Uncertainty Analysis of Chlormequat Residue in Fruits by LC�CMS�CMS

A method for determination of chlormequat (CCC) residue in fruits by liquid chromatography?Ctandem mass spectrometry (LC?CMS?CMS) was developed. Residue of CCC was extracted from samples with methanol?Cwater (v/v, 1:1) containing 1.0% acetic acid, cleaned up by strong cationic exchange (SCX) cartridge, and then determined by LC?CMS?CMS. The method showed good linearity over the concentration range 0.002?C5.0 mg kg^?1 with correlation coefficient above 0.997. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) for CCC were 5 × 10^?4 mg kg^?1 (S/N = 3) and 0.002 mg kg^?1 (S/N = 10), respectively. Recoveries for CCC at three spiked levels (0.025, 0.050, and 0.20 mg kg^?1) were in the range 80?C102%. Estimation of measurement uncertainty was calculated for CCC at the level of 0.025 mg kg^?1 in fruits. The results demonstrated that the uncertainty of recovery was the main contribution to the combined standard uncertainty. The relative combined standard uncertainties associated with the method ranged from 11 to 13%, depending on the sample matrices.     

Rapid Simultaneous Determination of Eight Benzimidazoles in Animal Feed by LC�CMS�CMS

A rapid, sensitive and reliable LC?CMS?CMS method for the determination of eight benzimidazoles in animal feed was developed and validated. Samples were extracted with acidic acetonitrile. The extract was diluted with 0.1% formic acid in water, and analyzed by LC?CMS?CMS on a Waters XBridge? C₁₈ column with acetonitrile/0.1% formic acid in water as mobile phase. The samples were quantified with the matrix standard calibration curve method. Good linearity was obtained for eight benzimidazoles at a concentration of 0.005?C2.5 ??g mL^?1 with a linear relative coefficient more than 0.990. Recoveries of 84.0?C104.0% with CVs of 2.50?C7.50% were obtained. Limit of detection was 2.1?C63.0 ??g kg^?1. The method demonstrated to be suitable for the determination of eight benzimidazoles in animal feed samples.     

Determination of Quinine and Doxycycline in Rat Plasma by LC�CMS�CMS: Application to a Pharmacokinetic Study

A fast, sensitive, and specific LC?CMS?CMS method for determination of quinine (QN) and doxycycline (DOX) in rat plasma has been developed and validated. QN, DOX, and cimetidine (internal standard, IS) were extracted from the plasma by protein precipitation. The compounds were separated on a C₁₈ column with methanol?C0.1% aqueous formic acid 70:30 (v/v) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.5 mL min^?1 (split 1:3). Detection was by positive electrospray ionization (ESI+) in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode, monitoring the transitions 325.0 ?? 307.0, 445.0 ?? 428.1, and 252.8 ?? 159.0, for QN, DOX, and IS, respectively. The analysis was carried out in 2.0 min and the method was linear in the plasma concentration range 5?C5,000 ng mL^?1. The mean extraction recoveries for QN, DOX, and IS from plasma were 89.4, 90.5, and 86.3%, respectively. The method was validated for linearity, precision, accuracy, specificity, and stability; the results obtained were within the acceptable range. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of QN and DOX in rat plasma samples to support pharmacokinetic studies.     

Determination of Pilocarpine in Human Plasma by LC�CAPCI�CMS�CMS and Application to a Pharmacokinetic Study

A sensitive, specific and rapid high performance liquid chromatography?Catmospheric pressure chemical ionization source-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-APCI-MS-MS) method for the determination of pilocarpine in human plasma was developed and validated. The method is based on liquid?Cliquid extraction, followed by a reversed-phase liquid chromatographic separation, and detected by means of tandem mass spectrometry. The linear calibration curve covered a concentration range of 2?C500 ??g L^?1. The intra- and inter-day precisions for pilocarpine were <10% and the accuracies were between 90 and 110%. The method was applied successfully to a pharmacokinetic study involving 20 healthy Chinese male volunteers after oral administration of 6 mg pilocarpine.     

