Fudosteine [(-)-(R)-2-amino-3-(3-hydroxypropylthio) propionic acid] is a synthetic derivative of l-cysteine as a novel expectorant. To facilitate pharmacokinetics studies of fudosteine in man, a sensitive and specific LC–MS–MS method for the quantitative detection of fudosteine in human plasma was developed and validated. The method involved the addition of fosfomycin as internal standards, protein-precipitation, HPLC separation, and quantification by MS/MS system using negative electrospray ionization in the multiple reaction monitoring mode. The precursor → product ion transitions were monitored at 177.6 → 90.9 and 136.8 → 78.9 for fudosteine and the IS, respectively. The lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) was 5 ng mL−1. The calibration curves for fudosteine was linear over a concentration range of 0.005–10 µg mL−1. The intra- and inter-day analyses of QC samples at 0.01, 1, 10 µg mL−1 indicated good precision %RSD between 92.00 and 101.02%. The fudosteine was stable in human plasma stored at room temperature for at least 12 h, 4 °C for at least 12 h, −20 °C for at least 20 days, and at least three freeze–thaw cycles procedures. This accurate and highly specific assay provides a useful method for evaluating the pharmacokinetics of fudosteine in human.
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