Development of an LC Method for Simultaneous Analysis of Cinnamic Acid and Paeonol in Rat Plasma, and Its Application to a Pharmacokinetic Study after Intragastric Administration of Guizhi–Fuling Capsule

A specific and accurate high-performance liquid chromatographic method for analysis of cinnamic acid (CA) and paeonol (PN) in rat plasma has been developed and validated. Plasma samples were pretreated by protein precipitation with methanol, and the supernatant was injected for reversed-phase separation on a C₁₈ column with acetonitrile–0.1% phosphoric acid 24:76 (v/v) as mobile phase at a flow-rate of 1.0 mL min^?1. Phenylbutyric acid was used as the internal standard. Good linear relationships were obtained between response and concentration in the range 0.130–52.0 μg mL^?1 (r = 0.9980) and 0.1785–71.4 μg mL^?1 (r = 0.9950) for CA and PN, respectively. Intra-day and inter-day assay precision (RSD, n = 6) at three concentrations was not above 15.1% for either CA and PN, and accuracy was from 94.3 to 104.7% and from 103.3 to 113.1% for CA and PN, respectively. Mean recovery of CA and PN from plasma samples was 87.5 and 86.8%, respectively, and recovery of the internal standard at a concentration of 1.00 mg mL^?1 was 88.5%. Results from a stability study suggested CA and PN were stable under the experimental conditions used. Finally, the validated method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of CA and PN in rats after intragastric administration of Guizhi–Fuling capsule. The results obtained would be very useful for evaluation of the clinical efficacy of GFC.     

LC–MS/MS Method for Detection of a Highly Selective KCa3.1 Blocker,TRAM-34, in Rat Plasma

1-[(2-Chlorophenyl)diphenylmethyl]pyrazole (TRAM-34) is a highly selective K_Ca3.1 channel blocker. TRAM-34 was commonly used to study the role of K_Ca3.1 in the pathogenesis of disease in vivo, but there was no validated analytical method. Here, we describe the first validated LC–MS/MS analytical method for TRAM-34. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) was performed to extract TRAM-34 from the rat plasma. Chromatographic separation was achieved on the phenyl column. A triple quadrupole mass spectrometer was operated in positive-mode electrospray ionization. There were two multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) transitions for TRAM-34: m/z 277.2 → 165.1 (for quantification) and m/z 277.2 → 241.2 (for qualification). Bifonazole was used as an internal standard. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) achieved was 1 ng mL^?1 and the run time was 7.5 min. The linear range was from 1 to 1,000 ng mL^?1. The pharmacokinetics profile was acquired for rats following an intraperitoneal injection of TRAM-34, with the following pharmacokinetics parameters found: C _max 17.03 ± 1.34 ng mL^?1; T _max 8.67 ± 3.06 h; and T _1/2 13.45 ± 2.72 h. In addition, a suspected metabolite of TRAM-34 was found using this LC–MS/MS method. Given the results of the detailed validation process and its application to TRAM-34 pharmacokinetics, it is clear that a fast, selective, precise, and reproducible TRAM-34 LC–MS/MS analytical method was successfully established.     

Determination and Pharmacokinetic Study of 10-O-Dimethylaminoethylginkgolide B in Rat Plasma by LC–MS

To evaluate the pharmacokinetics of a novel analogue of ginkgolide B, 10-O-dimethylaminoethylginkgolide B (XQ-1) in rat plasma in pre-clinical studies, a sensitive and specific liquid chromatographic method with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry detection (LC–ESI–MS) was developed and validated. After a simple extraction with ethyl acetate, XQ-1 was analyzed on a Shim-pack C18 column with a mobile phase of a mixture of 1 μmol L⁻¹ ammonium acetate containing 0.02% formic acid and methanol (55:45, v/v) at a flowrate of 0.3 mL min⁻¹. Detection was performed in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode using target ions at [M + H]⁺ m/z 496.05 for XQ-1 and m/z 432.10 for the internal standard (lafutidine). Linearity was established for the concentration range from 2 to 1,000 ng mL⁻¹ . The extraction recoveries ranged from 86.0 to 89.9% in plasma at concentrations of 5, 50, and 500 ng mL⁻¹. The lower limit of quantification was 2 ng mL⁻¹ with 100 μL plasma. The validated method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study after intragastic administration of XQ-1 mesylate in rats at a dose of 20 mg kg⁻¹.     