Determination of Revaprazan in Human Plasma by LC�CMS�CMS and Application to a Pharmacokinetic Study in Chinese Volunteers

A sensitive, specific, and rapid liquid chromatography?Celectrospray ionization?Ctandem mass spectrometry (LC?CESI?CMS?CMS) method was developed for determination of revaprazan in human plasma. Plasma samples were simply treated with methanol to precipitate, and then isolated supernatants were directly injected into the LC?CESI?CMS?CMS system. A Thermo Hypurity C18 column (150 × 2.1 mm, 5 ??m) with mobile phase of methanol?Cwater (70:30, v/v) containing 0.05% formic acid was used for chromatographic separation. Mass-spectrometric quantification was carried out in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode, monitoring the m/z transitions 363.1 ?? 245.1 for revaprazan and 531.2 ?? 489.2 for ketoconazole (internal standard, IS) in positive ion mode. The linear calibration curves covered a concentration range of 2?C1,000 ??g L^?1. The intra- and interday precisions (percentage relative standard deviation, RSD%) for revaprazan at three quality control levels were all <5%, and the accuracies were between 90% and 110%. The method has been successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study involving 12 Chinese volunteers, and the main pharmacokinetic parameters of revaprazan in Chinese population are reported for the first time.     

LC�CMS�CMS Quantitative Determination of Gefitinib in Human Serum and Cerebrospinal Fluid

A specific, sensitive, and rapid method based on high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC?CMS?CMS) was developed for determination of gefitinib in human serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The analyte was detected by tandem mass spectrometry operating in positive electrospray ionization mode with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). Gefitinib was extracted from serum or CSF samples with ethyl acetate using icotinib as internal standard. The method was validated over the concentration range of 1.00?C1,000 ng mL^?1 in human serum and 0.05?C50.0 ng mL^?1 in CSF. For both matrices, inter- and intraday precision (CV%) were less than 15% and accuracy was within 85?C115%. Average extraction recoveries were 78.9 and 61.8% in human serum and CSF, respectively. Linearity, recovery, matrix effects, and stability were validated in the two matrices. The method was successfully used for analysis of clinical samples from lung cancer patients with brain metastases treated with gefitinib in the dosage range of 250?C500 mg day^?1.     

Analysis of Fluoroquinolones in Animal Feed Based on Microwave-Assisted Extraction by LC�CMS�CMS Determination

An environmentally friendly method for the determination of fluoroquinolone (FQ) antibiotics including enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, fleroxacin and sparfloxacin in four feeds is proposed. Disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA)?CMcllvaine buffer (0.1 mol L^?1, pH 4.0) was used as an extracting solvent and the extraction process was accelerated by microwave irradiation. No organic solvents were used in the extraction procedure. The extract obtained was then cleaned up and concentrated by an Oasis hydrophilic?Clipophilic balance (HLB) solid-phase extraction cartridge. The relative intra- and inter-day standard deviations obtained were in the range of 3.7?C9.1 and 2.1?C11.4%, respectively. In the three fortified levels of blank feed sample (30, 100 and 500 ng g^?1), recoveries of FQs ranging from 61.1 to 97.9% were obtained. The analytes desorbed from HLB were analyzed by liquid chromatography?Ctandem mass spectrometry. The limit of detection was in the range of 5.0?C9.1 ng g^?1. The method presented here can be considered a promising alternative to traditional techniques using shaking or stirring for extraction, being more effective, and producing less pollution.     

