Agilent 6460 electrospray tandem mass spectrometer was operated in the multiple reaction monitoring mode. The precursor‐to‐product ion transitions m/z 317 → m/z 261 (febuxsotat) and m/z 324 → m/z (261 + 262) (d₇‐febuxostat, IS) were used for quantitation. The results were linear over the studied range (10.0–5000 ng/mL), and the total analysis time for each chromatograph was 3 min. The intra‐ and inter‐day precisions were less than 7.9 and 7.2%, respectively, and the accuracy was within ±4.2%. No evidence of analyte instability in human plasma was observed storage at ?20°C for 31 days. This method was successfully applied in the determination of febuxostat concentrations in plasma samples from healthy Chinese volunteers. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Highly sensitive and rapid ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of nifedipine in human plasma and its application to a bioequivalence study

An ultra performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC‐MS/MS) method has been developed for the determination of nifedipine in human plasma using nifedipine‐d6 as the internal standard (IS). The plasma samples were prepared by solid‐phase extraction on Phenomenex Strata‐X cartridges employing 200 μL human plasma. Chromatography was carried out on Waters Acquity UPLC BEH C₁₈ (50 × 2.1 mm, 1.7 µm particle size) analytical column under isocratic conditions using a mobile phase consisting of 4.0 mm ammonium acetate‐acetonitrile (15:85, v/v). The precursor → product ion transitions for nifedipine (m/z 347.2 → 315.2) and IS (m/z 353.1 → 318.1) were monitored on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer, operating in the multiple reaction monitoring and positive‐ion mode. The method was validated over a wide dynamic concentration range of 0.050–150 ng/mL. Matrix effect was assessed by post‐column analyte infusion and the mean extraction recovery was 95.6% across four quality control levels. The method is rugged and rapid with a total run time of 1.2 min and was applied to a bioequivalence study of 20 mg nifedipine tablet formulation in 30 healthy Indian subjects under fasting condition. Assay reproducibility was confirmed by reanalysis of 116 incurred samples. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simultaneous quantification of imatinib and its main metabolite N‐demethyl‐imatinib in human plasma by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and its application to therapeutic drug monitoring in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor

The aim of this study was to improve and validate a more stable and less time‐consuming method based on liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐ MS/MS) for the quantitative measurement of imatinib and its metabolite N‐ demethyl‐imatinib (NDI) in human plasma. Separation of analytes was performed on a Waters XTerra RP₁₈ column (50 × 2.1 mm i.d., 3.5 μm) with a mobile phase consisting of methanol–acetonitrile–water (65:20:15, v /v/v) with 0.05% formic acid at a flow‐rate of 0.2 mL/min. The Quattro MicroTM triple quadruple mass spectrometer was operated in the multiple‐reaction‐monitoring mode via positive electrospray ionization interface using the transitions m /z 494.0 → 394.0 for imatinib, m /z 479.6 → 394.0 for NDI and m /z 488.2 → 394.0 for IS. The method was linear over 0.01–10 μg/mL for imatinib and NDI. The intra‐ and inter‐day precisions were all <15% in terms of relative standard deviation, and the accuracy was within ±15% in terms of relative error for both imatinib and NDI. The lower limit of quantification was identifiable and reproducible at 10 ng/mL. The method was sensitive, specific and less time‐consuming and it was successfully applied in gastrointestinal stromal tumor patients treated with imatinib.     

A simple,selective and rapid validated method for estimation of anastrazole in human plasma by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and its application to bioequivalence study

A rapid, simple and specific method for estimation of anastrazole in human plasma was validated using letrozole as internal standard. The analyte and internal standard were extracted from plasma using simple solid‐phase extraction. The compound were separated on a reverse‐phase column with an isocratic mobile phase consisting of 0.1% formic acid in water and acetonitrile (12 : 88, v/v) and detected by tandem mass spectrometry in positive ion mode. The ion transitions recorded in multiple reaction monitoring mode were m/z 294.1 → 225.1 for anastrazole and m/z 286.1 → 217.1 for internal standard. Linearity in plasma was observed over the concentration range 0.3–30 ng/mL for anastrazole. The mean recovery for anastrazole was 83.7% with a lower limit of quantification of 0.3 ng/mL. The coefficient of variation of the assay was less than 6.8% and the accuracy was 96.1–102.2%. The validated method was applied to a bioequivalence study of 1 mg anastrazole tablet in healthy human volunteers. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