An LC–MS–MS Method for the Simultaneous Quantitation of Acyclovir and Valacyclovir in Human Plasma

A simple, sensitive and selective LC–MS–MS method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of acyclovir and valacyclovir in human plasma. Acyclovir and valacyclovir in plasma were concentrated by solid phase extraction and chromatographed on a C18 column using a mobile phase of 0.1% formic acid: methanol (30:70% v/v). The method was validated over a linear range of 47–10,255 and 5–1,075 ng mL^?1 for acyclovir and valacyclovir respectively. The LOQs were 47.6 and 5.0 ng mL^?1. The validated method was applied for the quantitation of acyclovir and valacyclovir from plasma samples in a pharmacokinetic study.     

Alternative LC–MS–MS Method for Simultaneous Determination of Proguanil, Its Active Metabolite in Human Plasma and Application to a Bioequivalence Study

An alternative rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method has been developed and validated for simultaneous analysis of proguanil (PRO) and cycloguanil (CYC) in human plasma. The analytes were extracted from human plasma by solid phase extraction. Riluzole (RIL) was used as an internal standard for proguanil and cycloguanil. A HyPURITY Advance C18 column provided chromatographic separation of analytes followed by detection with mass spectrometry. The method involves simple isocratic chromatography conditions and mass spectrometric detection in the positive ionization mode using an API-4000 system. The proposed method has been validated with linear range of 1.5–150.0 ng mL^?1 for PRO and 0.5–50.0 ng mL^?1 for CYC. The inter-run and intra-run precision values are within 2.54, 9.19% for PRO and 1.99, 10.69% for CYC at LOQ levels. The overall recoveries for PRO and CYC were 102.52 and 106.72%, respectively. Total elution time was as low as 2.50 min. This validated method was used successfully for analysis of plasma samples from a bioequivalence study.     

LC–MS–MS Simultaneous Determination of Paracetamol, Pseudoephedrine and Chlorpheniramine in Human Plasma: Application to a Pharmacokinetic Study

A liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS–MS) method was developed for the simultaneous determination of paracetamol, pseudoephedrine and chlorpheniramine in human plasma. Diphenhydramine was used as the internal standard. Analytes were extracted from alkalized human plasma by liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) using ethyl acetate. After electrospray ionization positive ion fragments were detected in the selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode with a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer. The method was linear in the concentration range of 20.0–10000.0 ng mL^?1 for paracetamol, 1.0–500.0 ng mL^?1 for pseudoephedrine and 0.1–50.0 ng mL^?1 for chlorpheniramine. The intra- and inter-day precisions were below 14.5% and the bias was between ?7.3 and +2.8% for all analytes. The validated LC–MS–MS method was applied to a pharmacokinetic study in which each healthy Chinese volunteer received a tablet containing 300 mg benorylate, 30 mg pseudoephedrine hydrochloride and 2 mg chlorpheniramine maleate. This is the first assay method described for the simultaneous determination of paracetamol, pseudoephedrine and chlorpheniramine in human plasma samples.     

Rapid and Sensitive LC–MS–MS Method for the Simultaneous Estimation of Alfuzosin and Dutasteride in Human Plasma

A simple, rapid, specific and sensitive liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometric method has been developed and validated for the simultaneous estimation of alfuzosin and dutasteride in human plasma. Both alfuzosin and dutasteride were extracted from human plasma by solid-phase extraction using terazosin and finasteride as the internal standards for alfuzosin and dutasteride, respectively. Chromatographic separation of analytes and their respective internal standards was carried out using a Hypurity C18 (50 × 4.6 mm i.d., 5 μm particle size) column followed by detection using an applied biosystems API 5000 mass spectrometer with a UPLC as the front end. The method involves a rapid solid phase extraction from plasma, simple isocratic chromatographic conditions and mass spectrometric detection in the positive ionization mode using multiple reactions monitoring that enables detection down to low nanogram levels with a total run time of 2.5 min only. The method was validated over a range of 0.25–20.0 ng mL^?1 for alfuzosin and 0.1–10.0 ng mL^?1 for dutasteride. The absolute recoveries for alfuzosin (65.57%), dutasteride (103.82%), terazosin (69.38%) and finasteride (102.25%) achieved from spiked plasma samples were consistent and reproducible. Acceptable precision and accuracy were obtained for concentrations over the standard curve ranges. Due to the short run time of 2.5 min it was possible to analyze a throughput of more than 180 human plasma samples per day. The validated method can be successfully used to analyze human plasma samples for application in pharmacokinetic, bioavailabilty or bioequivalence studies. As an example the application of this validated method to a bioequivalence study is also illustrated.     