Simultaneous Determination of Pethidine and Atropine in Rabbit Plasma by LC�CMS�CMS and Its Application to a Pharmacokinetic Study after Intramuscular Administration

A sensitive and selective liquid chromatography?Ctandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of pethidine and atropine in rabbit plasma was developed and validated. The analytes and internal standard (IS) are extracted from plasma by liquid?Cliquid extraction using ethyl acetate, and separated on a Zorbax SB-Aq column (2.1 × 150 mm, 3.5 ??m) using acetonitrile?C0.1% formic acid as mobile phase with gradient elution. Electrospray ionization source was applied and operated in positive ion mode, and multiple reaction monitoring mode was used for quantification using target fragment ions m/z 247.8 ?? 219.7 for pethidine, m/z 289.9 ?? 123.8 for atropine and m/z 295.0 ?? 266.8 for IS, respectively. The assay is linear over the range of 5?C1,000 ng mL^?1 for pethidine and atropine, with a lower limit of quantification of 3 ng mL^?1 for pethidine and 5 ng mL^?1 for atropine. Intra-day and inter-day precision are less than 11% and the accuracy are in the range of 90.4?C106.3%. Furthermore, the newly developed method is successfully used for the determination of pethidine and atropine in rabbit plasma for pharmacokinetic study.     

Simultaneous Determination of Pregabalin, Sildenafil and Its Active Metabolite in Rat Plasma Utilising SPE Followed by LC�CMS�CMS

A sensitive and selective analytical method for the quantification of pregabalin, sildenafil and the active desmethyl metabolite of sildenafil (UK-103320) has been developed. The method can simultaneously quantify the three analytes within the expected in vivo concentration ranges using 50 ??L of rat plasma. It utilises solid-phase extraction followed by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Quantitation in rat plasma demonstrated good accuracy and precision over the following dynamic ranges for each analyte: pregabalin (70?C10,000 ng mL^?1), sildenafil (1?C2,000 ng mL^?1) and UK-103320 (1?C2,000 ng mL^?1). For each analyte, the following lower limits of quantitation were obtained: 70 ng mL^?1 for pregabalin and 1 ng mL^?1 for sildenafil and UK-103320, respectively. The method was successfully used to analyse plasma samples from rats when pregabalin and sildenafil were administered in combination.     

Determination of Fulvestrant in Rat Plasma by LC�CMS�CMS: Application to a Pharmacokinetic Study

A reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC?CMS?CMS) method was developed and validated for the determination of fulvestrant in rat plasma. Sample preparation involved a liquid-liquid extraction using 1.0 mL of n-hexane?Cisopropanol (90:10, v/v) to extract the analyte from 0.1 mL of rat plasma. The analytes were separated on a phenyl-based column using the mobile phase consisting of methanol/water containing 5 mM ammonium acetate at the flow rate of 0.3 mL min^?1. The analytes were monitored by tandem mass spectrometry under electrospray negative ionization mode. Linear calibration curves were generated over the fulvestrant concentration ranges of 0.05?C10.0 ng mL^?1 in rat plasma. The accuracy and within- and between-day precisions were within the generally accepted criteria for bioanalytical methods (<15%). This developed and validated assay method was successfully employed to characterize the plasma concentration-time profile of fulvestrant after its intramuscular administration in rats at a dose of 10 mg kg^?1.     

Simultaneous Qualitative Analysis of Coumarins in the Rhizome of Angelica polymorpha Maxim. by LC?CDAD?CESI?CMS

A novel method has been developed for simultaneous qualitative analysis of coumarins in the rhizome of Angelica polymorpha Maxim. with the use of high-performance liquid chromatography (LC)?Cphotodiode array detection (DAD)?Celectrospray ionization (ESI)?Ctandem mass spectrometry (MS). LC analysis was performed on an Agilent Eclipse XDB-C₁₈ analytical column with a gradient solvent system of water and methanol, ultraviolet (UV) absorption detection was at 300?nm and peak UV spectrum and (+) ESI?CMS data were acquired by DAD and a quadrupole mass spectrometer, respectively. Eight peaks were identified as linear furocoumarins including aviprin, isopimpinellin, bergapten, isooxypeucedanin, gosferol, imperatorin, phellopterin and isoimperatorin by comparing their retention time, UV, and MS spectra with that of the authentic standards, and the analysis of UV spectra and ESI?CMS data of the standards gave the characteristics of UV absorption and ESI?CMS fragmentation. On the basis of the above characteristics, the possible structures of four other linear furocoumarins were deduced in LC. The other chemical structures were proposed as three angular furocoumarins, a simple coumarin, two chromones, and a cinnamic acid by comparing their UV and MS data with that of literature reports. Accordingly, the method we established can simply and accurately identify the key chemical constituents in the rhizome of A. polymorpha.     

