Sensitive liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for the quantification of Quetiapine in plasma

A sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the quantification of quetiapine in rat plasma. Following liquid-liquid extraction, the analyte was separated using a gradient mobile phase on a reverse-phase column and analyzed by MS/MS in the multiple reaction monitoring mode using the respective [M + H]+ ions, m/z 384 to m/z 221 for quetiapine and m/z 327 to m/z 270 for the internal standard. The assay exhibited a linear dynamic range of 0.25-500 ng/mL for quetiapine in rat plasma. The lower limit of quantification was 0.25 ng/mL with a relative standard deviation of less than 7%. Acceptable precision and accuracy were obtained for concentrations over the standard curve range. The validated method was successfully used to analyze rat plasma samples for application in pre-clinical pharmacokinetic studies. This method in rodent plasma could be adapted for quetiapine assay in human plasma.     

Ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry for pharmacokinetics of bakuchiol in rats

Psoralea Corylifolia L. is a traditional Chinese medicine with many beneficial effects in medical therapies. Bakuchiol was the main active ingredient of Psoralea Corylifolia L., used for the treatment of various diseases and also as a natural food additive. A specific and reliable ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry has been developed and fully validated for the quantification of bakuchiol in rat plasma. Chromatographic separation of bakuchiol and an internal standard, daidzein, was achieved on a Hypersil Gold C₁₈ column with gradient elution that consisted of methanol and water at a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min. The compounds were detected at negative ionization mode using mass transition m/z 255.2 → 172.0 and 252.9 → 132.0 for bakuchiol and daidzein, respectively. Good linearity was obtained over the range of 2–1000 ng/mL and the lower limit of quantification was 2 ng/mL. The intra‐ and inter‐day accuracies ranged from 91.1 to 105.7% and precisions (relative standard deviations) were within 9.3%. Bakuchiol was found to be stable under three freeze–thaw cycles, short‐term temperature, post‐preparative and long‐term temperature conditions. The method was applied to a pharmacokinetic study of bakuchiol intravenously administered to rats at a dose of 5 mg/kg. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ultra‐performance liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of febuxostat in dog plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic study

A rapid, sensitive and selective ultra‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the determination of febuxostat in dog plasma. Using paclitaxel as an internal standard (IS), a simple liquid–liquid extraction method with ethyl acetate was adopted for plasma sample pretreatment. Separation was carried out on an Acquity UPLC BEH C₁₈ column with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and water (containing 0.2% formic acid). The assay was linear in the concentration ranged from 5 to 5000 ng/mL with a lower limit of quantification of 5 ng/mL for febuxostat. The single run analysis was as short as 2.0 min. Finally, the developed method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of febuxostat tablets following oral administration at a single dose of 40 mg in beagle dogs. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simultaneous determination of cyadox and its metabolites in plasma by high‐performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

Cyadox is a novel antimicrobial growth‐promoter of the quinoxalines. For food safety and pharmacokinetic studies, a convenient, sensitive and reproducible LC‐ESI‐MS/MS method was developed for the simultaneous determination of cyadox and its major metabolites, quinoxaline‐2‐carboxylic acid, 1,4‐bisdesoxycyadox, cyadox‐1‐monoxide and cyadox‐4‐monoxide in chicken plasma. Plasma sample was subjected to a simple deproteinisation with acetonitrile. Analysis was performed on a C₁₈ column by detection with mass spectrometry in multiple reaction monitoring mode. A gradient elution program with 0.2% formic acid, methanol and acetonitrile was performed at a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min. The decision limits (CCαs) of five analytes in plasma ranged from 1.0 to 4.0 μg/L, and the detection capabilities (CCβs) were <10 μg/L. Acceptable precision and accuracy were obtained for concentrations over the standard curve range. The extraction recoveries of five analytes were between 87.4 and 93.9% in plasma at the spiked levels of 5 (10)–200 μg/L with the relative standard deviations <10% for each analyte. The developed method demonstrated a satisfactory applicability in real plasma samples.     

