Analysis of synthetic chemical drugs in adulterated Chinese medicines by capillary electrophoresis/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Sixteen synthetic chemical drugs, often found in adulterated Chinese medicines, were studied by capillary electrophoresis/UV absorbance (CE/UV) and capillary electrophoresis/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (CE/ESI-MS). Only nine peaks were detected with CZE/UV, but on-line CZE/MS provided clear identification for most compounds. For a real sample of a Chinese medicinal preparation, a few adulterants were identified by their migration times and protonated molecular ions. For coeluting compounds, more reliable identification was achieved by MS/MS in selected reaction monitoring mode. Micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) provided better separation than capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE), and, under optimal conditions, fourteen peaks were detected using UV detection. In ESI, the interference of SDS was less severe in positive ion mode than in negative ion mode. Up to 20 mM SDS could be used in direct coupling of MEKC with ESI-MS if the mass spectrometer was operated in positive ion mode. Because of better resolution in MEKC, adulterants can be identified without the use of MS/MS.     

Determination of estrogens and progestogens by mass spectrometric techniques (GC/MS, LC/MS and LC/MS/MS)

Steroid sex hormones and related synthetic compounds have been shown to provoke alarming estrogenic effects in aquatic organisms, such as feminization, at very low concentrations (ng/L or pg/L). In this work, different chromatographic techniques, namely, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS), are discussed for the analysis of estrogens, both free and conjugated, and progestogens, and the sensitivities achieved with the various techniques are inter-compared. GC/MS analyses are usually carried out after derivatization of the analytes with bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA). For LC/MS and LC/MS/MS analyses, different instruments, ionization techniques (electrospray (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI)), ionization modes (negative ion (NI) and positive ion (PI)) and monitoring modes (selected ion monitoring (SIM) and selected reaction monitoring (SRM)) are generally employed. Based on sensitivity and selectivity, LC/ESI-MS/MS is generally the method of choice for determination of estrogens in the NI mode and of progestogens in the PI mode (instrumental detection limits (IDLs) 0.1-10 ng/mL). IDLs achieved by LC/ESI-MS in the SIM mode and by LC/ESI-MS/MS in the SRM mode were, in general, comparable, although the selectivity of the latter is significantly higher and essential to avoid false positive determinations in the analysis of real samples. Conclusions and future perspectives are outlined.     

Simultaneous determination of five coumarins in Angelicae dahuricae Radix by HPLC/UV and LC‐ESI‐MS/MS

Rapid, simple and reliable HPLC/UV and LC‐ESI‐MS/MS methods for the simultaneous determination of five active coumarins of Angelicae dahuricae Radix, byakangelicol (1), oxypeucedanin (2), imperatorin (3), phellopterin (4) and isoimperatorin (5) were developed and validated. The separation condition for HPLC/UV was optimized using a Develosil RPAQUEOUS C₃₀ column using 70% acetonitrile in water as the mobile phase. This HPLC/UV method was successful for providing the baseline separation of the five coumarins with no interfering peaks detected in the 70% ethanol extract of Angelicae dahuricae Radix. The specific determination of the five coumarins was also accomplished by a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray ionization source (LC‐ESI‐MS/MS). Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) in the positive mode was used to enhance the selectivity of detection. The LC‐ESI‐MS/MS methods were successfully applied for the determination of the five major coumarins in Angelicae dahuricae Radix. These HPLC/UV and LC‐ESI‐MS/MS methods were validated in terms of recovery, linearity, accuracy and precision (intra‐ and inter‐day validation). Taken together, the shorter analysis time involved makes these HPLC/UV and LC‐ESI‐MS/MS methods valuable for the commercial quality control of Angelicae dahuricae Radix extracts and its pharmaceutical preparations. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of LC/MS and ICP/MS for establishing the fingerprint spectrum of the traditional Chinese medicinal preparation Gan-Lu-Yin