LC�CMS�CMS Determination of Gizzerosine in Poultry Feed

A new selective method for the determination of the bioactive amine gizzerosine in poultry feed is presented based on hydrophilic interaction chromatography coupled to electrospray ionisation and tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry. The protonated molecular ions were selected for fragmentation and scanning of the two major product ions using the mass analyser in the multiple reaction monitoring mode. The analytical methodology included acid hydrolysis of feed sample aliquots and desalting and crude clean-up of hydrolysates using cation-exchange chromatography on a polymeric solid-phase extraction sorbent. Mean overall recoveries (n = 9) were 68?C82% in spike-recovery experiments. The limit of detection was 0.25 mg kg^?1. The method was applied to the analysis of fish meal and fish meal-containing poultry feed samples. Although gizzerosine could not be detected in any of the samples, it was found in fish meal made from sand eel after heating to 130 °C for 24 h.     

A Simple Method for Monitoring Iodinated Casein in Feed Premixes by LC?CMS Using Iodothyronines as Markers

A simple and effective liquid chromatography?Cmass spectrometry method was devoleped for mornitoring iodinated casein (IC) in feed premixes. In this method, iodothyronines released from IC upon sample hydrolysis were used as markers. Samples were treated with Na₂S and hydrolyzed with Ba(OH)₂??H₂O followed by cleaned up using a SampliQ SPE cartridge. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a C₁₈ column with isocratic elution using water (0.1% formic acid, v/v) and acetonitrile as the mobile phase. Ion detection was performed using electrospray ionization in positive mode using selected ion monitoring at m/z 606, 652, 732 and 778. IC levels were mornitored by qualitative analysis of the iodothyronines and quantification of thyroxine. Validation data demonstrated that the method was selective and sensitive (??0.5?mg?g^?1) with acceptable accuracy (70.2?C128.2% recovery) and precison (RSD 5.5?C15.2%).     

LC�CMS�CMS Quantitative Determination of Brivudine in Human Plasma and Its Application to Pharmacokinetic Studies

A sensitive and specific liquid chromatography?Celectrospray ionization?Ctandem mass spectrometry method has been developed and validated for the identification and quantification of brivudine in human plasma using diclofenac as an internal standard. The method involves extraction with ethyl acetate. The analyte was separated on a C₁₈ column and analyzed in multiple reaction monitoring mode with a negative electrospray ionization interface using the [M?CH]^? ions, m/z 332.8??m/z 80.9 for brivudine, m/z 293.6??m/z 249.5 for diclofenac. The method was validated over the concentration range of 5.54?C2,836 ??g L^?1 for brivudine. The intra-and inter-day precisions were less than 8.91% in terms of relative standard deviation (RSD), and the accuracy was within ?4.22% in terms of relative error (RE). The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 5.54 ??g L^?1 with acceptable precision and accuracy. There were almost no matrix effects. Recovery of brivudine spiked in drug-free plasma was higher than 77.17%. The method was used to study the pharmacokinetic profile of brivudine in human plasma after oral administration of brivudine tablets.     