Simple determination of some antidementia drugs in wastewater and human plasma samples by tandem dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography

In this work, a simple method, namely, tandem dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction, with a high sample clean‐up is applied for the rapid determination of the antidementia drugs rivastigmine and donepezil in wastewater and human plasma samples. This method, which is based on two consecutive dispersive microextractions, is performed in 7 min. In the method, using a fast back‐extraction step, the applicability of the dispersive microextraction methods in complicated matrixes is conveniently improved. This step can be performed in less than 2 min, and very simple tools are required for this purpose. To achieve the best extraction efficiency, optimization of the variables affecting the method was carried out. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the relative standard deviations for the method were in the range of 6.9–8.7%. The calibration curves were obtained in the range of 2–1100 ng/mL with good correlation coefficients, higher than 0.995, and the limits of detection ranged between 0.5 and 1.0 ng/mL.     

Imatinib assay by high‐performance liquid chromatography in tandem mass spectrometry with solid‐phase extraction in human plasma

We have developed a method of liquid chromatography in tandem with mass spectrometry to monitor therapeutic levels of imatinib in plasma, a selective inhibitor of protein tyrosine kinase. After solid‐phase extraction of plasma samples, imatinib and its internal standard, imatinib‐D8, were eluted with Zorbax SB‐C₁₈ at 60 °C, under isocratic conditions through a mobile phase consisting of 4 mm ammonium formate, pH: 3.2 (solution A) and acetonitrile solution B. The flow rate was 0.8 mL/min with 55% solution A + 45% solution B. Imatinib was detected and quantified by mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization operating in selected‐reaction monitoring mode. The calibration curve was linear in the range 10–5000 ng/mL, the lower limit of quantitation being 10 ng/mL. The method was validated according to the recommendations of the Food and Drug Administration, including tests of matrix effect (bias < 10%) and recovery efficiency (>80 and <120%). The method is precise (coefficient of variance intra‐day <2% and inter‐day <7%), accurate (95–108%), sensitive and specific. It is a simple method with very fast recording time (1.2 min) that is applicable to clinical practice. This will permit improvement of the pharmacological treatment of patients. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sensitive and rapid analytical method for the quantification of glucosamine in human plasma by ultra high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

A highly sensitive and rapid ultra high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method has been developed and validated for the determination of glucosamine in human plasma using miglitol as the internal standard. Special attention was paid to achieve the high throughput and sensitivity of the established method, and the absence of a matrix effect on the analytes. The sample preparation procedure involved a simple deproteinization step. The chromatographic separation was achieved on a Waters ACQUITY HSS Cyano column using a mixture of acetonitrile/2 mM ammonium acetate solution containing 0.03% formic acid (80:20, v/v) as the mobile phase with a very short run time of 1.5 min. This method was validated over the concentration range of 10–3000 ng/mL for glucosamine. The intra‐ and inter‐batch precision was <13.9% for the low, medium, and high quality control samples. The established method is highly sensitive with a lower limit of quantification of 10 ng/mL, low enough to determine the circadian rhythm on endogenous glucosamine level in human plasma, which has not been reported in detail until now. The method was successfully applied to characterize the pharmacokinetic profile of glucosamine in healthy volunteers following a single oral administration of 750 or 1500 mg glucosamine hydrochloride.     

Simultaneous identification and quantification of bisphenol A and 12 bisphenol analogues in environmental samples using precolumn derivatization and ultra high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