We developed a method to analyze the fingerprint spectrum qualitatively and quantitatively for the traditional Chinese herbal medicinal preparation Gan-Lu-Yin with HPLC combined with photodiode array detection, and MS, and to identify the preparation's 14 main components including baicalin, baicalein, oroxylin A-7-O-glucuronide, wogonin-7-O-glucuronide, wogonin, and oroxylin A in Radix Scutellariae; naringin and neohesperidin in Aurantii fructus; liquiritigenin, liquiritin, and glycyrrhizic acid in Radix Glycyrrhizae. In LC/UV assay, a Cosmosil 5C18-MS-II column was used as the stationary phase, and a gradient of potassium dihydrogen phosphate, ACN, and water as the elute solution. The UV detection wavelengths were 250 and 280 nm. In LC/MS assay, a gradient of phosphoric acid, ACN, and water was used as the elute solution, and electrospray positive ion mode ((+)-ESI) as the analytic mode. In order to explore the distribution of trace metal elements effectively in Gan-Lu-Yin, a microwave digestion method was used for sample treatment, and an inductively coupled plasma MS assay was used to analyze fingerprint spectra of the inorganic metals in Gan-Lu-Yin. Combined with fingerprint spectra of organic compounds by LC/UV and LC/MS, it was expected to provide effective quality control in the production of Gan-Lu-Yin.     

Determination of 1,4-benzodiazepines and their metabolites by capillary electrophoresis and high-performance liquid chromatography using ultraviolet and electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry.

A study is presented for the separation and determination of fifteen 1,4-benzodiazepine drugs and metabolites by capillary electrophoresis (CE) compared with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A comparison is made between the CE determination of the compounds by conventional UV detection and LC determination with electrospray ionisation (ESI) ion-trap mass spectrometry. CE is shown to provide superior separation to HPLC but the MS-MS capability of the ion-trap allows for the specific detection and determination of four of the compounds, diazepam, N'-desmethyldiazepam, oxazepam and temazepam in the hair of a patient under clinical treatment with diazepam and temazepam. Selected mixtures of drugs and metabolites are determined by CE and LC and the determination of diazepam and its metabolites by CE-UV-ESI-MS-MS is also presented.     

Quantitative determination of trace concentrations of tetracycline and sulfonamide antibiotics in surface water using solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography/ion trap tandem mass spectrometry

The occurrence of human and veterinary pharmaceutical compounds in surface waters (e.g. streams, lakes and reservoirs) is an important emerging environmental issue. There is a need for robust, sensitive and reliable analytical methods for measuring these compounds in a variety of natural water and wastewater matrices. This paper describes a method for the determination of seven tetracycline (TC) and six sulfonamide (SA) compounds in pristine and wastewater-influenced surface water using solid-phase extraction, and LCQ Duo ion trap liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) with positive electrospray ionization (ESI(+)) and selected reaction monitoring (SRM). The seven TCs and six SAs analyzed using this method include oxytetracycline (OTC), chlortetracycline (CTC), tetracycline (TC), democlocycline (DMC), doxycycline (DXC), meclocycline (MCC), minocycline (MNC), sulfathiazole (STZ), sulfamerazine (SMR), sulfamethazine (SMT), sulfachloropyridazine (SCP), sulfamethoxazole (SMX), and sulfadimethoxane (SDM). This study discusses the effects of flow rate, LC column diameter and LC column temperature on UV and/or mass peak quality of the different analytes. Several product ions for MS/MS detection have been identified and compared for ion trap and triple quadrupole LC/MS/MS instruments. Statistical analysis for determination of the method detection limit (MDL), accuracy and precision of the method is described. Matrix effects are evaluated in deionized, pristine and wastewater-influenced river water. The method is applied to evaluate the occurrence of these compounds in a small watershed in northern Colorado.     

A New Splitting Method for Both Analytical and Preparative LC/MS

This paper presents a novel splitting method for liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) application, which allows fast MS detection of LC-separated analytes and subsequent online analyte collection. In this approach, a PEEK capillary tube with a micro-orifice drilled on the tube side wall is used to connect with LC column. A small portion of LC eluent emerging from the orifice can be directly ionized by desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) with negligible time delay (6~10 ms) while the remaining analytes exiting the tube outlet can be collected. The DESI-MS analysis of eluted compounds shows narrow peaks and high sensitivity because of the extremely small dead volume of the orifice used for LC eluent splitting (as low as 4 nL) and the freedom to choose favorable DESI spray solvent. In addition, online derivatization using reactive DESI is possible for supercharging proteins and for enhancing their signals without introducing extra dead volume. Unlike UV detector used in traditional preparative LC experiments, this method is applicable to compounds without chromophores (e.g., saccharides) due to the use of MS detector. Furthermore, this splitting method well suits monolithic column-based ultra-fast LC separation at a high elution flow rate of 4 mL/min.

Liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry of unusual phenols from Yucca schidigera bark: comparison with other analytical techniques

Qualitative and quantitative analyses of phenolic compounds are of interest for both medicinal and food plants. In the present work, the phenolic fraction from Yucca schidigera, a plant bearing the GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) label approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, was studied. Crude extracts of Y. schidigera bark were investigated by liquid chromatography/UV spectrophotometry with diode-array detection, liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS) and liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS), in order to develop and optimize simple and rapid techniques to determine both stilbenes and yuccaols for the purposes of quality control of collected material. With optimal LC and MS conditions, stilbenes and yuccaols were quantified with all the proposed methods and the results were compared. Sensitivity was evaluated and the results indicated that MS/MS detection in the multiple reaction monitoring mode is easily applicable to this plant and allows the rapid and direct identification and quantification of these peculiar compounds in crude plant extracts.     

Coupling techniques in LC/MS and SFC/MS

Summary Techniques and applications of analytical instruments combining a chromatographic technique, including liquid chromatography and supercritical fluid chromatography, with mass spectrometry (LC/MS and SFC/MS), that have appeared over the past five years, are reviewed and discussed. It is shown that still many different methods co-exist and have both specific advantages and limitations. SFC/MS appears easier to run for many compounds so far analysed by conventional LC/MS methods. On the other hand, new LC/MS methods that use fast atom bombardment or electrospray ionization have the greater potential for the investigation of polar biopolymers.     

Capillary electrophoresis/electrospray ion trap mass spectrometry for the analysis of negatively charged derivatized and underivatized glycans.

The increasing interest in the development of glycoproteins for therapeutic purposes has created a greater demand for methods to characterize the sugar moieties bound to them. Traditionally, released carbohydrates are derivatized using such methods as permethylation or fluorescent tagging prior to analysis by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), capillary electrophoresis (CE), or direct infusion mass spectrometry. However, little research has been performed using CE with on-line mass spectrometry (MS) detection. The CE separation of neutral oligosaccharides requires the covalent attachment of a charged species for electrophoretic migration. Among charged labels which have shown promise in assisting CE and HPLC separation is the fluorophore 8-aminonaphthalene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid (ANTS). This report describes the qualitative profiling of charged ANTS-derivatized and underivatized complex glycans by CE with on-line electrospray ion trap mass spectrometry. Several neutral standard glycans including a maltooligosaccharide ladder were derivatized with ANTS and subjected to CE/UV and CE/MS using low pH buffers consisting of citric and 6-aminocaproic acid salts. The ANTS-derivatized species were detected as negative ions, and multiple stage MS analysis provided valuable structural information. Fragment ions were easily identified, showing promise for the identification of unknowns. N-Linked glycans released from bovine fetuin were used to demonstrate the applicability of ANTS derivatization followed by CE/MS for the analysis of negatively charged glycans. Analyses were performed on both underivatized and ANTS-derivatized species, and sialylated glycans were separated and detected in both forms. The ability of the ion trap mass spectrometer to perform multiple stage analysis was exploited, with MS5 information obtained on selected glycans. This technique presents a complementary method to existing methodologies for the profiling of glycan mixtures.     

Screening non-colored phenolics in red wines using liquid chromatography/ultraviolet and mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry libraries

Liquid chromatography/ultraviolet (LC/UV) and mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (MS/MS) libraries containing 39 phenolic compounds were established by coupling a LC and an ion trap MS with an electrospray ionization (ESI) source, operated in negative ion mode. As a result, the deprotonated [M-H]- molecule was observed for all the analyzed compounds. Using MS/MS hydroxybenzoic acid and hydroxycinnamic acids showed a loss of CO2 and production of a [M-H-44]- fragment and as expected, the UV spectra of these two compounds were affected by their chemical structures. For flavonol and flavonol glycosides, the spectra of their glycosides and aglycones produced deprotonated [M-H]- and [A-H]- species, respectively, and their UV spectra each presented two major absorption peaks. The UV spectra and MS/MS data of flavan-3-ols and stilbenes were also investigated. Using the optimized LC/MS/MS analytical conditions, the phenolic extracts from six representative wine samples were analyzed and 31 phenolic compounds were detected, 26 of which were identified by searching the LC/UV and MS/MS libraries. Finally, the presence of phenolic compounds was confirmed in different wine samples using the LC/UV and LC/MS/MS libraries.     

