Simultaneous quantitation of nicorandil and its denitrated metabolite in plasma by LC-MS/MS: application for a pharmacokinetic study

A liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantitation of nicorandil and its denitrated metabolite, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-nicotinamide, in rat plasma. After a liquid-liquid extraction step, chromatographic separation was performed on a ShinPack C(18) column with an isocratic mobile phase composed of methanol and 2 mM aqueous ammonium acetate containing 0.03% (v/v) formic acid (33:67 v/v). Procainamide was used as an internal standard (IS). Selected reaction monitoring was performed using the transitions m/z 212 → m/z 135, m/z 166 → m/z 106 and m/z 236 → m/z 163 to quantify nicorandil, its denitrated metabolite and IS, respectively. Calibration curves were constructed over the range of 5-15,000 ng.ml(-1) for both nicorandil and its metabolite. The mean relative standard deviation (RSD%) values for the intra-run precision were 5.4% and 7.3% and for the inter-run precision were 8.5% and 7.3% for nicorandil and its metabolite, respectively. The mean accuracy values were 100% and 95% for nicorandil and its metabolite, respectively. No matrix effect was detected in the samples. The validated method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study after per os administration of nicorandil in rats.     

Detection and validated quantification of toxic alkaloids in human blood plasma--comparison of LC-APCI-MS with LC-ESI-MS/MS

Poisonings with toxic plants may occur after abuse, intentional or accidental ingestion of plants. For diagnosis of such poisonings, multianalyte procedures were developed for detection and validated quantification of the toxic alkaloids aconitine, atropine, colchicine, coniine, cytisine, nicotine and its metabolite cotinine, physostigmine, and scopolamine in plasma using LC-APCI-MS and LC-ESI-MS/MS. After mixed-mode solid-phase extraction of 1 ml of plasma, the analytes were separated using a C8 base select separation column and gradient elution (acetonitrile/ammonium formate, pH 3.5). Calibration curves were used for quantification with cotinine-d(3), benzoylecgonine-d(3), and trimipramine-d(3) as internal standards. The method was validated according to international guidelines. Both assays were selective for the tested compounds. No instability was observed after repeated freezing and thawing or in processed samples. The assays were linear for coniine, cytisine, nicotine and its metabolite cotinine, from 50 to 1000 ng/ml using LC-APCI-MS and 1 to 1000 ng/ml using LC-ESI-MS/MS, respectively, and for aconitine, atropine, colchicine, physostigmine, and scopolamine from 5 to 100 ng/ml for LC-APCI-MS and 0.1 to 100 ng/ml for LC-ESI-MS/MS, respectively. Accuracy ranged from -38.6 to 14.0%, repeatability from 2.5 to 13.5%, and intermediate precision from 4.8 to 13.5% using LC-APCI-MS and from -38.3 to 8.3% for accuracy, from 3.5 to 13.8%, for repeatability, and from 4.3 to 14.7% for intermediate precision using LC-ESI-MS/MS. The lower limit of quantification was fixed at the lowest calibrator in the linearity experiments. With the exception of the greater sensitivity and higher identification power, LC-ESI-MS/MS had no major advantages over LC-APCI-MS. Both presented assays were applicable for sensitive detection of all studied analytes and for accurate and precise quantification, with the exception of the rather volatile nicotine. The applicability of the assays was demonstrated by analysis of plasma samples from suspected poisoning cases.     

Determination of tramadol and O-desmethyltramadol in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry detection

