On-Line SPE on Restricted Access Adsorbent for HPLC-MS/MS Analysis of Felodipine in Plasma Samples

Direct plasma loading on a LiChrospher ADS C18 cartridge on-line coupled to an analytical Zorbax XDB C18 column was used to analyze felodipine by means of positive atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) detection. Appropriate sensitivity, accuracy, and precision were obtained using an ion trap mass analyzer operated in a multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. Diethyl-4-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-2,6-dimethyl-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate) was used as an internal standard. The method was fully validated. The method was successfully applied to a pilot bioequivalence study made on extended release oral dosage forms containing 10 mg of felodipine, under fed and fasting conditions.     

Development of a rapid and sensitive SPE-LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous estimation of fluoxetine and olanzapine in human plasma

A high‐performance liquid chromatographic assay with tandem mass spectrometric detection was developed to simultaneously quantify fluoxetine and olanzapine in human plasma. The analytes and the internal standard (IS) duloxetine were extracted from 500 μL aliquots of human plasma through solid‐phase extraction. Chromatographic separation was achieved in a run time of 4.0 min on a Hypersil Gold C₁₈ column (50 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) using isocratic mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile–water containing 2% formic acid (70:30, v/v), at a flow‐rate of 0.5 mL/min. Detection of analytes and internal standard was performed by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry, operating in positive‐ion and multiple reaction monitoring acquisition mode. The protonated precursor to product ion transitions monitored for fluoxetine, olanzapine and IS were m/z 310.01 → 147.69, 313.15 → 256.14 and 298.1 → 153.97, respectively. The method was validated over the concentration range of 1.00–150.20 ng/mL for fluoxetine and 0.12–25.03 ng/mL for olanzapine in human plasma. The intra‐batch and inter‐batch precision (%CV) across four quality control levels was ≤6.28% for both the analytes. In conclusion, a simple and sensitive analytical method was developed and validated in human plasma. This method is suitable for measuring accurate plasma concentration in bioequivalence study and therapeutic drug monitoring as well, following combined administration. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry for the quantification of mitiglinide in human plasma: validation and its application to pharmacokinetic studies

A sensitive and specific method was developed and validated for the determination of mitiglinide in human plasma using liquid chromatographic separation with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric detection. Acidified plasma samples were extracted with ethyl acetate. The chromatographic separation was performed on an Agilent Zorbax Eclipse Plus C(18) column with a mobile phase of methanol-10 mm ammonium acetate solution at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. Analytes were detected with an Agilent 6410 Triple qudrupole mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray ionization source in positive multiple reaction monitoring mode: m/z 316.2 (precursor ion) to 298.2 (product ion) for mitiglinide and m/z 318.2 (precursor ion) to 120.2 (product ion) for the internal standard. This method was validated over a linear range of 0.5-4000 ng/mL for mitiglinide in human plasma. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 0.5 ng/mL, while a relative standard deviation (RSD) was less than 3.9%. The intra- and inter-run precision (as RSD, %) obtained from three validation runs were all less than 15%. The validated method was successfully used to analyze human plasma samples for application in pharmacokinetic studies.     

Simultaneous determination of metformin and glipizide in human plasma by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A method has been developed for the simultaneous quantification of metformin (I) and glipizide (II) in human plasma. It is based on high-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass (LC-ESI-MS/MS) spectrometric detection in positive ionization mode. Phenformin (III) and gliclazide (IV) were used as internal standards for I and II, respectively. The MS/MS detection was performed in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The precursor-product ion combinations of m/z 130 --> 71, 446 --> 321, 206 --> 60 and 324 --> 127 were used to quantify I, II, III and IV, respectively. This method was validated in the concentration ranges of 0.02-4 microg/mL for I and 0.004-0.8 microg/mL for II. It was utilized to support a clinical pharmacokinetic study after single dose oral administration of a combination of I and II.     