A method for the identification and quantification of bisphenol A and 12 bisphenol analogues in river water and sediment samples combining liquid–liquid extraction, precolumn derivatization, and ultra high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry was developed and validated. Analytes were extracted from the river water sample using a liquid–liquid extraction method. Dansyl chloride was selected as a derivatization reagent. Derivatization reaction conditions affecting production of the dansyl derivatives were tested and optimized. All the derivatized target compounds were well separated and eluted in 10 min. Dansyl chloride labeled compounds were analyzed using a high‐resolution mass spectrometer with electrospray ionization in the positive mode, and the results were confirmed and quantified in the parallel reaction monitoring mode. The method validation results showed a satisfactory level of sensitivity. Linearity was assessed using matrix‐matched standard calibration, and good correlation coefficients were obtained. The limits of quantification for the analytes ranged from 0.005 to 0.02 ng/mL in river water and from 0.15 to 0.80 ng/g in sediment. Good reproducibility of the method in terms of intra‐ and interday precision was achieved, yielding relative standard deviations of less than 10.1 and 11.6%, respectively. Finally, this method was successfully applied to the analysis of real samples.     

Application of liquid–liquid microextraction for the effective separation and simultaneous determination of 11 pharmaceuticals in wastewater samples using high‐performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

A dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction method for the simultaneous determination of 11 pharmaceuticals has been developed. The method is based on a microextraction procedure applied to wastewater samples from different regions of Hungary followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry. The effect of the nature of the extractant, dispersive solvent, different additives, and extraction time were examined on the extraction efficiently of the dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction method. Under optimal conditions, the linearity for determining the pharmaceuticals was in the range of 1–500 ng/mL, with the correlation coefficients ranging from 0.9922 to 0.9995. The limits of detection and limits of quantification were in the range of 0.31–6.65 and 0.93–22.18 ng/mL, respectively.     

Determination of sedative hypnotics in sewage sludge by pressurized liquid extraction with high‐performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry

This paper describes a method for the determination of eight sedative hypnotics (benzodiazepines and barbiturates) in sewage sludge using pressurized liquid extraction and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Pressurized liquid extraction operating conditions were optimized and maximum recoveries were reached using methanol under the following operational conditions: 100ºC, 1500 psi, extraction time of 5 min, one extraction cycle, flush volume of 60% and purge time of 120 s. Pressurized liquid extraction recoveries were higher than 88% for all the compounds except for carbamazepine (55%). The repeatability and reproducibility between days, expressed as relative standard deviation (n = 5), were lower than 6 and 10%, respectively. The detection limits for all compounds were lower than 12.5 μg/kg of dry weight. The method was applied to determine benzodiazepines and barbiturates in sewage sludge from urban sewage treatment plants, and carbamazepine showed the highest concentration (7.9–18.9 μg/kg dry weight).     

Absolute oral bioavailability of fenofibric acid and choline fenofibrate in rats determined by ultra‐performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

Choline fenofibrate is the choline salt of fenofibric acid, which releases free fenofibric acid in the gastrointestinal tract. To estimate the absolute oral bioavailability of fenofibric acid and choline fenofibrate, a novel and sensitive UPLC–MS/MS method with liquid–liquid extraction procedure was developed for the determination of fenofibric acid in rat plasma. The separation was achieved on a Phenomenex Kinetex C₁₈ column (50 × 2.1 mm, 2.6 μm) containing 2 mm ammonium acetate–methanol with a gradient elution program. Validations of this method including specificity, sensitivity (limit of quantification, 5 ng/mL), linearity (0.005–10 μg/mL), accuracy (within ±4.3%), precision (intra‐ and inter‐day coefficient of variation <11.3%), recovery (94.9–105.2% for fenofibric acid), matrix effect, stability and dilution, were all within acceptable limits. This method successfully supported the determination of fenofibric acid and choline fenofibrate. The absolute oral bioavailability was 93.4% for choline fenofibrate and 40.0% for fenofibric acid. These results suggested that choline fenofibrate and fenofibric acid had a better in vivo pharmacokinetic behavior than that of fenofibrate. The two new orally administrated pharmaceuticals, fenofibric acid and choline fenofibrate, can be developed as alternatives to fenofibrate.     