A new simple, sensitive and selective liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC/MS) method for quantification of tramadol and its active metabolite O-desmethyltramadol in human plasma was validated. The tramadol and its metabolite were separated on a reversed phase column (Zorbax SB-C18, 100 mm x 3.0 mm I.D., 3.5 microm) under isocratic conditions using a mobile phase of a 10:90 (v/v) mixture of acetonitrile and 0.2% (v/v) trifluoroacetic acid in water. The flow rate was 1 ml/min at the column temperature 45 degrees C. In these chromatographic conditions, the retention times were 2.3 min for O-desmethyltramadol and 3.5 min for tramadol, respectively. The detection of both analytes was in SIM mode using an ion trap mass spectrometer with electrospray positive ionisation. The monitored ions were m/z 264 for tramadol and m/z 250 for its metabolite. The sample preparation was very simple and rapid and consisted in plasma protein precipitation from 0.2 ml plasma using 0.2 ml solution of perchloric acid 7%. Calibration curves were generated over the range of 2-300 ng/ml for both analytes with values for coefficient of correlation greater than 0.998 and by using a weighted (1/y) quadratic regression. The values of precision and accuracy for tramadol at quantification limit were less than 10.9% and 5.1, respectively, both for within- and between-run. For O-desmethyltramadol, precision and accuracy at quantification limit were 10.1% and -9.9% for within-run determinations and 6.7% and 10.4% for between-run determinations, respectively. The mean recovery for both analytes was 96%. Both tramadol and its metabolite demonstrated good short-term, long-term, post-preparative and freeze-thaw stability. This is the first reported method for analysis of tramadol and O-desmethyltramadol in human plasma that uses protein precipitation as sample processing procedure. The method is very simple and allows obtaining a very good recovery of both analytes. The validated LC/MS method has been applied to a pharmacokinetic study of 50 mg tramadol tablets on healthy volunteers.     

Simultaneous determination of udenafil and its active metabolite, DA-8164, in human plasma and urine using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry: application to a pharmacokinetic study

A rapid, sensitive, and simple ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS/MS) method for the determination of udenafil and its active metabolite, DA-8164, in human plasma and urine using sildenafil as an internal standard (IS) was developed and validated. Udenafil, DA-8164 and IS from a 100 microL aliquot of biological samples were extracted by protein precipitation using acetonitrile. Chromatographic separation was carried on an Acquity UPLC BEH C(18) column (50 x 2.1 mm, i.d., 1.7 microm) with an isocratic mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and containing 0.1% formic acid (75:25, v/v) at flow rate of 0.4 mL/min, and total run time was within 1 min. Detection and quantification was performed by the mass spectrometer using multiple reaction-monitoring mode at m/z 517 --> 283 for udenafil, m/z 406 --> 364 for DA-8164 and m/z 475 --> 100 for IS. The assay was linear over a concentration range of 1-600 ng/mL with a lower limit of quantification of 1 ng/mL in both human plasma and urine. The coefficient of variation of this assay precision was less than 13.7%, and the accuracy exceeded 92.0%. This method was successfully applied for pharmacokinetic study after oral administration of udenafil 100 mg to healthy Korean male volunteers.     

Determination of estazolam in plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with solid-phase extraction.

A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay was developed for the determination of estazolam in human plasma. Estazolam and alprazolam as an internal standard were detected by ultraviolet absorbance at 240 nm. Estazolam in plasma was extracted by a rapid and simple procedure based on cyanopropyl bonded-phase extraction. Chromatographic separation was achieved with a reversed-phase C8-5 column using a mobile phase of 0.5% potassium dihydrogenphosphate(pH 4.5)-acetonitrile (70:30, v/v). The determination of estazolam was possible in the concentration range of 1.0 - 200.0 ng/mL. The mean recovery of estazolam added to plasma was 96.1 +/- 1.5% with coefficients of variation of less than 5.5%. This method is applicable for accurately monitoring the plasma level of estazolam in healthy subjects participating in scientific research.     

Simultaneous quantification of oxysophocarpine and its active metabolite sophocarpine in rat plasma by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry for a pharmacokinetic study

A sensitive, rapid and specific method for the simultaneous quantification of oxysophocarpine (OSC) and its active metabolite sophocarpine (SC) in rat plasma was developed and validated, using a liquid-liquid extraction procedure followed by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometric (LC/ESI-MS) analysis. The separation was performed on a Zorbax Extend-C(18) column (2.1 mm i.d. x 50 mm, 5 microm) with a C(18) guard column using methanol-water containing 5 mm ammonium acetate (15:85, v/v) as mobile phase. Analysis was performed in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode with an electrospray ionization (ESI) interface. [M + H](+) at m/z 263 for OSC, [M + H](+) at m/z 247 for SC and [M + H](+) at m/z 249 for matrine (internal standard) were selected as detecting ions, respectively. The method was linear in the concentration ranges 10-1000 ng/mL for OSC and 5-500 ng/mL for SC. The intra- and inter-day precisions (coefficient of variation) were within 7% for both analytes. Their accuracy (relative error) ranged from -6.4 to 1.5%. The limits of detection for OSC and SC were 3 and 1.5 ng/mL, respectively. The limits of quantitation for OSC and SC were 10 and 5 ng/mL, respectively. Recoveries of both analytes were greater than 85% at the low, medium and high concentrations. Both analytes were stable during all sample storage, preparation and analytic procedures. The method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study after an oral administration of OSC to rats with a dose of 15 mg/kg.     