Development of a fast LC‐MS/MS assay for the determination of deferiprone in human plasma and application to pharmacokinetics

A fast and accurate liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometric (LC‐MS/MS) assay was first developed and validated for the determination of deferiprone in human plasma. The analytes were extracted with acetonitrile from only 50 μL aliquots of human plasma to achieve the protein precipitation. After extraction, chromatographic separation of analytes in human plasma was performed using a Synergi Fusion‐RP 80A column at 30 °C. The mobile phase consisted of methanol and 0.2% formic acid containing 0.2 mM EDTA (60:40, v/v). The flow rate of the mobile phase was 0.8 mL/min. The total run time for each sample analysis was 4 min. Detection was performed using electrospray ionization in positive ion multiple reaction monitoring mode by monitoring the precursor‐to‐parent ion transitions m/z 140.1 → 53.1 for deferiprone and m/z 143.1 → 98.1 for internal standard. A linear range was established from 0.1 to 20 µg/mL. The limit of detection was determined as 0.05 µg/mL. The validated method was estimated for linearity, recovery, stability, precision and accuracy. Intraday and interday precisions were 4.3–5.5 and 4.6–7.3%, respectively. The recovery of deferiprone was in the range of 80.1–86.8%. The method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of deferiprone in six thalassemia patients. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Quantification of lurasidone, an atypical antipsychotic drug, in rat plasma with high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

A liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometric (LC/MS/MS) method was developed for the determination of an atypical antipsychotic drug, lurasidone, in rat plasma. The method involves the addition of acetonitrile and ziprasidone (internal standard) solution to plasma samples, followed by centrifugation. An aliquot of the supernatant was diluted with water and directly injected into the LC/MS/MS system. The separations were performed on a column packed with octadecylsilica (5 μm, 2.0 × 50 mm) with 0.1% formic acid and 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile as mobile phase and the detection was performed using tandem mass spectrometry by multiple‐reaction monitoring via an electrospray ionization source. The standard curve was linear (r = 0.9982) over the concentration range 0.002–1 μg/mL. The intra‐ and inter‐assay precisions were 1.7 and 8.6%, respectively. The accuracy range was from 90.3 to 101.8%. The lower limit of quantification was 2.0 ng/mL using 50 μL of rat plasma sample. The developed analytical method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of lurasidone in rats. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mass spectrometric analysis of carisoprodol and meprobamate in rat brain microdialysates

We report the evaluation of several mass spectrometry‐based methods for the determination of carisoprodol and meprobamate in samples obtained from the rat brain by in vivo intracranial microdialyis. Among the techniques that aspire to perform analyses without chromatographic separation and thereby increase throughput, chip‐based nanoelectrospray ionization and the use of an atmospheric pressure solids analysis probe fell short of requirements because of insufficient detection sensitivity and hard ionization, respectively. Although direct analysis in real time provided the required soft ionization, shortcomings of a tandem mass spectrometry‐based assay also included inadequate detection sensitivity and, in addition, poor quantitative reproducibility. Therefore, liquid chromatography coupled with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry was developed to determine carisoprodol and meprobamate from artificial cerebrospinal fluid as the medium. No desalting and/or extraction of the samples was necessary. The assay, combined with in vivo sampling via intracranial microdialyis, afforded time‐resolved concentration profiles for the drug and its major metabolite from the nucleus accumbens region of the brain in rats after systemic administration of carisoprodol. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On‐chip solid‐phase extraction pre‐concentration/focusing substrates coupled to atmospheric pressure matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization ion trap mass spectrometry for high sensitivity biomolecule analysis

Atmospheric pressure matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (AP‐MALDI) has proven a convenient and rapid method for ion production in the mass spectrometric (MS) analysis of biomolecules. AP‐MALDI and electrospray ionization (ESI) sources are easily interchangeable in most mass spectrometers. However, AP‐MALDI suffers from less‐than‐optimal sensitivity due to ion losses during transport from the atmosphere into the vacuum of the mass spectrometer. Here, we study the signal‐to‐noise ratio (S/N) gains observed when an on‐chip dynamic pre‐concentration/focusing approach is coupled to AP‐MALDI for the MS analysis of neuropeptides and protein digests. It was found that, in comparison with conventional AP‐MALDI targets, focusing targets showed (1) a sensitivity enhancement of approximately two orders of magnitude with S/N gains of 200–900 for hydrophobic substrates, and 150–400 for weak cation‐exchange (WCX) substrates; (2) improved detection limits as low as 5 fmol/µL for standard peptides; (3) significantly reduced matrix background; and (4) higher inter‐day reproducibility. The improved sensitivity allowed successful tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) sequencing of dilute solutions of a derivatized tryptic digest of a protein standard, and enabled the first reported AP‐MALDI MS detection of neuropeptides from Aedes aegypti mosquito heads. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Quantification of polygalasaponin F in rat plasma using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and its pharmacokinetics application

