Analysis of oligonucleotides using coupled high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry

Summary Improved HPLC and ESMS conditions have been established, allowing the separation and analysis of oligodesoxyribonucleotides by coupled HPLC-ESMS.     

Quantitative determination of domperidone in human plasma by ultraperformance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A simple and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for determining domperidone in human plasma. The analyte and internal standard (IS; mosapride) were isolated from plasma samples by protein precipitation with methanol (containing 0.1% formic acid). The chromatographic separation was performed on an Xterra MS C(18) Column (2.1 x 150 mm, 5.0 microm) with a gradient programme mobile phase consisting of 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile at a flow rate of 0.30 mL/min. The total run time was 4.0 min. The analyses were carried out by multiple reaction monitoring using the parent-to-daughter combinations m/z 426 --> 175 and m/z 422 --> 198 (IS). The areas of peaks from the analyte and IS were used for quantification of domperidone. The method was validated according to the FDA guidelines on bioanalytical method validation. Validation results indicated that the lower limit of quantification was 0.2 ng/mL, and the assay exhibited a linear range of 0.2-60.0 ng/mL and gave a correlation coefficient (r(2)) of 0.999 or better. Quality control samples (0.4, 0.8, 15 and 50 ng/mL) in six replicates from three different analytical runs demonstrated an intra-assay precision (RSD) 4.43-6.26%, an inter-assay precision 5.25-7.45% and an overall accuracy (relative error) of <6.92%. The method can be applied to pharmacokinetic and bioequivalence studies of domperidone.     

Direct analysis of industrial oligoglycerols by liquid chromatography with evaporative light-scattering detection and mass spectrometry

Summary A liquid chromatographic method has been developed for analysis of industrial polyglycerols, precursors of polyglycerol fatty esters, which are non-ionic surfacetants. The method utilizes two complementary chromatographic systems: porous graphitic carbon and an aminopropyl polymer with an acetonitrile-water mixture as mobile phase. Detection of these non-UV absorbing compounds was effected by means of evaporative light-scattering detection. Their structures were determined by comparison of their retention with that of synthesized standards, and by mass spectrometry.     

Development and application of ultra performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometry for determination of seven microcystins in water samples

In the present work, an ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC)-electrospray ionization tandem triple quadrupole/mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) method was developed in selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode to determine the amounts of seven/microcystin variants (MCYST-RR, -YR, -LR, -LA, -LY, -LW, -LF) in water samples. Solid phase extraction (SPE) or porous filter was used for sample cleaning-up and analyte enrichment. A C18 column enabled separation of 7 microcystins within 10 min. Translation reaction ions including 995.6 > 134.9 (RR), 1045.8 > 135.1 (YR), 910.9 > 375.7 (LA), 1002.3 > 375.6 (LY), 520.1 > 135.0 (LR), 1025.8 > 891.7 (LW), 986.8 > 852.6 (LF) were set as quantitative ions and the enkephalin was the internal standard. Upon method validation, the limits of detection (LODs) and limits of quantification (LOQs) were found to be 0.06 μg L⁻¹ and 0.2 μg L⁻¹ (injection volume of 10 μL), respectively, for all seven microcystin variants. The correlation coefficients were larger than 0.994 in all linear ranges and recoveries were in the range of 66.24-99.22%. The developed approach was highly sensitive and easy to perform. It generated accurate quantitative results for the analysis of microcystins in environmental water samples with a wide concentration range. The results showed that MC-RR and MC-LR widely existed in polluted water, while MC-LA and MC-LY were detected sporadically.     