Sensitive liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric method for the determination of fluoxetine and its primary active metabolite norfluoxetine in human plasma

A sensitive method for the simultaneous determination of fluoxetine and its major active metabolite norfluoxetine in plasma was developed, using high-performance liquid chromatographic separation with tandem mass spectrometric detection. The samples were extracted from alkalised plasma with hexane-isoamyl alcohol (98:2, v/v) followed by back-extraction into formic acid (2%). Chromatography was performed on a Phenomenex Luna C18 (2) 5 microm, 150x2 mm column with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-0.02% formic acid (340:660, v/v) at a flow-rate of 0.35 ml/min. Detection was achieved by a Perkin-Elmer Sciex API 2000 mass spectrometer (LC-MS-MS) set at unit resolution in the multiple reaction monitoring mode. TurbolonSpray ionisation was used for ion production. The mean recoveries for fluoxetine and norfluoxetine were 98 and 97%, respectively, with a lower limit of quantification set at 0.15 ng/ml for the analyte and its metabolite. This assay method makes use of the increased sensitivity and selectivity of mass spectrometric (MS-MS) detection to allow for a more rapid (extraction and chromatography) and sensitive method for the simultaneous determination of fluoxetine and norfluoxetine in human plasma than has previously been described.     

Determination of sodium cromoglycate in human plasma by liquid chromatography with tandem mass

A sensitive and selective liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the determination of sodium cromoglycate (SCG) in human plasma after a nasal dose of 10.4 mg sodium cromoglycate nasal spray, using pravastatin sodium as the internal standard. The method was validated over a linear range of 0.300-20.0 ng/mL. SCG and I.S. were extracted from 1.0 mL of heparinized plasma by C(18) solid-phase extraction cartridges using methanol as eluting solvent. The dried residue was reconstituted with 100 microL of mobile phase, and 10 microL was injected onto the LC-MS/MS system. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a C(18) column (250 x 4.6 mm i.d., 5 microm particle size) with a mobile phase of methanol-acetonitrile-water (containing 2 mmol/L ammonium acetate; 42.5:42.5:15, v/v/v) at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min. The analytes were detected with a triple quad LC-MS/MS using ESI with positive ionization. Ions monitored in the multiple reaction monitoring mode were m/z 469.0 (precursor ion) to m/z 245.0 (product ion) for SCG and m/z 447.2 (precursor ion) to m/z327.1 (product ion) for pravastatin sodium (internal standard) The average recovery of SCG from human plasma was 94.88% and the lower limit of quantitation was 0.3 ng/mL. Results from a 3-day validation study demonstrated excellent precision and accuracy across the calibration range of 0.3-20 ng/mL. The method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of SCG in healthy Chinese volunteers. Copyright (c) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An automated method for the simultaneous determination of pravastatin, 3-hydroxy isomeric metabolite, pravalactone and fenofibric acid in human plasma by sensitive liquid chromatography combined with diode array and tandem mass spectrometry detection