A rapid and highly selective liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometric (LC‐MS/MS) method for determination of polygalasaponin F (PF) in rat plasma was developed and validated. The chromatographic separation was achieved on a reverse‐phase Zorbax SB‐C₁₈ column (150 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm), using 2 mm ammonium acetate (pH adjusted to 6.0 with acetic acid) and acetonitrile (25:75, v/v) as a mobile phase at 30 °C. MS/MS detection was performed using an electrospray ionization operating in positive ion multiple reaction monitoring mode by monitoring the ion transitions from m/z 1091.5 → 471.2 (PF) and m/z 700.4 → 235.4 (internal standard), respectively. The calibration curve showed a good linearity in the concentration range 0.0544–13.6 µg/mL, with a limit of quantification of 0.0544 µg/mL. The intra‐ and inter‐day precisions were <9.7% in rat plasma. The method was validated as per US Food and Drug Administration guidelines and successfully applied to pharmacokinetic study of PF in rats. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

乳制品中那他霉素的超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法快速测定

建立了超高效液相色谱-电喷雾串联质谱(UPLC-MS/MS)快速检测乳制品中那他霉素的方法。样品用甲醇提取,以甲醇-水为流动相经反相色谱柱分离后,采用多反应监测(MRM)负离子模式检测,定性离子对为m/z663.6/421.1和m/z663.6/439.1,其中m/z663.6/421.1用于外标法定量。空白样品及其加标实验结果表明:特征离子相对强度比值稳定,无基质干扰,结合保留时间可实现准确的定性定量;方法定量下限为50.0μg/kg;乳制品加标量为50~500μg/kg时,平均回收率为80%~91%,相对标准偏差(n=6)为2.7%~5.2%。方法简单、灵敏、稳定,可满足乳制品中那他霉素的快速检测与确证需要。     

An LC–MS/MS method for quantification of demethylzeylasteral,a novel immunosuppressive agent in rat plasma and the application to a pharmacokinetic study

In this study, a sensitive liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the quantification of demethylzeylasteral in rat plasma. Electrospray ionization was operated in the negative ion mode while demethylzeylasteral and oleanolic acid (internal standard) were measured by selected reaction monitoring (demethylzeylasteral: m/z 479.2 → 436.0; oleanolic acid: m/z 454.9 → 407.2). This LC–MS/MS method had good selectivity, sensitivity, accuracy and precision. The pharmacokinetic profiles of demethylzeylasteral were subsequently examined in Wistar rats after oral or intravenous administration.     

Isothiocyanates as derivatization reagents for amines in liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry

The applicability of 3‐pyridyl isothiocyanate, p‐(dimethylamino)phenyl isothiocyanate and m‐nitrophenyl isothiocyanate as the derivatization reagents for amines in high‐performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI‐MS/MS) was examined. The generated derivatives of amines with these reagents were favorably separated on the reversed‐phase column and detected by ESI‐MS/MS. The C–N bond of the generated thiourea structure was efficiently cleaved by collision‐induced dissociation and gave the single and intense product ion. Among the three reagents, 3‐pyridyl isothiocyanate was the most suitable as the derivatization reagent with regard to the reactivity to amines and the detection sensitivity. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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