Simultaneous determination of a new phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor DA-8159 and its active metabolite in human plasma by high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

Summary An LC-MS-MS method for the simultaneous determination of DA-8159 and its active metabolite, DA-8164 in human plasma was developed. DA-8159, DA-8164 and the internal standard, sildenafil were extracted from human plasma with dichloromethane at basic pH. A reversephase HPLC separation was performed on Luna phenylhexyl column with the mixture of acetonitrile-ammonium formate (10 mM, pH 6.0) (60:40,v/v) as mobile phase. The detection of analytes was performed using an electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry in the multiple reaction monitoring mode. The method showed a satisfactory sensitivity (lower limits of quantification, 2.0 ng mL¹), precision, accuracy, recovery and selectivity. The successful determination of DA-8159 and DA-8164 in the plasma of a volunteer who ingested a single dose of 100 mg DA-8159 confirms that the present method can be used for plasma analysis for clinical trial.     

Quantitative determination of sparfloxacin in rat plasma by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

Sparfloxacin, a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, is used for the treatment of bacterial infection. A quantification method using mass spectrometry was developed for the determination of sparfloxacin in rat plasma. After simple protein precipitation with acetonitrile, the analytes were chromatographed on a reversed‐phase C₁₈ column and detected by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization. The accuracy and precision of the assay were in accordance with FDA regulations for validation of bioanalytical methods. This method was applied to measure the plasma sparfloxacin concentrations after a single oral administration of sparfloxacin in rats. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Plasma lipid analysis by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A novel method for the analysis of endogenous lipids and related compounds was developed employing hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. A hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography with carbamoyl stationary phase achieved clear separation of phosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, ceramide, and mono‐hexsosyl ceramide groups with good peak area repeatability (RSD% < 10) and linearity (R² > 0.99). The established method was applied to human plasma assays and a total of 117 endogenous lipids were successfully detected and reproducibly identified. In addition, we investigated the simultaneous detection of small polar metabolites such as amino and organic acids co‐existing in the same biological samples processed in a single analytical run with lipids. Our results show that hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography is a useful tool for human plasma lipidome analysis and offers more comprehensive metabolome coverage.     

Analysis of endocrine disruptor compounds in marine sediments by in cell clean up-pressurized liquid extraction-liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry determination

A less time-, solvent- and sorbent-consuming analytical methodology for the determination of bisphenol A and alkylphenols (4-tert-octylphenol, 4-octylphenol, 4-n-nonylphenol, nonylphenol) in marine sediment was developed and validated. The method was based on selective pressurized liquid extraction (SPLE) with a simultaneous in cell clean up combined with liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry in negative mode (LC-ESI-MS/MS). The SPLE extraction conditions were optimized by a Plackett–Burman design followed by a central composite design. Quantitation was performed by standard addition curves in order to correct matrix effects. The analytical features of the method were satisfactory: relative recoveries varied between 94 and 100% and repeatability and intermediate precision were <6% for all compounds. Uncertainty assessment of measurement was estimated on the basis of an in-house validation according to EURACHEM/CITAC guide. Quantitation limits of the method (MQL) ranged between 0.17 (4-n-nonylphenol) and 4.01 ng g⁻¹ dry weight (nonylphenol). Sensitivity, selectivity, automaticity and fastness are the main advantages of this green methodology. As an application, marine sediment samples from Galicia coast (NW of Spain) were analysed. Nonylphenol and 4-tert-octylphenol were measured in all samples at concentrations between 20.1 and 1409 ng g⁻¹ dry weight, respectively. Sediment toxicity was estimated and no risk to aquatic biota was found.     

Combination of liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry for the detection of 21 anabolic steroid residues in bovine urine

For the detection of anabolic steroid residues in bovine urine, a highly sensitive liquid chromatographic/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric (LC/ESI-MS/MS) method was developed using both positive and negative ionization. For four compounds the ESI mode was not sensitive enough and gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric GC/MS detection was therefore still necessary as a complementary method. The sample clean-up consisted of solid-phase extraction (SPE) on a C(18) column followed by enzymatic hydrolysis and a second solid-phase extraction on a combination of a C(18) and a NH(2) column. After this last SPE clean-up, the eluate was split into two equal aliquots. One aliquot was further purified and after derivatization used for GC/MS analysis. The other aliquot was analyzed with LC/MS/MS in both ESI+ and ESI- modes. The method was validated according to the European Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. Decision limits (CCalpha) were between 0.16 and 1 ng ml(-1) for the compounds detected with the LC/MS/MS method. The developed method is used in routine analysis in our laboratory.     