In this study, a sensitive and selective method based on liquid chromatography combined with diode array and tandem mass spectrometry detection (LC-DAD-MS/MS) was developed for the simultaneous quantitative determination of fenofibric acid, pravastatin and its main metabolites in human plasma. In this method, an automated solid-phase extraction (SPE) on disposable extraction cartridges (DECs) is used to isolate the compounds from the biological matrix and to prepare a cleaner sample before injection and analysis in the LC-DAD-MS/MS system. On-line LC-DAD-MS/MS system using an atmospheric pressure ionization (TurboIonSpray) was then developed for the simultaneous determination of pravastatin, 3-hydroxy isomeric metabolite (3-OH metab), pravalactone and fenofibric acid. The separation is obtained on an endcapped dodecyl silica based stationary phase using a mobile phase consisting of a mixture of acetonitrile, methanol and 5mM ammonium acetate solution (30:30:40, v/v/v). Sulindac and triamcinolone were used as internal standards (ISs). The detection of the fenofibric acid and sulindac was achieved by means of a DAD system. The MS/MS ion transitions monitored were m/z 442.2-->269.1, 442.2-->269.1, 424.3-->183.0 and 435.2-->397.2 for pravastatin, 3-OH metab, pravalactone and triamcinolone, respectively. The method was validated regarding stability, selectivity, extraction efficiency, response function, trueness, precision lower limit of quantitation and matrix effect. The limits of quantitation (LOQs) were around 0.50 ng/ml for pravastatin, 0.25 ng/ml for 3-OH metab, 0.05 ng/ml for pravalactone and 0.25 microg/ml for fenofibric acid.     

Determination of the pyridinium metabolite derived from haloperidol in brain tissue, plasma and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

A sensitive and selective method for the determination of the pyridinium metabolite (HPP+) derived from the antipsychotic drug haloperidol (HP) in brain tissue, plasma and urine using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection is described. The HPP+ present in biological samples was extracted using a Sep-Pak C18 cartridge. Recoveries of HPP+ ranged from 78 to 90%. Final separation and quantitative estimations of HPP+ were achieved on a C18 reversed-phase column employing a mobile phase of acetonitrile-30 mM ammonium acetate (40:60, v/v) containing 10 mM triethylamine and adjusted to pH 3 with trifluoroacetic acid. The fluorescence detection utilized an excitation wavelength of 304 nm and an emission wavelength of 374 nm. Standard curves were linear in the range of 2.5-100 ng/ml for brain tissue homogenate and plasma samples and 10-500 ng/ml for urine samples. The detection limit of HPP+ was about 1 ng/ml in all biological samples. The concentrations of HPP+ in brain tissue, plasma and urine from HP-treated rats were determined using this method.     

Development of a rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of 1,2-[bis(1,2-benzisoselenazolone-3(2H)-ketone)]-ethane (BBSKE), a novel anti-cancer agent in rat plasma

A rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric (LC/ESI-MS/MS) method has been developed to determine 1, 2-[bis(1,2-benzisoselenazolone-3(2H)-ketone)]-ethane (BBSKE), a novel antineoplastic agent, in rat plasma. The analytes were separated on a C18 column with a mobile phase of methanol-water (75:25, v/v) and detected using a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer in positive mode with the selective reaction monitoring. The characteristic ion dissociation transitions were m/z 603.0 --> 448.9 for derivatized BBSKE and m/z 631.0 --> 476.8 for derivatized internal standard. The assay was linear over a range of 1-1000 ng/mL with a lower limit of quantification of 1 ng/mL. Intra- and inter-day precisions were less than 9.6 and 5.0%, respectively, and the accuracy ranged from -5.2 to 4.0%. The validated method was successfully applied to the characterization of pharmacokinetic profile of BBSKE after oral administration in rats. Cop     

Rapid, simple and highly sensitive LC-ESI-MS/MS method for the quantification of tamsulosin in human plasma

A simple, rapid, sensitive and specific liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for quantification of tamsulosin (I), a highly selective alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonist used for the treatment of patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia. The analyte and internal standard, mosapride (II) were extracted by liquid-liquid extraction with diethyl ether-dichloromethane (70:30, v/v) using a Glas-Col Multi-Pulse Vortexer. The chromatographic separation was performed on a reverse phase Waters symmetry C18 column with a mobile phase of 0.03% formic acid-acetonitrile (30:70, v/v). The protonated analyte was quantitated in positive ionization by multiple reaction monitoring with a mass spectrometer. The mass transitions m/z 409.1 solidus in circle 228.1 and m/z 422.3 solidus in circle 198.3 were used to measure I and II, respectively. The assay exhibited a linear dynamic range of 0.1-50.0 ng/mL for tamsulosin in human plasma. The lower limit of quantitation was 100 pg/mL with a relative standard deviation of less than 10%. Acceptable precision and accuracy were obtained for concentrations over the standard curve ranges. A run time of 2.0 min for each sample made it possible to analyze a throughput of more than 400 human plasma samples per day. The validated method has been successfully used to analyze human plasma samples for application in pharmacokinetic, bioavailability or bioequivalence studies.     