Detection of Nandrolone and Boldenone Abuse in the Ovine by GC�CMS�CMS

Under European legislation, the use of anabolic steroids as growth promoters in meat production is prohibited. Currently, there is no internationally accepted method used for the detection of the potentially endogenous steroids nandrolone and boldenone in the ovine. In the current study, a multi-residue GC?CMS?CMS-based urinary assay has been validated for boldenone as well as the nandrolone metabolites 5??-estrane-3??,17??-diol and epinandrolone. Using a standard addition calibration line approach in pooled bovine urine, the method was linear between the endogenous concentrations and those augmented with 6,000 pg mL^?1. The method was then applied to populations of wether (n = 242) and ewe (n = 237) ovine animals in order to establish urinary thresholds for detecting nandrolone and boldenone abuse. A statistical model (the Chebyshev inequality) was used to produce threshold concentrations for each analyte. Adjustment of the nandrolone metabolite data for specific gravity, a measure of the hydration status of the animal, allowed the effective thresholds to be reduced; potentially leading to a lower number of false positives. Furthermore, the proposed epinandrolone confirmatory thresholds (38,628 and 57,950 pg mL^?1 in wethers and ewes, respectively) were found to be effective in detecting abuse of nandrolone for at least 1 month post-dose of this steroid. However, further studies would be required to assess the efficacy of the proposed boldenone confirmatory thresholds (19,857 and 56,080 pg mL^?1 in wethers and ewes, respectively) since data on its excretion following administration to the ovine are lacking.     

Evaluation of Sempervivum tectorum L. Flavonoids by LC and LC–MS

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method with UV detection was developed for determination of [(N-morpholine)methylene]daunorubicin hydrochloride (DD-M) during studies of its stability. In this LC method the following were used: an RP-column, the mobile phase—acetonitrile:methanol:solution A (9:1:10 v/v/v) [solution A contains 2.88 g of sodium laurilsulfate and 1.6 mL of phosphoric acid(V)] with a flow rate of 1.4 mol L⁻¹ and quinine hydrochloride as an internal standard. The detection wavelength was 254 nm. The method was validated with regard to linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantitation, selectivity and precision. Hydrolysis of the DD-M catalyzed by hydrogen ions in hydrochloric acid and a spontaneous reaction of the DD-M degradation under the influence of the water in sodium hydroxide took place. The thermodynamic parameters of these reactions—energy, enthalpy and entropy of activation—were calculated. It was observed that a positive salt effect occurred in hydrochloric acid.

     

Simultaneous Determination of Escin Ia and Its Isomer Isoescin Ia by LC�CMS�CMS: Application to a Pharmacokinetic Study of Escin Ia in Rats

A rapid and sensitive LC?CMS?CMS method for the simultaneous determination of escin Ia and isoescin Ia in rat plasma, urine, feces and bile samples was developed and validated. Analytes and telmisartan [internal standard (IS)] were extracted by solid-phase extraction on C₁₈ cartridges. Components in the extract were separated on an HC-C₁₈ column (5 ??m, 150 × 4.6 mm i.d.) using 10 mM ammonium acetate?Cmethanol?Cacetonitrile (40:30:30, v/v/v) as the mobile phase. The method demonstrated good linearity from 5 ng mL^?1 (LLOQ) to 1,500 ng mL^?1 for both escin Ia and isoescin Ia. Intra- and inter-day precision measured as RSD was within ±15%. Recoveries and matrix effects of both escin Ia and isoescin Ia were satisfactory in all four matrices examined. The method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study in Wistar rats after a single intravenous administration of escin Ia at the dose of 1.0 mg kg^?1.     

On-line Separation and Detection of Peptides by Capillary Electrophoresis/Electrospary FT-ICR-MS

The coupling of capillary electrophoresis to electrospray Fourier transfrom ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) was presented for the on-line separation and detection of mixture of peptides.With the ultra-high resolution and unmatchable mass measurement accuracy FT-ICR-MS provides,the separation and identification of angiotension Ⅲ,octreotide and elastin chemotactic were successfully achieved using this fabricated device,which showed its great application potential in detection and structural identification for multicomponent sample.     

Separation of Peptides by Pressurized Capillary Electrochromatography

A novel gradient pressurized capillary electrochromatography (pCEC) instrument was developed to separate peptides.Two gradient elution modes,hydrophobic and hydrophilic interaction mode in pCEC,were performed on this instrument.Baseline separation of six peptides was obtained on two gradient modes with C18 column and strong cationic exchange column respectively.The effects of mixer volume and total frow rate of pumps on resolution were also discussed.