同位素稀释液相色谱-串联质谱法准确测定猪肉中的氯霉素

建立了同位素稀释质谱测定猪肉中氯霉素残留的方法,对影响溶剂提取、萃取净化、液相色谱-质谱检测方法准确度的因素进行了量化与优化。猪肉样品经液氮冷冻粉碎,加入氯霉素-D5同位素内标和0.1 mol/L醋酸钠缓冲溶液(pH 5),用乙酸乙酯提取4次,正己烷脱脂,HLB固相萃取小柱净化后采用负离子多反应监测模式下的液相色谱-质谱技术检测。方法的线性范围为0.01～0.5 ng/g,相关系数r2大于0.999;检出限和定量限分别为0.004 ng/g和0.02 ng/g;在0.02 ng/g和1.0 ng/g加标水平的回收率(n=3)分别为95.2%～109.1%和99.7%～102.5%;日内和日间相对标准偏差均小于2%。研究了氯霉素及氯霉素-D5的基体效应,测得不同流动相和稀释溶剂组成时基体效应因子k的范围在0.950～1.015之间。研究结果对同位素稀释质谱痕量残留检测结果准确度的控制、方法的建立与验证具有参考意义。     

Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of ulixertinib in rat by liquid chromatography combined with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a simple and sensitive liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of ulixertinib in rat plasma. The plasma samples were precipitated with acetonitrile and then separated on a C₁₈ column with water containing 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile as mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. Analytes were monitored on a TSQ Vantage triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer operated in positive electrospray ionization mode. Selected reaction monitoring transitions were m/z 433.1→262.1 for ulixertinib and m/z 450.1→260.1 for internal standard. The assay achieved good linearity over the concentration range of 0.1‐1000 ng/mL with correlation coefficient > 0.9991. The validated assay has been successfully applied to pharmacokinetic study of ulixertinib in rat after oral and intravenous administration. The results revealed that ulixertinib showed high exposure in rat plasma, low clearance, moderate oral bioavailability (45.13%), and dose‐independent pharmacokinetic profiles over the oral dose range of 1‐15 mg/kg. In addition, six metabolites from rat plasma and hepatocytes were detected and structurally identified by ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography combined with high‐resolution mass spectrometry. The metabolic pathways of ulixertinib referred to hydroxylation and dealkylation and glucuronidation.     

Liquid chromatography/fast-atom-bombardement mass spectrometry of nonionic detergents

Summary Microcolumn liquid chromatography (LC) combined with fast-atom-bombardment mass spectrometry (FABMS) was applied to the analysis of nonionic detergents. The porous silver filter attached to the top of the capillary fused-silica tubing worked as the interface for coupling of micro LC and FABMS.     

Validation of a liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of drugs in wastewater using a three‐phase solvent system

Pharmaceuticals constitute one of the most important emerging classes of environmental pollutants. A three‐phase solvent system of water, water containing 0.1% of formic acid and acetonitrile was successfully used to separate, by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (LC‐MS), polarity‐matched pharmaceuticals, that is, carbamazepine, clarithromycin, and erythromycin, as well as amoxicillin and metformin. Despite of polarity similarities, these pharmaceuticals were completely resolved in the analytical run time of 15 min. The optimized three‐phase solvent system based‐method was validated for the simultaneous analysis of six matched‐polarity pharmaceuticals in wastewater samples. Good linearity (coefficient of determination more than 0.993) and precision (relative standard deviation less than 15.66%) were achieved. Recovery of analytes from the wastewater was between 0.70 and 1.18. Limits of detections ranged from 0.0001 to 0.5114 µg/L. No significant matrix effect, evaluated by post extraction addition, was observed in the electrospray ionization (ESI) source. Then, this methodology has been successfully applied to environmental study of pharmaceutical residues occurring in influent and effluent wastewater samples, from the main wastewater treatment plant in Potenza (Basilicata, Southern Italy).     