Rapid and simple liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for the quantification of zidovudine in rat plasma

A high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the quantification of zidovudine in rat plasma. Following solid-phase extraction, the analytes were separated using an isocratic mobile phase on a reverse phase column and analyzed by MS/MS in the multiple reaction monitoring mode using the respective [M+H]+ ions, m/z 268/127 for zidovudine and m/z 230/112 for the internal standard. The method exhibited a linear dynamic range of 5-500 ng/mL for zidovudine in rat plasma. The lower limit of quantification was 5 ng/mL with a relative standard deviation of less than 8%. Acceptable precision and accuracy were obtained for concentrations over the standard curve range. A run time of 1.5 min for each sample made it possible to analyze more than 400 plasma samples per day. The validated method was applied for pharmacokinetic studies of the novel drug delivery systems of zidovudine in rats.     

Development and validation of a hydrophilic interaction ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for rapid simultaneous determination of 19 free amino acids in rat plasma and urine

Determination of amino acids in biofluids is a challenging task because of difficulties deriving from their high polarity and matrix interference. A simple, reliable and high‐throughput hydrophilic interaction UHPLC–MS/MS method was developed and validated for the rapid simultaneous determination of 19 free amino acids in rat plasma and urine samples in this paper. Hydrophilic method with a Waters Acquity UPLC BEH Amide column (100 × 2.1 mm,1.7 μm) was used with a gradient mobile phase system of acetonitrile and water both containing 0.2% formic acid. The analysis was performed on a positive electrospray ionization mass spectrometer via multiple reaction monitoring. Samples of 10 μL plasma and 50 μL urine were spiked with three deuterated internal standards, pretreated with 250 μL acetonitrile for one‐step protein precipitation and a final dilution of urine samples. Good linearities (r > 0.99) were obtained for all of the analytes with the lower limit of quantification from 0.1 to 1.2 μg/mL. The relative standard deviation of the intra‐day and inter‐day precisions were within 15.0% and the accuracy ranged from ?12.8 to 12.7%. The hydrophilic interaction UHPLC–MS/MS method was rapid, accurate and high‐throughput and exhibited better chromatography behaviors than the regular RPLC methods. It was further successfully applied to detect 19 free amino acids in biological matrix.     

Coupling nanoliter high‐performance liquid chromatography to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for arsenic speciation

Nanoliter high‐performance liquid chromatography shows low consumption of solvents and samples, offering one of the best choices for arsenic speciation in precious samples in combination with inuctively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. A systematic investigation on coupling nanoliter high‐performance liquid chromatography to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry from instrument design to injected sample volume and mobile phase was performed in this study. Nanoflow mobile phase was delivered by flow splitting using a conventional high‐pressure pump with reuse of mobile phase waste. Dead volume was minimized to 60 nL for the sheathless interface based on the previously developed nanonebulizer. Capillary columns for nanoliter high‐performance liquid chromatography were found to be sensitive to sample loading volume. An apparent difference was also found between the mobile phases for nanoliter and conventional high‐performance liquid chromatography. Baseline separation of arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsenic, and dimethylarsenic was achieved within 11 min on a 15 cm C₁₈ capillary column and within 12 min on a 25 cm strong anion exchange column. Detection limits of 0.9–1.8 μg/L were obtained with precisions variable in the range of 1.6–4.2%. A good agreement between determined and certified values of a certified reference material of human urine (GBW 09115) validated its accuracy along with good recoveries (87–102%).     

Ultrasound/microwave‐assisted solid–liquid–solid dispersive extraction with high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of neonicotinoid insecticides in Dendrobium officinale