Automated liquid chromatographic/tandem mass spectrometric method for screening beta-blocking drugs in urine

An automated liquid chromatographic/tandem mass spectrometric (LC/MS/MS) method is presented for the screening and confirmation of 16 beta-blocking drugs in clinical and autopsy urine samples. The described method involved C(18) solid phase extraction, LC separation and MS analysis on a triple-stage quadrupole mass analyser. Samples were initially pre-screened for the presence of any beta-blocking drugs using LC/MS with selected ion monitoring. Any compounds tentatively identified as beta-blocking drugs on the basis of their LC retention time and protonated molecular ion were then automatedly subjected to a second analysis in which the relevant MS/MS product ion mass spectra were acquired. These product ion mass spectra were then automatically searched against a 400-substance mass spectral library containing previously acquired beta-blocking drugs. The results demonstrated that library search of beta-blocking drugs in urine with MS/MS product ion mass spectra was more reliable and produced fewer false negatives than library searching with mass spectra derived from single-stage quadrupole MS. The limits of identification in the MS/MS product ion scan ranged from 0.02 mg l(-1) for carvedilol to 1.2 mg l(-1) for pindolol, the majority of the values being below 0.2 mg l(-1).     

A novel interface for variable flow nanoscale LC/MS/MS for improved proteome coverage

A variable flow "peak trapping" liquid chromatography (LC) interface has been developed for the coupling of nanoscale LC to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The presented peak trapping LC interface allows for the extended analysis time of co-eluting compounds and has been employed for the identification of proteins via tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). The variable flow process can be controlled either manually or in a completely automated manner where the mass spectrometer status determines the status of the variable flow interface. When the mass spectrometer operates in MS survey mode, the interface is operated in a so-called "high-flow" mode. Alternatively, the interface is operated in a "low-flow" mode during MS/MS analysis. In the "high-flow" mode of the variable flow process the column flow rate is typically around 200 nL/min, whereas in the "low-flow" mode the column effluent is introduced into the source of the mass spectrometer at 25 nL/min. In addition to the flow reduction during MS/MS analysis, the gradient is paused to preserve the peptide separation on the analytical nanoscale LC column. The performance of the variable flow nanoscale LC/MS/MS interface is demonstrated by the automated analysis of standard peptide mixtures and protein digests utilizing variable flow, data-dependent scanning MS/MS techniques, and automated database searching.     

In vivo microdialysis and reverse phase ion pair liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry for the determination and identification of acetylcholine and related compounds in rat brain

A method using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) has been developed for the determination of basal acetylcholine (ACh) in microdialysate from the striatum of freely moving rats. A microdialysis probe was surgically implanted into the striatum of the rats and Ringer's solution was used as the perfusion medium at a flow rate of 2 microL per minute. The samples were then analyzed off-line by LC/MS/MS experiments. The separation of ACh and choline (Ch) was carried out using reverse phase ion pair liquid chromatography with heptafluorobutyric acid as a volatile ion pairing reagent. Analytes were detected by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry in the positive ion mode. The detection limit for ACh was 1.4 fmol on column, which is at least three times lower than previously reported. Three quaternary ammonium compounds in the rat brain microdialysate were also identified by tandem mass spectrometry experiments in which the unknown mass spectra were compared with standard reference compounds. These compounds were identified as carnitine, acetylcarnitine and (3-carboxypropyl)trimethylammonium. This is the first known report of the compound (3-carboxypropyl)trimethylammonium being found in rat brain.     

Liquid chromatography/multi-stage mass spectrometry of bisphenol A and its halogenated derivatives

We report a liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method for analyzing bisphenol A (BPA) and its halogenated derivatives. Since only tetrachlorobisphenol A and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) are commercially available, mono-, di- and trichlorobisphenol A were synthesized and purified in order to be used as analytical standards. This family of compounds was studied using electrospray ionization and an ion trap mass analyzer in order to characterize the new compounds and to propose fragmentation pathways. Multi-stage mass spectrometry was used to confirm the genealogical relationship between the ions. Some product ions were traced from MS/MS to MS(4) and the labelled compounds BPA-d(16) and TBBPA-(13)C(12) were used to assign some product ion structures. In general, the deprotonated molecule [M--H](-) loses a methyl and/or a halogen group during both MS/MS and MS(3), while the neutral loss of CO was also observed in MS(3) spectra. We selected the most intense and characteristic MS/MS transitions for LC/MS/MS analysis. LC separation was performed in a reversed-phase column; methanol/water (no additives) was used as the mobile phase in gradient elution mode; and BPA-d(16) was chosen as the internal standard. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) was used to pre-concentrate and to clean up water samples. The SPE LC/MS/MS method allows BPA and its halogenated derivatives to be detected at a few parts-per-billion (ppb) in surface water.     