Column liquid chromatography coupled on-line with mass spectrometry using post-column phosphate suppression

The coupling of column liquid chromatography on-line with mass spectrometry using post-column phosphate suppression is described. A membrane suppressor is used to remove the non-volatile phosphate ions from the mobile phase after the chromatographic separation prior to introduction into the mass spectrometer. Using post-column phosphate suppression by a membrane device phosphate concentrations up to 10 mM phosphate, at a mobile phase flow rate of 0.1 ml/min, could be removed for more than 99% without any decay of the sensitivity of the MS detection. Using a new antidepressant tetracyclic basic compound, ORG 4428, and some structure related compounds as model compounds electron impact as well as chemical ionisation spectra of all compounds could be obtained. The set-up could be used for several weeks running, using a phosphate containing mobile phase, without any loss of performance.     

On-line coupling of in-tube boronate affinity solid phase microextraction with high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of cis-diol biomolecules

Boronate affinity solid phase microextraction (BA-SPME) is a new format appeared recently with great potential for specific extraction of cis-diol-containing compounds. Unlike conventional SPME, BA-SPME relies on covalent interactions and thereby features with specific selectivity, eliminated matrix effect and manipulable capture/release. However, only on-fiber BA-SPME and its off-line combination with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) have been reported so far. In this study, we report on-line coupling of in-tube BA-SPME with HPLC-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectroscopy (in-tube BA-SPME-HPLC-ESI-MS/MS) for the specific and sensitive determination of cis-diol-containing biomolecules. A boronate affinity extraction phase was prepared onto the inner surface of the capillary by copolymerization of vinylphenylboronic acid (VPBA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EDMA). The extraction conditions were optimized by choosing appropriate extraction/desorption solutions and extraction time. The extraction capacity, linear range, reproducibility and life-time were investigated. The developed method was successfully applied for the determination of dopamine in urine samples. Since many cis-diol-containing compounds are of great biological importance, the in-tube BA-SPME-HPLC method can be a promising tool.     

超高效液相色谱-电喷雾串联质谱法测定动物饲料中的大环内酯类和林可胺类抗生素

建立了动物饲料中竹桃霉素、红霉素、吉他霉素、交沙霉素、罗红霉素、泰乐菌素6种大环内酯和林可霉素、克林霉素2种林可胺抗生素的超高效液相色谱-电喷雾串联质谱(UPLC-ESI-MS/MS)检测方法。饲料样品采用甲醇提取,Oasis HLB固相萃取柱富集净化,Waters Acquity UPLC BEH C18色谱柱分离,以0.1%甲酸和乙腈为流动相进行梯度洗脱,流速为0.3 mL/min,正离子模式扫描,多反应监测模式检测,外标法定量。实验结果表明,8种药物在1～100 μg/L范围内具有良好的线性关系。在空白饲料样品中分别添加1、10和100 μg/kg 3个加标水平的8种药物,其平均回收率为68.6%～95.2%,相对标准偏差(RSD)为4.9%～11.8%,定量限均为1 μg/kg。结果表明,该方法简便快速、灵敏度高,适用于动物饲料中大环内酯类和林可胺类抗生素的同时检测。     