A sensitive high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometric (HPLC‐MS/MS) assay has been developed for the quantitative analysis of vardenafil in human plasma. Vardenafil and the internal standard, alprazolam, were extracted from 0.2 mL aliquots of alkalinized plasma by a single solvent extraction into hexane : dichloromethane. Reversed‐phase chromatographic separation was affected by gradient elution with mobile phases consisting of 10 mM ammonium formate pH 7.0 (solvent A) and methanol (100%, solvent B), delivered at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min. The analytes were detected by using an electrospray ion source on a 4000 QTrap triple quadrupole mass spectrometer operating in positive ionization mode. The mass transitions were m/z 489.3 → 312.2 for vardenafil and m/z 309.2 → 281.0 for alprazolam. The assay was linear over the concentration range of 0.2–100 ng/mL, with correlation coefficients ≥0.995. The intra‐ and inter‐day precision was less than 5.4% in terms of relative standard deviation and the accuracy was within 12.7% in terms of relative error. The lower limit of quantitation was set at 0.2 ng/mL. The high sensitivity and acceptable performance of the assay allowed its application to the analysis of plasma samples obtained following the oral administration of vardenafil to healthy male volunteers in a pharmacokinetic study. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determination of swertianolin in rat plasma by LC‐MS/MS and its application to a pharmacokinetic study

A sensitive and rapid LC‐MS/MS method has been developed and validated for quantifying swertianolin in rat plasma using rutin as an internal standard (IS). Following liquid–liquid extraction with ethyl acetate, chromatographic separation for swertianolin was achieved on a C₁₈ column with a gradient elution using 0.1% formic acid as mobile phase A and acetonitrile as mobile phase B at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. The detection was performed on a tandem mass spectrometer using multiple reaction monitoring via an electrospray ionization source and operating in the negative ionization mode. The optimized mass transition ion pairs (m/z) for quantitation were 435.1/272.0 for swertianolin and 609.2/300.1 for IS. The lower limit of quantitation was 0.5 ng/mL within a linear range of 0.5–500 ng/mL. Intra‐day and inter‐day precision was less than 6.8%. The accuracy was in the range of ?13.9 to 12.0%. The mean recovery of swertianolin was >66.7%. The proposed method was successfully applied in evaluating the pharmacokinetics of swertianolin after an oral dose of 50 mg/kg Swertia mussotii extract in rats. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development and validation of UPLC‐MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of gestodene and ethinyl estradiol in rat plasma

A selective and sensitive ultra‐performance liquid chromatography method with tandem mass spectrometric detection for simultaneous determination of gestodene (GES) and ethinyl estradiol (EE) in rat plasma was developed and validated. GES, EE and the internal standard, norgestrel, were extracted with ethyl acetate, derivatized (EE only) with dansyl chloride and then back‐extracted into diethyl ether‐hexane (2:1, v/v). The separation was performed on an ACQUITY UPLC? BEH C₁₈ column with gradient elution using mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and water (both containing 0.1% formic acid). The detection was carried out by means of electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry in positive ion mode with multiple‐reaction monitoring. Calibration curves of GES and EE were linear (r² ≥ 0.99) over the concentration ranges 1.59–159 and 0.196–78.4 ng/mL, respectively. The intra‐ and inter‐day precisions were not more than 6.9 and 12.9% for GES and 10.6 and 9.0% for EE, and the accuracies were ?2.5–8.0% for GES, and ?7.2–0.19% for EE, respectively. The method herein described was superior to previous methods and was applicable to the pharmacokinetic study of GES and EE in rats. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rapid and sensitive method for simultaneous determination of six carcinogenic aromatic amines in mainstream cigarette smoke by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Aromatic amines are one of the sources of carcinogenicity in cigarette and tobacco smoke. Accurate quantification of these chemicals is needed to assess public health risk. A new validated rapid, sensitive and analyte specific liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric (LC/MS/MS) method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of six aromatic amines in mainstream cigarette smoke using research reference cigarette 2R4F. Three popular Indian brand cigarettes were also analyzed using the same procedure. The limit of detection of this method ranged from 0.04 to 0.59 ng/cig using an injection volume of 7 μl. The identification of each amine was established by chromatographic retention times, analyte specific fragmentation pattern and relative peak area ratios of two product/precursor ion pairs. The method showed excellent reproducibility and was also rapid, selective and robust for aromatic amine determination from cigarette smoke.     