LC–MS–MS Analysis of Mirtazapine in Plasma, and Determination of Pharmacokinetic Data for Rats

A sensitive LC–MS–MS method with electrospray ionization has been developed for analysis of mirtazapine in rat plasma. After addition of diazepam as internal standard, liquid–liquid extraction was used to produce a protein-free extract. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a 150 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm particle, ODS column with 84:16 (v/v) methanol–water containing 0.1% ammonium acetate and 0.01% glacial acetic acid as mobile phase. LC–MS–MS was performed in selected-ion-monitoring (SIM) mode using target fragment ions m/z 195.09 for mirtazapine and m/z 192.80 for the IS. Calibration plots were linear over the range of 0.516–618.8 ng mL^?1. The lower limit of quantification was 0.516 ng mL^?1. Intra-day and inter-day precision were better than 12.6 and 8.8%, respectively. Mean recovery of mirtazapine from plasma was in the range 87.41–90.06%; average recovery was 88.40% (RSD 3.95%). Significant gender differences between mirtazapine pharmacokinetic data were observed in this study.     

LC–MS–MS Separation and Simultaneous Determination of Tolterodine and its Active Metabolite, 5-Hydroxymethyl Tolterodine in Human Plasma

A selective, sensitive and high throughput LC–MS–MS method has been developed and validated for the chromatographic separation and quantitation of tolterodine (TOL) and its metabolite 5-hydroxymethyl TOL in human plasma. Sample clean-up concerned liquid–liquid extraction of the drug, metabolite and their respective labelled internal standards from 300 μL human plasma. Both the analytes were chromatographically separated on a Symmetry C18 (100 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm particle size) analytical column using 10 mM ammonium formate (pH 5.0 ± 0.1, adjusted with formic acid) and acetonitrile (35:65, v/v) as the mobile phase with a resolution factor of 2.72. The method was validated over the concentration range of 0.025–10.0 ng mL^?1 for both analytes. The process efficiency found for TOL and its metabolite was 98.3 and 99.5%, respectively. The method was successfully applied to a pivotal bioequivalence study in 41 healthy human subjects after oral administration of a 2 mg tablet formulation under fasting conditions.     

Simultaneous Determination of Tamsulosin and Dutasteride in Human Plasma by LC–MS–MS

A sensitive and selective liquid chromatographic tandem mass spectrometric (LC–MS–MS) method was developed for simultaneous identification and quantification of tamsulosin and dutasteride in human plasma, which was well applied to clinical study. The method was based on liquid–liquid extraction, followed by an LC procedure with a Gemini C-18, 50 mm × 2.0 mm (3 μm) column and using methanol:ammonium formate (97:3, v/v) as the mobile phase. Protonated ions formed by a turbo ionspray in positive mode were used to detect analytes and internal standard. MS–MS detection was by monitoring the fragmentation of 409.1 → 228.1 (m/z) for tamsulosin, 529.3 → 461.3 (m/z) for dutasteride and 373.2 → 305.3 (m/z) for finasteride (IS) on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The lower limit of quantification for both tamsulosin and dutasteride was 1 ng mL^?1. The proposed method enables the unambiguous identification and quantification of tamsulosin and dutasteride for clinical drug monitoring.     

Simultaneous Determination of Atenolol and Chlorthalidone by LC–MS–MS in Human Plasma

A simple, sensitive, selective and rapid liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the simultaneous separation and quantitation of atenolol and chlorthalidone in human plasma using metoprolol and hydrochlorothiazide as internal standard. Following solid phase extraction, the analytes were separated by an isocratic mobile phase on a reversed-phase C₁₈ column and analyzed by MS in the multiple reaction-monitoring mode (atenolol in positive and chlorthalidone in the negative ion mode). The limit of quantitation for this method was 10 and 15 ng mL^?1 and the linear dynamic range was generally 10–2,050 ng mL^?1 and 15–3,035 ng mL^?1 for atenolol and chlorthalidone, respectively.     

LC-MS–MS Simultaneous Determination of Niacin, Niacinamide and Nicotinuric Acid in Human Plasma LC-MS–MS and Its Application to a Human Pharmacokinetic Study

A highly selective and sensitive liquid chromatographic tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS–MS) method was developed and validated for the quantitation and pharmacokinetic study of niacin (NA) and its two metabolites niacinamide (NAM) and nicotinuric acid (NUR) in human plasma. Protein precipitation with 14% perchloric acid solution was selected for sample preparation, and ganciclovir was used as an internal standard. Separation was on a Phenomenex Curosil-PFP (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) column by a multiple steep steps linear gradient elution with mobile phase consisting of water and methanol, both containing 0.1% formic acid, pumped at a flow rate of 1 mL min^?1. The determination was optimized and carried out with positive electrospray ionization by selective multiple reaction monitoring. The method was linear in the concentration range of 15–2,000 ng mL^?1 for NA, 70–2,000 ng mL^?1 for NAM and 10–2,000 ng mL^?1 for NUR, by standard addition calibration. The application of LC-MS–MS was demonstrated for the specific and quantitative analysis of NA, NAM and NUR in human plasma from a pharmacokinetic study in 12 healthy Chinese volunteers treated with three incremental doses of niacin extended-release/lovastatin tablets and an additional steady-state regime.     