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 sensitive and selective liquid chromatographic/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric assay for the simultaneous quantification of alpha-,beta-arteether and its metabolite dihydroartemisinin in plasma,useful for pharmacokinetic studies

A sensitive, selective, specific and rapid liquid chromatographic/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric assay method was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantitation of alpha-,beta-arteether (alpha-,beta-AE) and its metabolite alpha-dihydroartemisinin (DHA) in monkey plasma using the propyl ether analogue of beta-arteether (PE) as an internal standard. The method involves a simple two-step liquid-liquid extraction with hexane. The analytes were chromatographed on a C(18) reversed-phase chromatographic column by isocratic elution with methanol-ammonium acetate buffer (pH 4) (92 : 8, v/v) and analysed by mass spectrometry in the multiple reaction monitoring mode. The chromatographic run time was 7 min and the weighted (1/x(2)) calibration curves were linear over the range 0.78-200 ng ml(-1). The method was validated in terms of accuracy, precision, absolute recovery, freeze-thaw stability, bench-top stability and re-injection reproducibility. The limit of detection and lower limit of quantification in monkey plasma were 0.39 and 0.78 ng ml(-1) respectively for all the analytes. The intra- and inter-batch precision and accuracy were found to be well within acceptable limits (<15%). All three analytes were stable even after three freeze-thaw cycles (deviation < 15%). The average absolute recoveries of alpha-,beta-AE, DHA and PE, used as an internal standard, from spiked plasma samples were 85.85 +/- 6.56, 70.10 +/- 7.06, 54.37 +/- 3.39 and 93.90 +/- 6.9%, respectively. The assay method described here could be applied to study the pharmacokinetics of alpha-,beta-AE and DHA in rhesus monkeys.     

Highly specific and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of 3-desmethylthiocolchicine in human plasma as analyte for the assessment of bioequivalence after oral administration of thiocolchicoside

A sensitive method for the determination of 3-desmethylthiocolchicine in plasma was developed, using high-performance liquid chromatographic separation with tandem mass spectrometric detection. The plasma samples were extracted with ethyl acetate and separated on a Phenomenex Luna C18(2) 5 microm, 150x2 mm column with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-0.005% formic acid (350:650, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.35 ml/min. Detection was achieved by an Applied Biosystems API 2000 mass spectrometer (LC-MS-MS) set at unit resolution in the multiple reaction monitoring mode. TurbolonSpray ionisation was used for ion production. The mean recovery for 3-desmethylthiocolchicine was 70%, with a lower limit of quantification set at 0.39 ng/ml. The increased selectivity of mass spectrometric (MS-MS) detection allowed us to distinguish between thiocolchicoside and its primary metabolite 3-desmethylthiocolchicine in human plasma, thereby giving more insight about the pharmacokinetics of the drug in humans.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of spironolactone and its metabolites in human biological fluids after solid-phase extraction.

A simple and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic procedure to determine spironolactone and its three major metabolites in biological specimens is described. The assay involves sequential extraction on C18 and CN solid phases, and subsequent separation on a reversed-phase column. In plasma samples, spironolactone and its metabolites were completely separated within 8 min using an isocratic mobile phase, while in urine samples a methanol gradient was necessary to achieve a good separation within 14 min. Recoveries for all analytes were greater than 80% in plasma and 72% in urine. Linear responses were observed for all compounds in the range 6.25-400 ng/ml for plasma and 31.25-2000 ng/ml for urine. The plasma and urine methods were precise (coefficient of variation from 0.8 to 12.5%) and accurate (-12.1% to 7.4% of the nominal values) for all compounds. The assay proved to be suitable for the pharmacokinetic study of spironolactone in healthy human subjects.     