Capillary electrophoresis/mass spectrometry: a promising tool for the control of some physiologically hazardous compounds. I-derivatives of 3-quinuclidinol

A method based on the coupling of capillary electrophoresis with mass spectrometry (CE/MS) was developed for the monitoring of 3-quinuclidinol and its four N-alkyl derivatives (methyl, ethyl, propyl and isopropyl derivatives). A fragmentation study (collision-induced dissociation of ions in an ion trap) and optimization of the ion optics set-up for CE/MS experiments using direct infusion of a methanolic solution of the standards into the mass spectrometer were carried out in advance. Molecular ions of all quaternary compounds and the quasi-molecular ion [M + H]+ of free 3-quinuclidinol prevail in the mass spectra. In the MS/MS of propyl and isopropyl derivatives, the elimination of the alkyl chain dominates, leading to the ion at m/z 128. The fragmentation of the other compounds is more complex. Previous CE separation of the mixture of isobaric propyl and isopropyl derivatives is necessary for their unambiguous identification. A 10 mM ammonium acetate buffer (pH 4.0) is the optimum running electrolyte, allowing the CE separation of methyl, ethyl, propyl and isopropyl derivatives. A 0.5% (v/v) solution of acetic acid in methanol provides sufficient detection sensitivity when used as the sheath liquid. Limits of detection of 0.1 ppm for 3-quinuclidinol and 0.05 ppm for quaternary derivatives were achieved under the optimum conditions. The optimized method was applied to the determination of 3-quinuclidinol and related quaternary derivatives spiked into a sample of pond water. The experimental set-up for CE/MS/MS was investigated, which strongly increases the identification capability of the technique.     

Investigation of unknown related substances in commercial erythromycin samples with liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry

A selective reversed phase liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS(n)) method is described for the identification of erythromycin impurities and related substances in commercial erythromycin samples. Mass spectral data are acquired on a LCQ ion trap mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray interface operated in positive ion mode. The LCQ is ideally suited for identification of impurities and related substances because it provides on-line LC/MS(n) capability. Compared with UV detection, this hyphenated LC/MS(n) technique provides as a main advantage efficient identification of novel substances without time-consuming isolation and purification procedures. Using this method four novel related substances were identified in commercial samples.     

Structure elucidation of four related substances in gramicidin with liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry

A selective reversed phase liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS(n)) method is described for the identification of related substances in commercial gramicidin samples. Mass spectral data are acquired on an LCQ ion trap mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray interface operated in the positive and the negative ion mode. The LCQ is ideally suited for identification of related substances because it provides on-line LC/MS(n) capability. Compared with UV detection the main advantage of this hyphenated LC/MS(n) technique is the efficient identification of novel related substances without time-consuming isolation and purification procedures. Using this method four novel related substances were separated and identified in a commercial sample.     

Analysis of aliphatic and aromatic carbonyl compounds in ambient air by LC/MS/MS.

A sensitive liquid chromatograph/tandem mass spectrometric technique (LC/MS/MS) was applied to determine aliphatic and aromatic carbonyl compounds in ambient air. Traces of the carbonyl compounds were sampled by passing through a Sep-Pak DNPH-silica cartridge. Their derivatives were thus eluted with acetonitrile, separated by reversed-phase liquid chromatography and determined by quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry in an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) mode with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). The detection limits (DL) of the carbonyl compounds were 0.8 - 15 ng/m3. A number of the carbonyl compounds were detected at n.d.- 14 microg/m3 levels. The precursor ion scanning analysis was applied to identify the unknown compounds.     

液相色谱/电喷雾质谱测定柑桔中的柠檬苦素类似物配糖体

 利用液相色谱 /电喷雾质谱联用技术对柚皮中的柠檬苦素类似物配糖体进行了定向分析 ,在柚皮的乙醇提取物中检测出奥巴叩酮配糖体和诺米林配糖体。利用制备液相色谱对这两种柠檬苦素类似物配糖体进行纯化 ,并用核磁共振对其结构进行鉴定。测定结果表明 ,液质联用法不需标样即可对柑桔中的柠檬苦素类似物配糖体进行定性分析。方法准确、快速、简便。