液相色谱-电喷雾串联质谱法同时检测鸡组织中5种抗病毒类药物的残留量

建立了鸡组织中抗病毒类药物多残留检测的液相色谱-电喷雾串联质谱法(LC-ESI-MS/MS)。采用三氯乙酸-乙腈溶液提取鸡组织中的金刚烷胺、金刚乙胺、美金刚、咪喹莫特和吗啉胍,离心过滤后经强阳离子交换柱(SCX)净化,色谱柱Xamide(100 mm×2.1 mm, 5 μm)分离,多反应监测(MRM)正离子扫描方式进行质谱检测。结果表明,鸡组织与鸡肝中5种药物的检出限为0.06～0.30 μg/kg,定量限为0.2～1.0 μg/kg。当5种药物的添加水平为0.2～10.0 μg/kg时,在鸡肉中的平均回收率为72.3%～94.2%,相对标准偏差(RSD)(n=6)为3.5%～11.3%;在鸡肝中的平均回收率为70.8%～92.7%, RSD(n=6)为5.3%～12.6%。该方法选择性好,抗干扰能力强,可作为鸡肉和鸡肝中抗病毒药物残留检测的确证方法。     

Development and validation of a liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of nitroimidazole residues in beeswax

In this study, a new method for the determination of 12 nitroimidazoles and their hydroxymetabolites (metronidazole, hydroxymetronidazole, dimetridazole, ronidazole, hydroxydimetridazole, ipronidazole, hydroxyipronidazole, carnidazole, ornidazole, secnidazole, ternidazole, tinidazole) in beeswax has been developed and validated. The optimized sample preparation procedure included melting and dilution of beeswax in a mixture of n‐hexane and isopropanol followed by extraction with 2% acetic acid. The extracts were purified on strong cation exchange based solid‐phase extraction cartridges and evaporated in a vacuum system with vortex motion. The separation and detection of the nitroimidazoles in the beeswax extracts were achieved within 12 min by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry using a pentafluorophenyl analytical column and applying a gradient elution with acetonitrile and 0.01% acetic acid as mobile phases. The method performance characteristics were evaluated at three concentration levels (1, 2, and 5 μg/kg) and the method was found to be suitable for determination of all tested nitroimidazoles. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.2–0.5 and 0.5–1 μg/kg, respectively. The recoveries varied from 71.2 to 104.9% while the relative standard deviations were less than 13.8% under the intermediate precision conditions.     

Use of autoclave extraction and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry for determination of maleic hydrazide residues in tobacco

Maleic hydrazide has been extensively used as an effective growth regulator in tobacco sucker control. After application, maleic hydrazide distributes itself throughout the tobacco plant where it can exist as free, or forms glucoside conjugates with glucose, or becomes bound with lignin. Among them, free maleic hydrazide and its glucoside conjugates are extractable under conventional solvent extraction, while lignin bound maleic hydrazide is claimed to be non‐extractable. Herein, an autoclave extraction method has been developed to extract maleic hydrazide effectively, in which tobacco samples are extracted in an autoclave at 130°C for 1 h using 4 M hydrochloric acid. Under such pressurized hot acidic water conditions, lignin bound maleic hydrazide can be released. Meanwhile, glucoside conjugates are hydrolyzed. Total maleic hydrazide is detected by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry, and the quantitative results coincide well with that obtained from the international standard method. The proposed autoclave extraction with liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry method exhibits excellent linearity in the range of 5–200 mg/kg (R² = 0.9998), the matrix matched limit of detection and limit of quantification is 0.68 and 2.27 mg/kg, respectively. This method is simple and improves sample capacity, providing an effective approach to monitoring maleic hydrazide residues in tobacco.     

Rapid determination of quinolones in cosmetic products by ultra high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

This study developed an improved analytical method for the simultaneous quantification of 13 quinolones in cosmetics by ultra high performance liquid chromatography combined with ESI triple quadrupole MS/MS under the multiple reaction monitoring mode. The analytes were extracted and purified by using an SPE cartridge. The limits of quantification ranged from 0.03 to 3.02 μg/kg. The precision for determining the quinolones was <19.39%. The proposed method was successfully developed for the determination of quinolones in real cosmetic samples.