High‐sensitive LC‐MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of mirodenafil and its major metabolite,SK‐3541, in human plasma: Application to microdose clinical trials of mirodenafil

A high‐sensitivity LC/MS/MS method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of mirodenafil and its major metabolite, SK‐3541, in human plasma. Mirodenafil, SK‐3541, and udenafil as an internal standard were extracted from plasma samples with methyl tert‐butyl ether. Chromatographic separation was performed on a Luna phenyl‐hexyl column (100 × 2.0 mm) with an isocratic mobile phase consisting of 5 mM ammonium formate and ACN (23:77, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.35 mL/min. Detection and quantification were performed using a mass spectrometer in selected reaction monitoring mode with positive ESI at m/z 532.3 → 296.1 for mirodenafil, m/z 488.1 → 296.1 for SK‐3541, and m/z 517.3 → 283.2 for udenafil. The calibration curves were linear over a concentration range of 2–500 pg/mL using 0.5 mL plasma for the microdose of mirodenafil (100 μg). Analytical method validation of the clinical dose (100 mg), with a calibration curve range of 2–500 ng/mL using 0.025‐mL plasma, was also conducted. The other LC‐MS/MS conditions were similar to those used for the microdosing. Each method was applied successfully to pharmacokinetic studies after a microdose or clinical dose of mirodenafil to six healthy Korean male volunteers.     

A rapid and sensitive determination of hypoxic radiosensitizer agent nimorazole in rat plasma by LC‐MS/MS and its application to a pharmacokinetic study

A highly sensitive, accurate and robust LC‐MS/MS method was developed and validated for determination of nimorazole (NMZ) in rat plasma using metronidazole (MNZ) as internal standard (IS). The analyte and IS were extracted from plasma by precipitating protein with acetonitrile and were chromatographed using an Agilent Poroshell 120, EC‐C₁₈ column. The mobile phase was composed of a mixture of acetonitrile and 0.1 % formic acid (85:15 v/v). The total run time was 1.5 min and injection volume was 5 μL. Multiple reaction monitoring mode using the transitions of m/z 227.1 → m/z 114.0 for MNZ and m/z 172.10 → m/z 128.1 for IS were monitored on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer, operating in positive ion mode. The calibration curve was linear in the range of 0.25–200 ng/mL (r² > 0.9996) and the lower limit of quantification was 0.25 ng/mL in the rat plasma samples. Recoveries of NMZ ranged between 88.05 and 95.25%. The precision (intra‐day and inter‐day) and accuracy of the quality control samples were 1.25–8.20% and ?2.50–3.10, respectively. The analyte and IS were found to be stable during all sample storage and analysis procedures. The LC‐MS/MS method described here was validated and successfully applied to pharmacokinetic study in rats. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A validated LC‐MS/MS assay for simultaneous quantification of methotrexate and tofacitinib in rat plasma: application to a pharmacokinetic study

A highly sensitive, specific and rapid LC‐ESI‐MS/MS method has been developed and validated for simultaneous quantification of methotrexate (MTX) and tofacitinib (TFB) in rat plasma (50 μL) using phenacetin as an internal standard (IS), as per the US Food and Drug Administration guidelines. After a solid‐phase extraction procedure, the separation of the analytes and IS was performed on a Chromolith RP_18e column using an isocratic mobile phase of 5 m m ammonium acetate (pH 5.0) and acetonitrile at a ratio of 25:75 (v/v) using flow‐gradient with a total run time of 3.5 min. The detection was performed in multiple reaction monitoring mode, using the transitions of m/z 455.2 → 308.3, m/z 313.2 → 149.2 and m/z 180.3 → 110.2 for MTX, TFB and IS, respectively. The calibration curves were linear over the range of 0.49–91.0 and 0.40–74.4 ng/mL for MTX and TFB, respectively. The intra‐ and interday accuracy and precision values for MTX and TFB were <15% at low quality control (QC), medium QC and high QC and <20% at lower limit of quantification. The validated assay was applied to derive the pharmacokinetic parameters for MTX and TFB post‐dosing of MTX and TFB orally and intravenously to rats. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.