Tandem mass spectrometric analysis of novel peptide‐modified gemini surfactants used as gene delivery vectors

Diquaternary ammonium gemini surfactants have emerged as effective gene delivery vectors. A novel series of 11 peptide‐modified compounds was synthesized, showing promising results in delivering genetic materials. The purpose of this work is to elucidate the tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) dissociation behavior of these novel molecules establishing a generalized MS/MS fingerprint. Exact mass measurements were achieved using a hybrid quadrupole orthogonal time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer, and a multi‐stage MS/MS analysis was conducted using a triple quadrupole‐linear ion trap mass spectrometer. Both instruments were operated in the positive ionization mode and are equipped with electrospray ionization. Abundant triply charged [M+H]³⁺ species were observed in the single‐stage analysis of all the evaluated compounds with mass accuracies of less than 8 ppm in mass error. MS/MS analysis showed that the evaluated gemini surfactants exhibited peptide‐related dissociation characteristics because of the presence of amino acids within the compounds' spacer region. In particular, diagnostic product ions were originated from the neutral loss of ammonia from the amino acids' side chain resulting in the formation of pipecolic acid at the N‐terminus part of the gemini surfactants. In addition, a charge‐directed amide bond cleavage was initiated by the amino acids' side chain producing a protonated α‐amino‐ε‐caprolactam ion and its complimentary C‐terminus ion that contains quaternary amines. MS/MS and MS³ analysis revealed common fragmentation behavior among all tested compounds, resulting in the production of a universal MS/MS fragmentation pathway. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Quantitative determination of sauchinone in rat plasma by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

A rapid, sensitive and specific method using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric detection (LC‐MS) was developed for the analysis of sauchinone in rat plasma. Di‐O‐methyltetrahydrofuriguaiacin B was used as internal standard (IS). Analytes were extracted from rat plasma by liquid–liquid extraction using ethyl acetate. A 2.1 mm i.d. × 150 mm, 5 µm, Agilent Zorbax SB‐C₁₈ column was used to perform the chromatographic analysis. The mobile phase was methanol–deionized water (80:20, v/v). The chromatographic run time was 7 min per injection and the flow‐rate was 0.2 mL/min. The tandem mass spectrometric detection mode was achieved with electrospray ionization interface in positive‐ion mode (ESI⁺). The m/z ratios [M + Na]⁺, m/z 379.4 for sauchinone and m/z 395.4 for IS were recorded simultaneously. Calibration curve were linear over the range of 0.01–5 µg/mL. The lowest limit of quantification was 0.01 µg/mL. The intra‐day and inter‐day precision and accuracy of the quality control samples were 2.94–9.42% and 95.79–108.05%, respectively. The matrix effect was 64.20–67.34% and the extraction recovery was 93.28–95.98%. This method was simple and sensitive enough to be used in pharmacokinetic research for determination of sauchinone in rat plasma. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for determination of N-acetylcysteine in human plasma using an isotope-labeled internal standard

A liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) method was developed to determine total N‐acetylcysteine in human plasma. Mass spectrometric detection was achieved in positive electrospray ionization and multiple reaction monitoring mode. The mass transition pairs of N‐acetylcysteine and the isotope‐labeled internal standard d3‐N‐acetylcysteine were 164 → 122 and 167 → 123, respectively. The method was linear over the range of 10–5000 ng/mL in human plasma. The adoption of trichloroacetic acid significantly enhanced the extraction recovery. The blank matrix was screened to minimize the influence of endogenous N‐acetylcysteine. After being fully validated, the method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic and bioequivalent study of N‐acetylcysteine after oral administration of 600 mg tablets to 24 healthy Chinese volunteers. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

High performance fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometric detection for capillary electrophoresis

We describe the current state of the on-line combination of capillary electrophoresis (CE) electrospray ionization (ESI) Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometry (MS), and discuss aspects of the FTICR technique relevant to its use as a detection scheme for on-line separations. Aspects including sensitivity, mass resolution, duty cycle, and tandem mass spectrometric capabilities are discussed in the context of online separations with examples from the authors' laboratory.