Determination of RSD921 in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry using tri-deuterated RSD921 as internal standard: application to a phase I clinical trial.

A fast, sensitive and specific method is presented for the quantification of RSD921 in human plasma by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry using tri-deuterated RSD921 (3d-RSD921) as an internal standard. A single-step liquid/liquid extraction was performed with diethyl ether/hexane (80 : 20, v/v) using 0.5 ml of plasma. The plasma calibration curves were linear from 0.1 to 20 ng ml(-1) (r > 0.999). Between-run precision, based on the percent relative deviation for replicate (n = 40) quality controls, was < or =7.27% (0.5 ng ml(-1)), < or =7.39% (5.0 ng ml(-1)), and < or =5.06% (20.0 ng ml(-1)). Between-run accuracies, based on the relative error, were +/-2.59%, +/-1.23% and +/-1.64% respectively. The method was developed to evaluate the pharmacokinetic profile after 15 min of intravenous stepwise-ascending infusion dose of RSD921 in 18 healthy volunteers. A dissociation study of protonated RSD921 and 3d-RSD921 by collision-induced dissociation using in-source fragmentation and tandem mass spectrometry is also presented.     

Determination of p-methylthiobenzamide and p-methylthiobenzamide-S-oxide from rat plasma using solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography

p-Methylthiobenzamide (PMTB) is a thiocarbonyl compound exhibiting marked hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. We describe a high-performance liquid chromatographic method for analyzing PMTB and a metabolite, p-methylthiobenzamide-S-oxide (PMTBSO), from rat plasma using a solid-phase extraction technique. In this way, PMTB and PMTBSO can be extracted from 0.5 ml of plasma and separation achieved by an ODS analytical column in as little as 9 min. The mobile phase used was methanol-water (55:45, v/v) and the wavelength for detection was 290 nm. The limits of detection in plasma were 15 ng/ml for PMTB and 33 ng/ml for PMTBSO; the absolute recovery from spiked plasma samples was greater than 84.4% for both compounds and the internal standard. The method was linear throughout the range used with correlation coefficients greater than 0.969. The intra-day accuracy ranged from 1.52 to 15.23% relative error for the PMTB concentration range 151-3025 ng/ml; accuracy of 4.97% or less was obtained for PMTBSO concentrations of 1672-20,068 ng/ml. The intra-day precision (coefficient of variation) of the procedure was found to be no greater than 5.28% for PMTB and 7.9% for PMTBSO. Inter-day accuracy and precision measurements were similar.     

Simple, sensitive and rapid liquid chromatographic/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric method for the quantification of lacidipine in human plasma

A simple, sensitive and rapid liquid chromatographic/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric method was developed and validated for the quantification of lacidipine in human plasma using its structural analogue, amlodipine, as internal standard (IS). The method involves a simple single-step liquid-liquid extraction with tert-butyl methyl ether. The analyte was chromatographed on an Xterra MS C(18) reversed-phase chromatographic column by isocratic elution with 20 mM ammonium acetate buffer-acetonitrile (10:90, v/v; pH 6) and analyzed by mass spectrometry in the multiple reaction monitoring mode. The precursor to product ion transitions of m/z 456.4 --> 354.4 and m/z 409.3 --> 238.3 were used to measure the analyte and the I.S., respectively. The chromatographic run time was 1.5 min and the weighted (1/x(2)) calibration curves were linear over the range 0.1-25 ng ml(-1). Lacidipine was sensitive to temperature in addition to light. The method was validated in terms of accuracy, precision, absolute recovery, freeze-thaw stability, bench-top stability and re-injection reproducibility. The limit of detection and lower limit of quantification in human plasma were 50 and 100 pg ml(-1), respectively. The within- and between-batch accuracy and precision were found to be well within acceptable limits (<15%). The analyte was stable after three freeze-thaw cycles (deviation <15%). The average absolute recoveries of lacidipine and amlodipine (IS) from spiked plasma samples were 51.1 +/- 1.3 and 50.3 +/- 4.9%, respectively. The assay method described here could be applied to study the pharmacokinetics of lacidipine.