A Sensitive LC–ESI–MS Method for Pharmacokinetic Studies of Picroside II in Dog Plasma

A high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectromentry (LC–ESI–MS) method has been developed for the determination of picroside II in dog plasma. Plasma samples were deproteinated with acetonitrile and a Hypersil ODS2 column was used with a mobile phase consisted of methanol-water. The determination was validated in the concentration range of 0.10–50 μg mL^?1 using 50 μL of plasma. The method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of picroside II.     

Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis of CKD-501, Lobeglitazone, in Human Plasma and Urine Using LC–MS/MS and Its Application to a Pharmacokinetic Study

A simple, rapid and sensitive LC–MS/MS method in positive ion mode was developed and validated to determine CKD-501, lobeglitazone, in human plasma and urine using glipizide as an internal standard (IS). Lobeglitazone is a novel thiazolidinedione (TZDs)-based peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) agonist, used for the management of type-2 diabetes. After mixing the IS, dissolved in acetonitrile, with a plasma or urine sample containing lobeglitazone, 10?μL of supernatant was injected into the LC–MS/MS system. Quantification was performed in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode using transition of 481.5?→?152.2 (m/z) for lobeglitazone and 446.1?→?321.2 (m/z) for the IS. The method showed good linearity over concentration ranges of 0.5–1,000?ng?mL^?1 for plasma and 0.2–250?ng?mL^?1 for urine (r ²?≥?0.9996). The mean percent extraction recovery of lobeglitazone was 90.8?% for plasma and 87.3?% for urine, while the recoveries of the IS were greater than 86.4?% for both. The intra-day and inter-day precision of plasma ranged from 1.1 to 3.7 and 2.5 to 3.3?% (RSD), respectively, and the intra- and inter-day precision of urine ranged from 1.5 to 2.7 and 3.2 to 3.5?%, respectively. This method is simple, sensitive, and applicable for the pharmacokinetic study of lobeglitazone in human plasma. Most of the urine concentrations of lobeglitazone were below the LLOQ because the lobeglitazone is extensively metabolized.     

LC–MS Method for the Pharmacokinetic Evaluation of 2-Arachidonoyl Glycerol in Small Volume Plasma Samples

A quantitative method has been developed and validated for the determination of 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) in hairless guinea pig plasma by liquid chromatographic-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The analytes were extracted from the plasma samples of guinea pig by a single step liquid extraction technique using acetonitrile. The chromatographic separation was conducted on a C18 column using a gradient mobile phase consisting of methanol and water at a flow rate of 0.3 mL min^?1. The analytes were quantified by positive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring mode of m/z 401. The limit of detection for 2-AG was 0.5 ng mL^?1. This method required only simple processing of the samples to prevent the isomerization of 2-AG during sampling and handling and could be applied to determine the plasma concentration profiles in hairless guinea pigs. The volume of distribution at steady state (V _ss), total plasma clearance (CL) and half life (t _1/2β) of 2-AG in hairless guinea pigs were 0.21 ± 0.025 L kg^?1, 9.2 ± 1.5 L h^?1 kg^?1, and 17.7 ± 3.8 min, respectively.     

LC–MS–MS Assay for Simultaneous Quantification of Fexofenadine and Pseudoephedrine in Human Plasma

A rapid, sensitive, and simple HPLC–MS–MS method, with electro-spray ionization and cetirizine as internal standard (IS), has been developed and validated for simultaneous quantification of fexofenadine and pseudoephedrine in human plasma. The analytes were isolated from plasma by solid-phase extraction (SPE) on Oasis HLB cartridges. The compounds were chromatographed on an RP 18 column with a mixture of ammonium acetate (10 mm, pH 6.4) and methanol as mobile phase. Quantification of the analytes was based on multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) of precursor-to-product ion pairs m/z 502 → 466 for fexofenadine, m/z 166 → 148 for pseudoephedrine, and m/z 389 → 201 for cetirizine. The linear calibration range for both analytes was 2–1,700 ng mL⁻¹ (r = 0.995), based on analysis of 0.1 mL plasma. Extraction recovery was 91.5 and 80.88% for fexofenadine and pseudoephedrine, respectively. The method was suitable for analysis of human plasma samples obtained 72 h after administration of a drug containing both fexofenadine and pseudoephedrine.