A one‐step ultrasound/microwave‐assisted solid–liquid–solid dispersive extraction procedure was used for the simultaneous determination of eight neonicotinoids (dinotefuran, nitenpyram, thiamethoxam, clothianidin, imidacloprid, acetamiprid, thiacloprid, imidaclothiz) in dried Dendrobium officinale by liquid chromatography combined with electrospray ionization triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry in multiple reaction monitoring mode. The samples were quickly extracted by acetonitrile and cleaned up by the mixed dispersing sorbents including primary secondary amine, C₁₈, and carbon‐GCB. Parameters that could influence the ultrasound/microwave‐assisted extraction efficiency such as microwave irradiation power, ultrasound irradiation power, temperature, and solvent were investigated. Recovery studies were performing well (70.4–113.7%) at three examined spiking levels (10, 50, and 100 μg/kg). Meanwhile, the limits of quantification for the neonicotinoids ranged from 0.87 to 1.92 μg/kg. The method showed good linearity in the concentration range of 1–100 μg/L with correlation coefficients >0.99. This quick and useful analytical method could provide a basis for monitoring neonicotinoid insecticide residues in herbs.     

Determination of teniposide in rat plasma by ultra performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry after intravenous administration

A novel, specific and rapid ultra performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry method has been developed and validated for determination of teniposide in rat plasma. A one‐step liquid–liquid extraction method was used and the separation was carried out on an Acquity UPLC^TM BEH C₁₈ column with gradient elution using a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile and water (containing 0.1% formic acid) at a flow rate of 0.20 mL/min. A triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer in multiple‐reaction monitoring mode via an electrospray ionization interface was used for the detection of teniposide. The detection was complete within 3.0 min. A linear calibration curve was obtained over the concentration range 10–10,000 ng/mL for teniposide, with a lower limit of quantification of 10 ng/mL. The intra‐day precision and inter‐day precision (relative standard deviation) were less than 10.23 and 13.09%, respectively. The developed method was applied for the first time to the pharmacokinetic study of teniposide in rats following a single intravenous administration of 4.5 mg/kg teniposide. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of ultrasound‐assisted liquid–liquid microextraction coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry for the rapid determination of synthetic cannabinoids and metabolites in biological samples

The constant emergence of new psychoactive substances is a challenge to clinical and forensic toxicologists who need to constantly update analytical techniques to detect them. A large portion of these substances are synthetic cannabinoids. The aim of this study was to develop a rapid and simple method for the determination of synthetic cannabinoids and their metabolites in urine and blood using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The method involves an ultrasound‐assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction that implies a rapid procedure, giving excellent extraction efficiencies with minimal use of toxic solvents. This is followed by silylation and analysis with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The chromatographic method allows for the separation and identification of 29 selected synthetic cannabinoids and some metabolites. The method was validated on urine and blood samples with the ability to detect and quantify all analytes with satisfactory limits of detection (from 1 to 5 ng/mL), limits of quantification (5 ng/mL), and selectivity and linearity (in the range of 5–200 ng/mL). The developed assay is highly applicable to laboratories with limited instrumental availability, due to the use of efficient and low‐cost sample preparation and instrumental equipment. The latter may contribute to enhance the detection of new psychoactive substances in clinical and forensic toxicology laboratories.     

Quantitative profiling method for phytohormones and betaines in algae by liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) method was developed for the quantitative determination of phytohormones and betaines in algae. The results showed that phytohormones and betaines were separated with high efficiency on Hypersil Gold C₁₈ and Cnwsil SCX columns. Mass spectrometric detection was performed using positive or negative electrospray ionization in selective reaction monitoring mode (SRM). Linearity of the method was good with correlation coefficients (r²) > 0.9951 in the range of 0.005–5 mg/L. The limits of detection were from 0.004 to 0.86 µg/L and the limits of quantification were in the range from 0.01 to 2.8 µg/L for the investigated phytohormones and betaines. The obtained recoveries varied between 61.33 and 90.39%, and the relative standard deviations were <15%. Using the developed methods, seven types of phytohormones and two types of betaines in Laminaria japonica, and seven types of phytohormones and one type of betaine in Pyropia haitanensis, which were collected in Xiangshan, Zhejiang Province, China, were determined. Thus, LC‐MS/MS was demonstrated to be a powerful tool for the comprehensive analysis of phytohormones and betaines in algae, owing to its large dynamic range and excellent sensitivity. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.